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Press Release No.084/2014

Experts’ session of AU’s Joint Conference of Ministers of Agriculture, Rural Development, Fisheries and Aquaculture charts the way forward for the next decade of agricultural transformation
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 28 April 2014–Today, the African Union (AU) Joint Conference of Ministers of Agriculture, Rural Development, Fisheries and Aquaculture officially opened in Addis Ababa at the AU Headquarters. The conference is organised in two segments; the Experts meeting from 28-30 April 2014 and Ministerial Session 1-2 May 2014.

The theme for the meeting is: “Transforming Africa’s Agriculture for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods through Harnessing Opportunities for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development.”

The joint conference aims to highlight the importance of agriculture as a vehicle for economic growth and poverty eradicationin the African continent. This conference will also take steps towards finalising strategies that will catalyse African-led solutions for African problems through agriculture and the rural sector for the next 10 years.

“Agriculture has been showing a growth performance of about 4% per annum over the last decade of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), this is indicative that agriculture and the rural sector are at the centre of the transformation agenda”, said AUC Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace during her opening remarks. “The Decision of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government to commemorate 2014 as the Year of Agriculture and Food Security and marking the 10th Anniversary of the Adoption of CAADP, provides us all with a unique opportunity to engage ourselves in an exercise of honest assessment and reflections of the progresses made thus far, the lessons we have learnt, and chart clear set of goals and targets for implementation in the next decade in a context of transformative agenda to get rid of hunger, malnutrition and poverty from our continent”, she added. (The full speech is available on www.au.int).

Officially opening the conference, H.E Wondirad Mandefro, State Minister of Agriculture of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, represented by Mr.Zena Habtewold Director, Planning and Programming, Ethiopian of Ministry of Agriculture, said, “CAADP has played a crucial role in improving coordination among various players on agriculture strategy development and mobilizing resources to support development endeavours.” (The full speech is available on www.au.int).

The five day meeting aims to finalise consensus on strategic goals and improved coordination of programmes linking agriculture and rural development and strengthening policy and institutional capacities for advancing agricultural transformation.
The Ministerial Session of the AU Joint Conference of Agriculture, Rural Development, Fisheries and Aquaculture will be held 1-2 May 2014. Journalists are invited to attend the opening session of the Ministerial meeting on Thureday1st May 2014 at 9:00am as well as the press conference at 11:00am at the AU Headquarters.
For interview requests and more information, please contact:
Ms Carol Jilombo
Department of Rural Economy and Agricultrure, AUC
E-mail: Jilomboc@africa-union.org

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke
Directorate of Information andCommunication, AUC
E : mail: 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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Press release Nº080/2014
AU Commissioner and GalvMed’s CEO hold talks on livestock development in Africa
Addis Ababa, 24 April 2014 – Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the AU Commission on Thursday 24 April 2014, received H.E Dr. Peter Jeffries, Chief Executive Officer of GalvMed at her office in the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The two principals discussed GalvMed’s Public-Private Partnership for livestock health product development and adoption in Africa.
The Commissioner presented the appreciation of the AUC for the cooperation and collaboration between GalvMed and the Pan African Institutions of the African Union particularly the Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (IBAR) and the Pan African Veterinary Vaccine Centre, and also for the joint efforts on the Centre for Tick and Tick Bone Diseases.
The CEO of GalvMed pledged to step up efforts to enhance the participation of Africans in GalvMed programmes and projects and to increase the benefits of GalvMed for African citizens.
The two parties agreed to maintain regular contacts and to work more closely in taking forward the African Union agenda for livestock development especially in the 2014 AU Year of Agriculture and Food Security.
Media contact:
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC; molalett@africa-union.org; +251-911-630-631

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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Press release Nº079/2014
Commissioner Tumusiime receives UN-OCHA representative to the AU
Addis Ababa, 24 April 2014 – Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture on Thursday 24 April 2014 received Mrs. Janine M. Cooper, the United Nations Organization for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) Representative to the African Union at her office in the AU Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The two parties discussed issues pertaining to the AU Year of Agriculture and Food Security and focused more on issues of building resilience and reducing vulnerability especially in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel Region given the persisting climate change and disaster risks.
The Commissioner highlighted the relevant programmes of the AU including the Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev Africa), the Monitoring of Environment for Security in Africa (MESA), the African Risk Capacity (ARC) and the Great Green wall for the Sahara and Sahel as being areas of greater emphasis.
They agreed to do coordinate their efforts more closely to heighten advocacy, information sharing and raising public awareness, at various fora and in collaboration with multiple stakeholders and partners to ensure that drought and food humanitarian emergencies are minimized on the continent through enhancing preparedness and building resilience.
They also agreed to expedite the process of renewing the existing Memorandum of Understanding between UNOCAHA and the AUC’s Departments of Rural Economy and Agriculture and Political Affairs.
Mrs. Janine M. Cooper is also Chair of the UN Liaison Team that is working closely with the AU Commission on multiple areas of mutual interest including the preparations for the commemoration of 2014 the AU Year of Agriculture and Food Security.

Media contact:
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC; molalett@africa-union.org; +251-911-630-631

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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PRESS RELEASE

Visiting Kazakhstan Ambassador discusses areas of cooperation with AUC Commissioner of Rural Economy and Agriculture

April 14, 2014, Addis Ababa- The African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture Mrs. Tumusiime Rhoda Peace received His Excellency Berik Aryn, the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Friday, 11 April 2014 at her office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to discuss areas of cooperation.

Ambassador Aryn and Mrs. Tumusiime discussed strategic areas of intervention where Kazakhstan as a partner, could provide support. Ambassador Aryn specifically showed interest in areas within the remit of the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture in the context of the 2014 AU Year of Agriculture and Food Security and also the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

He noted that Kazakhstan being an agricultural led country, had extensive experiences to share with Africa. He further noted that the last conference of the Islamic Countries (OIC) a number of which are AU Member States had adopted the creation of an OIC Centre for Food Security and had decided to have it located in Kazakhstan.

The Commissioner welcomed the initiative of Kazakhstan to partner with Africa and support AU flagship programmes including those under the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture. She promised to provide the specific areas under her department for consideration by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

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