In 2018, the United Nation estimates that more than 820 million people in the world were still hungry, challenging the goal to achieve zero hunger by 2030. Another disturbing finding by the FAO states that about 2 billion people in the world experience severe food insecurity. In the face of these challenges, African farmers still work tirelessly in the rain and sun to cultivate lands for food production. As insignificant as it may seem, African farmers play a very crucial role in promoting global food security. 

The second UN Sustainable Development Goal is to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030. Achieving this goal in Africa will require sustainable agricultural practices and better access to food, land, technology by the small scale farmers who constitute 70% of the population.

The World Health Organization defines food security as when all people at all times have access to sufficient safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life. Food insecurity, on the other hand, is more than just hunger – it is as a result of severe food deprivation. 

Agricultural production in Africa is relatively low, compared to other continents. More than half of the world’s uncultivated arable lands (about 65%) are located in Africa, yet the continent remains food insecure. Spending $35 billion annually on food importation has led to a negative trade balance in Africa. These statistics affect indigenous farmers, some of which live in abject poverty and depend on agriculture as an only source of livelihood. Low yields, lack of quality seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and advanced tech-enabled farm tools are few attributes to food insecurity in Africa. 

Africa can feed the world and farmers have a huge part to play to achieve this through sustainable agricultural practices. Proffering solutions to the challenges facing African farmers is key to mitigating food security in the world. The development of human resources will help achieve food security in the world. 

Investing in farmers equals investment in the agricultural sector. Human capacity development of these farmers in low-income communities is fundamental to tackle other indirect causes of hunger. 

Africa has enormous agricultural potential that can be harnessed to feed the 9 billion people that will be in the world by 2050. In commemoration of the World Food today, we call everyone to take action for food security. Arise and secure the future of African farmers to produce healthy food and achieve zero hunger in the world.

More on MTFC:

• Where this is found in Africa Series – an Expository of African Cash Crops
• Agribusiness Spotlight: Cevital Agro Industrie
• UN Appoints Aliko Dangote and Akinwumi Adesina to Tackle Global Malnutrition
• AATF partners IRRI to Scale Hybrid Rice Production in Africa
• Dr. Taiwo Olayinka Afolabi

The post The role of African Farmers in Achieving Zero Hunger and Global Food Security appeared first on MTFC | Meet The Farmers Conference - Nov 2019 - Dubai UAE.

Our major goal with the media launch was to communicate the vision and objectives of the Conference to the attendees, investors, media and agribusiness stakeholders in Nigeria. The event served as a precursor to the third edition of the event which will hold in November 2019.

Organizer’s Presentation at the Media Launch

Meet the Farmers Conference is our annual agro event where we play host to top agricultural value chain stakeholders, agro exporters and government officials from Africa and the GCC. The conference is an opportunity to connect with large scale agribusiness stakeholders from Africa and the GCC to learn, network and form profitable trade partnerships that will enable them tap into the the region’s food security agenda and proffer long-term solutions.

Cross- section of the Participants at the Media Launch.

The Lagos media launch was graced by our partners, participants, government officials, farmers, industry top stakeholders like, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nigeria Agribusiness Group,  Farmcrowdy Group, Lagos Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Connect Nigeria, FarmKonnect, Farmcenta, Farmfunded and several media bodies, etc.

The event granted the participants the opportunity to learn and understand the goal of the conference and effectively network ahead of the main conference in Dubai, UAE. It also gave them the opportunity to find out means of partaking in the agro-trade relationship between Africa and the Middle East.

Participant speaking at the Launch

The Lagos Media Launch ahead of the Meet the Farmers Conference 2019 is the 6th for the year, having completed similar Official Launch events in Namibia, Addis Ababa Ethiopia, Nairobi Kenya, Kigali Rwanda and Accra Ghana. The Abuja lap of the event will hold on Thursday, 9^th August 2019.

We announced that the third edition of Meet the Farmers Conference 2019 will hold at the Marina Hotel, Dubai UAE, on the 27th and 28th of November 2019 with the theme “Creating a Sustainable Future; Food Security| Trade| and Technology.

Registration is still ongoing for attendees, exhibitors, sponsors and partners. Interested? Click here or email mtfc@crenov8.com.

We believe that Africa can feed the world, partner with us to make this a reality!

The post Crenov8 launches Meet the Farmers Conference 2019 in Lagos Nigeria appeared first on MTFC | Meet The Farmers Conference - Nov 2019 - Dubai UAE.

Cross section of attendees at the Official Launch and Media Briefing

Meet the Farmers Conference is our annual event that attracts a large number of Africans involved in the agricultural value chain, government officials and large scale exporters of agro-produce. Now in its third edition, Meet the Farmers Conference is the first of its kind agro conference that converges the Middle East and Africa. We aim to create an avenue for large scale agro commodity stakeholders from Africa and the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) to discuss, liaise, and proffer long-term solutions to food insecurity in the GCC region and to form profitable partnerships.

The Rwandan media launch event was graced by partners, top Agro-stakeholders from Rwanda, government officials, CEPAR, the media and officials from the Eastern African Council. Attendees had the chance to learn, network and find out means of partaking in the agro-trade relationship between Africa and the Middle East. Meet the Farmers Conference 2019 will be preceded by 12 media launches across Africa and the Middle East.

A speaker at the Official Launch and Media Briefing

During the media launch event, it was announced that the 2019 edition of Meet the Farmers Conference is scheduled to take place at the Marina Hotel, Dubai UAE, on the 27th and 28th of November 2019. The event is themed “Creating a Sustainable Future: for Food Security, Trade and Technology.

Attendee speaking during the Media Briefing

Meet the Farmers Conference 2019 media launch Rwanda is the fourth for the year. Our first media launch was held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi Kenya on June 14th, 2019. The media launch events are precursory to the Meet the Farmers Conference 2019.
Registration is still ongoing for attendees, sponsors and partners. Interested? Click here to register.

The post Crenov8 Organizes Media Launch Event for Meet the Farmers Conference 2019 in Rwanda appeared first on MTFC | Meet The Farmers Conference - Nov 2019 - Dubai UAE.