Australia-Africa partnership supports mining and agriculture development
(by Adriana Abreu-Combs)
“Agriculture cannot be a curse, it can only be a driver to development” said Hon Tress Bucyanayandi, Ugandan Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries in his opening remarks at the Mining and Agriculture Symposium hosted by the Australian Government in Kampala, Uganda from 8 to 10 October 2014.
The event brought together approximately 150 experts representing public and private sectors, academia and civil society to discuss ways in which to maximise the development benefits of mining and agriculture in Africa, including nearly 100 alumni from Australian Government-funded programs from over 20 African countries.
The three-day symposium themed “From Resource Curse to Development Driver” provided an opportunity for participants to reflect, exchange ideas, share expertise and best practice on ways in which agriculture and mining can be harnessed for development in Africa.
Officially opening the event on 8 October, HE Geoff Tooth, Australian High Commissioner to Uganda, spoke about the strong relationship between Australia and Africa, the similarities in experience they share, and Australia’s support to Africa in harnessing the potential of these two sectors and emphasised the need for synergies between them. “Thanks to our alumni, the Africa-Australia relationship is going from strength to strength. Agriculture and mining are key to that relationship and critical to the health of economies in Sub-Saharan Africa”, High Commissioner Tooth said. Hon. Jessica Eriyo, Deputy Secretary in Charge of Productive and Social Sectors at the East African Community, also reiterated the importance of the symposium, "Initiatives such as this symposium looking at agriculture and mining will help us a great deal since Africa's development is hinged on these two sectors".
Apart from the rich discussions that unfolded and the networking opportunities, the symposium was about results. Participants were invited to propose projects they would like to take forward based on the discussions and networks established. They put forward 14 projects covering as critical topics as climate change, engaging youth in agriculture, community participation in mining policy and regulation, to name a few. Further, participants were encouraged to form communities of practise post-symposium to continue to share and learn from each other.
H.E. Geoff Tooth, Australia's High Commissioner to Uganda, speaks during the official opening of the Mining and Agriculture Symposium at the Speke Resort in Kampala