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Key Note Address for H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace
Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture
African Union Commission
at the International Conference on Revolutionising Finance for Agricultural Value Chains
14-18 July 2014,
Nairobi, Kenya

Prof. Kinandu Muragu, Executive Director, Kenya School of Monetary
Studies

Dr. Evans Kidero, Governor, Nairobi County

Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u, Governor, Central Bank of Kenya

Millison Narh, Chairman of the African Rural and Agricultural
Credit Association (AFRACA) and Deputy Governor, Bank of Ghana

Luca Alinovi, Representative, Food and Agriculture
Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Kenya

Michael Hailu, Director, The Technical Centre for Agricultural and
Rural Cooperation (CTA) of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States

H.E Ambassador Lodewijk Briet, Head of Delegation, European Union

Honourable Felix Koskei, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries,
Kenya

Honourable Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,
Nigeria

Honourable Ministers from other AU Member States

Excellences, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I. Introduction

It is an honour for me to be part of this landmark dialogue on Revolutionising Finance for Agricultural Value Chains. Let me register the appreciation of the of the African Union Commission. I thank the Government and people of Kenya for graciously hosting this dialogue, for generous hospitality and for the excellent facilities placed at our disposal. Let me also, at this juncture, express gratitude to the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya for the invitation. I also wish to commend the Bank’s collaboration with the African Rural and Agricultural Credit Association and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation in organisng this dialogue. The African Union is proud to partner with you because your initiative complements the efforts we are championing on the continent in the framework of Accelerated African Agricultural Growth and Transformation in line with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

It is, therefore, my singular honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the African Union Commission.

II. Importance

I need not over-emphasise the importance of agriculture because the high turn up of participants at this international conference is eloquent testimony of the value that leaders, stakeholders and partners accord to agriculture. This commitment and enthusiasm is encouraging and promising that this time African agricultural transformation will materialise just like the green revolution in Latin America and Asia.

Let us, all the same, remind ourselves of a few pertinent facts about the driving role agriculture plays in the economic development and future growth of the African continent. You are aware that the agricultural sector remains the predominant sector in most AU Member States. We cannot tire to talk about this. It accounts for up to 80% of employment, 20% of total exports, and 40% of GDP. It has been established that agriculture, and agriculture related industries in Africa, are the top winners, above all other sectors, for a broad base of African citizens and from the perspective of returns on investment.

So, if the most important resource that Africa has are its own citizens and if for most of our citizens the occupation is agriculture, which other sector would deserve more attention than agriculture and supporting industries if we want to raise the standard of living of our people in pursuit of prosperity which is part of the vision of the African Union that aspires for: “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.’’….?

III. Support

Since it goes without saying that agriculture needs, deserves and must have support, it is imperative that we agree on the kind of investment needed for agriculture and effective and efficient mechanisms for delivering this investment for agriculture to produce the results and impacts we desire for the Africa We Want as captured in Africa Agenda 2063:
“A Shared Strategic Framework for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development & A Global Strategy to Optimize the Use of Africa’s Resources for the Benefit of all Africans”. Our convening here for the International Conference on Finance for Agriculture acknowledges that agriculture is a business, which begins on the farm and continues through building value-chains that defines the steps toward achieving the Africa where every citizen would like to live and not to migrate from.

The critical support that Africa’s agricultural sector requires is five-fold:

(i) To coordinate from a multi-sectoral approach public sector investment with rural economies at the centre where small holder farmers are empowered to evolve into enterprises that can contribute to and benefit from their sweat. Smallholder farmers have been the bedrock of African agriculture and should, therefore not be taken for granted or marginalised but rather empowered ;

(ii) To attract African financial capital into agriculture and supporting industries to strengthen agriculture value chains while at the same time improving financial sector performance culminating in resilient economies and societies. Governments need to put in place an enabling institutional and policy environment to encourage private sector finance and investment in agriculture;

(iii) To foster African innovation and entrepreneurship to catalyse Africa’s agricultural transformation while reducing risks from climate change and market shocks; to build a resilient citizenry

(iv) To focus across the board on women access to productive resources especially land and finance so that they can move from being farmworkers towards producers and owners of agribusiness;

(v) To harness the energy, quick-learning, and creativity of the youth and channelling them towards agricultural entrepreneurship. Mechanization of farming and value chain development are instrumental in attracting the youth to agriculture. And as you know definitely we shall not attract our youth to farming when we still use a handhoe.

This support needs to be implemented simultaneously, and not piecemeal, if it is to deliver the desired results and impacts in an accelerated manner. This is the only way to capture the moment that Africa has in its history for renaissance in line with the Theme of the just-concluded 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU: Pan Africanism and African Renaissance.

If you look at resource allocation, how much goes to agriculture? Suppose this amount was increased, imagine what impact it would have on households, communities and nations, their economies and stability. And as you know, food security is really political, it brings crises.

Africa needs to learn from the West; we do not have to reinvent the wheel. Look at the U.S the world's leading economy, its foundation is agriculture. They invested in research, they invested in agribusiness; and in fact in the entire agricultural value chain. Up to now they still subsidise their agriculture; and which developed economy in the world does not subsidise its agriculture? Isn't it time that we put our money where our mouth is, as the saying goes? Why should we say no to subsidies for agriculture when even the developed countries like USA and others do subsidise their agriculture?

We have, in fact, seen that the non-oil economies that are registering fast growth, are those that are investing significantly in agriculture – am not going to mention them but they are there in Africa. They are investing in extension services, agricultural credit, targeted fertilizer subsidies, and so on. This is an example worth emulating.

IV. Opportunities

Fortunately, we are favoured with the following opportunities to tap for agricultural transformation:

(i) The agricultural vision, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) underscores the importance of agriculture and serves as a rallying framework for all AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities and their stakeholders and partners to work together to achieve the Accelerated African Agricultural Growth and Transformation. Over two thirds of AU Member States have signed CAADP Compacts and formulated National Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Investment Plans, ready for implementation, and in some cases already under implementation.

(ii) Africa has 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land which when responsibly managed will underpin world-class agricultural transformation in Africa;

(iii) Africa has abundant water resources sufficient for irrigated agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture and sanitation for a healthy and productive population;

(iv) Africa’s population heralds huge and dynamic consumer markets given that by 2050, Africa will be home to one-fifth of the world’s population;

(v) Africa has the world’s youngest population that is dynamic and innovative who offer prospects for agricultural transformation and prosperity;

(vi) Africa is urbanising at an unprecedented rate opening opportunities for agribusiness and agroprocessing as part of the agricultural value chain;

(vii) The momentum towards the establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area by 2017 will boost intra-African trade dominated by African agricultural products because that is where Africa has a comparative advantage;

(viii) The operationalization of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) will also boost intra-African trade dominated by African agricultural products. Intra-African trade requires appropriate infrastructure.

(ix) The purchased inputs business in Africa is ripe for investment given the lowest rank that Africa occupies in the world in the use of fertilisers, certified seeds, irrigation equipment and others;

(x) The market for African produced agricultural products will equate to at least USD40 billion which is the price tag for Africa’s current annual food imports. This money we donate it to buy food from outside and we also end up donating our jobs. And with world food production needing to rise by 40% over the next 30 years, Africa could be an important part of the solution.

These opportunities illuminate what is possible when you, the leaders, stakeholders and partners work together in public private partnership in pursuit of transforming Africa’s agriculture and economy.

V. Conclusion

Your Excellences, Honorable Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen, I trust that, in the spirit of Pan Africanism and African Renaissance, you are all committed and determined to double your efforts to take advantage of the opportunities I have enumerated and more, in order to stem chronic hunger and malnutrition, water borne diseases, dependency on food imports, and food supply uncertainty. When we achieve the Accelerated African Agricultural Growth Targets we will ensure an unshakeable foundation for agriculture and Africa’s national, regional and continental economies in a way that perpetually fosters innovation, public and private investment in agriculture, and is fertile ground for Africa’s youth to realize their dreams and ambitions. This vision was expressed at the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, held in June 2014, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Further, the overwhelming participation here of over 800 persons, from 80 countries as we have heard at this landmark Finance for Agriculture meeting, indicates the tremendous alignment in today’s Africa that agriculture is the priority sector for wealth building and prosperity of Africa’s citizens, today and long into the future.

I look forward to a lively and productive dialogue during this week so that we all return with insights that we can apply toward increasing African investment in agriculture and accelerating African agricultural transformation and growth.

I thank you for your kind attention.

Statement of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to the 25th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council

Malabo, 23-24 June 2014

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and Chairperson of the Executive Council; His Excellency Ahmed Ould Teguidi

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Equatorial Guinea, His Excellency, Mr. Agapito Mba Moku
Your Excellencies Members of the Executive Council;
The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission,
Mr. Erastus Mwencha;
Dr. Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa
Leaders of AU Organs
Representatives of the Regional Economic Communities
Commissioners of the African Union Commission;
Representatives of International Organisations
Vice President of the African Development Bank
Excellencies, Ministers, Leaders of Delegations and Ambassadors and Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Distinguished Officials from Capitals
Distinguished Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
A warm welcome to this 25th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of our Union.

Let me again sincerely thank the President, the Government and the people of Equatorial Guinea for their kind hospitality and for putting at our disposal the excellent conference facilities.

We warmly welcome the delegation of Egypt, our dear brothers and sisters, back home. We will hopefully soon also welcome back the delegation of Guinea Bissau.

Your Excellencies

We are holding this meeting and the Summit on the theme Agriculture and Food Security, at a time when our vision for the next fifty years, Agenda 2063. The Africa we Want, is taking shape.

Agriculture and Food Security, correctly so, is a critical priority for Africa. If we get this right, it has the potential - along with what we do with the Blue economy - not only to propel us towards our goal of eradicating poverty and hunger in one generation, but also to contribute towards the industrialization through agro-processing and the development of infrastructure.

At the same time, agriculture and agribusinesses are critical to the empowerment of people, especially women and youth, and in the Summit debate we must look at the practical actions necessary to achieve this, including modernizing and mechanizing agriculture.

We are already in Year One of the fifty years horizon of Agenda 2063. We are therefore paying particular attention to those priority areas that will propel our Agenda forward in the first decade.

Amongst the things our citizens called for during the consultations and which we ourselves prioritized in our four year Strategic Plan include: the revolution in education, skills, science, technology and innovation; and our young people are calling for harmonized curricula so they can study and work anywhere in the continent; the free movement of Africans; the Continental Free Trade Area; industrialization and economic development; and connecting all capitals and commercial centres through infrastructure, rail and roads, energy and ICT.

We look forward to the Extra-ordinary AU Summit on Employment that will be held in Ouagadougou in September this year.

Excellencies,

Without a strong Union and Regional Economic Communities as the building blocks, it will be more difficult to move our agenda forward effectively. Your Session must therefore of necessity deal with the institutional issues.

The Commission is presenting its 2015 Budget for approval in the context of the ongoing discussions on Alternative Sources of Funding of the AU. It is a matter that has been referred to the Ministers of Finance and Economic Planning, and we look forward to their progress report and recommendations. At the same time, the financing of the Union, the stemming of the illicit capital flows and domestic resource mobilization must continue to occupy the attention of the Executive Council.

The Summit will also consider amendments to protocols of critical AU organs, such as the Pan African Parliament (PAP), the African Court for Human and People’s Rights and discuss the draft statutes of the African Monetary Fund. The proposals on the table seek to strengthen the contributions of these institutions to Africa’s integration, and to build African capacity to deal with its issues.

During the Agenda 2063 consultations, we witnessed the enthusiasm of the civil society and citizens organisations to be part of the Pan African movement for change. We must therefore do more to ensure that the election of the new Executive of ECOSOC takes place soon, so that it can play its critical role as a voice of civil society in our Union.

As we reported in the January Summit, Excellencies, we are paying continuous attention to the effectiveness and efficiency of Commission. We introduced changes to make our travel policy more efficient, all administrative structures required in the Staff rules are operational, we are on course with the implementation of the international finance and accounting standards and with the review of the Financial Rules.

Our turnaround time on recruitment is improving, with special attention to the quotas of under-represented countries, and moving the AU staff profile closer to gender parity. We will also before the end of the year conclude the review of the Commission’sorganizational structure and take stock of the skills of Commission staff.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

There is a general sense that the continent is moving forward: our economies are growing, we are all focusing on infrastructure development; agriculture and food security; domestic resource mobilization; industrialization, investments and growth; education, skills, jobs, the health of our peoples and on regional economic integration.

As we shift gear towards implementation of Agenda 2063, we urge the Executive Council to remain engaged and hands-on, so as to ensure that we stay on course.

Since the beginning of 2014, we have had elections (at Presidential, Local or Parliamentary levels) in Algeria, Benin, Egypt, Guinea Bissau, Malawi, Mauritania and South Africa.

The normative framework of the AU Charter on Democracy Governance and Elections remains our guide, supported by the AU Elections observer missions, including long-term observers. They are deployed on the ground to work with Member states and the National Electoral institutions to ensure peaceful elections that reflect the will of the people.

We recognize that some challenges remain, but we are moving forward. For the rest of 2014, we must ensure that we continue to have peaceful and successful elections.

Despite the general positive trajectory, we remain deeply concerned about the situations in Central African Republic, and South Sudan; the massive loss of life, the scourge of sexual violence, and the damage inflicted on the populations of these countries.

IGAD, the African Union, and the international community remain seized with these matters. We must continue to work tirelessly for the seize fire in South Sudan to hold and for the violence in CAR to stop.

We urge all parties to help create the conditions for peace, reconciliation and development; so that the people can bury and mourn their dead, can rebuild their lives, plough their fields and heal their communities.

We strongly condemn the acts of terrorism against Kenya and Nigeria, and the killing and kidnapping of innocent civilians. Unless we work with the governments to stem this tide, we are all vulnerable because terrorism, extremism and intolerance endanger Africa’s march towards prosperity, peace and integration.

Excellencies, the negotiations on the post-2015 Development Agenda will start soon. The High Level Committee has done a lot of work since the January Summit to ensure that the Common African Position is finalized and popularized. We must also ensure that our Ambassadors in New York negotiate on the basis of this Common African Positions. We are also moving towards the important 2015 Climate change negotiations.

The critical matter of Africa’s trade with the world, in the post-Bali context and at bilateral level with the EPAs and AGOA, remains high on the agenda, as we seek to build trade partnerships that will aid African industrialization and integration, its agricultural development and its drive for shared prosperity.

In March, we had the Africa-EU Summit, and we will be guided by your deliberations on preparations for the Africa-US and Africa-Turkey Summits in the coming months. It is important that we seize these opportunities to speak with one voice and advance the agenda of the continent. Africa therefore continues to navigate its way in global matters, resolute about furthering its common interests.

Your Excellencies, you have a heavy workload ahead of you.

I wish you fruitful deliberations and thank you for your attention.

Merci beaucoup!
Muito obrigado!
Muchas gracias!
Shukran jazilan!
Asante sana!

Keynote Speech By H.E. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture
on the occasion of the Celebration of the hundred years of Dr Norman Borluag
Jinja, Uganda
10th July 2014

Your Excellency Edward Ssekandi, Vice President of the Republic of Uganda
Your Excellency NicéphoreDieudonnéSoglo, Former President of the Republic ofBenin and Member of the Board of the Sasakawa Africa Association
Honourable Professor Ruth Oniang’o, Chairperson of Sasakawa Africa Association and Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education

Honourable Tress Bucanayandi, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries of Uganda
Dr John Hardman MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Carter Center
MrYoheiSasakawa, Chairman of the Nippon Foundation
DrAmit H Roy, President and Chief Executive Officer ofthe International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC)
AmbKenneth Quinn, President of the World Food Prize FoundationSsekitoleko…
Honourable Victoria Sekitoleko, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries of Uganda
Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honor, on behalf of the African Union Commission and on my own behalf, toregister appreciation for the opportunity to participate in this important Symposium on the Borlaug Legacy. I would like to thank the Government and people of the Republic of Uganda for the warm welcome and hospitality as well as the excellent arrangements for the success of this symposium and associated events. Starting from Makerere University on 8 July and then yesterday with the youth and later at the Agricultural and Trade Show in Jinja, the events do mark the road to ‘taking science, research, innovation and technology to the farmer’.
While I thank Uganda for graciously accepting to host this Symposium, I also wish to commend Sasakawa Africa Association for choosing Uganda to host. Uganda is one of the 40 AU Member States to have signed the Country Compact for the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) which as you know isour overarching continental framework for increasing agricultural production and productivity, improving food and nutrition security and eradicating poverty. We also saluteUganda for having formulated a credible Agriculture Sector Development Strategy and Investment Planthat is already under implementationto advance the agricultural transformation agenda. Furthermore, Uganda is nearly on track to reach the MDG target of halving hunger. In 1990, the child malnutrition prevalence was 20.6 percent. It has decreased since then, falling to 17.2 percent in 2007 and it has been continuing to decrease. For these and many other reasons the choice of Uganda for this Symposium is a perfect one.Indeed, Uganda is one the AU member States where the Borlaug legacy for agricultural transformation is being pursued. I must point out at this juncture that a number of AU member States where Sasakawa Africa Association has made interventions are emerging as champions of African agricultural transformation. And we find their best practices and success stories encouraging particularly theirremarkable work in supporting and promoting crop productivity enhancement, post-harvest loss reduction and agro-processing; public private partnership and market access; human resource development for agriculture and monitoring and evaluation for results and impact and especially promoting smallholder farmers and agricultural technologies. The African Union is keen to see these models upscaled and replicated especially in this 2014 Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa. Through the work of SasakawaAfrica Association and others we have noticed that Africa can make it the way Latin America, Asia and other parts of the worldmade it.Placingimportance on smallholders and the kind of relevant supportive policies, together with the inclusion of supportive institutions i.e. for inputs, for marketing, extension, for value chain development etc made countries like India attain the green revolution.
Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Fortunately, Africa has the potential and the opportunities are abound. Currently, Africa spends more than 40 Billion US Dollars a year on food imports but just imagine if this amount was invested in agricultural production!Africa’s population is growing by about 3 percent per year, among the fastest in the world, and so is their demand for food and hence a market for agriculture. The African market is now close to one billion people, including 123 million middle class consumers.Africa’s economic growth is strong, with 7 out of the 10 world’s fastest growing economies being in Africa. In addition, the growing urbanization in AU Member States augurs well for the agri-business and agro-processing industry, which in turn further catalyze agricultural production. All these are opportunities adding to the fact that Africa is endowed with abundant agriculturally suitable land that is yet to be fully and optionally utilized. It also has abundant water resources that can stimulate agricultural production through irrigation. Currently, only 4 percent of available water resources are being used for agriculture and only 6 percent of arable land is irrigated.
In addition, available technologies including those championed by SasakawaAfrica Association can significantly contribute in increasing agricultural productivity both on African farms and across different stages of agri-food value chain. A bulging population of increasingly educated youth and women are eager to be involved in innovative and gainful entrepreneurship and employment in this sector. Engaging and empowering them in order to bring their dreams into reality is a core objective of the AU through CAADP and is supportive of the long-term vision of Africa encapsulated in Africa Agenda 2063.
All these notwithstanding, Africa still leads the rest of the world as the most seriously affected by food insecurity: 1/4 of the world’s undernourished, despite progress made in the last 20 years; there are more stunted children in Africa today than there were 20 years ago.

Food insecurity is primarily a rural phenomenon but, urban populations are also increasing enduring the risk of food insecurity due to growing urban dwellers and the pace of food production being outmatched by the rate of population growth. As we heard at Makerere University, if food production is growing at a lower rate than population growth, there is a gap and it is a problem.

Therefore, we all need to deliver significant results and demonstrate impact to end hunger by 2025.

Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen

Aware of the potential of agriculture in eradicating hunger and poverty on our Continent, the African Union Heads of State and Governement endorsed CAADP in 2003 in Maputo where they committed to allocate at least ten percent of their annual public budget to agriculture.
In this continous effort to reduce hunger and poverty on the continent through an accelerated Agricultural Transformation, The Year 2014 was declared by our leaders as the African Union Year of Agriculture and Food Security to mark the tenth anniversary of CAADP. In taking this forward, since January 2014, the African Union Commission in collaboration with other Pan African institutions and with support from partners, has engaged in a series of major events for achievingbetter awareness and wider engagement with African Citizens on advancing agriculture for food and nutriton security as well as poverty eradication. African leaders have renewed their commitment by adopting an AU Declaration to sustain the CAADP Momentum through achieving specific goals and targets for agricultural transformation. Also, commitments have been taken by Partners in aligning, harmonizing and coordinating their program support and Mutual Accountability for results and impact on n the ground.

At the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union on 27 June 2014 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, our Heads of State and Government adopted the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods. The Commitments of our leaders included:
• The Recommitment to the principles and values of the CAADP process;
• The Commitment to Enhancing Investment Finance in Agriculture;
• The Commitment to Ending Hunger in Africa by 2025;
• The Commitment to halving poverty, by 2025, through inclusive agricultural growth and transformation;
• The Commitment to boosting intra-African Trade in Agricultural Commodities and services;
• The Commitment to enhancing resilience of livelihoods and production systems to climate variability and other related risks;
• The Commitment to Mutual Accountability to Actions and Results.

Committing to zero hunger would require that African Union Member States:

• At least double current agricultural productivity levels through inputs quality and affordable inputs for crops, livestock, fisheries, knowledge, information and skills, irrigation and mechanization;
• Reduce post-harvest losses (PHL) at least by half by 2025;
• Integrate measures for increased agricultural productivity with social protection initiatives focusing on vulnerable social groups through food and cash reserves, early warning systems, identified communities for interventions, and increased consumption of locally produced food items;
• Improve nutritional status, particularly for children who are the present and future of our continent that is rising.

Our leaders’ commitments and recommitments reflect the aspirations ofthe African citizens as we gathered from the consultations we; the African Union Commission, conducted with governments, private sector, civil society and our partners across the continent prior to the Malabo AU summit. This further reinforces the fact that the AU professes to be people centred in pursuit of the goal of a united, strong and prosperous Africa, a dynamic force in the global arena. The prusuit and achiement of these goals will also be in line with the Theme of the just concluded 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU, which is Pan Africanism and African Renaissance. It is also part of the Africa Agenda 2063 on the Africa We Want.

Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen

Today, Sasakawa Africa Associationis celebrating the centenary of Doctor Norman Borlaug, the father of the “Green Revolution” in Latin America and Asia and an eminent personality of agricultural research and development in Africa through his leadership in conducting the work of Sasakawa and other similar dedicated approaches in other regions of the World.
His research on wheat and his efforts in strengthening the capacities of scientists and extension workers to bring the technologies and innovations to the farmers resulted into higher yield in wheat production in developing countries through double wheat seasoning, increased disease resistance among others.
Because of his achievements to use quality seed, fertilizer, appropriate technologies and irrigation to prevent hunger and povertyglobally, one has reason to believe what has been said by some that Dr. Borlaug has "saved more lives than any other person who has ever lived."
We highly commend Sasakawa Africa Association’s Mission in furtherance of the Borlaug legacy to transform African extension advisory services in partner countries to assure greater family food security and more profitable participation in commercial activities along the value chain, while respecting natural resources contributes to the Continental efforts in ending hunger in Africa.
Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen

This year, the AU Member States reaffirmed their commitment to the CAADP principles, and to new investments in agriculture that embrace the full value chain, improve markets and trade, and provide finance at a scale to meet the wealth and job creation potential of the continent.

As education levels rise, civil societies become more vibrant and progress achieved in political and economic governance on the continent, Africans are beginning to and will demand more of their political leaders over the coming decade.

Political leadership is essential in the next decade to discern opportunities and threats, implement the vision for African development, and execute a strategy to both respond and lead others to take the steps necessary.

The African Union Commission pledges to the Republic of Uganda and all AU Member States, civil society organizations such asSasakawa Africa Associationand other agriculture sector actors commitment to the already mentioned goals for an Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods in Africaandcontinuedsupport toaccelerate the Countries CAADP National Agricultural Investment Plans and CAADP priority programmes implementation to end hunger in Africa by 2025.

Let us all contribute in eradicating hunger on our continent by 2025.
Definitely together we can do that.
I thank you

STATEMENT BY H.E MRS. TUMUSIIME RHODA PEACE, COMMISSIONER FOR RURAL ECONOMY AND AGRICULTURE, AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION

AT THE OPENING OF THE MEETING ON HARMONIZATION OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL STRATEGIES WITH THE INTEGRATED AFRICAN STRATEGY ON METEOROLOGY (WEATHER AND CLIMATE SERVICES) AND VALIDATION OF THE DRAFT IMPLEMENTATION AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION PLAN ON THE MARGINS OF 11TH MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF ECOWAS DIRECTORS OF METEOROLOGY

KAIRABA Beach Hotel, BANJUL

THE GAMBIA

15 – 16 MAY 2014
 

- Honourable Mass Axi Gye, Minister of Fisheries and Water Resources
- Madam Chairperson, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources
- Chair of African Ministerial Conference on Meteorology (AMCOMET) Expert (Dr. Amos Makarau ably represented by newly elected Chair of ECOWAS Committee of Directors of Meteorology, Mr. Bernard Gomez from The Gambian Meteorology
- Dr. Johnson Boanuh, Director, ECOWAS Commission
- Dr Joseph R. Mukabana, Executive Secretary – AMCOMET Secretariat
- Eminent Experts from African Union Member States
- Representatives of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and African Regional Institutions - ECOWAS, ECCAS, AMU, ACMAD, AGRHYMET and CILSS here present
- Representatives of the AU Commission, AMCOMET Secretariat
- Representatives of the Development Partners – UN agencies – WMO, here present
- Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen

It is indeed a great pleasure and honour for me to address the eminent gathering of experts gathered here in this beautiful city of Banjul at the opening of the Meeting on Harmonization of Regional and National Strategies with the Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology (Weather and Climate Services) and the Validation of the Draft Implementation and Resource Mobilization Plan on the margins of the 11th Meeting of the Committee of ECOWAS Directors of Meteorology taking place from 15 – 16 May 2014.

Honourable Minister, Madam Chairperson, let me begin first and foremost, by transmitting the warm wishes of Her Excellency, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the Commission and H.E. Mrs. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union to you all. The Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture would have loved to be personally here but she had to attend to some pressing official work. I also want take this opportunity, on behalf of the Commission of the African Union to express our deep appreciation to the government and the people of The Gambia for hosting these two meetings here in Banjul. Allow me to particularly convey our profound appreciation to the Honourable Mass Axi Gye, The Gambian Minister of Fisheries and Water Resource for making time available to be at the opening of this meeting despite the Minister’s tight schedule. This is an attestation of the passion that The Gambia places on the issue of Meteorology. I would like to further use this medium to express our deep appreciation to the ECOWAS Commission for facilitating the organization of this meeting.

Honourable Minister, Madam Chairperson, permit me to welcome all delegates – the eminent experts from the Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) – ECOWAS, ECCAS and AMU, African Regional Institutions and Development Partners attending this meeting. I would like to state that we value your presence at this meeting that would be discussing the Harmonization of Regional and National Strategies with the Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology (Weather and Climate Services) and the Validation of the Draft Implementation and Resource Mobilization Plan. I also want to once again acknowledge the excellent work done by the Commission of ECOWAS in preparation for this meeting; the Secretariat of the African Ministerial Conference on Meteorology (AMCOMET) and the World Meteorological Organization for engaging Consultants to support the work of AMCOMET in preparation for the Third AMCOMET meeting that is scheduled to hold this year.

Honourable Minister, Madam Chairperson, allow me at this juncture to recall that the Executive Council at the Twentieth Session of the African Union Assembly in January 2013 adopted the Decision on the Report of the Second Session of the African Union Conference of Ministers responsible for Meteorology and the African Ministerial Conference on the Meteorology (AMCOMET) held in Victoria Falls, Republic of Zimbabwe from 15 to 19 October 2012. The EXCO Decision – EX.CL/Dec.744(XXII) endorsed amongst others things; the Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology (Weather and Climate Services); the establishment of a Task Force to draft the Implementation Plan for the Integrated Strategy on Meteorology (Weather and Climate Services) with detailed annual operational plans; and the drafting of the Resource Mobilization Strategy for the Implementation Plan, to be submitted for consideration at the Third Session of AMCOMET in 2014. Eminent Experts, this meeting is being convene to harmonize the national and regional strategies on Meteorology with the continental strategy and also validate the draft Implementation and Resource Mobilization Plan for the continent strategy. The Experts and Stakeholders’ Meeting held in February 2014 in Addis Ababa at the Headquarters of the African Union Commission deliberated on the draft Implementation and Resource Mobilization Plan hence this meeting is therefore very timely as it would afford the opportunity for the Member States from the ECOWAS, ECCAS and AMU region to discuss validate the draft Implementation and Resource Mobilization Plan in preparation for the next meeting of the AMCOMET Bureau taking place later this month in Zimbabwe and subsequent presentation to the Third AMCOMET meeting that is scheduled to hold later this year.

Honourable Minister, Madam Chairperson, the development of the Implementation Plan for the Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology cannot be underscored as it would help to improve the generation of climate information on the African continent; enhance the capacity of our National and Hydro-Meteorological Services to explore the potential of Earth Observation (EO) technologies in monitoring droughts, floods, weather, climate, fisheries, rangelands, forests, etc as a tool for climate change adaptation and mitigation. The Project on the African Monitoring of the Environment for Sustainable Development in Africa now succeeded by the programme Monitoring of the Environment for Security in Africa (MESA) is now finalizing the Grants Preparation Stage and it is expected that MESA’s products and services will benefit Africa as regards their use in early warning systems, predictions in agricultural production, disaster risk reduction, and management of natural resource as tools for policy makers. The validation of the draft Implementation and Resource Mobilization Plan for the Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology is further timely as Africa is currently discussing the African Agenda 2063 on: Pan Africanism and African Renaissance; and in addition we are commemorating the Tenth Year of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

I have no doubt that the validation of the Implementation Plan will also support our climate change negotiators in the run up to the Twentieth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 20) that is scheduled to take place in December 2014 in Lima, Peru.

Distinguished Delegates, as you all aware, the AU Commission along with the African Development Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission for African / African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) is also implementing a climate related programme on Climate Information for Development in Africa (ClimDev-Africa) to support the Regional Economic Communities and Member States and effectively integrate climate information and services into development planning and also ensure the mainstreaming of climate considerations into policies and programmes directed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the post 2015 Sustainable Development Target and sustainable development in Africa. ClimDev-Africa Programme is the collective effort of the three key African Regional institutions to foster a common and coordinated response to climate change throughout the continent. In particular, it will build the capacities of relevant African institutions for enhanced information generation; analysis; and policy-making.

The ClimDev-Africa Programme will thus help to build lasting policy capacities to adequately respond to the challenges of climate change, adding distinct value to the many ongoing activities related to climate change in Africa. As a strategic complement to these climate – related programmes and other initiatives, ClimDev-Africa seeks to directly fund adaptation projects and activities; focus on enabling climate-related information for multi-stakeholder decision-making; and funding pre-investment activities in the climate sensitive sectors.

Currently, the African Group including Ministers are meeting in Abuja to garner the contribution of Africa to the global efforts on the post 2015 Hyogo Framework for Action. Madam Chairperson, All these Programmes and events taking place at the same period set the stage for advancing a transformative development agenda that can serve the needs of climate resilient economic, environmental, and social systems in Africa, while sharing and clarifying messages from Africa regarding meteorological information, climate change and development.

Honourable Minister, Madam Chairperson, I would like to conclude by assuring you all that AU Commission is fully committed to supporting the activities of the meteorology on improved weather and climate services in Africa; the activities of AMCOMET; and the implementation of the Integrated African Strategy on Meteorology (Weather and Climate Services).

Honourable Minister, Madam Chairperson, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, I look forward to your active participation and the fruitful outcomes of your deliberation at this Meeting.

I thank you all for your kind attention.
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