YAOUNDE, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Experts from 13 countries in West and Central Africa began meeting in Cameroon on Tuesday to discuss how to source funds for the development of the agro-pastoral and fishery sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa.
It is the first-ever regional forum on agricultural and rural finance, said Cameroon's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gabriel Mbairobe who presided at the opening ceremony in the capital, Yaounde.
"The forum provides a platform for all stakeholders to share possible actions to finance rural agriculture," Mbairobe told reporters.
Agriculture remains the main source of income, job creation, and livelihood for 60 to 80 percent of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa, but access to sustainable financing of agriculture especially in rural areas remains a big challenge, said Ghanaian expert Mark Kuma, one of 400 delegates attending the forum.
"It is imperative that governments and NGOs work to ensure that farmers and producers have the required funds to boost production in rural areas where poverty is still a big problem," Kuma told Xinhua.
"We need to pursue policies that will sustain agricultural and livestock financing and help our rural farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa," added Yusuf Aliru, a participant from Nigeria.
The forum will run for four days.
