Agriculture, fisheries & rural development

Less than a week after the European Parliament gave the green light on April 6 for the new fishing agreement between the EU and the Comoros, a delegation of fishermen from West Africa, brought to Europe by the NGO Greenpeace, told MEPs and EU fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki, on 14 April in Brussels, of the threat posed by the mass influx of European vessels into their waters.

Small-holder farmers, especially the resource poor in remote rural communities in Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific are not receiving adequate extension – application of scientific research and new knowledge to agricultural practices - and advisory services. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can support the realignment of these services.

Interview with David Matongo, Co-chair of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly After 24 years as chairman, or managing director, David Matongo continued to work in business whilst launching a political career in his native Zambia.

Following their Paris meeting on the 22 and 23 June 2011, the G20 agriculture ministers decided to improve the regulation of agriculture markets and prevent food crises. Dacian Ciolos, European Commissioner for Agriculture, said these measures were “entirely in line” with his proposed reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), due to be put forward in September 2011.

Iceland offers developing countries its expertise in geothermics and fishing where it has a second-to-none reputation.

On 27 June, Iceland began in-depth negotiations on entry to the European Union. The negotiations should run smoothly, with the exception of a disagreement on the fisheries industry, which is of great importance to the island’s economy.

The close ties between Iceland and the European Union are deep rooted and still very much alive. They are also a reflection of the economic situation, as more than two thirds of Reykjavik’s foreign trade is with Member States of the EU.

In terms of employment and economic output, agriculture is the most important sector for Africa, yet its potential is largely under-utilised. The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is helping to achieve agriculture-led development across the continent.

As a predominantly agrarian continent, Africa’s economy is heavily dependent on its agricultural production. Relieving hunger and achieving the Millennium Development Goals necessarily involves targeted efforts in this field.