by Wallace Mawire
The African Union Commission (AUC) and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen agricultural policies in Africa, according to a spokesperson.
The MoU was signed by the AUC’s Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) Commissioner, Mrs. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, on behalf of the AUC and Dr. Michael Hailu, CTA Director.
The partnership with CTA was welcomed as a timely move; as global attention was now focused on Africa’s resolve to shoulder its responsibilities of eradicating hunger and poverty.
CTA’s role involves championing the causes of agricultural development, food and nutrition security and environmental sustainability in Africa.
DREA and CTA had already forged strong partnerships through collaborative efforts in popularising the AU’s Policy Framework on Pastoralism as well as engagements DREA has had with CTA organised Development Policy Briefings.
CTA’s current strategic plan had identified the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and related Africa-led Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) policy processes as its focus of engagement with Africa.
CTA was committed to supporting agriculture and rural development particularly in Africa because of the various challenges the continent faces.
CTA had realigned its activities with prioritised activities identified by governments through CAADP programmes.
Among other collaborative efforts, the MOU focuses on strengthening the cooperation between the two institutions to enhance agricultural policies in Africa for increased productivity, intra-regional trade in agricultural products, promote sustainable natural resource management and to accelerate the implementation of CAADP at national, regional and continental levels.