Agriculture Science Week Focuses on Agricultural Science and Innovation in Africa

The 6th Africa Agriculture Science Week and the General Assembly of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) took place in Accra on July 15-20. It was attended by more than 1,300 scientists, researchers, extension workers, farmers, policy makers, development partners, civil society groups and non-government organizations from across the world, with the theme "Africa Feeding Africa through Agricultural Science and Innovation."

Ghana's Vice President H.E. Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur spoke during the opening ceremony and said "The need for action on agricultural research is urgent. African Governments must increase funding for agricultural research and extension; farmers' innovations must find their way into the research agenda to enable Africa to achieve its goal of food sufficiency".

Kanayo Nwanze, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) delivered the keynote address and said "We know what needs to be done. And we know what can be done. The development of a Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa is an important step on the road to a strong agricultural sector. It is all the more important because it is Africa-owned and Africa-led."

For more about this event, visit http://www.fara-africa.org/apps/news/item/252/.