Agriculture can play a much greater role in creating employment to increase disposable income and sustain household food security on the continent. At the centre of the potential for sustainable economic growth is smallholder and family farming - Africa’s backbone for agriculture development. However, a coalition of partnerships is required in order for the women and men at the helm of agriculture to reach world class competiveness and productivity standards.

To share experiences and lessons on these and other issues, farmers and partners from community, national and regional institutions are meeting at the 2014 CAADP Africa Forum (CAADP AF) taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa from 10 to 12 November 2014.

The Continental CAADP AF is a biennial learning platform, with a special focus on farmer-led exchange and learning. The Forum is jointly coordinated by the five regional farmers’ organisations namely; EAFF (Eastern Africa), ROPPA (Western Africa), SACAU (Southern Africa), PROPAC (Central Africa), UMNAGRI (Northern Africa) and their continental platform, the Pan African Farmers’ Organisation (PAFO) in liaison with the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency.

Speaking at the 2014 CAADP AF on the importance of agriculture for sustainable and inclusive development, Mrs Estherine Fotabong (NEPAD Director of Programmes) said, “Agriculture is the key to transforming rural economies and the African continent as a whole.”

Held in the African Union Year of Agriculture and Food Security, the theme of the 2014 CAADP Africa Forum is Family Farming.  In June, African heads of state committed themselves to use agriculture growth to double food productivity, halve poverty and eliminate child under nutrition by 2025 when they came up with the Malabo Declaration following a meeting in Equatorial Guinea. The role of family farmers and smallholders on the continent will be critical in achieving these goals.

Elizabeth Nsimada from Uganda, started making fruit wine and sherry.  In her region, she makes wine from various fruits, but especially from bananas that used to be wasted as they would spoil before reaching markets.

Mrs Fotabong encouraged the farmers present at the meeting to look into best practices and issues they face on the ground in order to inform the post-Malabo roadmap for agricultural transformation.

Mr Ousmane Djibo (GIZ-CAADP Programme Manager) also reiterated the importance of the regional and national farmers’ organisations, as well as young farmers at the Forum to exchange best practices and ideas to inform the roadmap of implementing the Malabo Declaration.

With over eighty (80) participants from regional and national farmer organisations including young farmers clubs from eight African countries, representatives from development partner organisations and the media, the Forum is focussing on:

• Climate Change and Climate -Smart Agriculture
• Marketing and trade
• Mechanisation and family farming
• Family farming and finance

Addressing the farmers, Dr Theo de Jager, President of SACAU, stated that “What is needed now is good food, at affordable prices, provided by capable hands – African farmers.” Dr de Jager also maintained that on a continental level, the NEPAD Agency is driving this agenda through CAADP.

Mr Phillip Kiriro, the President of EAFF said “Through the reaffirmation of the Malabo Declaration, CAADP must now generate more benefits in agriculture.” CAADP aims to catalyse the transformation of Africa’s agricultural systems and stimulate increased and sustainable agriculture performance in Africa for effective contribution to achieving economic growth and inclusive development.