Assembly/AU/ Decl.2(XI)
Page 2
DECLARE our firm commitment to:
1. Reduce by half the number of undernourished people in Africa by 2015 and
eradicating hunger and malnutrition in the Continent.
2. Take all necessary measures to increase agricultural production and ensure
food security in Africa, in particular through the implementation of
Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme of NEPAD and
the Maputo Declaration of July 2003.
3. Support the following thematic priority-options:
Increase food production and productivity for key commodities by improving
access to agricultural inputs for diversified cropping and livestock production
systems including targeted SMART subsidies (fertiliser, improved seeds,
better access to technologies and innovations);
Improve production of fertilizers from existing plants and explore the
possibility of establishing new ones based on the availability of raw materials
in the region;
Support national and regional food initiatives to stabilize prices, and serve as
emergency stock ;
Strengthen food security and agricultural information and early warning
systems that are sustainable with key stakeholder participation;
Introduce and support agricultural insurance systems and micro credit;
Increase production by improved sustainable soil fertility management
including conservation agriculture technologies;
Enhance food processing, credit systems, and use of improved storage, and
minimize post harvest losses;
Promote indigenous crops and technologies for production and processing of
nutrient-rich crops;
Improve logistics capacity to move emergency supplies and agricultural inputs.
4. Address the challenges posed by the high food prices through the following
measures:
(a) Immediate/ short terms responses:
Immediate assistance to the vulnerable segments of populations through
targeted food assistance and safety net measures including cash and/or food
transfers to combat hunger and malnutrition;
Intensify agricultural production and productivity through the use of targeted
input subsidies, particularly fertilizer and improved seed, and enhance access
to water and small scale irrigation;
Improve post harvest management to minimize crop storage losses and
enhance processing;