Swaziland fourth to sign CAADP Compact

03 March 2010, The Swazi Observer
URL: http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=11586

Mbabane: Swaziland will this week become only the fourth African country under COMESA to sign the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Compact. The signing is expected to take place at the Royal Swazi Spa at Ezulwini. The event will be witnessed by key stakeholders in the African agricultural development agenda, including agricultural experts, policymakers, development partners, farmers’ organisations and private sector from Africa and the International community.

In a communiqué from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), it is said that the signing of the Compact is in direct response to a mandate by African heads of States in Maputo 2003, which encouraged member states to increase their annual budget allocation to agriculture in order to attain a marked and sustainable growth in the sector.

“The endorsement of the compact will signify the commitment of the Swaziland government and all key stakeholders involved in advancing the agriculture development agenda towards investing in selected priority areas that will ensure enhanced economic growth, food and nutrition security,” said COMESA’s statement.

Minister of Agriculture Clement Dlamini said CAADP assists African countries achieve the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), especially the first of these goals, which seeks to reduce hunger and poverty by at least 50% and achieve food security for all by the year 2015.  “One specific goal of CAADP is to achieve an average annual growth rate of 6% in agriculture. To accomplish this, CAADP aims to stimulate an agriculture-led development that eliminates hunger and reduces poverty and food insecurity,” he said.

Swaziland will be joined by its partners under the African Union (AU), New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) during the signing. Sessions are expected to commence tomorrow and end on Thursday.