News & Events
CEMA calls on institutions to mainstream agricultural mechanization in upcoming EU-Africa Summit
European manufacturers of agricultural machinery, reunited in the CEMA Board of Directors, called on EU leaders to mainstream sustainable agricultural mechanization in Africa as part of the discussions in the 6th EU Union–African Union Summit. The summit formed the basis to launch a renewed AU-EU partnership.
Agriculture and sustainable development will be crucial topics of debate during the two-day high-level event. In this framework, CEMA underlines the role that mechanization can and should play to ensure food security and to boost the sustainability of agricultural practices.
CEMA calls on leaders to promote tailored, inclusive, and integrated approaches to agricultural mechanization, which have the ability to make a significant difference in increasing the welfare of farm households and create positive dynamics and opportunities for economic growth in rural areas. Sustainable mechanization, applying different forms of skills, power sources (from manual to engine) and equipment along the agri-food value chain, can meet the specific needs of local farming communities, improving productivity and competitiveness as highlighted in CEMA’s Position Paper “Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa."
Since 2015, CEMA has had an ongoing partnership with FAO to manage and disseminate knowledge on sustainable approaches to agricultural mechanization, as well as jointly develop technical programmes to support innovation in mechanization and facilitate the implementation of sustainable mechanization initiatives at the field level.
On the basis of the 10 SAMA elements developed by the FAO, CEMA recommends a dual approach to mainstream sustainable agriculture mechanization in Africa, involving both top-down and bottom-up actions under the prerequisite of a robust governance system.
