Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday called on African countries to implement a comprehensive agriculture development plan to increase agricultural production through expanding plantation and making efficient use of water resources.
The Egyptian president made the call at the opening ceremony of the summit of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee meeting ahead of the upcoming African Union summit in the Egyptian Red Searesort.
"The comprehensive agriculture development plan is becoming more and more important as Africa is currently facing the challenge of global food insecurity and food prices hiking," the Egyptian president noted.
The African states, therefore, are required more than ever to coordinate all efforts for outlining a comprehensive agricultural program with a view to increasing crop productivity and expanding the arable lands along with using modern agricultural and irrigation technologies, said the Mubarak.
He called for giving priority and full attention to scientific research to increase agricultural productivity and introduce new seed strains that can better stand abominable weather conditions as well as pests and diseases.
President Mubarak also called for more attention on fishing and fisheries.
In his speech, he also reviewed the progress NEPAD has achieved since its establishment in 2001 in Zambia, as well as the development and achievements of the African Peer Review (APR) Mechanism, calling for efficient and constructive partnership with international financial institutions and developed industrial economies.
The NEPAD has been conceived as a strategic framework for Africa to address the current challenges facing the continent: poverty, underdevelopment and the marginalization of Africa in the globalization process.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article