Nairobi: African countries are now subsidizing agricultural production through provision of farm inputs under the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), says Dr Romano Kiome, thepermanent secretary at Kenya's Ministry of Agriculture.
Dr. Kiome, who said here yesterday that Kenya was working towards achieving a 10 per cent allocation to the agriculture sector from its present low 4.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), noted that the CAADP had helped Malawi increase its agricultural production tenfold and to deal decis ively with food insecurity.
The CAADP programme, which is driven by the New Partnership for Africa s Development (NEPAD), is aimed at making the continent self sufficient in food production.
The programme is categorized into four pillars, including extension of the area under sustainable land management and reliable water control systems; improvement of rural infrastructure and trade-related capacities for market access; increasing food supply and reduction of hunger through agri cultural research, and technology dissemination and adoption.
Kiome, who also announced the second multi-sectoral Agriculture Conference to be held in Nairobi next month, said the government and the NEPAD recognized the critical role of agricultural research and utilization of technology to increase food production.
The conference will also be used as a launch pad towards enabling farmers to take up agriculture as a form of business in order to produce more food while at the same time create employment opportunities.
