The 12th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development
Partnership Platform (CAADP PP) drew to a close with the reaffirmation of
agriculture’s vital role in Africa’s development.
The meeting sought to identify the capacity needs and
the necessary partnerships at all levels to finance agricultural transformation
and enable the implementation of the Malabo Declaration, for attaining
sustainable agriculture growth.
“If we have to
successfully move from Maputo to Malabo1, we need to focus on developing
appropriate financing mechanisms, to support industrialisation-led agriculture
for the transformation of the continent,” said Dr Hamady Diop, Programme
Manager of Natural Resources Governance at the NEPAD Agency.
The importance of the CAADP PP and its role in
collating collective and mutual responsibilities among partners was addressed.
It was agreed that addressing food security and
agricultural development requires significant levels of public investment to
address the public good dimensions but also requires significant private sector
investments and participation.
As African smallholders start to produce food for the
global market, there is a need for greater investment to meet the needs of this
shift. It was hence concluded that Africa can only make things happen if the
continent collectively innovates and creates fit for purpose instruments for
finance and risk management that speak to its unique requirements.
In her remarks, youth representative Nkiruka Nnaemego
called for more inclusive credit instruments for young farmers to contribute
more along the agricultural value chain.
In closing, the meeting reaffirmed the indisputable role that agriculture has in leading Africa’s development and serving as a catalyst in meeting the socio-economic needs of youth and women.
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