Sunday, February 11, 2007

"Fruit-Security" in Africa

Every time I watch TV or travel abroad, I have always wondered about how fruits play such an important role in nutrition and wellness yet we, in fertile Africa, remain largely undernourished!
Indeed, lots of African women and children are malnourished! Where are all the agric budgets, all the foreign loans, all the development aid & grants, all the FAO help, all the IFAD funding, etc. etc. etc.??? Gone with the winds to....you know where!

We in Nigeria, for example, can certainly produce a large chunk of the needed fruits on our own continent, and still profitably export to the world. But just come around and see the huge waste in the form of post-harvest losses in our largely subsistent farming environment! It is really such a shame that after EIGHT years of both democracy and unprecedented oil & gas revenues, no one has paid due attention to this mess. Nigerians are hungry at both personal and family levels. Big pity. Poverty in the midst of plenty! This must change. From this year. Yes.

I am not now complaining anymore. No use. What I propagate is a massive intervention in the area of Fruit-Security for our citizens, our compatriots on the continent, and the huge market abroad. I ask all who can farm to do so now. And I invite the local governments to ignore both their state as well as the federal governments in the question of agro-allied business, and just work with their own residents! Attract them, cajole them, coax them, command them, reward them: do what it takes. And do it fast. Very fast.

I'm teaming up with some development colleagues to see how we can learn from, and bring in, partners from successful Asian and East European countries. After the April elections, we will reach out to Local Government Chairmen nationwide (and there are 774 of them!) to pursue a Citizens' Compact in this regard. If a mere 30% of them play ball, we're in business! Good and timely business. In time, others and the moribund private sector will join the train.

Enough is finally enough!
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Africa-South America Partnership: Diaspora Task

Our sons and daughters in the two Diasporas must wake up to the 21st century challenges confronting both continents. We have what it takes, we know what our peoples need, it's time for ACTION!

Now that our leaders have opened the way with the first-ever summit in Abuja last year, we do owe our mother-continents everything we've attained and achieved.

As a first step, you guys should set up a "Contact Group" to work on the joint communique from the Abuja Summit. All our diplomatic missions in the other continents should also get together at country level, and at regional/continental level.

I enjoin the existing Diaspora Associations or Networks to kick-start things right away. The Summit Secretariat has it work cut out for it in this regard as well.

Let's hear and see the long overdue fireworks!
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