Ahead of the Second Africa Synod starting in Rome next week, experts have proposed to the delegates10 guidelines for peace and agricultural development in the continent.
The guidelines were jointly developed by Monty Jones, Executive Director, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA); Sylvester Oikeh, Ricercatore, lavora all’AATF; Motlasi Musi, Agricoltore Sud Africa; and François Traoré President Union Nationale des Producteurs de Coton du Burkina.
The experts have organized a round table at the Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum on the topic "For a Green Revolution in Africa: Development is the New Name for Peace."
They lamented the fact that God generously endowed Africa with many resources yet, paradoxically, the African people are the poorest on the planet. Scarcity of food, economical deprivation, lack of investments, and weak infrastructure engender underdevelopment and are conducive to emigration and armed conflicts.
The 10 guidelines are based on the fact that over 70 percent of the African population work in the agricultural sector. Here are the guidelines:
2) Training and education must be encouraged, notably for women, who have a limited access to schools in many parts of Africa.
3) Policies aimed at safeguarding and supporting families are to be fostered since human and social capital depends on family cohesion and stability, especially in the initial phases.
4) In order for agriculture to become a genuine driving force for development, it is necessary to increase productivity by optimising the exploitation of the land that is already cultivated. This implies know-how and technologies enabling an optimal use of resources.
5) Developing agriculture requires investment in research and development with the aim of fostering the productive capacity of all players, especially smallholder farmers.
6) Smallholder farmers in particular will need access to the most advanced farming techniques, high-yield crop varieties, basic inputs such as fertilizers, as well as more extensive services and training.
7) Further investments will be necessary both in quality and in the commodity distribution system in order to create added value and enable African farmers to access high-quality markets with their products.
8) Damage caused by drought and floods can be reduced and regulated by building an integrated water system with desalination plants, storage capacity, wells, dams, canals, distribution grids, recycling systems and irrigation facilities.
9) The transport system will have to be developed by building roads, bridges, harbours, railways and airports to allow African products to reach continental and intercontinental markets.
10) Promoting research and development projects on African agriculture and encouraging the new generations to study and work in their countries of origin are also very important objectives. The field of biotechnology seems to be very promising, not only for improving and enriching seeds and breeds in order to offset adverse climate and agricultural conditions, such as drought, soil salinity, pests and diseases, but also for producing drugs and vaccines.
The experts say the whole project for African agricultural development is part of the framework known as “Human Ecology” elaborated by Sovereign Pontiffs John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
Source: CISA
RSS