A €2m programme designed to support the development of new partnerships in the agri-food sector between Ireland and Africa was launched in Dublin last month.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs was on hand to introduce the Africa Agri-Food Development Fund at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on 21 March, joined by Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney and Minister of State for Trade and Development, Joe Costello.
Also in attendance were Kenyan Ambassador to Ireland Catherine Mwangi and Tanzanian Ambassador Peter Kallaghe, who represent the countries that will be the main focus of the two-year pilot phase.
The programme is intended to encourage the Irish agri-food industry to harness its skills and experience and engage with partner enterprises in Africa to help build and strengthen the African food industry and meet the continent’s food needs.
“Africa is growing quickly and now boasts a collective GDP to rival Brazil’s or Russia’s,” said the Tánaiste. “Business opportunities are opening as African countries build trade links with each other and with world markets.
“Irish companies are well-placed to play a role in meeting Africa’s increasing food needs. Our agri-food industries have the skills and the vision to both trade and invest in Africa.”
Minister Gilmore confirmed that the Government “ will continue to provide development aid to Africa to fight poverty and hunger. Through my department’s Africa strategy, our long-term aim is to end dependency on aid and to build a new relationship with Africa based on politics, democracy and trade.”
Minister Coveney said the fund must be used to improve the productivity of agriculture in Africa and associated markets like packaging and distribution, rather than just bulk distribution.
“The Irish agri-food sector is highly respected internationally and I believe that many of the skills developed in the establishment of the industry here could potentially be transferred to assist in the development in the food industry of African countries,” he said.
“The priority of this fund must be how can it improve productivity in the agricultural sector in Africa and how can associated market opportunities for that output be developed.
Minister Coveney said he was “very aware of the philanthropic goodwill of the Irish agri-food sector and I will be asking them to actively consider what role they might play in the implementation of this fund.”
Minister Costello noted that increased agricultural productivity saves people from hunger, and that proper research is needed to develop the programme.
“During my recent visit to Malawi, I saw how Irish Aid’s support to a programme to increase agricultural productivity has helped to protect 4.6 million people from hunger over the last six years.
“This was achieved by supporting smallholder farmers to diversify to more nutritious crops. Partnerships with the private sector were critical to this success.”
The junior minister continued: “Our policy is to fund cutting-edge international research to support the development of drought-resistant seeds, climate-smart farming practices, Vitamin-A-rich sweet potato and the successful control of devastating crop pests.
The fund’s steering committee will prepare a report for consideration by the ministers that will prioritise areas for support in the pilot phase. Initiatives that receive support will be based around themes of food safety, animal health, business development, training/mentoring, technology transfer, research and development, and project management.
