The President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, announced yesterday April 29 his ambition to boost the agricultural sector. In that wake, 15% of the annual state budget will be pumped into the sector over the next five years.
The announcement was made during the virtual summit “Feeding Africa: Leadership to Scale Up Successful Innovations.” The meeting was attended by several heads of state, including President Felix Tshisekedi, current chairman of the African Union, and the presidents of financial institutions such as the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote were also present. The objective was to identify ways to scale up activities, increase funding and strengthen partnerships to better harness technology to transform agriculture in Africa.
President Bazoum reiterated his country’s will to respect the Maputo commitment that each African country should devote at least 10% of its resources to agriculture. Over the past 10 years, more than CFA2,500 billion have been invested in the 3N Initiative (Nigeriens Nourishing Nigeriens). However, the challenge remains.
"Niger needs to undertake agricultural production to replace imports of 800,000 tons of cereals which amount to 302 million Account Units," said the Nigerien leader before inviting his peers to take coordinated action at the continental level to build sustainable and resilient food systems to eliminate hunger and malnutrition.
Mawulolo Ahlijah
• Investors seem to keep focusing on yields, which are high for the moment• New Leadership might see...
• ECOWAS Bank funds 47.7-km stretch of strategic 700-km road project• Lagos-Calabar highway seen boo...
• Algeria grants commercial 5G licenses to top three telecom operators: Mobilis, Djezzy, and Ooredoo...
• IFC teams up with AfDB and Nigeria’s EbonyLife to assess a new fund for African cinema• Sector cou...
• Global coffee consumption projected to hit a record 169.4 million 60-kg bags in 2025/2026, up from...
• Ghana signs a deal with eLearning Africa to expand digital learning access across the country.• The partnership focuses on deploying modern digital...
Ghana launches the Oncology Nurse Leadership Program (ONLEP) to train specialized oncology nurses from seven African countries. The five-year...
Ivanhoe Mines signs deal covering 100% of Kamoa-Kakula smelter’s copper output. The smelter will process up to 500,000 tonnes annually, starting at...
African gas projects drive significant contracts for Asian shipbuilders, especially for Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) units. South Korean...
Kolmanskop offers a haunting blend of lost wealth, colonial history, and the unstoppable force of nature. Located just a few kilometers inland from...
Located about 40 kilometers from Cape Town’s city center, Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town is one of the Cape Peninsula’s most iconic destinations. This...