AU keen for robust partnership with China on addressing post-harvest challenge in Africa

The African Union (AU) has expressed its keen interest to boost partnership and cooperation with China in addressing post-harvest challenges on the African continent.

The Head of Rural Economy Division of the AU Commission for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Janet Edeme, made the remarks at a press conference in connection with the ongoing 2nd edition of All Africa Post-harvest Congress and Exhibition on Tuesday at the AU Headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

The official said the 55-member pan-African bloc looks forward to strengthening partnership with China in reducing post-harvest loss.

Recalling that AU and China earlier this month signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in areas including food safety and quality and post-harvest loss management, Edeme said Africa looks forward to ways of utilizing Chinese technologies in addressing post-harvest challenges.

She stated that AU has identified key strategic interventions with a focus on technologies, infrastructure, access to market, and capacity building to address post-harvest challenge on the continent.

The four-day event that runs through Sept. 20 aims at raising awareness of food losses and waste through data and information sharing; showcasing effective strategies, technologies, practices, initiatives for post-harvest loss reduction; and monitoring and reviewing progress on post-harvest loss reduction initiatives against set targets.

"China is participating very actively in this congress; quite a number of private sector organizations are also here to bring their technologies to share with us. They are also going to participate in many of the panel discussions as well to share with us new technologies that China has put in place." she said.

The AU official also revealed that another MoU is expected to be signed between AU and China to further enhance cooperation in the agriculture sector in general.