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Published purpose

This project contributes to the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) goal of achieving 6% growth per year in the agricultural sector Africa-wide by 2015. The project supports the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) in stimulating agricultural development, increasing economic growth, and improving health and food security in Africa, while enhancing the quality of the environment. This phase of the project involves: the establishment of a network of agricultural research experts who aim to support African countries to develop and implement their national agricultural strategies; assisting regional organizations to disseminate improved crop varieties (e.g. quality protein maize) to farmers; and the development of a network of African negotiators that can better market agriculture in the regional and international spheres. It is estimated that in Africa approximately 80% of the people depend directly or indirectly on the agricultural sector. FARA has been designated by the African Union/New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AU/NEPAD) as the lead institution responsible for coordinating one of the four components of CAADP, encompassing agricultural research, technology dissemination and adoption. FARA is a pan-African agricultural research network that is working with a wide variety of partners to improve African agricultural research and assist women and men farmers to adopt improved crop varieties and new farming techniques.