WEF_GrowAfrica_AnnualReport2014

2014
Africa’s Year of Agriculture and Food Security
With the world’s fastest growing population and the
youngest, by 2050 Africa will have 2 billion people.
The rapid population growth and fast urbanization
pose a major challenge for food security in Africa.
The continent needs to not only grow more food, but
also to make sure this food is nutritious, affordable
and accessible to the population, while responding to
changing consumption patterns. African agriculture
must more than double current production levels,
while delivering economic opportunity and without
compromising environmental sustainability. These
challenges can only be turned into opportunities
when all stakeholders move beyond business as
usual, to collaborate on innovation, partnerships and
investments.
To embrace this paradigm, in 2013 the African Union
Heads of State and Government adopted a four 4 year
strategic plan that saw agriculture among the top line
priorities. Furthermore, the African Union declared 2014
the “Year of Agriculture and Food Security”, marking
the 10th Anniversary of the Comprehensive African
Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) and setting
the scene for agricultural transformation.
The last decade of CAADP implementation
undoubtedly shaped and clarified Africa’s direction in
agricultural development. CAADP provides Africa a
well-crafted, home-grown established framework to
guide policies, strategies and actions for transforming
the sector. African governments and cross-sector
partners rallied behind CAADP to push Africa’s
agriculture into the centre of the development agenda
at national, regional, continental and global levels.
Recently the sector has performed well if unevenly
across the continent. Since 2003, agricultural GDP
grew on average by nearly 4% and public agricultural
expenditures rose by over 7% per year (exceeding
12% per year in low income countries) – nearly
doubling public agricultural expenditures since the
launch of CAADP. We are proud of these inroads and
want to magnify efforts to attain the desired impact.
& A Global Strategy to Optimize the Use of Africa’s
Resources for the Benefit of all Africans”. The set of
goals, actions and targets for the next decade and mid
period for 2063 are being defined in 2014.
We believe that concrete action from global, regional
and local stakeholders will advance agricultureled
economic growth and contribute to global
food security. With higher priority accorded to
implementation of well-designed public investments in
agriculture, continued progress on policy reforms, and
attention to assure inclusion of women, young people
and smallholder farmers, Africa will revolutionize its
food systems.
There is huge potential for smallholder farmers and
other rural communities, in particular women, through
access to productive resources to increase yields
by accessing the right knowledge, tools, seeds,
fertilizers, and market opportunities. Additionally,
growing populations provide sources of labour
and opportunities for greater innovation and
entrepreneurship.
The Annual Report 2013/2014 is a testimony of the
possibilities that should be harnessed. Under the right
conditions, private sector investment has the potential
to drive pro-poor development and strengthen food
and nutritional security. We are determined to build on
this foundation to scale up commitments made into
2014 and beyond.
Africa is on the rise and poised to bring about its own
transformation through agriculture.
H.E. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime
Commissioner for Rural Economy & Agriculture
African Union Commission
The Year 2014 is, therefore, a clarion call for concerted
efforts by governments, farmers, development
partners and private sector players to sustain CAADP
momentum. 2014 is also a base year for the next
decade, as well as a year for defining the Africa we
want for the next 50 years under the umbrella of the
Africa Agenda 2063 - “A Shared Strategic Framework
for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development
“We cannot talk about African dignity
without the ability to feed ourselves.”
H.E. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime
Commissioner for Rural Economy & Agriculture, African Union Commission
12
Review of 2013 Review of 2013
13