Rwanda will play host to the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program (CAADP) stake holders’ meeting slated for December 7-8. The conference is expected to attract over 300 agricultural experts, policy makers, donors and members of civil society from around the world.
According to a statement from NEPAD availed to APA, the aim of CAADP, which is spearheaded by the AU-NEPAD and African governments, is to accelerate agricultural growth and thereby eliminate poverty, which has been steadily increasing throughout the continent over the past two decades.
CAADP’s agenda reflects a fundamental shift in the way Africa’s leadership looks at agriculture and its potential contribution to ending poverty and hunger.
The program is the centerpiece of efforts by African countries to achieve growth and poverty reduction in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“Rwanda is pleased to be hosting this important event at a time when our agricultural production is growing tremendously at more than 15% of GDP,” Rwanda agricultural minister, Dr. Agnes Kalibata told APA in a telephone interview.
She noted that with the support of the AU, NEPAD, COMESA, and the international community, Rwanda is confident that it can achieve its agricultural development goals, and ultimately alleviates poverty and achieves food security for the country’s poor.
APA has also reliably learnt that the high level meeting is to be officially opened by the Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
“This post-CAADP Compact engagement on Rwanda and its agricultural sector is extremely important especially in terms of making sure that Rwanda stays on course with regard to achieving the MDG of cutting poverty in half,” said Prof. Richard Mkandawire the Adviser for Agriculture and Head of CAADP at the NEPAD Secretariat in a statement.
He explained that agriculture accounts for over a third of Africa’s gross domestic product and almost 60 percent of its export income.
According to the ministry of agriculture, Rwanda will also present its Agriculture Investment Plan that will facilitate the achievement of Millennium Development Goals1 (MDG1) and Rwanda’s grand vision 2020 as well.
The investment plan is worth around $800m of which around $500m is available and the remaining $300m is expected from donors.
Source African Press Agency
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