*Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (23 August, 2012)* – Tanzania’s Minster of
Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives the Honorable Christopher Chiza and
President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Jane
Karuku today announced that Tanzania will host the *African Green
Revolution Forum* (AGRF) from September 26 to
28, 2012. The meeting is the next milestone in developing African-led food
security solutions. At the recent G8 Summit, global leaders including 21
African countries and 27 private sector companies committed $3 billion to a
New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, launching the next phase of
the global food security effort to raise 50 million people out of poverty
over the next 10 years.****
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AGRF 2012 sets the stage for Africa’s leaders to drive the initiative by
promoting investments and policy support to increase agricultural
productivity and income growth for African farmers. During the forum,
hosted at Arusha’s Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge, global leaders will tackle
leadership policy, revolutionizing African agricultural finance models,
strengthening markets, and transforming African agriculture through
innovative partnerships. ****
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“Tanzania has long known farming is at the centre of our economy,” said
Minister Chiza. “We are pleased to welcome leaders from across the
continent and around the world to find new ways to scale the success we’ve
seen in our own agricultural breadbasket.”****
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As the host nation, Tanzania’s recent agricultural growth represents a case
study of what is possible. In the Kilombero District of Morogoro, the
yields for maize have recently increased for some smallholder farmers from
1.5 to 4.5 tons per hectare; the yields for rice have increased from 2.5 to
6.5 tons per hectare. ****
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“The goal of the government is to transform Tanzania into a middle-income
country by 2025, fuelled, in a significant part, by growth in its
agricultural sector,” Chiza added. ****
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The forum brings together African Heads of State, ministers, private
agribusiness firms, financial institutions, farmers, NGOs, civil society
organizations and scientists to discuss and develop concrete investment
plans for scaling agricultural development success in Africa. Tanzania
will welcome notable guests including Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Co-Chair Melinda Gates, IFAD President Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, Nigerian Minister
of Agriculture the Hon. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, World Food Prize Laureate
Prof. Gebisa Ejeta, and Yara International President & CEO Jørgen Ole
Haslestad. ****
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Following recent discussions at WEF Africa, the G8 and David Cameron’s
Hunger Summit, the African Green Revolution Forum will continue to look for
ways to unite the power of the public- and private-sectors in the global
food security efforts.****
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“Public- and private-sector leaders are joining forces in unprecedented
ways to ensure a more food secure future,” said Yara President and Chief
Executive Officer, and co-chair of the forum, Mr. Jørgen Ole Haslestad.
“We have seen great success when players come together and invest
strategically – we hope to build on new momentum and work together to
transform agriculture in Africa.”****
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The forum will remain focused on unlocking Africa’s agricultural potential
by empowering smallholder farmers across the continent. By collaborating
with farmer’s organizations, civil society and other partners, the
discussion will explore new ways to provide resources, overcome challenges
and improve yields for the millions of farmers who are working less than
two hectares of land across the continent. ****
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“Smallholder farmers are at the centre of all we do,” said AGRA President
Jane Karuku. “Our approach is clear and proven – if we provide African
farmers the tools they need to grow more and improve their incomes, they
will help lead us all into a more prosperous future.”****
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*About AGRF*
The African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF)
focuses on promoting investments and policy support for driving
agricultural productivity and income growth for African farmers in an
environmentally sustainable way. The forum is a private-sector led
initiative which will brings together various stakeholders to discuss and
develop concrete investment plans for achieving the green revolution in
Africa. Principle strategic partners include
AGRA,
Yara International, the Africa
Unionand
NEPAD Planning and Co-ordinating Agency.****
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*Ends…/// *
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Regards****
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