Connect Africa was at the 3rd European Forum on Rural Development in Palencia, Spain from 29 March to 1 April 2011.
With the main objective to exchange and analyse policy, insight and field experiences, the forum asked the question: “What kind of rural development should we promote to tackle food insecurity and hunger?”
Tackling the overwhelming challenge of implementation was a priority on the agenda. “It is now time for action, up-scaling and implementation. Enough talking and reports,” said Connect Africa director Dion Jerling.
“Food security is no longer a production challenge – today it is a knowledge challenge. This puts Connect Africa firmly at the forefront of the drive to address food security,” he added.
Another important issue which emerged at the forum is the challenge of attracting youth into agriculture – critical to rural development. “This means making agriculture profitable and providing youngsters with all the social communication tools they enjoy in urban areas,” he stated.
These priorities highlight the need for providing internet connectivity and availability in rural areas, as both a means to spread and enhance knowledge among rural communities and young people and as an important social tool.
Rural telecommunications infrastructure is lacking in Africa, something the Connect Africa team will be working to address and provide, while building on a project to use existing warehouse receipt programmes as an effective way for farmers to access credit.