From September 2-4 2010, African heads of state, ministers, farmers, NGOs, civil society and scientists gathered in Accra, Ghana to discuss and develop concrete investment plans for achieving the green revolution in Africa.
The African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) focuses on promoting investments and policy support for driving agricultural productivity and income growth for African farmers in an environmentally sustainable way.
Chaired by Mr. Kofi A. Annan, and hosted by H.E. John Atta Mills, President of Ghana and the Government of Ghana, the forum featured speakers including President of Tanzania Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete; former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo; IFAD President Kanayo Nwanze; and Rockefeller Foundation President Judith Rodin.
Kofi Annan receives the Borlaug Medallion by the World Food Prize Foundation from Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, President of the World Food Prize Foundation on the opening day of the African Green Revolution Forum.
Photo: AGRF
"The Rockefeller Foundation is proud to continue our almost century long commitment to food security around the world," said Dr. Rodin. "As we look back on the lessons of our own Norman Borlaug and his colleagues, we are proud to now work with dedicated partners to bring a Green Revolution to Africa."
Partnerships and Innovations
The Foundation stresses the importance of local innovative solutions to building resilience to climate change as a means of increasing food security and financial stability in Africa. On her trip to the region, Dr. Rodin highlights the work of three grantees.
Kenya Farmers Helpline
The Kenya Farmers Helpline, ‘Huduma Kwa Wakulima’, is a call-in service funded by the Rockefeller Foundation that provides direct access to detailed agricultural information on improving agricultural production, sourcing farm inputs, and marketing farm produce for Kenyan farmers. The service allows farmers to obtain real-time answers in English or Swahili from in-house agricultural experts who provide them with solutions or call them back with feedback within 24 hours.
The Index-Based Weather Insurance (IBWI) Project
The IBWI is aimed at developing and testing the market viability of index based weather insurance products designed to reduce the impact of weather related risks on small holder farmers in Kenya. IBWI will use recorded data on actual weather from monitoring stations and adapt conventional agricultural insurance products to address weather-related risks more effectively while aligning products with market demand.
Africa RiskView
Developed by the World Food Programme with a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, Africa RiskView is a software platform that translates satellite-based rainfall data into near real-time needs and cost estimates for every first-level administrative district in every country in Sub-Saharan Africa. Combining four well-established disciplines: crop monitoring and early warning; vulnerability assessment and mapping; emergency response; and financial planning and risk management, Africa RiskView will arm governments with the tools they need to be financially prepared and take action before a weather related disaster strikes.
rEAD OP-ED: Managing Risk Cheaper and More Efficient than Reacting to Disaster
READ Dr. Rodin's speech on Foundation's work in Africa
Read Daily Nation article: 'Bad Climate to Hurt Farming'
