Under the theme ” Building a resilient future in Africa through conservation agriculture and sustainable mechanization“, the 3rd African Congress on Conservation Agriculture (3ACCA) was opened this Monday, June 5 in Rabat.
This event aims to promote learning, raise awareness and generate interest in the adoption and dissemination of Conservation Agriculture (CA) and Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (SAM) in Africa.
At the opening of the congress, the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Mohamed Sadiki, underlined the importance of the theme chosen for this 3rd edition of the congress, which takes place in the midst of an African movement to make agriculture more sustainable and resilient to the effects of climate change.
The Minister said that this initiative is perfectly in line with the objectives of the Kingdom of Morocco, which, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, has placed South-South cooperation at the heart of its interests in order to strengthen food security in Africa. in the face of climate change.
He recalled the launch of a program important “to promote conservation agriculture on one million hectares by 2030, as part of the new agricultural strategy” GenerationGreen“. The Minister reaffirmed Morocco’s commitment ” to contribute alongside his African brothers to establish a resilient agriculture in Africa“.
He pointed out that the efforts made during this congress should lead to the development of an effective action plan to help the most vulnerable farmers to cope with the devastating effects of climate change, provide African countries with strategies to increase productivity agriculture in accordance with the Malabo Declaration, Agenda 2063 and the Moroccan AAA initiative, strengthen Africa’s position in the field of conservation agriculture and sustainable agricultural mechanization, and improve the active participation of the continent at the 9th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture (9WCCA) to be held in South Africa in July 2024.
Ghana’s Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, CGIAR Group Director General, Martin Kropff, Deputy Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at Rome, Beth Bechdol, and the FAO representative in Morocco, Jean Senahoun, are taking part in this congress, alongside regional and international experts, decision-makers from the public and private sectors, as well as representatives of civil society.
This event, which continues until June 8, is organized in collaboration between the National Agricultural Research Consortium (INRA – IAV Hassan II – ENA of Meknes), the National Office of Agricultural Advice (ONCA), the African Network of Conservation Agriculture (ACT), the African Union Commission, the NEPAD Agency, FAO, the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Arid Areas (ICARDA) under the CGIAR Group, the World Bank and other national partners such as OCP, UM6P/Almoutmir, Crédit Agricole du Maroc, the AAA foundation and AMAC.
The objective of 3ACCA is to enable experts, practitioners, policymakers from different sectors, as well as representatives of civil society, to share best practices and exchange knowledge and information to promote the adoption of conservation agriculture and sustainable agricultural mechanization across Africa. These practices serve as the foundation for building resilience to climate change in the face of rising food and energy prices, as well as disruptions to distribution systems.
In detail, this congress provides a platform to discuss the challenges facing African agriculture and the innovative solutions that can be implemented to improve the sustainability, productivity and resilience of the agricultural sector in Africa. Participants will have the opportunity to explore new technologies, share successful experiences and strengthen collaborative networks to promote the widespread adoption of conservation agriculture and sustainable agricultural mechanization.
By promoting an integrated approach, 3ACCA seeks to mobilize all actors in the agricultural sector, including governments, international organizations, researchers, farmers, technology providers and investors, to work together and create a more sustainable future. and resilient for agriculture in Africa.
The holding of this congress demonstrates Africa’s continued commitment to sustainable agricultural development and the promotion of environmentally friendly agricultural practices. By showcasing regional and national initiatives, 3ACCA is helping to strengthen Africa’s position as a global leader in conservation agriculture and sustainable agricultural mechanization.
Thus, the 3ACCA marks an important milestone in efforts to transform African agriculture into an engine of sustainable development, food security and resilience to climate change.