East African Farmers Federation plans comprehensive development programme

The East Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) is hosting an International conference on Comprehensive African Agriculture Development programme (CAADP) at the recently opened, Top Tower Hotel, in Kigali. Whose goal according to a press release is to help African countries reach a higher path of economic growth through agricultural-led development which eliminates hunger, reduces poverty, guarantees food security and enables expansion of exports. The release adds that as a programme of the African Union, it emanates from and is fully owned and led by African governments. In his opening remarks, the Minister of Agriculture (MINAGRI) Christophe Bazivamo said that the government of Rwanda has much hope that discussions in this conference were going to yield much in line with developing small farmers who are the backbone of the economies of the respective countries. He also said that people should focus more on ways of implementing ideas from such conferences. The president of EAFF, Philip Kiriro, said that the choice of Rwanda as a venue for the conference was in recognition of the progress the country has made in the domestification of the CAADP initiative. Among other reasons cited were the initiative’s impact already in place and the reforms the country has undertaken, not only directed at reviving the agricultural sector but other sectors as well. He said that they (African farmers) wish to send a clear message to governments and development partners through this conference that they would like to see Agriculture develop through clearly and well elaborated policy framework. “We don’t want to see farmers treated as beneficiaries but as equal partners in Agriculture development,” Kiriro said. Among the conference’s objectives is building capacity by linking farmers and development partners, government representatives, regional farmer networks, European NGOs and all the consultants involved in the CAADP process. It also aims at showing farmers how they stand to benefit from the linkanges. Its theme is “Domestication of CAADP and engagement of producer organisations in the CAADP Agenda.” The Conference which will end on Friday has attracted participants from Rwanda, Burundi, DR. Congo, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. Ends

National

East African Farmers Federation plans comprehensive development programme