PRESIDENT M7 AND HIS WIFE JANET AT SHERATON HOTEL IN NY AFTER ATTENDING THE CLINTON GLOBAL INTIATIVE MEETING IN N.Y.THE PRESIDENT HAD BEEN INTHECOUNTRY FOR THE 63rd UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 AjabuAfrica.com
By Eva Nabawanuka Mukasa

NEW YORK- September 24- President Yoweri Museveni has said that the African continent has sufficient agricultural potential to become a food basket for the whole world which could solve the current world food crisis if the relevant production interventions are undertaken.

He said these remarks during the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York USA at the launching of the Purchase for Progress Programme at the United Nations headquarters .

Purchase 4 Progress (P4P) is an initiative of the World Food Programme (WFP) which aims at transforming the way WFP purchases food in developing countries by giving priority to small scale farmers to sell their surplus produce to WFP at competitive prices while giving the food to those who have little or no food at all.

The programme which will initially target 21 countries, Uganda inclusive, aims at helping farmers to earn reasonable income and predictable market for their produce. It will initially target 350,000 households over a period of 5 years.
The WFP is supported by the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation and the Howard G. Buffet Foundation.

Museveni launched the programme jointly with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Rwandese President Paul Kagame and the WFP Executive Director Mrs. Josette Sheeran.

Museveni said that 67% of the farmers in Sub-Sahara Africa have been practicing subsistence agriculture and not fully utilizing the region’s agricultural potential.

He said that with the current food shortage in the world, it was time for African farmers to engage in commercialized agriculture and produce food beyond their subsistence needs.

He, however, noted that interventions in terms of irrigation, the use of fertilizers and other forms of modern agricultural practices need to be emphasized to enable the region produce optimally.

The President further stressed the need to boost agro-processing in sub-Sahara Africa which he said would, in addition to adding value to agricultural produce, enable them reach far off markets, thus solving food scarcity in other continents.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete welcomed the programme saying that it would help unlock the potential of farmers in rural Africa since they will be assured of the market for their produce.
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda lauded WFP for its support to his country.

He said that the organization has responded to the feeding needs of over 54,000 people in Rwanda. He also hailed their support through the School Feeding Programme and welcomed the Purchase 4 Progress Programme saying it was an appropriate intervention.

Ms. Josette Sheeran, the Executive Director of WFP, said that in addition to purchasing their produce, WFP would facilitate farmers with modern farm inputs, equip them with modern agricultural skills to boost the quality and quantity of their output.
Mr. Bill Gates and Mr. Howard Buffet said they were committed to helping farmers in the developing world to better their incomes because they constitute a large part of the poorest of the poor in the world.

They said that they committed their organizations to supporting Purchase 4 Progress Programme because its objectives are in line with the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals.

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