Agriculture accounts for more than 30 percent of GDP, 65 percent of foreign exchange earnings, and provides a livelihood for about 80 percent of the labor force in eastern and southern Africa. The sector is widely recognized as critical for promoting food security, economic growth, and poverty alleviation on the continent. Recognizing this, the International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council (IPC), in partnership with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Zambian Ministry of Agriculture, and the US-based Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa (PCHPA) hosted an international seminar on June 3-5, 2007 focusing on strengthening and widening markets, and overcoming supply-side constraints for African agriculture.

The seminar convened farm policy and private sector leaders, trade experts, academics, and the donor community to address improving the competitiveness of African agricultural markets, and the continent's ability to engage in local, regional, and global markets. For more information, please view the seminar program, press release, and presentations available at: http://www.agritrade.org/events/strengthening_african_markets.html