Tz to host global food security meeting

Tanzania will host the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) from September 26 to 28, 2012.According to a statement, the forum has been identified as the next milestone in developing solutions to achieve food security.It added that the forum will tackle leadership policy, revolutionising African agricultural finance models, strengthening markets and transforming agriculture through innovative partnerships.“Tanzania has long been known as a farming nation. Farming is central to our economy,” Tanzania’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives, Christopher Chiza, said. “We are pleased to welcome leaders from across the continent and around the world to find new ways to scale the success we’ve seen in our own agricultural breadbasket.”At the recent G8 Summit, global leaders, including 21 African countries and 27 members of the private sector committed US$3 billion to a New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, launching the next phase of the global food security effort to raise 50 million people out of poverty over the next 10 years.AGRF 2012 sets the stage for Africa’s leaders to drive the initiative by promoting investments and policy support to increase agricultural productivity and income growth for African farmers.Tanzania’s recent agricultural growth is said to represent a case study of what is possible.In the Kilombero District of Morogoro, the yields for maize have recently increased for some smallholder farmers from 1.5 to 4.5 tonnes per hectare; the yields for rice have increased from 2.5 tonnes to 6.5 tonnes.“The goal of the government is to transform Tanzania into a middle-income country by 2025, fuelled, in a significant part, by growth in its agricultural sector,” the minister added.The forum brings together African Heads of State, ministers, private agribusiness firms, financial institutions, farmers, civil society organisations and scientists to discuss and develop concrete investment plans for scaling agricultural development success in Africa.Following recent discussions at World Economic Forum Africa, the G8 and David Cameron’s Hunger Summit, the African Green Revolution Forum will continue to look for ways to unite the power of the public- and private-sectors in the global food security efforts.“Public- and private-sector leaders are joining forces in unprecedented ways to ensure a more food secure future,” said Yara President and Chief Executive Officer, and co-chair of the forum.“Smallholder farmers are at the centre of all we do,” said AGRA President Jane Karuku. “Our approach is clear and proven – if we provide African farmers the tools they need to grow more and improve their incomes, they will help lead us all into a more prosperous future”.Tanzania will welcome notable guests including Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Co-Chair, Melinda Gates, IFAD President Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, Nigerian Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, World Food Prize Laureate Prof. Gebisa Ejeta, and Yara International President & CEO Jørgen Ole Haslestad.

National

Tz to host global food security meeting