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Conference “The Future of Farming and Food security in Africa”

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The new generation in Africa is better educated than ever before. The African youth faces large opportunities and challenges for promoting development. Feeding Africa is a most urgent challenge. Food production in Africa is mainly in hands of smallholders and rural households. These producers are crucial for economic development and food security in urban and rural areas. Access to land, finance, knowledge, inputs and markets are critical for improving farmers’ yields and income. Dutch companies, government and NGOs have been working with African partners on these issues for decades.

	∨ The slide show with quotes and questions by participants Watch the video’s on
10.00	Welcome by Mr Jos van Gennip, Chairperson foodFIRST and Socires Foundation ∨ Text of the speech
10.05	Opening speech by Mr Berry Marttin, Executive Boardmember Rabobank
10.15	Keynote address by Mr Graziano da Silva, Director-General FAO ∨ The text of the presentation
10.35	Questions audience
10.40	Speech Ms Sharon Dijksma, Dutch State Secretary of Economic Affairs ∨ Text of the speech
10.55	Questions audience
11.00	Coffee Break
11.30	Presentations by Michael Gitonga M’Kwiriga and Nils den Besten, dairy farmers
11.50	Questions audience
12.00	Speech by Mr Ishmael Sunga, CEO Southern African Confederation of Farmers Unions (SACAU) ∨ Text of the speech
14.00	Secrets of smallholder farming and foodsecurity in Africa, by Dr Steve Wiggins, Research Fellow, Agricultural Development and Policy, Overseas Development Institute (ODI), UK ∨ PPT-presentation
14.20	Talk show “Makkinga meets …” Hosts: Andrew Makkinga and Prof Dr Ruerd Ruben, WUR Discussion with experts, audience and students 1 – How to make African smallholders more efficient – farming, food and finance? With: Prof Bekele Shiferaw Executive Director of Partnership for Economic Policy (Ethiopia) (∨ His presentation) Mr Kees Verbeek, former NMB bank director Tanzania (NL) Mr Michael R.K. Legge, MFI sector (South Sudan) Cynthia Makena, farmers organization (Kenya) 2 – How to invest in smallholders and food security in post conflict regions and fragile states? With: Dr Lia van Wesenbeeck,VU University (NL) Yaouba Kaigama, Cordaid Country Director DRCongo (Cameroon) (∨ Material to his pressentation) Jan Omvlee, Rijk Zwaan (NL)
15.40	Tea break
16.10	Continuation of the talk show 3 – How to provide careers for young men and women in the rural agro-food sector? With: Edii Mukibii, NGO school youth (Uganda) Cynthia Makena, farmers organization (Kenya) \| ∨ The slides of the presentation) Gerishom Boiyo, IICD (Kenya)
17.00	Respondents: Mrs Reina Buijs (Deputy DG International Cooperation Ministry of Foreign affairs) Mrs Irene Visser (Director Netherlands African Business Council – NABC) Henri van Eeghen (C.O.O. Board of Directors Cordaid)
17.15	“Taking stock and outlook” by Prof Dr Ruerd Ruben and Prof Dr Arie Kuyvenhoven ∨ The slides of the presentation)
17.30	Invite for drinks (till 18.30)