NAIROBI, May 12 (Xinhua) -- A four-day conference began on Tuesday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, with African and Asian agricultural ministers, diplomats and experts gathering to promote partnerships to accelerate rural development.
The 79th Session of the Executive Committee of the African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) focuses on strategies to advance bioscience, environmental protection and integration of technology into rural agriculture.
In his opening remarks, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe said effective practices from both Africa and Asia have significantly strengthened national development efforts.
He noted that challenges facing rural communities across Africa and Asia, including food insecurity, climate change, unemployment, poor healthcare and the digital divide, have created a cycle of hardship affecting millions of people.
"Fortunately, within these challenges lie immense opportunities for collaboration, innovation and shared growth," Kagwe told delegates.
He added that promoting agribusiness, value addition and market linkages could transform agriculture into a powerful engine for economic growth and food security.
"AARDO has provided a dynamic platform for Africa and Asia to engage in meaningful dialogue on common challenges, exchanging knowledge, ideas and experiences in agriculture and rural transformation through joint efforts to enhance the quality of life of rural populations," said Rohit Kansal, secretary in India's Department of Rural Development.
Kansal called for leveraging artificial intelligence for rural development, particularly in building smarter agricultural systems, improving market connectivity and enhancing advisory and public service delivery. Enditem
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