The NEPAD CEO Dr Ibrahim Mayaki has said that Africa is thinking anew about the future of agricutlture, thanks to the increased momentum of its agro-transformational blue-print, CAADP.

CAADP, short for the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development, is a development Programme designed to support the transformation of Africa's agriculture for sustained food security and socio-economic growth.

The multi-stakeholder Programme is holding its annual continental forum, the Partnership Platform (PP) in Durban, South Africa. The Forum brings together stakeholders in African agriculture – ranging from government, the private sector, international development agencies, the African Union, civil society and Regional Economic Communities. They will take stock of the impact of CAADP in the last ten years and determine the direction in which the Programme will take in the next decade. This year also marks the 10^th Anniversary of CAADP.

During a media briefing, Dr Mayaki stated that since the adoption of CAADP ten years ago, a platform has been created for repositioning agriculture as an engine for transformation in Africa.  Agriculture in Africa is now positioned with key instruments such as CAADP, allowing policymakers to engage with a broad array of stakeholders such as farmers and producers to optimise growth. In turn, this triggers wider impact stemming from sound agricultural policies.

Speaking at the same briefing, Mrs Estherine Fotabong, NEPAD Director of Programmes, said that CAADP has allowed a more structured way of thinking and planning in the agricultural sector, by introducing a robust planning mechanism and platform for inclusive planning. 

Mrs Fotabong pointed out that Africa is not yet where it is supposed to be in terms of output, so the focus of CAADP in the new decade will be on results and impact. She emphasised that the new strategy will enable the measurement of results on the ground, especially with regards to smallholder farmers’ lives.