Press Release

For immediate release

Hunger not impossible to eradicate says Consultative Workshop to eradicate hunger

Addis Ababa-May 7, 2013–The status of food and nutrition security in Africa still remains critical with an estimated 25 per cent of the population still undernourished, Ethiopian State Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Wondirad Mandefro has said.

Officially opening the Pre-High Level Consultative workshop to eradicate hunger within the CAADP process, organized by the African Union Commission, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Lula Institute, Mr. Wondirad said there was need to act collectively and wisely if hunger is to be eradicated in Africa.

He noted and commended the decision by African Heads of State and Government to promote agricultural development through the implementation of CAADP as a basis to end hunger.

“This shows the commitment and determination to put agriculture as a basis of addressing food insecurity, poverty eradication and establishing sociao economic growth,” Mr. Mande fro said.

AUC Director for the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, Dr. Abebe Haile Gabriel said hunger in Africa was not impossible to eradicate despite the existence of tendencies to make the concept of hunger abstract.

He said it was possible to eradicate hunger provided existing possibilities and opportunities were fully utilized, coupled with commitments and responsibilities in order to achieve results.

Dr. Abebe cited CAADP as one such example of an opportunity that could be utilized to its full potential as hunger could not be eradicated without giving due priority to agricultural development.

“This is a call for action, genuine action for change; let us use the opportunities that are abundant and let us hold each other accountable,” he said.

FAO Sub-regional coordinator for Eastern Africa and representative to Ethiopia, AU and the UNI Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Dr. Modibo Traore emphasized the need to enhance social protection systems for the vulnerable population if hunger and poverty are to be eradicated.
“In addition to efforts for mobilizing new resources for implementing the new program components, emphasis should be placed on the reallocation of existing budgetary resources to compensate for limited new external resources in the context of current financial and economic crisis,” he added.

Lula Institute representative, also representing the Brazilian Government, , Ms. Maya Takagi said, “The first step to hunger and poverty eradication is to believe that it is possible, learn from experiences, and work together, linking experiences in innovative ways of transforming society.”

The African Union Commission in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Instituto Lula convened the two day consultative meeting for Africa to:
• Adopt a common agenda of concrete activities to coordinate and unify the different on-going initiatives aimed at overcoming the plight of African populations suffering from hunger.
• As part of the Zero Hunger Challenge, support the creation and implementation of comprehensive food-security and social-development plans at national, sub-regional and regional scopes, jointly with the African Union, African economic communities and other African players.
• Help African countries, their governments and organize civil society to incorporate successful experiences from Brazil and other countries.

For further information please contact:
Wynne Musabayana, African Union
MusabayanaW@africa-union.org

Carol Jilombo African Union Commission/CAADP
Jilomboc@africa-union.org

Tewodros Negash, Food and Agriculture Organization
Tewodros.Negash@fao.org | +251 91 142 2991