The "2nd Ministerial Dialogue on Agriculture, Science and Technology" was held successfully on 18-19 April 2012 at the Forum for Agricultural research in Africa (FARA) Secretariat in Accra, Ghana. Read the Communiqué (pdf).

Focus on mechanisms to integrate research, extension and education

The Ministerial Dialogue brought together African ministers of agriculture, science and technology, parliamentarians, research heads and other experts to discuss the status of continent-wide efforts to transform African agriculture and increase farm productivity and how to mobilise resources needed to support research, extension and education institutions related to agriculture.

Knowledge and information in Communiqué

In the communiqué the Ministers of the Ministries of Agriculture, Science and Technology, and the representatives assembled in this Ministerial Dialogue

• regcognize "That agricultural innovation depends on the volume of knowledge accessible for use in development";
• take cognizance of the need "For improving access to information and knowledge through better policy on information and in communicating research output, and capture the needs and feedbacks of end-users"; and
• endorse "The accessibility of agricultural research information and knowledge to all by utilizing the opportunities provided by African CAADP pillar IV institutions linked to global resources and platforms such as Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAR), Global Forum for Advisory Services (GFRAS), Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and the Coherence in Information for Agricultural Research and Development (CIARD)."