All the objectives of AAMC were met—says ASARECA Executive Director

A Unique Scientific Conference was successfully held on May 19, with focus on showcasing achievements, innovations that work, and maneuvers to beat challenges that impeded the delivery of AR4D outputs

KAMPALA: All the targets set by ASARECA and its Governance Organs during the ASARECA Agriculture Ministerial Conference (AAMC)-2023 running from May 17 to 19, 2023 were archieved, the Executive Director, Dr. Enock Warinda has said.

Responding to questions from journalists at the close of the AAMC-2023 on May 19, Dr. Warinda said the Line Ministers for Agricultural Research and Development in Member States signed a Joint Communiqué agreeing to all the prayers made to them by ASARECA Secretariat through the Board of Directors and the General Assembly.

Countries sign Joint Communique

The Ministers or their delegated authorities that signed the Joint Communique included Ministers of Agriculture of: The Republic of Burundi, Republic of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, State of Eritrea, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Madagascar, Republic of the Congo, Republic of Rwanda, Republic of South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Federal Republic of Somalia, and the Republic of Uganda.

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia will sign at a later date, while Republic of the Sudan did not attend the AAMC due to the ongoing conflict back home in Sudan. These countries are all expected to sign into the resolutions.

All prayers granted

Dr. Warinda noted that among other things, the three-in one event was convened to: Ratify proposed amendments to the ASARECA Constitution including increment of membership fees to USD 100,000 for core members and USD 25,000 for the ordinary members;  endorsing appointment of the new Board of Directors including all Directors General of the NARIs; Endorsing ASARECA priorities and Strategies; Endorsing the incoming General Assembly leadership (President and Vice President), and Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary to the Business Committee; Edmit new members (Cemeroon, Central African Republic and Somalia) in to ASARECA; and a range of programming initiatives.

The Ministers among other things agreed to:

• Contribute to sustainable and long-term financing of ASARECA by paying One-off membership fees of USD 100,000 to ASARECA, Annual subscription fees of USD 100,000 by Core Members and annual subscription fee of USD 25,000 for Ordinary Members.
• Pay all outstanding financial arrears to ASARECA to zero by March 2024.
• Support Regional Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) initiatives by jointly and individually lobbying Development Partners to support mega regional agricultural projects coordinated by ASARECA and developed by Senior NARI Scientists
• Formulate and implement regional policies to facilitate cross border trade and germplasm transfer among ASARECA member countries.
• Ensure that ASARECA Secretariat coordinates engagements between One CGIAR and ASARECA Member countries.
• Support partnerships for transformation of smallholder livelihoods using resources received from Member States contributions to increase funding to development of high yielding and farmer preferred nutritious climate smart technologies and innovations.
• Support evidence-based policy making
• Increase access to and use of agricultural technologies, innovations, and management practices.
• Increase access to agricultural data and information for planning and decision making.
• Increasing access to agricultural markets.

Unique Conference

A unique Scientific Conference was successfully held on May 19, with focus on showcasing achievements, innovations that work, and maneuvers to beat challenges that impeded the delivery of AR4D outputs.

Under the AAMC main theme, Building Resilient Food Systems to Feed Africa for Generations, the Scientific Conference featured the following sub-themes:

• Partnerships for inclusive and sustainable agricultural transformation
• Regional Centres of Excellence for delivery of AR4D services
• Climate Smart Agriculture innovations for enhanced productivity, resilience, and livelihoods
• Crop, livestock and aquaculture integration for improved income and food security
• Integrated water, soil, and crop productivity innovations
• Reaching the last mile—Fast tracking Knowledge Management and digitization for inclusive agriculture and food systems transformation.
• Connecting smallholder farmers, especially women and youth to markets: Proven models for stimulating demand for agricultural products and make smallholder farmers richer.
• Regional trade in agricultural inputs and commodities.

About AAMC

The ASARECA Agriculture Ministerial Conference (AAMC) is a flagship biennial event for the Association. The AAMC comprises the Council of Patron Ministers’ Meeting (CPM), the General Assembly, the and the Scientific Conference.

BY BEN MOSES ILAKUT