DECISION ON THE REPORT OF THE AU JOINT CONFERENCE OF
MINISTERS OF AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT,
FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
Doc. EX.CL/842(XXV)
The Executive Council,
1. TAKES NOTE of the Report of the AU Joint Conference of Ministers of Agriculture, Rural Development, Fisheries and Aquaculture, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 28 April to 02 May 2014, and ENDORSES the Resolutions contained therein;
2. RECALLS the Assembly Decision [Assembly/AU/Dec.449 (XIX)] declaring the Year 2014 to be the Year of Agriculture and Food Security, marking the 10th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP);
3. TAKES NOTE of and WELCOMES the recommendation of the Joint Conference for the AU Assembly to endorse the commitments on Africa Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation Goals to be achieved by 2025 (3AGTGs 2025);
4. URGES Member States and RECs to take concrete steps and measures to implement the Resolutions of the Joint Conference of Ministers of Agriculture, Rural Development, Fisheries and Aquaculture;
5. REQUESTS the Commission and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) to facilitate and follow up the implementation of this Decision and to report progress every to the Ordinary Session of the Executive Council;
6. CALLS UPON Member States to:
i) Promote industrialization as a key driver of Agriculture;
ii) Involve and promote active participation of the private sector as the locomotive of the economy in Partnership with the Public Sector;
iii) Ensure the assessment of the level, efficiency and effectiveness of these public-private investment;
iv) Address the causes of food shortages including price volatility, through strategic food and cash reserves, among other measures;
v) Place more emphasis on fisheries and aquaculture;
iv) Place the small holder farmers at the centre of decision making and implementation of the agricultural transformation agenda.
7. ALSO CALLS UPON the relevant stakeholders and development partners to provide the required technical and financial contributions to support the implementation of this Decision.