Luanda - Investment in agrarian reform and boosting intra-regional trade, to increase production and food sufficiency are a few priorities of the Angolan Josefa Sacko re-candidacy action programme in the African Union.
The diplomat is running for a second term as African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Environment.
During a virtual meeting with members of the African group of diplomatic bodies accredited in Angola, held in Luanda, the candidate considered access to land and food security “essential to transform agriculture in Africa”.
In her view, crop yields are still very low in Africa, as the average grain is only 1.7 tonnes per hectare, compared to the world average of 3, 9.
"The increase in production and productivity requires modernization through adaptation to technologies and innovations along the value chain and the development of greater processing," said the diplomat, who is running for the second four-year term.
Regarding intra-regional trade in agricultural products, the ambassador said that opportunities should be seen as a means of achieving sustainable food and nutritional security in Africa, and, on the other hand, reducing the bill for food imports.
The document also emphasizes investment in women, youth, transformation of the livestock sector, boosting agriculture, mitigating the impact of climate change, investing in the Blue Economy and strengthening cooperation and in international partnerships.
As for the Blue Economy, Josefa Sacko prescribes that the strategy in Africa would guide investments in fishing, agriculture and the protection of marine ecosystems, among others, in this sector with enormous potential.
Regarding the previous four-year-term, despite considering it positive, the Angolan ambassador said that four year are insufficient to carry out the programmes, which is why she has re-applied, counting, according to her, on the support of several countries in the continent.
The meeting, in which Josefa Sacko received incentives and promises of support from ambassadors from different African countries, also had the presence of the Foreign minister, Téte António, who highlighted the qualities and the positive work of the Angolan diplomat.
Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, trained in agronomy, was elected African Union Commissioner for Agriculture in January 2017. She previously served as special advisor to the minister of Agriculture - responsible for food security and poverty reduction - and to the minister of the Environment (for climate change matters) and counsellor.
She was also secretary-general of the Inter-African Coffee Organization (IACO) in Abidjan, Côte d`Ivoire, for 13 years. She also served as a member of the “United Nation´s Champions 12.3” - a global alliance of sustainable food champions, at the invitation of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
In recognition of all services provided, Josefa Sacko received several awards, of which she was nominated as one of the 100 most influential people in climate policy in March 2019.
Three candidates are running for the position of African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Environment, namely from Angola, Gambia and Morocco.
The elections will take place on 6 February in Ethiopia, during the Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government.
