Growing Out of Poverty: A UK Parliamentary Inquiry into supporting and developing African agriculture

The importance of agriculture to Africa cannot be overstated. It remains a crucial sector in Africa’s economies, accounting for about 30 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP and at least 40 per cent of export value. In most African countries, agriculture accounts for more than 60% of employment.

This report addresses the question of how partners in the developed world generally, and our Department for International Development in particular, can make best use of their resources to achieve the goal of promoting efficient agriculture, not only in Africa but also in Southern Asia where the importance of agriculture as a development tool is equally critical.

In undertaking the inquiry, the APPG met and spoke with many experts: from Bill Gates and former Heads of State who continue to shape the international policy agenda, to smallholder farmers plying their fields in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia, whose voice is rarely heard.

Thirteen African Ambassadors and High Commissioners came together in Westminster, not only to emphasise and discuss the importance of agriculture to their national livelihoods, but to outline their expectations for governments, including that of the UK, to support their own efforts.

Evidence was also taken from representatives of the FAO; the United Nations World Food Programme; numerous NGOs, academics and scientists; other EU donor countries and institutions; public and private companies; a wide variety of relevant charitable foundations; Africa-based entrepreneurs; and the Minister and staff of DFID.

• For a hard copy of the report, please contact James Birch, The All Party Parliamentary Group on Agriculture and Food for Development c/o Lord Cameron, 7 Old Palace Yard, House of Lords, Houses of Parliament, SW1A 0PW