AU SAFGRAD Coordinator, Dr Ahmed ELMEKASS, participated to the DREA parallel session on “Enhancing investment in the Agriculture Sector and Agriculture Trade”
On Saturday 15th of December 2018, Day 5 of IATF18 in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt, the AUC Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) organized a parallel session on the theme “Enhancing investment in the Agriculture Sector and Agriculture Trade”. The event took place at the Conference Hall within the Almanara Conference Center in Cairo, Moderated by Dr. Simplice Nouala Fonkou, Head of Division, Agriculture and Food Security.
Moderated by Dr. Simplice Nouala Fonkou, Head of Division, Agriculture and Food Security, the side event gathered five panelists from various DREA entities. The session was attended by an audience comprised of various participants, notably medias professionals, experts, officials, business men, exhibitors etc. The issues raised concerned : Investment and jobs creation through Agriculture notably for Youth and Women; Chemical Products management including pesticides; Building Capacities including Training of Young Researchers; Value Chains Approach; Importance of Livestock; Importance of vaccines; Etc.
Taking the floor, Dr. Ahmed ELMEKASS, AU SAFGRAD Coordinator, focused on investment targeting small holders and resilience of rural livelihoods. He mentioned the importance being played by small holders, notably in semi-arid zones of Africa, in Agriculture production and the need to assist and protect them. He point out that 80% of food production is done by small holders. He also indicated that investment a required to improve irrigation, fertilization and research.
After the panelists’ interventions, the discussions were extended to the public. The main concerns were about jobs creation in the Agriculture sector targeting mainly Youth and Women and how to attain the sanitary and phytosanitary and food safety standards that will facilitate safe intra-African trade in agricultural commodities. The various ongoing DREA programmes addressing those issues were explained by the panelists.
The session was closed at around 04 PM, after 2 hours of intensive discussions.
Group picture of the panelists at the end of the DREA parallel session at IATF18
