Selah Hennessy is reporting for Voice of America online that two African agricultural programs are joining efforts to combat hunger and food insecurity on the continents. These groups also point out that an investment in agriculture can help combat climate change.The organizations working together are the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). Former United Nation Secretary-General Kofi Anan is the Chairman of AGRA. Annan believes the “move will help African governments close the gap between intention and action.”
Hennessey reports that African countries are bound to allocate 10 percent of the national budgets for agriculture as required under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Program. AGRA President Namanga Ngongi “says many African governments are not meeting that target.” Still, Ngongi thinks investments in the agriculture sector are growing. ‘"There is a general trend in Africa today of making increasing investments in agriculture. The average has gone from four percent of national budgets to probably 5.5 percent today of national budgets being invested in agriculture,’ he said.”
One of the goals of the organizations is improving productivity on smaller farms that are growing staple crops like maize. Ngongi believes existing technologies, if employed on these farms, could go a long way towards increasing productivity. Ngongi also believes climate change will require the development and access to new crops and technologies in order to be able to adjust to the realities of climate change.
‘"The need to focus on agriculture is growing because of climate change. There will be more and more frequent droughts, more frequent floods, and probably more also destruction,"’ says Ngongi. In East Africa the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates 20 million people are dependent on international aid for food following the drought that has crippled the region.
To read the Voice of America article click here.
Posted: 11/10/09
