By By Robin Okuthe Aug 23, 2012 in World Arusha - Tanzania’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives Christopher Chiza Jane Karuku today announced the country will host the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) scheduled for September 26. Minister Karuku, who is also the President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), said Tanzania has for a long time recognised farming as the backbone of its economy and it is pleased to welcome African leaders, as well as leaders from across the globe, to seek new ways for scaling success as it has witnessed. Tanzania is world-renowned for its agricultural might. In the Kilombero District of Morogoro, for example, maize harvests have reportedly increased among small-scale farmers from 1.5 to 4.5 tons per hectare. Rice yields have also increased to 6.5 from 2.5 tons per hectare representing some of the highest figures in the continent. The government’s goal is to transform the country into a middle-income one by 2025, Chiza said, enhanced by its agricultural might. The AGRF meeting will bring together African heads of state, ministers, farmers, agribusiness firms, non-profits, researchers and civil society organisations. Guests including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Co-Chair Melinda Gates, Yara International President & CEO Jørgen Ole Haslestad, Nigerian Minister of Agriculture the Hon. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, IFAD President Dr. Kanayo Nwanze and World Food Prize Laureate Prof. Gebisa Ejeta are also expected to attend. Following recent deliberations at WEF Africa, the G8 and David Cameron’s Hunger Summit, the African Green Revolution Forum will continue seeking means of uniting the power of the public- and private-sectors in the global food security efforts. Leaders across the globe, from 21 African countries and 27 private firms, pledged $3 billion towards a New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition at a recent G8 meeting. The leaders also launched the next phase of the global food security effort expected to save some 50 million people from poverty over the next decade. According to Yara President and Chief Executive Officer, and co-chair of the forum, Mr. Jørgen Ole Haslestad the public- and private-sector leaders will be joining forces in unprecedented ways toward ensuring a more food-secure future. The forum will focus on unlocking the continent’s farming potentials by empowering Africa’s small-scale farmers. AGRF is Described as the next milestone in coming up with strategies for African-led food security solutions, the 2012 forum will provide a platform for African leaders to bolster efforts toward the initiative by promoting policy support and investments to increase farmer’s income growth and productivity. The forum is also expected to tackle leadership policies, strengthen markets, change agricultural finance models in Africa as well as to transform agricultural sectors in Africa through innovative partnerships.Minister Karuku, who is also the President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), said Tanzania has for a long time recognised farming as the backbone of its economy and it is pleased to welcome African leaders, as well as leaders from across the globe, to seek new ways for scaling success as it has witnessed.Tanzania is world-renowned for its agricultural might. In the Kilombero District of Morogoro, for example, maize harvests have reportedly increased among small-scale farmers from 1.5 to 4.5 tons per hectare. Rice yields have also increased to 6.5 from 2.5 tons per hectare representing some of the highest figures in the continent.The government’s goal is to transform the country into a middle-income one by 2025, Chiza said, enhanced by its agricultural might.The AGRF meeting will bring together African heads of state, ministers, farmers, agribusiness firms, non-profits, researchers and civil society organisations.Guests including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Co-Chair Melinda Gates, Yara International President & CEO Jørgen Ole Haslestad, Nigerian Minister of Agriculture the Hon. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, IFAD President Dr. Kanayo Nwanze and World Food Prize Laureate Prof. Gebisa Ejeta are also expected to attend.Following recent deliberations at WEF Africa, the G8 and David Cameron’s Hunger Summit, the African Green Revolution Forum will continue seeking means of uniting the power of the public- and private-sectors in the global food security efforts.Leaders across the globe, from 21 African countries and 27 private firms, pledged $3 billion towards a New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition at a recent G8 meeting. The leaders also launched the next phase of the global food security effort expected to save some 50 million people from poverty over the next decade.According to Yara President and Chief Executive Officer, and co-chair of the forum, Mr. Jørgen Ole Haslestad the public- and private-sector leaders will be joining forces in unprecedented ways toward ensuring a more food-secure future.The forum will focus on unlocking the continent’s farming potentials by empowering Africa’s small-scale farmers.AGRF is scheduled for September 26 to 28 at Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge, in Arusha, Tanzania. More about Food agriculture, global agriculture, Farmers market, agricultural revolution Food agriculture global agriculture Farmers market agricultural revolut...