IPNEWS-Monrovia: A group of Liberian Youth Organizations in partnership with ActionAid Liberia and with support from ActionAid Denmark held a day-long policy dialogue to consult and seek input from young people on promoting the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
During their policy dialogue held at the “Youth Bridge” office in Paynesville on Tuesday January 4, 2021, they said the CAADP is Africa’s policy framework for agricultural transformation, wealth creation, food security and nutrition amongst others.
According to them, their policy briefing is intended to examine the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program, and ensure that the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Agriculture develops policy framework that is backed by financial and technical resources to support youth smallholder farmers and those engaged in the agriculture value chain process in Liberia
They said in 2003 Maputo Mozambique, the African Union (AU) Summit made the first declaration on CAADP as an integral part of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
They however stated CAADP Process represents an important commitment by African governments to promote agriculture investment, increase support to smallholder farmers, and improve nutrition and food security for the continent.
“The Biennial Review Process takes place at three levels that include National (country level), sub-regional (ECOWAS) and regional (Africa Region) while it presents an opportunity for young people to influence,” the participant groups asserted.
They highlighted the US Department of International Trade Report for 2020 shows, agriculture, including forestry are the primary livelihood for more than 60 percent of Liberia’s population while accounting for 36 percent of Liberia’s in 2019 real gross domestic product (GDP). “It provides sustenance for many households engaging in cassava, rubber, rice, oil palm, cocoa, or sugarcane production.”
However, the participants recommended while Public expenditure in agriculture is still a challenge, “It is imperative to strengthen action and strategies that will increase public agricultural investment and allow accessibility to the funds without having to forgo a lot of complicated processes.
The Groups added, the Government of Liberia must allot 10% of the national budget for agriculture investment outside recurrent expense.
In separate remarks; the Speaker of the Mano River Union Youth Parliament in Liberia said the only way a Nation can be fully Independent is to have adequate food security.
Also the Federation of Liberian Youth National Deputy Speaker commended their Partners and called for full collaboration to obtain outcomes of their dialogue; By Joseph Tumbey; josephtumbey@gmail.com (+231) 777941209.
