Partnerships Issue 9 - African Agricultural Technology Foundation

AATF enters into strategic partnerships to improve
Saharan Africa
During the period, AATF
signed Memorandums of
Understanding (MoUs) with
various key players in the agricultural
sector to improve technology access
for smallholder farmers in Sub-
Saharan Africa.
AATF and the African
Union Commission sign
MoU to raise agricultural
productivity in Africa
The AATF and the Africa Union
Commission signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) in January
2012 that will see the mainstreaming
of AATF activities into the
Comprehensive Africa Agricultural
Development Programme (CADDP)
process. Through the MoU, the
AU Commission and AATF will
work together to raise agricultural
productivity in Africa through
technology access, development,
delivery and uptake. The collaboration
will facilitate the deployment of
proven technologies to help address
the constraints faced by smallholder
African farmers.
“We recognise and appreciate the
contribution that AATF is making
Dr Denis Kyetere, HE Mrs Rhoda Tumusiime and HE Dr Ibrahim Miyaki, the Chief Executive
Officer NEPAD during the MoU signing ceremony in Addis Ababa in January 2012
towards Africa’s agricultural
development. The signing of the MoU
is testimony to a mutual aspiration
to work together to sustain the
economic backbone of the continent
and its peoples especially those who
depend on agriculture and associated
appropriate technologies for their
livelihoods,” said Mrs Rhoda Peace
Tumusiime, the Commissioner for
Rural Economy and Agriculture of the
AU Commission during the signing of
the agreement at the AU headquarters
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“AATF’s mission to access and deliver
agricultural technologies for use
by smallholder farmers in SSA is in
full accord with the African Union
Sirte Declaration on the challenges
of implementing integrated and
sustainable development on agriculture
and water in Africa,” said Dr Kyetere,
the Executive Director of AATF. n
For more information, visit http://
www.aatf-africa.org/news__events/
press_releases/en/ or contact Nancy
Muchiri (n.muchiri@aatf-africa.org)
AATF and AFSTA to work together to improve seed uptake
In February 2012, AATF and the
African Seed Traders Association
(AFSTA) based in Nairobi signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
that will support seed uptake and
distribution. The two organisations will
work together to facilitate technology
transfer and commercialisation of new
crop varieties to help achieve food
security and alleviate poverty in Sub-
Saharan Africa (SSA). The collaboration
will facilitate the delivery of certified
seed varieties of new and better
crop varieties emanating from AATF
coordinated projects that will help
smallholder farmers improve their
yields.
AFSTA’s core mandates are to promote
trade in quality seeds and to champion
interests of the private seed industry
in Africa. The Association currently
represents over 46 individual seed
Dr Justin Rakotoarisaona, the Secretary General, AFSTA and Dr Denis Kyetere, the
Executive Director AATF exchange the MoU documents at the signing ceremony in
Nairobi in February 2012
companies and 26 national seed
trade associations both from within
and outside Africa. n
2
For more information, contact Gospel
Omanya (g.omanya@aatf-africa.org)