The CAADP family welcomed its 30^th member on the African continent: Djibouti, an AU Member State located in the Horn of Africa, signed its CAADP compact on April 19, 2012.

We have familiarized ourselves with the content of the Djibouti Compact and have noted commitments of parties to it, namely: the Government of Djibouti, its development partners, the private sector representatives, farmers’ unions, agricultural financing institutions and the civil society organisations. We note with satisfaction that these are worthy commitments by the principal stakeholders of CAADP. They are viable and promising a bright future for agriculture, food and nutrition security in Djibouti, and especially look at the vulnerabilities.

We have further noted with special interest the statements of engagement of the agricultural private and banking sector towards “contributing to modernising agricultural activities” as well as towards “promoting internal commercialisation and export of agricultural and marine produce”. There is no doubt that these intentions can encourage more investment in agriculture and exploitation of natural resources to create food self-sufficiency, increase nutritional levels and raise income especially of rural and small holder farmers. I wish to reaffirm the commitment of the African Union Commission and in particular the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture which I head, to support your collective endeavours. These particular elements of the engagements statements enshrined in the Compact are also in line with the core CAADP principles as articulated in this valuable document.

- Statement by Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union Commission  on the Occasion of the Signing of the Djibouti CAADP Compact on 19^th, April, 2012

Vive le Djibouti!

Download the full statement at African Union's website. To find out more information about Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), go to CAADP website.