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African Union seeks to reduce poverty by using quality seeds

Xinhua, July 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

The African Union (AU) and AfricaSeeds, an AU agency in charge of the seed sector, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to alleviate poverty through the use of quality seeds.

The deal enables them to review and revise mutual areas of cooperation to reduce poverty in Africa through the use of quality seeds for both food and cash crop production, said an AU statement on Wednesday.

Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, and Kouame Miezan, Executive Director for AfricaSeeds, signed the agreement on Tuesday at the AU Headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

During the signing ceremony, Commissioner Tumusiime commended the work done by AfricaSeeds to put in place mechanisms to optimize the seed value chain, promote policy advocacy and partnerships, and enhance seed production and marketing in the informal seed sector in Africa.

"Since your organization is very much concerned about poverty reduction in Africa through the use of improved seeds, the Commission will work with you in achieving some of the targets envisioned under the 2014 Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation," said Tumusiime.

"The signing of this MoU marks a significant milestone in our relationship and also in our collective bid to promote agricultural development and reduce poverty in Africa," she added.

Miezan has praised the AU Commission for signing the MoU.

The Executive Director noted that it was a pertinent stride towards actualizing the African Seeds and Biotechnology Programme (ASBP), which was adopted in 2007 by the AU Heads of State and Government in recognition of the important role seeds play in the attainment of food and nutrition security in Africa; and to which AfricaSeeds was chosen as a technical implementing partner. Endit