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AUC: Africa’s ‘Competitive Advantage is in Agriculture’

AUC: Africa’s ‘Competitive Advantage is in Agriculture’

According to CCTV Africa, the continent spends $40 billion per year on food product imports from international markets. Because of this, The African Union Commission’s (AUC) New Partnership for Africa’s Development Program (NEPAD) CAADP initiative was created.

The Comprehensive African Agriculture Development ProgramĀ seeks to encourage African countries to allocate 10 percent of the national budget to agriculture, which encourages food stability and economic growth. A handful of countries including Nigeria, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso have adapted. However, the majority of the continent has not and food insecurity, along with agricultural stability remains an issue.

“Agriculture provides the foundation for economic development. If we have to industrialize, I think the competitive advantage in Africa is in agriculture,” Rhoda Peace Tumisime, AUC Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture said in the report.

“Since CAADP was adopted, I’ve seen a lot of changes as far as the landscape for agriculture is concerned.”