On the eve of a major conference on agriculture in Africa, the head of the United Nations rural development arm stressed the need today for the right policies, access to markets, infrastructure and affordable technologies to ensure food security on the continent.

“Agricultural revolutions that are sustainable and inclusive are enabled by policy revolutions, in which governments play a leading role,” said Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (<“http://www.ifad.org/“>IFAD).

He noted that agricultural revolutions are not solely technological, and so it is not enough just to devise the new techniques and create the new varieties.
The transformation of African food markets requires concerted, sustained efforts by all, added Mr. Nwanze, whose Rome-based agency works with poor rural people to enable them to grow and sell more food and increase their incomes.

“We will need more partners in government who support inclusiveness of opportunity for all their fellow countrymen and women.”

Mr. Nwanze will carry this message to the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), hosted by the Alliance for the African Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), which will be held in Accra, Ghana, from 2 to 4 September.

Before heading to the Forum, he will travel to the eastern region of Ghana to meet with rural people who are participants in the IFAD-supported Rural Enterprises Project and the Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme.

The AGRF brings together African leaders, farmers, the private sector, financial institutions and civil society to address agricultural deficiencies in Africa and help drive investment into key projects to address food security.

During the conference, Mr. Nwanze will outline what it takes for another agricultural revolution on the continent, including access to markets, land and infrastructure, as well as new and technologies for rural communities.

“We will need more partners among farmers’ organizations who empower farmers and producers to gain access to the marketplace,” he stated.

Next week’s gathering, co-chaired by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and hosted by the President of Ghana, John Mills, will be the first time the Forum will be held in Africa, following three successful conferences in Oslo, Norway.

“The commitment and the momentum are building and our concerted efforts have never been so crucial to success. This is our window of opportunity to get it right, for Africa and for the world,” said Mr. Nwanze.