Annan Tells EU to Help Continent End Poverty

from All Africa

East African Standard (Nairobi)
NEWS
Nairobi

Africa needs a Marshall Plan anchored on a rejuvenated agricultural sector to rescue the continent from poverty and steer it to economic prosperity.

Former United Nations Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, urged European Union leaders to shift aid policy towards supplementing efforts by the African Union to spur agricultural development to end the cycle of poverty.

"Sustainably improving agriculture for Africa's small scale farmers and entrepreneurs is essential for short and long term economic progress," Annan said yesterday during the opening of the 29th Assilah International Cultural Festival in Morocco. Foreign Affairs minister, Mr Raphael Tuju, was among high ranking Government officials representing Africa and Europe.

Presenting a paper on Africa and Europe, "Common Challenges and Commitments of Others", Annan urged EU leaders to walk the talk and actively assist Africa effect fundamental changes in its agricultural sector ahead of the December EU/AU summit in Lisbon, Portugal.

"I hope the EU will make promoting a Green Revolution on this continent an essential part of their vision," he said, noting that the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals was strongly linked to agriculture.

Annan, whose term as UN boss ended early this year, is the chairman of the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa, an initiative launched last year to sow and nurture agriculture in the continent plagued by hunger.