Agriculture and agro-industries as two separate sectors with agriculture as the hallmark of the first stage of development and production and agro-processing and agro-industry as the second stage converged as the most critical indicators of a country's progress along the economic and development path.
This formed part of the discussions during a recent high-level conference convened and attended by the Ministers of Agriculture of the African continent. It was also attended by Brazil as well as food security and agricultural organs of the United Nations and launched the Agribusiness and Agro-Industries (3ADI) initiative as a follow-up to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Global Agro-Industries forum which was held in India in 2008.
The objective of the event was not only to launch the 3ADI, but also to learn from key lessons, experiences and success stories relating to the promotion of competitive agro-industries in the developing world. The conference addressed among other things the role of agribusiness and agro-industries in promoting food security, employment generation, and sustainable economic growth in Africa, the strengthening of market access and market infrastructure that will facilitate the growth of trade opportunities in the domestic, regional and international markets.
“The initiative outlined pillars of development including appropriate skills and technologies, infrastructure, provision of resources, as well as the implementation of enabling policies and provision of public goods,” Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson stated.
South Africa was finalising the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) through which the country will seek to unlock the potential of a number of industrial sectors including agro-industry. “In this regard, South Africa believes that strong partnerships are necessary for shared growth and development, especially on our continent,” the Minister added.
The leaders also discussed the consideration and endorsement of priorities for development assistance and of mechanisms to promote and facilitate public and private sector investment in agribusiness and agro-industries development in Africa, further improving production practices through enhanced inputs such as fertiliser and the roll-out of mechanisation.
The 3ADI initiative was launched with the African Union Commission (AUC) and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) through the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) partnered with the African Development Bank (AFDB), the FAO, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Economic Commission of Africa (UNECA) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
The conference helped raise awareness in Africa about the pivotal role of agribusiness and agro-industries in the sustainable economic development of the continent and reinforced the recognition by African governments of the need to prioritise agribusiness and agro-industrial development strategies that reach beyond traditional agricultural growth promotion efforts.
The member states committed themselves to take measures to foster commercial bank financing for all segments of the agribusiness value chain and to ensure that agricultural financing initiatives are enhanced through African institutions and made accessible to the rural areas.
Enquiries:
Priscilla Tsotso Sehoole
Tel: 012 319 7017
Cell: 083 265 8728
E-mail: HCM@daff.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
17 March 2010
Source: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (http://www.daff.gov.za)
