New report finds ten years on, African countries that embraced agriculture saw food production, GDP and nutrition all improve

On 6 September 2016, during the African Green Revolution Forum, the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition, in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), brought together leaders in agriculture, nutrition and health at a High-Level Roundtable meeting. The event focused on how Africa’s agricultural community can achieve nutrition security through healthy diets and featured the launch of the Africa Agriculture Status Report titled, “Progress towards Agricultural Transformation in Africa” was launched

Download the report at http://agra.org/aasr2016/

Download African Agriculture Status Report 2016 Press Release

Download Africa Agriculture Status Report 2016: Progress towards Agricultural Transformation in Africa

The report reveals that agriculture has had its biggest impact in countries that moved quickly to embrace the African Union’s Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) which was created in 2003. A key component of CAADP was its call for African governments to allocate 10 percent of national budgets to agriculture and to aim for six percent annual growth in the sector. The report notes that even if they didn’t hit the 10 percent targets, early adopters of the CAADP goals have seen productivity on existing farmlands rise by 5.9 to 6.7 percent per year. This boost in turn helped spur a 4.3 percent average annual increase in overall GDP. Those later to the adopt the CAADP gaols achieved a 3 to 5.7 percent growth in farm productivity and a 2.4 to 3.5 percent increase in GDP. The trend is similar for declines in malnutrition, with countries that have embraced the CAADP process experiencing annual declines ranging from 2.4 to 5.7 percent, while those who have not averages only a 1.2 percent decline.

The last ten years have made a strong case for agriculture as the surest path to producing sustainable economic growth that is felt in all sectors of society—and particularly among poor Africans. The track record is far from perfect, many governments face significant budget constraints and far too many farming families continue to lack basic inputs, like improved seeds or fertilizers. But the evidence is clear. When we invest in our farmers and in the all the things they need to succeed, good things happen across the economy.”

AGRA President, Agnes Kalibata

Over 30 high level participants, including the former presidents of Nigeria H.E. Olesegun Obasanjo and Tanzania, H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union (who is also a member of the SUN Movement Lead Group), H.E. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime and representatives from the Ministries of Health and Agriculture in Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana and Senegal, were welcomed to the event by AGRA President and Global Panel Member, Dr. Agnes Kalibata. Participants at the High Level Roundtable agreed that a ‘business-as-usual’ approach to agriculture and the agribusiness industry, will not result in the required nutritional outcomes demanded by Africa now, or in the future, as populations, economies and the aspirations of nations continue to grow.

Read more at agrinatura and AGRF2016