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Continental issues affecting agriculture and trade in Africa

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The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), has started a dialogue of experts to deliberate on continental issues affecting agriculture and trade to effect policy change.

The focus for the first series held in Accra, was on the African Continental Free Trade, AFCTA and the role of science.

The event was held at a time when Nigeria has closed its border to Benin, which affected sub regional trade. The Executive Director of FARA, Dr Yemi Akinbamijo who set the tone for the dialogue noted the importance of science in enhancing continental trade.

He said: “there is the need to explore the opportunities that AFCTA brings to bear and where science is placed.”

Dr Akinbamijo described the border closure by Nigeria as unfortunate but stated that despite that AFCTA has great potential of addressing the trade imbalance, especially in the importation of food which stood at $35 billion in 2015 and expected to increase to $110 billion by 2025.

A capacity Development Expert with FARA, Dr Abdulrazak Ibrahim stated that Africa has not made use of the enormous biological diversity it has. He called for regulations on that to enhance continental trade in agriculture.

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Levina Owusu reiterated governments commitment in promoting science, hence increasing budgetary allocation from 0.35 per cent of GDP to 1 per cent.

 

Story by Joyce Gyegye

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