Dilara Zengin
27 April 2017•Update: 27 April 2017
By Dilara Zengin
ANTALYA, Turkey
Turkey will always be a “trustworthy partner” to Africa, Food and Agriculture Minister Faruk Celik said Thursday.
Addressing a meeting of agriculture ministers from the continent, Celik highlighted Africa’s potential to feed the world.
“Africa's share in the global economy is only 3 percent,” he said. “However, it hosts 15 percent of the world population and 25 percent of arable land in the world.”
He added: “Africa has vast and fertile lands, rich natural resources and human capacity… As Turkey, we will always be a trustworthy partner in these efforts of Africa.”
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization has warned that global agricultural yields must rise by 60 percent by 2050 to feed the world’s population, which is expected to grow to 9 billion by then.
Celik warned of “bigger political, economic, social and human crises” if this target is not meet.
Guinean President Alpha Conde, who currently heads the African Union, said Africa had plentiful water supplies but only 6 percent of land was properly irrigated.
“Interaction in agricultural technology should be provided,” he told the meeting. “In this content, we should benefit from the experiences of countries such as Turkey.”
He invited Turkey to establish projects under the umbrella of Africa’s 2063 Agenda -- a framework for socio-economic development.
Describing the continent’s rich resources, Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed said: “Africa has much to learn from Turkey, which is one of the most food secure countries in the world with its agriculture and agribusiness.”
He highlighted the need for technological development to boost the agriculture sector.
“The partnership of Africa with Turkey can provide a loan exchange and the technology to cultivate agribusiness,” Mohamed added.
“We already have the most important ingredient for success, which is the best agro land, and with the partnership of the Turkish government and private sector we can achieve full competition to ensure food security.”
The two-day event -- organized by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock in Antalya, southern Turkey -- will host more than 300 participants from Turkey and Africa, including ministers and senior figures from the public and private sectors.
