Friday, May 7, 2010

A New Vision for African Agriculture: The “Engine for Growth”

  • An agricultural revolution is underway in Africa, with the vision to unleash the untapped potential of millions of small-scale farms and drive sustainable growth
  • Success stories provide useful models, pointing to the importance of “home grown” solutions

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 6 May 2010 – Agricultural development is the most effective strategy for boosting economic growth in Africa, concluded panellists at a plenary session of the World Economic Forum on Africa in Dar es Salaam.

Jakaya M. Kikwete, President of Tanzania, laid out a new vision for Africa’s agriculture to provide food security, promote sustainable development and generate economic growth and opportunities. “Africa’s agriculture is plagued by low productivity and food insecurity. Three-quarters of the population reside in rural areas, living from hand to mouth,” he said. “We need to do things differently, ” he added, emphasizing the role of science and technology.

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