São Paulo – Agriculture may be a way out for Africa to face its economic difficulties. The theme was discussed last week during the Conference on Development of Agribusiness and Agricultural Industries, a meeting of African leaders, in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.
"A solid agricultural industry and agroindustry are the keys to economic transformation of sustainable development in Africa. Our resources allow us to survive and we must use them efficiently now and in future,” said, during the meeting, the acting president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan.
Agriculture should be part, according to him, of the programs for economic diversification in the African countries, due to the low prices of some products of the region, like crude oil, cocoa and gold. Nigeria forecasts investment of US$ 1.6 billion between this year and 2013 to provide incentives to growth of agriculture in the country.
"Nigeria is working on social and economic transformation to place the country among the 20 main economies of the world by 2020", said Jonathan, adding that agriculture should contribute to that.
The meeting included representatives of 40 countries and a final declaration was issued, calling for agricultural investment on the continent. The text also calls the African countries to establish a legal framework, to regulate and institutionalise the support to development of agricultural industries. The report also suggests incentives to financing.
*Translated by Mark Ament
