ECA calls for a different look at African food and agriculture systems

Addis Ababa, 22 October, 2007 - African countries must view food and agriculture systems on the continent in a broad new light, thinking more about inter-sectoral linkages, the Director of Sustainable Development and Food Security Division at the Economic Commission for Africa, Josue Dione, said today in Addis Ababa.

In a statement to delegates from African countries at the opening of the 5 th meeting of the African Committee on Sustainable Development (ACSD), Dione called for an integrative approach to investing in productivity and efficiency at all stages of the commodity value chains, including research and development, input markets, farm level production, produce processing, storage, handling, transport and distribution.

The linkages among these value stages, and among agriculture and the other sectors of the overall economy, are key to achieving an optimal contribution of the food and agriculture system to broad-based economic growth, employment and poverty eradication, he said.

Stating that agriculture's contribution to growth and development in Africa depends on how successful the economies and markets are integrated, Dione called for “an inter-linkages approach” which recognizes complex ecosystems and their interface with the social, economic and political dynamics inherent in human development and governance.

In a welcome statement on behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission(AUC), the Commission's Director of Agriculture and Rural economy, Dr. Babagana Ahmadu, said the AUC had found it difficult “to come to terms” with the challenges of Africa's sustainable development.

“Africa's inability to meet the MDGs is very worrisome,” he said, emphasizing the critical role, which, he said, agriculture could play if African countries were to meet the MDGs.

ACSD 5 is on the theme “Transforming African agriculture and rural economy for sustainable development”. Delegates at the meeting will review various progress reports on drought and desertification, agriculture, rural transformation, for adoption and presentation to the 16 th global session of the Commission on Sustainable Development in New York next year

Based on the outcome of the review, the delegates will adopt an African declaration, which will contain concrete actions taken, progress made as well as constraints and challenges.

Click here for Dr. Dione's full statement.