PRESS RELEASE Nº 022/2015

Commissioner Tumusiime discusses agricultural development with AGRA president

Addis Ababa, 03, February 2015 – The Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Mrs. Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, on 2nd February 2015, received Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), to discuss and agree on areas of cooperation in implementing the AU Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Africa Agriculture Growth and Transformation as well as other areas of agricultural development.

The discussions were guided by the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding existing between AGRA and DREA, the Implementation Strategy and Roadmap for the Malabo Declaration, as well as the Strategic Plans for the two organisations (AUC/DREA 2014-2017 and AGRA 2015-2020).

Commissioner Tumusiime, welcoming Dr. Kalibata and her delegation, said it was time to focus on strategic areas that would yield the most practical impact and results in agricultural development.

Dr. Kalibata concurred with the Commissioner and expressed AGRA’s wish to contribute towards rolling out the Malabo Declaration and noted that AGRA was in the process of refocusing and aligning their activities with that of the AU Declaration on Agriculture.

During the discussions, they agreed on how to coordinate efforts better towards an expedient implementation of collaborative activities, as laid out in the 2013 MoU by strengthening the working relationship between the two organizations, particularly in the fields of agriculture, food security as well as environment and natural resources.

The meeting further agreed to set up a team that will work together in elaborating priority areas for cooperation and partnership for 2015-2017 and an implementation plan for 2015.

The meeting was also attended by Dr. Abebe Haile Gabriel, Director, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture and other staff from both the department and AGRA.
For further information:
Mr. Maurice Lorka
CAADP advisor
N’guessanp@africa-union.org

Ms. Carol Jilombo
DREA communications
jilomboc@africa-union.org

Media contact
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke; Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC;molalett@africa-union.org; 0911630631

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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