Agricultural Biotechnology: African Scientists and Farmers To Benefit from Agric Technology
The Meridian Institute
Lavinia Mahlangu, BauNews Online (February 27, 2007)
July 6, 2007
The Meridian Institute posted an excerpt of a BauNews Online article from February 27, 2007, reporting on the new partnership of NEPAD and FARA to work together. An excerpt of the original article is below…
The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) have signed an agreement to work together to enhance the capacity of African scientists, development agencies, and farmers to take advantage of new technologies and methodologies to improve African agricultural productivity. In consultation with NEPAD and its members, FARA will identify priority projects and activities for collaboration and integration of African agricultural research for development. In response to the need to streamline or "scale up" various activities at the region, sub-region, and country levels, FARA will involve all its stakeholders….
Here is an excerpt of the article on agricultural biotechnology published by Bua News.
BauNews Online
Lavinia Mahlangu
February 27, 2007
An agreement between the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is set to help African scientists and farmers benefit from technological advancements in agriculture.
The organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding to this effect in Midrand last week.
"FARA and NEPAD will work together to enhance the capacity of African scientists, development agencies and farmers to take advantage of new technologies and methodologies to improve African agricultural productivity," NEPAD said in a statement.
NEPAD Chief Executive Professor Firmino Mucavele and Njabulo Nduli, chairperson on behalf of FARA, co-signed the agreement.
A FARA-NEPAD liaison position based at the NEPAD Secretariat in Midrand, South Africa will coordinate all joint activities of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and will also provide other resources to strengthen support for the NEPAD Secretariat.
In consultation with NEPAD and its members, FARA will identify priority projects and activities for collaboration and integration of African agricultural research for development.
Aware of the need to streamline or scale up various activities within the region, sub-regions and country levels, FARA will involve all its stakeholders to achieve this objective.
NEPAD will in turn engage the international community, development partners and multilateral institutions in support of FARA.
Welcoming the agreement Prof Mucavele, said the improvement in agricultural performance and productivity is a prerequisite for economic development in Africa.
"It is our hope that the important efforts being put in motion by FARA will yield tangible results that will lift the livelihoods of the vast majority of the rural population who are farmers"….
Full articles at The Meridian Institute and Bua News.
