Kofi Annan: "Let us generate a uniquely African green revolution"

Cape Town, South Africa, 14 June 2007 – Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on Africans and the international community to join the campaign for a "green revolution" for Africa. "For me, there is nothing more important," Annan said in a plenary session on the second day of the World Economic Forum on Africa. "We must address poverty at its core. In Africa, this means enabling small-scale farmers to grow and sell Africa’s food."

Announcing that he has accepted the position of Chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Annan told participants that the new coalition would focus on finding practical solutions to "the major cause of our continental poverty – an agricultural sector that has languished but is now poised to be so much more productive and dynamic". The Alliance’s goal is to "dramatically increase the productivity, food security, incomes and livelihoods of small-scale farmers, many of whom are women," he said. Concluded Annan: "The path to prosperity in Africa begins at the fields of African farmers."

More than 800 participants from 42 countries are participating in the 17th annual World Economic Forum on Africa. Under the theme "Raising the Bar", the three-day meeting is focusing on building capacity for the continent’s success. Agriculture is a particular priority.

Reacting to Annan’s remarks, President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal said that agricultural production in his country and elsewhere in Africa has improved remarkably in recent years. Partnerships are important for achieving success, he said, noting that a cooperative arrangement with India has significantly boosted Senegal’s rice production capacity. Armando Emilio Guebuza, President of Mozambique, applauded AGRA’s focus on small-scale farmers. "If we achieve real change for the people who participate in actual production, then we will see progress." He stressed the importance of training farmers to give them the knowledge they need to be competitive.

Later in the session, Annan advised African leaders to lower military expenditures to allow for more spending on poverty reduction efforts. "In the past decade, we have been able to deal with a number of conflicts," he explained. "We need to focus on resolving all conflicts to devote our attention to economic and social development. I don’t see where the threat is coming from." In closing the session, Annan called on governments, the private sector and civil society to work together to support the Green Revolution campaign.

The Business Alliance Against Chronic Hunger, an initiative of the Food and Beverage Industry Community of the World Economic Forum, is developing sustainable and scalable business models to expand food production and help realize a Green Revolution in Africa.

The Africa Conversation

The World Economic Forum is encouraging members of the public to send in their comments and questions about the African Green Revolution. Fully incorporating the spirit of Web 2.0, concerned citizens from all over the globe are uploading their video questions to YouTube and e-mailing their comments to a specially designed website for the participants in the meeting. These contributions are being used to help design a session on the final day of the World Economic Forum on Africa. The answers to the questions will be filmed and reposted on the Internet. More information at http://www.forumblog.org/africaconversation/

CNBC Africa is the host broadcaster of the World Economic Forum on Africa.

Source: World Economic Forum

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •