ABUJA – The African Union Commission and UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have agreed to work with key stakeholders to identify and curb post harvest losses in Africa.
This is contained in a statement issued by FAO’s Agro-Industry and Infrastructure Officer, Ms Stepanka Gallatova and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
The statement noted that both AU Commission and FAO had engaged in a two-day meeting to ensure that the current and future post harvest losses reduction initiatives were effective.
It added that the move was in response to the 2014 Malabo Declaration on Africa Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation (3AGT).
The statement noted that the meeting held in South Africa reviewed existing efforts in supporting post harvest losses reduction in Africa and proposed specific actions in advancing post harvest losses reduction.
“The outcome of the forum will also contribute to the development of the Post Malabo Implementation Strategy and Roadmap that is currently being developed by the AU Commission and other partners,” it added.
It stated that the forum built consensus on mechanism to strengthen stakeholder coordination along the losses value chains with emphasis on strengthening public-private sector and civil society partnerships.
According to the statement, the forum agreed on areas that guide policy regulation, harmonisation and implementation related to post harvest losses reduction.
It said that the meeting further identified and recommended ways to facilitate visible entry points for youths and women for effective and sustaining investment in post harvest reduction.
“The meeting also developed specific actions for tracking progress made in the implementation of post harvest losses reduction initiatives in the context of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Result Framework.
“All stakeholders should join the newly established community of practice in an effort to improve coordination and communication on post-harvest issues,’’ it stated.
The statement noted that the forum attracted participants from the AU Commission and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
Others are regional economic communities, the FAO, Development partners, senior government officials drawn from agriculture sector and related ministries.
In addition, key private sector actors, farmers’ organisations and representatives of civil society organisation as well as youth and women engaged in agriculture and agribusiness. (NAN)
