Brussels, 26/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - Convinced that solid agricultural growth in Africa is a prerequisite for progress towards the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals and making the provision and use of social services in rural areas sustainable and affordable, the Commission intends to use EU development cooperation for the benefit of the continent's agriculture. Its guidelines to bring this design to reality are set out in a communication published by Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel's department on 24 July, and adopted by the College of Commissioners by the written procedure.
The document, “Advancing African Agriculture - Proposal for continental and regional level cooperation on agricultural development in Africa” identifies the main areas for cooperation between the EU and the African Union (AU). These areas, being in line with African priorities, will support the strategic guidelines set out in the European consensus on development policy 2005-2010 and on the EU strategy for Africa. This approach will combine the quest for competitiveness and growth, working to combat poverty and for social cohesion - two objectives which require regional markets for agricultural products to be developed, taking advantage of regional integration and trade facilitation. Here is the main thrust of the action proposed by the Commission in the seven areas for cooperation identified:
Agriculture in Development Strategies: this area will address the need for agricultural development to be an integral and strategic part of the development agenda at national, regional and continental levels.
Sector governance: this cooperation area will assist in capacity building at regional and continental levels, with a view to improving governance in the agricultural sector at national levels, and thereby enabling a smooth transition from smallholder farming towards commercially viable and sustainable family-based agriculture.
Research, Knowledge Systems and Dissemination: the aim of this cooperation area is to increase the impact of agricultural research and knowledge systems on rural productivity, poverty reduction, food security and sustainable management of natural resources. The emphasis will be put on multidimensional research approaches, on sustainable agricultural production systems and on research with positive impacts on the rural poor.
The facilitation of trade, emphasising quality assurance and improvement: the aim is to strengthen Africa's ability to make regional markets work and particularly enhance its trade opportunities in agriculture, which are expected to result in trade negotiations leading to economic partnership agreements between the EU and six ACP regions, and the Doha development programme at the WTO.
Management of natural resources (soil, fisheries, forestry): priority will be given to policy and governance, as well as institutional and management provisions for sustainable use of natural resources. The Centre of Agricultural Technique (CTA), a joint EU/ACP (Africa/Caribbean/Pacific) partnership body will facilitate the exchange of experiences between all the different partners (NEPAD, specialist NGOs, regional and sub-regional organisations, European and international organisations, etc). In land policy and soil and water management, aid will come under the first pillar of the CAADP pillar and other connected international initiatives such as TerrAfrica. In fisheries, partnership agreements will help improve inspections, follow-up and monitoring of fishery resources.
Livestock development and fighting disease: the aim is to reduce animal mortality and the risks threatening livestock productivity. It also aims to improve public health and prevention, as well as increase access to regional and international markets, facilitate rational land use, and reduce livestock-related environmental problems.
Risk management: this involves developing capacities for reducing risks related to climate change, natural disasters and price shocks by focusing on organisational questions and financial instruments.
The Commission is proposing that the main guidelines for this cooperation are:
to sign up to the Millennium development objectives, particularly objective 1 - to eradicate extreme poverty and starvation before 2015, and objective 7 - to ensure a sustainable environment and reduce the percentage of the population that does not have access to drinking water by half; - to adhere strictly to African priorities by following the detailed agriculture development programme in Africa (PDDA) launched by the AU and NEPAD (new partnership for African development);
to ensure harmonisation and alignment of donors, in compliance with the principles of the declaration of Paris; - to support other AU and EU partnerships and instruments to complete Community initiatives directly or indirectly supporting rural development in Africa; - to ensure coherency between Community development policies and policy in agriculture, fisheries, trade, consumer protection and energy.
The announced increase in growth in the agricultural sector in Africa (2.7% in 2002, 3% in 2003 and 5.3% in 2004) proves that agriculture is currently finding its economic importance in Africa again. The Commission stresses that this is a trend that bodes well but which should increase even further, particularly in low income rural societies, if poverty reduction is to be sustainable. (an)