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Found NEPAD calls upon non-state actors to be more proactive on agriculture
By the CAADP Communications Team
Nairobi, 4 Dec 04, 2009 - Traditional rulers such as kings and chiefs have an important role to play in ensuring that agricultural development for the vulnerable is attained. This remark was made by Prof. Richard Mkandawire, Head of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) at the NEPAD Secretariat during his closing remarks at last week’s CAADP Africa Forum in Nairobi, Kenya.
“Non-state leaders such as kings and chiefs have the power to make concrete contributions to the development of agriculture,” he said. “They have the capacity to influence the people they lead and as CAADP, we are keen on broadening their participation.” One such leader, Paramount Chief Dasebrei Osei Bonsui from Ghana attended the five-day forum.
According to Prof. Mkandawire, the CAADP Africa Forum has reaffirmed its value addition to the African leaderships’ commitment to the restoration of agricultural growth and food security on the continent. “This is the only agricultural platform of its kind where the private sector and representatives of farmers’ organizations meet to dialogue on the challenges and opportunities of agricultural development in Africa.”
He added that the forum is a relevant and credible platform in enhancing the visibility of agriculture as a vehicle to poverty and hunger reduction. Prof Mkandawire also urged farmers to take the lead in defining the content of future fora.
The annual Africa Forum was attended by over 150 participants from 16 countries across the continent, Germany and Italy. During the Forum the participants visited farmers from different parts of Kenya where they learned of what the country was doing in the agricultural sector.
The next forum will be hosted by Burkina Faso.
CAADP is an African owned and African led initiative working to boost agricultural productivity on the continent aiming to help African countries reach a higher path of economic growth through agriculture-led development. It brings together diverse key players - at the continental, regional and national levels - to improve co-ordination, to share knowledge, successes and failures, to encourage one another, and to promote joint and separate efforts to achieve the CAADP goals.
For more information contact
andrewk@nepad.org /
millicents@nepad.org
