AUC and FARA sign MoU to enhance strategic partnership in Agriculture, Science and Technology

Accra, July 18, 2013 –The African Union Commission (AUC) and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) yesterday July 18, in Accra, Ghana, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to broaden the strategic partnership between the two organisations in strategic areas including agriculture, Science and Technology, among others.

The MoU was signed by AUC Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA), H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace and FARA Board Chairman, Dr. Tiemoko Yo, during the opening ceremony of the Comprehensive Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) day celebration held at the on-going Africa Agriculture Science week in Accra, Ghana.

Several African Ministers of Agriculture officiated at the event in addition to other senior leaders from governments, international organisations and think tanks in the agricultural sector.

By signing the MoU, AUC committed to provide leadership and coordination support in the implementation of the jointly agreed initiatives, while engaging FARA to provide technical support in the design, development and implementation of continental initiatives on promoting agricultural research and innovation for development in Africa and in support of CAADP country plans.

FARA on the other hand agreed to provide strategic advice to the AUC on promoting African agriculture transformation for economic growth and development through enhancing agricultural research, innovation, science and technology. Through the MoU, FARA will further provide strategic guidance and support to the development and implementation of the Agriculture Science Agenda for Africa and Agriculture Education and Training.

The MoU will remain in force for four years effective from its date of signing.
During the official opening of the CAADP Day, AU Commissioner Tumusiime said the CAADP Day was a major event in the African Agriculture Transformation Agenda, which aims to raise further awareness and the profile of CAADP as an African owned and African led priority framework.

“The theme of the CAADP Day “Africa feeding Africa” sets the scene for reflecting on how to improve agricultural production to eradicate hunger and poverty in the continent. The CAADP Day is an important event to reflect and discuss for an improved delivery on CAADP implementation for the African people,” said Mrs. Tumusiime.

She also congratulated the Government of Ghana for having achieved the Millennium Development Goal Number 1, of Ending hunger and reducing poverty by half by 2015 and having passed the stage of becoming a Middle income country.

Several ministers reiterated their commitment to support the implementation of CAADP in their respective countries. The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security in Sierra Leone, Dr. Sam Sesay, for example, called for a review of CAADP commitments mainly the 10% public spending and 6% agricultural growth. The Ministers specifically further called for the need to be concrete on how to guide African Heads of State as they look to recommit themselves in 2014, the AU declared Year of Agriculture and Food Security and Commemoration of 10 years of CAADP.