FAO and AUC working towards ending hunger in Africa.
Sustainable mechanization is a driver for achieving Zero hunger.
19th September 2015, Addis Ababa – The Sub regional Coordinator for Eastern Africa and FAO Representative to AUC & ECA (SRC, SFE) had a meeting with His Excellency Mr. Erastus Mwencha, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission. The meeting is part of the overall effort to boost collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) towards ending hunger in Africa.
During the discussion with the Deputy Chairperson, Mr. Patrick Kormawa highlighted FAO priorities for the Sub-region to end hunger, achieve food security, improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. Towards this, the role of mechanization along the entire agriculture value chain was highlighted as an important vehicle to attract youth to agriculture and promote rural employment.
The Deputy Chairperson and the FAO SRC also discussed the role of agriculture and agribusiness in the economic transformation of African. In this regard, the Deputy Chairperson and the SRC, SFE agreed that there is need to promote the synergy between agricultural development and industrialization.
“Africa will not achieve accelerated agricultural growth and economic transformation for shared prosperity if it does not address the nexus between agriculture, trade and industrialization” said Mr. Patrick Kormawa.
On his part, H. E Mr. Erastus Mwencha noted that, “Industry is the locomotive of agriculture in Africa”.
FAO and the AU recognize the positive example of Brazil in fighting hunger and they strongly believe that good lessons for Africa can be learned from Brazil. While proposing a joint visit to learn from Brazil, Mr. Mwencha added “FAO has demonstrated competence and capacity to support Africa to achieve its cherished goal”.
FAO has also been a key driver is supporting the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) which is a continental framework working towards enhancing food and nutrition security, eliminating hunger, reducing poverty and accelerating economic growth.
In concluding the meeting, Mr. Erastus Mwencha noted that the African Union has an excellent collaboration with FAO on many fronts, and that the AU looks forwards to working with FAO in implementing the SDGs and the AU Agenda 2063.
More Information:
www.fao.org/.../agricultural-mechanization/agricultural-mechanization
www.fao.org/3/a-i0219e.pdf
www.fao.org/docrep/017/i0846e/i0846e.pdf
www.fao.org/3/a-i3953e.pdf
www.fao.org/3/a-i2438e.pdf
Contact:
Eddy Patrick Donkeng (FAOSFE)
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +251924132360