Ministers called for steps to promote partnership and agricultural innovation to reduce poverty in Africa at the conclusion of a summit in Abu Dhabi.

The Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture’s (GFIA) closing ceremony, entitled ‘The Africa Innovation Initiative, featured African ministers from Ghana and Zambia and ministerial representatives from Kenya, Tanzania and Angola.

The GFIA showcased agricultural innovations and technology and brought together agricultural innovators, investors, scientists and researchers over the two days to drive the future of global agriculture.

Robert Kenneth Sichinga, Minister of Agriculture, Zambia, said: “Agriculture is at the core of our nation’s 2030 vision, and technological innovation is crucial to accelerating agricultural development in Zambia. We are here to boost assistance and co-operation.”

Rashid Pelpuo, Minister of State, Private Sector Development and Public Private Partnerships, Ghana, said: “We need to drive the youth into agriculture, and speed up the transition from subsistence to commercial farming. We want to partner with nations like the UAE.”

Mark Beaumont, GFIA project director, said: “Africa has the potential to feed the world. We have the opportunity to get it right, learn from our mistakes and apply new sustainable innovations and technologies across the continent.”

“We now have the platform to build the most significant sustainable agriculture event in the world with the GFIA,” he said.

The GFIA 2015 will be held from February 2 to 4, he added. - TradeArabia News Service