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At the African agriculture summit in Abuja, the proposal of creating a common Africa market of strategic food and agricultural commodities achieved much attention. A scheme that could boost African agriculture was presented.

The presentation of a common African food market at the Abuja summit was made by the UN’s Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Josue Dione of UNECA said African countries should agree on potential regional belts for the production and processing of strategic food and agricultural commodities based on agro-ecological comparative advantage and the dynamics of the Regional Economic Commodities.

Mr Dione presented a report, titled “Agricultural input business development in Africa: Opportunities, issues and challenges“. The UNECA was launched at an event on the sides of the high level summit on agri-business and agro-industries, which entered a ministerial segment yesterday.

Stating that these steps would deepen regional integration and promote the development of coordinated value chains of strategic food and agricultural commodities, Mr Dione called for the creation or strengthening of existing regional centers of excellence for agricultural research and development along the value chain of strategic commodities.

He called on countries in the region to invest in trade infrastructure and facilitation to lower the cost and raise competitiveness in regional and international markets by mainstreaming NEPAD infrastructure corridor and spatial development initiatives into the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Program (CAADP) regional implementation strategy.

Mr Dione also called for the promotion of public-private partnerships for infrastructure in the strategic commodity belts, the establishment of a regional agricultural market information system, the enhancement of agricultural trade facilitation mechanisms and improved international trade advocacy and negotiation skills.

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By Staff Writer- Afrol News