Africa Day 2014

 

His Excellency the Ambassador of Lesotho, Chair of the African Group Ambassadors

His Excellency  The Special Adviser  on Africa to the UN SG,

His Excellency, The Ambassador of the African Union Mission to the UN

His Excellencies Permanent Representatives of Member States,

Members of the Diplomatic Corps

Members from civil society,

Colleagues from the UN System,

Esteemed Guests,

Ladies and Gentleman,

It is my pleasure to stand before you on the occasion of this event co-sponsored by the African Union Observer Mission to the UN, the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa and our Liaison Office in New York under the Leadership of Ms Sharon BrennenHaylock, with the support from NEPAD Agency.

 

Such partnerships between regional and global development institutions are fundamental to the successful implementation of a common vision for Africa’s development that encapsulates the shared prosperity and improved livelihoods for all.

 

The Theme we are going to discuss is a challenging one. It enlightens the ambition of this growing continent and put into perspective the fundamental role of agriculture as an engine for growth and sustainable economical development.

 

Before going further, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, let me highlight  three important facts:

 

1. Africa has  the youngest population in the world with 200 millions aged between 15 to 24, according to the African Development Bank statistics
2. The World Bank estimates that 11 million young Africans will join the labor market every year in the next decade
3. From FAO estimates, 64% of available arable land  in the world are in Africa

 

When we look at these data in the perspective  of the current situation  with more than 842 M people in the world facing undernourishment, out of which 223M live in Africa, its appear clearly the need to transform the agricultural sector into  a vibrant and inclusive growth sector for food security.

 

Africa’s growth rates have been steady for over a decade, rebounding confidently from the financial crisis in 2007. The economy is forecast to expand to 4.8% in 2014 and 5.7% in 2015.  Much of this growth is fuelled by a number of factors to which agriculture plays an important role.  

 

However the debate on the degree of shared prosperity, the relationship between Africa’s growth and its structural agricultural  transformation remains when we look at the number of poor and hungry people in the continent, particularly in  conflicts and post conflict countries. At this juncture it is important to recall that the continent consume more than 25% of the total food aid in the world.

 

The transformation of Africa’s agriculture within the framework of the CAADP process is essential to meet the continent’s needs.

 

But history has shown that there is no agricultural transformation without clear policy direction and political commitment. This is essential to create conducive environment for major players such private sector ranging from family farmers to large scale farmers to invest in the sector.  Lessons from successes over the world have also shown that substantive agricultural transformation needs a robust agricultural research system capable of coping with changes and providing innovative options to farmers and agro-business people.

 

The role of Governments in promoting infrastructures and transport through appropriate measures and regulations as well as supporting investments through social protection to vulnerable communities   are key to the success of a transformed agricultural sector along commodity value chains.

 

This transformation need to focus on key commodities in line with the list of priority crops and commodities adopted by the Abuja African Union Summit on food security. It needs to identify and capture niches and develop strategical marketing  that will leverage the incomes of smallholders better organized as part of outgrowers systems. Government and the continent as a whole should be able to identify Agricultural poles where food supply and food chains are developed to promote national, intraregional and continental trade. 

 

Our Organization is currently supporting the Economic and Monetary Union in West Africa (UMEOA) in the design of a ten years program that would include poles of agricultural development based on comparative advantages across the region. Farmers will be better organized and supported with certified seeds and inputs, trained and supported through extension and research systems to be fully part of the chains of production and transformation. The youth, this Face book generation will be provided new opportunities in modernized agricultural sector and off farm activities. Virtual platforms will be available for technological advices and adoptions capturing opportunities provided by new social media networks

 

We are just coming from the FAO Regional Conference for Africa that grouped more than 35 Ministers. The Conference highlighted the strong political will of Governments to modernize the agricultural sector and boost investments along the Maputo Declaration. The Conference also strongly endorsed the objective of a Hunger free continent by 2025 as mentioned in the Declaration of the High Level Meeting on ending hunger jointly organized by the Africa Union, Lula Institute and FAO. Ending hunger needs the boosting of agricultural sector including the development of agro-processing to reduce post-harvest losses, providing new opportunities to farmers, herders and fishermen.

 

Effective transformation of agricultural sector will led to an economy that provides employment for a rising and young population and pay due attention to the important role of women in agriculture.

 

The transformation of African agriculture depends on a number of driving factors that are linked to the very nature of this sector but also that are of environmental nature. The capacity to cope with frequent and severe events related to climate change, particularly to drought through robust irrigation is essential. That is why the program supported by the United Nations in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, focusing on the increase of irrigation infrastructures as well as the preservation of pastoralism is of great necessity.

 

Ladies and Gentleman, before concluding let me highlight the importance of partnership in the implementation of the new Strategic Framework of FAO in Africa focusing on  ending hunger and reducing poverty  through social protection measures, building resilience, intensifying  and sustaining agricultural production, boosting agro-processing and agri-food systems. To ensure impacts at community levels, the Organization is building strong partnership with the African Union and UN Agencies, donors, private sector and civil society to support Governments in the implementation of three specific focused regional Initiatives. South-South cooperation between African countries and other continents is fully used as one the means to yield results on the ground and obtain impacts.

 

I look forward to the upcoming discussions on how to further drive interventions by shifting towards an action oriented agenda for agriculture transformation and shared growth in Africa.

 

Thank you for your kind attention.