ADDIS ABABA: African farmers' unions across the continent have established a farmers' representative body to address challenges faced by the agriculture sector on the continent. The forum, known as the Pan African Farmers Forum (PAFFO), is made up of five regional farmers' associations. The associations include: Roppa (West Africa), SACAU (Southern Africa), EAFF (East Africa), UMAGRI (North Africa) and Propac (Central Africa), Zimbabwe's New Ziana reported. The union's second vice president Berean Mukwende said the union was constituted about two weeks ago in Cameroon. “We have come together to form this union which we envisage will articulate farmers' aspirations at the African Union, World Trade Organisation and United Nations' meetings,” he said. The union is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya and will have a permanent representation at the African Union. Mukwende expressed optimism that PAFFO would deal with matters stifling agricultural production and marketing of produce. About 90 percent of African farmers' are small scale peasants whose interests make up the core of PAFFO's work. Agricultural production on the continent has been plummeting in recent years due to droughts and limited funding in the sector.
