It is all systems go for the North West Province Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)

Farmers and agriculture stakeholders in the North West Province have welcomed the move to appoint a team that will coordinate the implementation of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) objectives, which seeks to add value to what the province is currently doing in so far as agricultural developments are concerned. This after the team was inaugurated during a two-day consultative workshop that was held in Mahikeng recently.

CAADP is an initiative of the African Union Commission (AUC) and NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA), which seeks to bring agriculture in all African countries back on track.

Speaking at the workshop that was attended by more than hundred provincial agriculture stakeholders, Dr Tobias Takavarasha of the NPCA said agriculture is one of the core priority result areas for the NEPAD, and that it is through effective implementation of the programme’s objectives that agriculture will be best positioned as an engine for growth.

Key to the provincial CAADP task team’s terms of reference is amongst others the facilitation of the provincial CAADP processes that will culminate into the signing of the CAADP compact at national level, the designing of agriculture and food security investment plans which will outline provincial priorities and financial requirements for these plans, fostering public private sector partnerships by stimulating the private sector to support the programme in various ways and advocating the alignment of other activities, policies and programmes with the CAADP.

It is expected that the task team, which is made up of representatives from the agricultural unions, commodity organisations, community based organisations, labour movements, women and youth formations, institutions of higher learning, financial institutions, municipalities and government departments, will furthermore facilitate policy dialogue through regular interactions with different stakeholders.

Addressing the team after its inauguration, Head of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the North West Province Dr Mmamakgaba Mogajane said the necessary support will be provided to enable the team to perform its mandate of efficiently implementing the CAADP. Dr Mogajane encouraged the team to ensure that there is constant communication on progress made in implementing their terms of reference.

Appreciating the stakeholders’ willingness to participate in this programme, the MEC for Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Desbo Mohono said the department is confident that the teams’ contribution towards the identification of provincial specific priorities and cost effective options that have the greater impact of agricultural growth and development in the province, will enable the province to make meaningful inputs which will be included in the national CAADP compact.

“We have placed the future of agriculture in the province in your hands, and we remain confident that you will use your experience in agriculture as your yardstick in taking stock of what we have in the province, identifying gaps that must be bridged and ensure that the province specific priorities are part of the envisaged investment plan”, said MEC Mohono.

CAADP is intended at helping African countries to reach and sustain a higher path of economic growth through agriculture led development that has the potential to reduce hunger and poverty, and enhances food security and growth in exports.

Enquiries:
Bonolo Mohlakoana
Cell: 082 901 2435
Tel: 018 389 5719/5684
E-mail: Bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za