FARA to hold 7th Africa Agriculture Science Week in Rwanda

By Kodjo Adams, GNA
Accra, May 30, GNA - This year's 7th Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW) and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) General Assembly, would take place in Kigali, Rwanda from June 13- June- 16 June.

The AASW and FARA General Assembly is the principal forum for stakeholders in African agriculture science, technology and innovation to take stock of their collective achievements over the past three years and chart a common agenda along with modalities for achieving their collective targets over the next three years.

The event, would focus on the operationalisation of the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa at country level on the theme: 'Apply Science, Impact Livelihoods,' would feature activities such as plenary sessions, an exhibition, the Rwanda day, to showcase its achievements in agricultural research and innovation and a business session.

FARA, is co-organising the programme jointly with sub-regional Agricultural Research Organisations, African Union Commission and NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, Education Networks, The Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation and the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture.

Briefing Journalists in Accra, Dr Yemi Akinbamijo, Executive Director of FARA said the content of the programme would be organised around five sub-themes: institutional systems and policies for making science work for African agriculture, sustainable productivity growth, value chains and profitable agribusinesses.

The rest include sustainable financing of Science, Technology and Innovation for African agriculture, megatrends in African Agriculture and human capital development and the Youth.

Dr Akinbamijo explained that FARA is the apex continental organisation responsible for coordinating and advocating agricultural research for development and also serves as the technical arm of the Africa Union Commission on matters concerning agriculture science, technology and innovation.

He said research is critical in agricultural activities because the development of any country is dependent on science, technology and innovation.

Dr Akinbamijo said African countries agriculture production is low because, it depends on old system of farming.

He said there is the need for embracing new form of technology to advance the sector.

He said Africa is the lowest country in the assimilation of science and technology in agriculture and it is incumbent on African governments to develop holistic policies to encompass science and technology.

He expressed worry about how people perceive agriculture as a retiring profession, saying: 'Agriculture does not happen by default and that anything that happens by default is a failure.'

He said FARA had established the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa to articulate the science, technology, extension, innovations, policy and social learning that Africa needs to apply to meet its agricultural and overall development goals.

Dr Jonas Mugabe, Project Manager for Platform for Africa-Europe Partnership in Agricultural Research for Development, a flagship project for FARA, said the platform aims at building joint Africa-European multi-stakeholder partnerships in agriculture research for development.

He said the platform had strengthened the capacity of stakeholders and advocated funding mechanisms which are adapted to the needs of research.

GNA