Events
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April 27, 2015DREA Commissioner meets with Harvest Plus team to discuss bio-fortificationAddis Ababa, April 27, 2015- Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture today received Dr. Howarth Bouis, Director of Harvest Plus and Dr. Anna-Marie Ball the Head of Africa Strategic Alliances, Harvest Plus.
Harvest Plus is a lead research-based, agriculture technology institution that was established to respond to the problem of ‘hidden hunger’ which is caused by the lack of essential vitamins and minerals in the diet, such as vitamin A, zinc, and iron, thus reinforcing agriculture’s pivotal role in improving the quality of diet and increasing micronutrient consumption.
The duo briefed the Commissioner about Harvest Plus’ accomplishments in breeding and producing bio-fortified food crops and distributing bio-fortified seed varieties and improved cultivars, thereby empowering rural communities. The organization also helps add value to locally produced agricultural crops in countries where the organisation is working, in Africa.
Dr.Bouis shared some successes of their programme including inroads in processing, marketing, distribution and advertising of orange maize in Zambia, rapid expansion in production and consumption of yellow cassava in Nigeria, the impact of high yielding iron beans in Rwanda, and the proliferation of farming households (over 250,000) in Uganda who are farming bio-fortified sweet potatoes.
The two parties discussed the need to implement a strong advocacy programme for promoting buy-in, farming and consumption of the bio-fortified crops, especially among poor farming and urban communities.
Commissioner Tumusiime stressed that the use of farming technology needed to be propagated at higher policy making levels so that farmers could adopt it and sellers could buy the micronutrient-added produce in good quantities to improve market access.
She assured Harvest Plus of her strong appreciation of the role the organization was playing in lifting the rural poor communities in Africa out of poverty and improving healthy and nutrient-dense dietary consumption.
Commissioner Tumusiime further assured Harvest Plus of support of the programme within her portfolio in the AUC as well as her role as a Member of the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition.
She also reinforced the need to align activities under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Framework and the commitments of the Malabo Declaration, adding that the current momentum was towards implementation and results.
Mrs. Tumusiime encouraged Harvest Plus to join efforts within the Agriculture Science Agenda in which the AUC andthe Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR) work together within the framework of Forum for Agriculture Research in Africa (FARA).
Harvest Plus has released a number of bio-fortified crops, including: iron beans, iron pearl millet, vitamin A cassava, vitamin A maize, vitamin A sweet potatoes, zinc rice and zinc wheat.
Media Contact
Ms. Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AUC
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC;
For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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Directorate of Information and Communication | Information and Communication | African Union CommissionTel: +251-11-5517700 | Fax: | E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org | Web:www.au.int
Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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April 27, 2015 to April 30, 2015International Conference on Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa, Palais des Congrès, Brazzaville, CongoCongo Republic burnsits entire stockpile of seized ivory
Burning ceremony takes place a day before announcement of African strategy for tackling wildlife crime
Brazzaville, 29 April -- The Government of Congo incinerated nearly five tons of poached ivory, fuelled by seized timber, in a strong demonstration of Africa’s opposition to wildlife crime. The occasion was presided over by His Excellency Denis SassouNguesso, President of the Republic of Congo, and witnessed by, among others His Excellency IdrisDebyItno, President of the Republic of Chad and Chair of the Economic Community of Central African States and His Excellency Daniel OnaOndo the Prime Minister representing H.E The President of the Republic of Gabon. We as African leaders have resolved to deal with this problem decisively to salvage our natural heritage for the benefit of our citizens, said President Sassou. Earlier in the opening session for the International Conference on Illegal Exploitation and Illicit Trade in African wild flora and fauna, President Deby had articulated the gravity of the matter that brought down the elephants in his own country from 50,000 to only 5,000 within a short span. The Gabonese Prime Minister had also conveyed the commitment of President Bongo Ondimba to collaborate with their fellow Heads of State and Government in putting in place policies and institutions as well as engaging other regions and partners in this cause.
“This new evil is continuing to gain ground,” said Henri Djombo, Congo’s Minister of Forest Economy and Sustainable Development. Wildlife crime is “eroding and impoverishing the continent’s biological resources from a social, economic and environmental standpoint.”
The ceremony took place a day before the announcement of the first pan-African strategy to combat illicit trade in flora and fauna. A first strategy and action plan will be presentedto the June 2015 African Union Summit to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa. The conference was organized by the Government of Congo, with support from the African Union (AU), the United Nations and other partners.
“This conference is Africa-driven. It complements earlier and ongoinginitiatives and processes and shows strong determination to deal withthis issue. With strong political will, regional cooperation and sustainable partnerships, the continent will be in a position to unite and act before it is too late,” said Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner of the African Union.
Wildlife trafficking devastates biodiversity and ecosystems, threatening the supply of food and freshwater and eroding livelihoods for millions of people in Africa. It also creates insecurity, fuelling conflicts and corruption, depriving countries of their assets, compromising the rule of law and dividing societies. Poaching and trafficking pose a direct threat to sustainable development efforts in Africa and elsewhere.
"Today’s destruction of confiscated ivory by the Congo will attract global, regional and national attention and should serve to raise further public awareness about the devastating impacts of illegal ivory trade and wildlife trafficking, and about the Congo's, and the global community’s, collective determination to put an end to it." said John E. Scanlon, Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
“Wildlife crime is effectively robbing people’s means of subsistence and countries’ economic wealth on a massive scale. As we pave the way for the Sustainable Development Goals, we need to make sure protecting biodiversity remains high on the agenda. The well-being of present and future generations depends on it,” said Nik Sekhran, the Director of Sustainable Development at UNDP.
“This burn is a symbolic statement from Africa that all ivory markets must be destroyed. Elephants are vital ecologically, a major source of livelihoods for local peoples, particularly in the tourism industry, and symbols for the culture of Africa,” said John Robinson, WCS Executive Vice President for Conservation and Science.
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For media interviews, photos and videos, please contact Nicolas.douillet@undp.org +1 917 701 1520. For more information: www.africa.undp.org
Mr Barthelemy Moussoki, Communication Sub-Committee, Congo, gmoussoki@yahoo.fr, +242 55707259
Mr Molalet Tsedeke, Media Centre Coordinator, AUC, MolaletT@africa-union.org
Mary A. Dixon, Sr. Vice President, Communications, Wildlife Conservation Society, mdixon@wcs.org +1.347.840.1242Conference website: http://www.conf-labff-brazza.org
Follow the Conference on Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa on Tele-Congo and Canal+ Afrique (channel 145) at www.congo-site.com, @conf_labff_braz, @congositemaster, @UNEP, @UNDPAfrica, and @_AfricanUnion
Hashtags: #EndWildlifeCrime #ProtectWildlife #Espècesmenacées -
April 25, 2015Commissioner Tuimusiime Receives NEPAD Nutrition Chief
Addis Ababa 24 April 2015- Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy at the African Union Commission has today received Mrs. Isatou Djallow, the Chief of Nutrition at the NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency (NPCA).
They discussed areas of enhancing collaboration in taking forward the July 2014 AU Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agriculture Growth and Transformation and specifically nutrition which is one of the key commitments under the Malabo Declaration and indeed one of the pillars of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
They considered ways of capitalising on this momentum to increase the place of nutrition in the agriculture agenda. In the same vein, they also discussed ways of maximising the position of Commissioner on the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition.
They further looked at the state of preparations for the 2015 Africa day for Food and Nutrition Security. Mrs Isatou Djallow was accompanied by Mrs Kifilwe Maolosi and another senior official of the NPCA.
Media Contact
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC;
Ms. Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AUC
For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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April 25, 2015AUC Commissioner Receives Indian AmbassadorAddis Ababa 24 April 2015- Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy at the African Union Commission has today received H.E The Ambassador of the Republic of India to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia who is also the Permanent Representative to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
They discussed issues within the context of Africa-India Partnership as part of the South-South Cooperation for Development especially in view of the Africa-India Summit of Heads of State and Government due in October this year in New Delhi.
Of particular interest, the Commissioner and the Ambassador talked the area of African Agricultural Mechanisation within the framework of the July 2014 AU Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agriculture Growth and Transformation.
Commissioner informed the Ambassador that the Commission of the African Union had partnered with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa and developed a concept for African Agriculture Mechanisation that covers the entire process from acquisition and distribution to maintenance and sustainability of agricultural equipment through among others, capacity building. She lauded the advances that India had made in manufacturing and applying agricultural technology and called for a sharing of that experience, expertise and technology and innovation.
The Ambassador expressed his country’s willingness and readiness to collaborate with Africa in the area of agricultural modernisation including agricultural mechanisation. This issue will be among those that will be deliberated upon at the forthcoming Africa-India Summit and prior to that, two technical missions from India will visit the African Union Commission to work out details to include in the Joint Declaration and Action Plan for consideration and eventual adoption by the Summit.
They also reviewed the progress in taking forward the agricultural science farms being established in different regions of Africa under the Africa-India Partnership. They also agreed to enhance collaboration between the AUC and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research headquartered in Hyderabad in India.
The Ambassador also invited Commissioner to visit the Annual Exhibition and Fair showcasing India’s agricultural mechanisation currently going on at Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, to which Commissioner agreed. The Ambassador was accompanied by Mr. R.V Venkatesan, Second Secretary.Media Contact
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC;
molalett@africa-union.org;Ms. Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AUC
jilomboc@africa-union.orgFor further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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March 25, 2015 to March 27, 201511th CAADP Partnership Platform March 25-27, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Walking the talk: the 11th Meeting of the CAADP Partnership Platform calls for delivery of the AU Malabo commitments on agriculture towards women empowerment and development
Johannesburg, South Africa, March 26, 2015 - the 11th Meeting of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Partnership Platform (PP) officially opened yesterday with a call to CAADP stakeholders to deliver on the commitments made in the AU Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agricultural Growth and Transformation at the 23rd African Union (AU) Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, in Equatorial Guinea last year.
The two day CAADP PP, held under the theme, “Walking the Talk: Delivering on the Malabo Commitments on Agriculture for Women Empowerment and Development,” brings together African and global leaders from a number of international organisations, African Governments including parliamentarians from select countries, private agribusiness firms, farmers, NGOs and civil society organizations.
This PP - the first after the Malabo Declaration - is designed to help shape how the renewed commitments will be translated into action, results and impact at country level. This year's PP also comes on the backdrop of the AU Year of Women Empowerment and Development, and the adoption of the AU Agenda 2063.
Speaking during the opening session, African Union Commission (AUC) Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, reiterated the call made by AU Leaders during their Malabo Summit, stating that, “It is now time to deliver! It is now time to walk the talk.”She informed the gathering that the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agricultural Growth and Transformation, in line with Africa's Agenda 2063, reiterates a call for action and delivery of results and impact and an expedient process of translating the commitments into results.
Commissioner Tumusiime further noted that through collaborative efforts the AUC, NEPAD Agency, Regional Economic Communities and Development Partners developed the Implementation Strategy and Roadmap (IS&R) and a programme of work for the implementation of the Malabo Declaration. (The complete speech is available on www.au.int).
South Africa's Director General in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Prof. Edith Vries observed that, “70% of food is produced by small-holder farmers, a majority of them being women. Prioritizing women in agriculture would therefore be a smart and critical political move for governments.”
And giving a keynote presentation during the opening session, Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, CEO of the NEPAD Agency said, “The Malabo Declaration is situated at the highest level of ambition by placing agricultural development in the broader context of the structural transformation of our societies. This is expressed, for instance, in the goals of eradicating hunger and halving poverty. It also goes beyond the strict challenges of agricultural production to tackle changes required in African trade and institutions.''Dr. Mayaki said the strategy to implement the Malabo commitments could no longer simply be aimed at committing to more planning and investment but would come from an increased and bold focus on reforms in economic policies and in institutional capabilities.
Other speakers at the opening event included Dr. Theo de Jager; President, Pan African Farmers' Organisation (PAFO) and the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) who called for more focused attention to be given to agriculture and farmers.
Mr. Roberto Ridolfi representing EU, which is the current Chair of the CAADP Development Partners Task team Chair, reiterated the partners commitment to support for delivering on the Malabo Commitments to transform Africa's agriculture and called for enhanced adherence to principles of mutual accountability. Also in attendance was Malawi's Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Hon. Allan Chiyembekeza.
The two day meeting will encompass focused discussions and consensus on specific actions to deliver on the 2014 Malabo commitments for the next decade of CAADP in line with the thrust of the AU Agenda 2063, an important part of which is agricultural transformation and women empowerment.Media Contact
Ms. Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AUC
jilomboc@africa-union.orgMr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC;
molalett@africa-union.org;For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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March 20, 2015Celebration of the International Day of Forests (IDF), Addis Ababa, EthiopiaAUC and FAO commemorate International Day of Forests
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 20, 2015 – The African Union Commission (AUC), and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), today jointly commemorated the International Day of Forests, at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the event, H.E. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) noted that the commemoration was not only about recalling the benefits of forests but equally about raising awareness on the dangers facing the global forest cover especially in developing countries.
“The role of forests is increasingly being recognized in efforts to adapt to, and mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. Deforestation and forest degradation accounts for about 18 per cent of global emission of carbon oxide. Thus, controlling this source of emission is a crucial step in averting further global warming,” she said.
Mrs. Tumusiime recalled that in June 2014, the AU Assembly called for the development of a Regional Framework on Sustainable Forest Management in Africa and that in implementing that land-mark decision, the AU Commission, in collaboration with FAO Regional Office for Africa, is elaborating a Sustainable Forest Management Framework for the continent, which would contribute to laying a strong foundation for the rational utilization and management of Africa’s forest heritage.
Ms. Susan Minae, on behalf of the FAO Assistant Director General and Regional Representative for Africa, reiterated that Africa could meet its obligation to the international community on climate change mitigation if it could successfully and sustainably manage and develop its forest resources. She emphasized that: “As sources of energy, food and feed, Africa’s various forest types contribute significantly to food and nutrition security and to social protection, thereby enhancing adaptation to climate change at national and local levels”.
Officially launching the commemoration, which falls on 21 March, H.E Diallo Amina Djibo, Niger’s Ambassador to the AU and Vice Chair of the Permanent Representatives Committee said, the preservation of forests is cardinal as they are an important source of resources and livelihood.
She encouraged all African countries to do more for the social and economic development of their populations and for environmental sustainability.Media contacts:
Ms. Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AUC; jilomboc@africa-union.org;
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC; molalett@africa-union.org; Mobile 0911630-631
Eddy Patrick Donkeng, Sub-Regional Communication Specialist FAO, Ethiopia; Eddy.DonkengDongmo@fao.org; Mobile: +251924132360
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March 16, 2015AU Commissioner Tumusiime Calls on UN SRSG Margareta WahlstromAU COMMISSIONER TUMUSIIME CALLS ON UN SRSG MARGARETA WAHLSTROM
16 March 2015 Sendai, Japan- Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union Commission, who is in Sendai, Japan leading the official delegation of the African Union Commission to the Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) called on Mrs. Margareta Wahlstrm, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General at the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).
The two exchanged views on issues pertaining to the ongoing Conference in particular and especially those relating to DRR in Africa.
The AU Commissioner hailed the support that UNISDR has been providing to the AU and its Member States to take forward issues of DRR. The SRSG, on her part, commended the Commission of the African Union for the effective coordination of the process that culminated in the adoption by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Strategy on DRR; the creation and operationalization of Africa’s political Regional Platform and its technical Working Group; and, indeed the development of Africa’s Plan of Action.
While acknowledging these compliments, the AU Commissioner observed that it was now time for AU Member States to capitalize of these mechanisms to mainstream in their development planning issues of DRR and make the necessary interventions to advance them and that rather than wait to react to emergencies they should enhance their readiness as well as preventive measures through building resilience. She also called for heightened advocacy and public awareness as well as empowerment of communities to deal with DRR issues from the grassroots level where they are felt most.
The Commissioner expressed the hope that as part of international cooperation, friends and partners of Africa would extend the necessary support towards its DRR programs and projects. The SRSG expressed the confidence that the global momentum built over the years of implementing the overarching Hyogo Framework of Action 205-2015 would be sustained in the post-2015 era that combines strategically interrelated processes of DRR, Sustainable Development Goals, Climate Change and Financing for Sustainable Development.
They both voiced optimism that the Sendai Conference would be successful and reaffirmed their personal and respective institutions’ commitment to continued collaboration at the service of their shared constituency.Media Contact
Ms. Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AUC
jilomboc@africa-union.orgMr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC;
molalett@africa-union.org;For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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March 15, 2015DREA Commissioner meets World Bank Director for Global Practice – Social, Urban, Rural, and ResilienceDREA Commissioner meets World Bank Director for Global Practice – Social, Urban, Rural, and Resilience
Sendai, Japan 15 March 2015- H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission yesterday held a meeting with Mr. Ede Jorge Ijjasz-Vasquez, the new Senior Director, Global Practice – Social, Urban, Rural, and Resilience, of the World Bank. They discussed ways and means of ensuring a more structured and stepped up collaboration between the World Bank and the African Union Commission and specifically with the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture. In this connection, they also discussed the possibility of joint convening by the World Bank and the AUC of a Conference on Africa Understanding Risk and Finance, in close collaboration with UNISDR, AfDB and EU.
While expressing appreciation for the opportunity of the meeting with the World Bank Director, Commissioner Tumusiime, hailed the World Bank’s ongoing cooperation and support in the areas of climate change, agriculture, land policy and disaster risk reduction, among other areas under her portfolio. The two agreed to get their respective technical teams to get together and review areas of cooperation and propose a way forward for enhanced collaboration and delivery.
The Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the increasing awareness, appreciation and commitment on the part of AU Member States vis-à-vis these inter-related areas. She called for called for increased harmonisation of interventions in these areas, the strengthening of capacities and effective mainstreaming.
The meeting was attended by among others, Mr Christopher Pusch, Coordinator of Disaster Risk Management in Africa.Media Contact
Ms. Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AUC
jilomboc@africa-union.orgMr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC;
molalett@africa-union.org;For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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March 06, 2015Africa Environment/Wangari Maathai Day and World Wildlife Day 3 March 2015
Press Release Nº 054/2015
Africa Environment/Wangari Maathai Day
and
World Wildlife Day 3 March 2015
Nairobi, 3 March 2015: Kenyan President H.E Uhuru Kenyatta led the Commemoration of Africa Environment/Wangari Maathai Day and World Wildlife Day at the Kenya Wildlife Service Headquarters in Nairobi National Park.
The 2015 celebrations, hosted by the Government of the Republic of Kenya, brought together Representatives from various Government Ministries, Diplomatic Missions, United Nations Agencies, International and local Environmental NGOs, Conservationists, Schools and other stakeholders.
In his speech, H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta expressed appreciation to the African Union for recognizing and honoring Professor Maathai’s life and work and urged Kenyans to plant trees in honour of her legacy. The President further underscored the important roles that wildlife plays in the ecosystem and in the socio-economic development of communities. He further emphasized the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime, and called for intensive investment and cooperation with stakeholders in the fight against poaching.
Description: Description: C:\Users\Leah\AppData\Local\Packages\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\LiveComm\5badc77af97aa905\120712-0049\Att\2000b08d\WP_20150303_003.jpgIn her statement, H.E Commissioner Tumusiime Rhoda Peace paid tribute to the late Nobel Peace Prize laureate and highlighted her achievements in championing the cause of grassroots’ women and other marginalized groups. Commissioner Peace also highlighted women’s roles in society, in environmental management and the hurdles that they have to overcome. The theme of the celebrations Empowering Women for Sustainable Natural Resources Management in line with the AU Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards the Agenda 2063.
Other speakers included the Cabinet Secretary for Environment Water and Natural Resources, Representatives of the Dean of Ambassadors in Nairobi, UNEP and the Greenbelt Movement.
Description: Description: C:\Users\Leah\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Word\WP_20150303_032.jpg“Poachers and their enablers will not have the last word” warned the President. To close the celebrations, President Uhuru Kenyatta presided over the destruction of 15 tonnes of illegal ivory at the Ivory Burning site in the Nairobi National Park, as a symbolic gesture to reaffirm Kenya’s dedication to eradicate poaching.
About
Africa Environment Day was designated in 2002 by the Organization African Unity (OAU) Council of Ministers in their meeting in Durban, South Africa, recognizing the numerous environmental challenges confronting the African continent. In January 2012, the African Union (AU) adopted a decision calling for the joint commemoration of Africa Environment Day and Wangari Maathai Day in recognition of the work and life of the late Prof. Wangari Maathai who dedicated her life to promoting environmental conservation and sustainable development in Africa. Previous celebrations have been held in Chad (2012), Tunisia (2013) and Lesotho in 2014.
For additional information, please contact
Mr. Almami Dampha
Senior Policy Officer
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February 25, 2015Commissioner Tumusiime visits AGRA President, Dr. Kalibata
Commissioner Tumusiime visits AGRA President, Dr. Kalibata
Nairobi 25 February 2015- H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture yesterday called on H.E Dr Agnes Kalibata President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa at her office in Nairobi, Kenya,
The two held discussions following on the earlier meeting they held on 2 February 2015 in Addis Ababa on the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement between AGRA and the AU Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture.
They reviewed the progress made since then by the two institutions and provided further guidance on expediting the way forward in the context of the AU Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agriculture Growth and Transformation. They placed emphasis on joint efforts to contribute towards the operationalisation of the African Fertiliser Financing Mechanism whose Governing Council the Commissioner chairs.
They further highlighted collaboration in promoting agricultural mechanisation through partnerships with countries and institutions that have registered success in this regard and have shown interest to support Africa. They envisage Agricultural mechanization with a strong focus on women and youth employment and anchored in the private sector with a facilitating role of governments. The meeting was attended by Mr. FadelNdiame, an official of AGRA and Mr Julius Kagamba, Special Assistant to the Commissioner.Media Contact
Ms. Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AUC
jilomboc@africa-union.orgMr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC;
molalett@africa-union.org;For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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February 25, 2015Commissioner Tumusiime meets German delegation
Commissioner Tumusiime meets German delegation
25 February 2015, Nairobi- Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union Commission who is currently leading the delegation of the high-level Meeting on Scaling Agricultural Innovations in Africa 23-24 February 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya yesterday held discussions with Dr. Stefan Schmitz, Deputy Director General of the Germany Ministry of Development Cooperation (BMZ) who also heads the special unit championing the One World-No Hunger initiative.
The German Government is rolling out this initiative in collaboration with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) together with its affiliated sub regional and national agricultural research organizations which are advancing the African Agriculture Science Agenda that promotes agricultural research, innovation and technology.
The One World-No Hunger initiative currently covers 13 countries in the world, of which 12 are in Africa, namely: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Togo, Tunisia and Zambia,
The One World-No Hunger initiative comprises 6 pillars, namely innovation, rural transformation, nutrition, building resilience, natural resources management and land rights. It is envisaged that the scaling of innovations through this initiative will spread to other AU Member States and that this will also take coordination with other partners including through the Africa-EU Innovations, Science and Technology for Food and Nutrition Security as well as the Partnership Platform for the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), among others.
The Commissioner commended Germany for the initiative and for the continent-wide support it provides to Africa as well as through bilateral cooperation. She called for the alignment of the initiative with CAADP and ensuring that the components implemented are part of National Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plans.
The meeting was attended by officials from the AU Commission and the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GIZ).Media Contact
Ms. Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AUC
jilomboc@africa-union.orgMr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC;
molalett@africa-union.org;For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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February 25, 2015Commissioner Tumusiime meets CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa Executive Director
Commissioner Tumusiime meets CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa Executive Director
25 February 2015, Nairobi- H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture called on Dr. Maya Kulycky, Head of East Africa for ABN 360 whose brands, including CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa, she drives, in strategic positioning of companies for global competitiveness through their broadcast and print.
They expressed concern over the long time it has taken with agriculture being taken for granted despite its significant contribution to socio-economic development and its untapped enormous potential. They also expressed concern over the overdependence of African farmers to rain-fed agriculture which is increasingly undermined by climate change and climate variability. They further expressed concern over market failures that tend to frustrate farmers especially with respect to output markets.
While discussing ways of breaking the cycle of poverty in which African farmers are trapped, they examined ways of catalyzing the private sector to engage in and finance operations in African agriculture. They, in particular, called for investments in increasing the shelf-life of the perishable agricultural products but re importantly in irrigation for farmers to be able to produce all the year round and also in infrastructure to ease the movement of agricultural commodities.
The Commissioner commended CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa under the able stewardship of Dr.Kulycky, for drawing the attention of governments and businesses to critical sectors like agriculture and the agricultural value chain.
The Commissioner and Dr.Kulycky took note of the best practices and success stories in some AU Member States like Rwanda, for example, were farmers were sensitized and mobilized to use fertilizer thereby increasing fertilizer use and as a result attracting private sector investment in inputs as well as in agro-processing since agricultural production increased. Another example cited was Ethiopia where soil mapping has been undertaken and fertilizer blending factories have been set up.
They also discussed ways of promoting standards, labeling and certification to enhance the competitiveness of African agricultural products on continental and international markets. They also discussed how to enhance partnerships to advance agricultural science, research, innovation and technology as a critical ingredient in the Accelerated Africa Agriculture Growth and Transformation.Media Contact
Ms. Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture; AUC
jilomboc@africa-union.orgMr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC;
molalett@africa-union.org;For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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