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Ruth Butaumocho in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The 2023 fifth conference on Land Policy in Africa opened here today ( 21November) with participants calling for sound land policies that encourage active participation of women and youth in agriculture so that they can benefit from opportunities under African Continental Free Trade Area and digitilisation.
In a speech read on his behalf in his opening remarks, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, ECA, Executive Secretary Mr Clever Gatete said the AfCFTA holds the potential to lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty, boost Africa’s income by USD450 billion and can connect 1,3 billion people through trade.
“This is significant in view of the youth bulge and opportunities of ever-accelerating digitalization, including in land-based sectors such agriculture,” he said.
Through digitilisation, Mr Gatete added that there is great potential for the youth to tap into the growing agriculture and agribusiness sector, projected to reach US1 trillion by 2030.
“This is a low hanging fruit, given that most of Africa’s youth, about 40-60 percent of them are already engaged in agriculture and agribusiness,” said Mr Gatete.
The theme of this year’s conference “ Promoting sustainable land governance in Africa for accelerated implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area” resonates with Africa’s ongoing efforts to promote and grow this continental intra-continental trading platform, launched in 2019.
Already more than 50 African countries, among them Zimbabwe have deposited their instruments of AfCFTA ratification.
The creation of a single market under the AfCFTA, provides opportunities for both economic growth and the creation of new as well as innovative networks for those operating in sectors such as mining, manufacturing, agriculture , agro-processing and other economic activities that occur on land.
During the five-day conference academics, researchers, land experts including those from Zimbabwe and government officials from various member states will discuss how land policies can foster inclusive trade, while enhancing social and economic intergration as envisioned in Agenda 2063.
The African Land Policy Centre, a collaborative project of the African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission, and the African Development Bank, hosts the Conference on Land Policy in Africa every two years.
The conference brings together African policymakers, academics, civil society leaders, and the private sector and international agencies to discuss the future of land policy in Africa.
The fifth edition of the conference which started in 2014 is a platform were African researchers and academics come together to discuss land issues and reforms in Africa.
From the time it was established the land policy conference has established itself as the continent’s premier land forum, facilitating the exchange of research activities, experience and learnings on emerging land issues.
Online Reporter