African leaders have agreed to end hunger and cut poverty by half by 2025 through investments in agriculture, a statement issued by African Press Organisation in Addis Ababa on Monday said.
The statement signed by Mr Boaz Keizire, Head, Agriculture and Food Security, African Union and Ms Carol Jilombo, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission was received online by the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
It said the commitment was part of the resolutions reached at the recently concluded 23rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government which held from June 26 to June 27 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Tagged the Malabo Declaration, African leaders declared their commitment to new priorities, strategies and concrete targets around agriculture-led growth.
These priorities, it said, were geared towards achieving food and nutrition security for shared prosperity of the African people.
The statement said, “African Heads of State have specifically agreed to end hunger in Africa by 2025, halve poverty by 2025 through inclusive agricultural growth and transformation.
“They have also agreed to further increase both public and private investment finance in agriculture.
“They agreed to boost intra-Africa trade in agricultural commodities and services, enhance resilience of livelihood, production systems to climate change variability and other related risks; while committing to mutual accountability to actions and results.
“The leaders also renewed their commitment towards the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) process which pushes African leaders’ commitment towards a systematic regular review process, using the CAADP Results Framework.
“Through CAADP, the African Union will drive and measure progress so that countries, and their leaders, are held accountable for results.”
It further quoted the AU Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as saying that Africans could not prosper on summit declarations but on accelerated initiatives and prioritising investments in agriculture.
“Accelerated growth is essential, if Africans at all levels are to achieve their aspirations for prosperity.
“It is time for Heads of State to put agriculture at the top of national development agenda and lead the way on a sure path to development for their people.
“While their collective pledge is important, it is now time to move beyond words and for Africa’s political leadership to act,” the statement said.
It also quoted AUC Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Mrs Rhoda Tumusiime, as saying that agriculture is Africa’s solution to long-term social and economic development.
It quoted her as saying that agriculture could help African nations in addressing, youth unemployment, gender inequality and climate change.
“A strong agricultural sector will provide employment and generate economic growth which means jobs and incomes for Africans; but public and private sector investment in agriculture is essential,” it said.
The statement said the new targets would push governments to move faster in creating a policy and infrastructure environment in which agriculture could thrive.
NAN recalls that the theme of the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly was “2014 Year of Agriculture and Food Security”.
The Heads of State and Government adopted a number of other key decisions with a view to enhancing the socio-economic and political development of the continent.
These were in the areas of education, health, trade, women and youth development.
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