African heads of state, industry representatives, the international donor community and farmers will meet in Ghana at the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) in the first week of September to create an action plan on the acceleration of a Green Revolution in Africa. Chaired by Kofi Annan, chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), this is the first time the forum will be held in Africa. It is expected to be one of the continent’s major gatherings of both public and private players to focus solely on agriculture development.

In the forum, AGRF, which  promotes investments and policy initiatives that drive income growth for African farmers will also show progress in unlocking Africa’s agricultural potential and facilitating sustainable economic growth thanks to new investment and public-private partnerships.

“ The Green Revolution has taken hold and is gaining momentum. We have reached global consensus that agriculture is Africa’s lifeline and, from that realization, we are gaining global support and funding commitments as well as the support of African governments and the attention of the private sector. But we need an action plan to translate this momentum into tangible support for Africa’s famers,” says Mr. Annan.

Increased food production, Africa requires a comprehensive and integrated approach to improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of smallholder farmers. The new expansion must take into account its effect on climate change – the warming planet is expected to reduce yields by 20-30 percent by 2050 if left unchecked.

A number of private players will take leading roles at the AGRF.

According to Jørgen Ole Haslestad, Chief Executive, Yara International ASA, “We need both the entrepreneurship attitude from business and political leadership to create environments that enable financing and smallholder farmers to flourish.”

 “Commercially viable agriculture can yield food for millions and eliminate hunger.Together we will support the real progress on the ground,” observes Clive Tasker, Chief Executive, Standard Bank Africa.

The NEPAD Agency Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, says “Africa has the potential to become a major food producer ensuring food security on our continent and beyond. This opportunity can only become reality if systemic transformation takes place at the farmer, NGO, policy and continental level.”

"Governments must create the right policy environment to allow for appropriate investments in research and development to enhance productivity and increase production" says Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural development (IFAD).

Judith Rodin, President, The Rockefeller Foundation observes that the forum “… is an enormous opportunity to connect partners from governments, foundations, NGOs and the private sector to find new ways to increase food security in an era of climate change and establish Africa as a thriving and innovative global agricultural market.”

Courtesy: AGRF.