investment.

For the first time in many years, Africa has enjoyed a period of strong and sustained economic growth. The agricultural sector has also grown at a moderate rate, and this growth has contributed to significant reductions in poverty in many African countries. This improved agricultural performance is consistent with continentwide initiatives—one of the most important being the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme—which aim to raise rural incomes, reduce poverty, and increase food and nutrition security through agricultural investment and growth.