By Andrew Kanyegirire

Although CAADP is continental in scope, particularly at the level of the regional economic communities (REC’s), focus is on implementing CAADP at the national level particularly through the country roundtable process.  The country roundtables are where key players come together to assess the realities of their own particular situation and develop a road map for going forward.

The roundtable process starts by getting national governments to buy into CAADP and to take leadership. This is then followed by engagements with key players, through coalitions, around a common commitment to move forward with CAADP. A formal launch of CAADP is then carried out before going on to identify priority areas for investment through a Compact agreement that is signed by all key partners.  

The  map opposite highlights some of the key CAADP implementation stages and processes leading to the country roundtable and the signing of the compact.  The map also (more…)

By Andrew Kanyegirire

“The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is now perceived by African leaders, civil society and key development partners, as a historic step in Africa’s development”, said the CAADP / NEPAD Agriculture Unit Head Prof. Richard Mkandawire in a recent note on the ‘CAADP road map’.

“As a component of the broader NEPAD agenda, CAADP is an Africa-led and Africa-owned initiative and framework to rationalise and revitalise African agriculture for economic growth and lasting poverty reduction results”, said Prof. Mkandawire, stressing that ending poverty and hunger would require bold decisions from African governments.

African governments have agreed to increase public investment in agriculture by a minimum of 10 per cent of their national budgets and to raise agricultural productivity by at least 6 per cent as is set-out in the CAADP Agenda. This is to be done through four pillars. These include: extending the area under sustainable land management, improving rural infrastructure and trade-related capacities for market access, increasing food supply and reducing hunger and agricultural research, technology dissemination and adoption.

By Andrew Kanyegirire

The rapid rise in food prices recently led to food riots with hungry protesters in countries such as Cameroon, Mauritania and Senegal calling for cheaper food. In response to the high food prices, the African Union, regional economic communities (RECs), development partners and NEPAD’s Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) have kick-starting initiatives aimed at staving off the high food prices.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation food price index, global food prices rose by 9% in 2006, 23% in 2007 and then shot-up to 54% in the year leading up to the end of April 2008. In Africa, the prices of basic foodstuff such as bread, rice, meat and milk have nearly doubled in three years and African governments and RECs are raising fears about increases in malnutrition and hunger.

Although the soaring food prices are a global problem - people in developing countries are most likely to be hit hardest by the hike in prices since they spend a much higher proportion of their income on food. The indication is that in the absence of emergency and long-term measures food prices are set to remain high for most Africans over the next couple of years.

Under the auspices of the AU, NEPAD and particularly through the acceleration of CAADP at the country-level, African countries have highlighted a series of short to long-term measures for boosting food security in the context of (more…)