Agricultural Development and Food Production. 1. Member States shall cooperate in the development of agriculture, forestry, livestock and fisheries in order to: (a) Ensure food security; (b) Increase production and productivity in agriculture, livestock, fisheries and forestry, and improve conditions of work and generate employment opportunities in rural areas; (c) Enhance agricultural production through processing locally animal and plant products; and (d) Protect the prices of export commodities on the international market by means of establishing an African Commodity Exchange. 2. To this end, and in order to promote the integration of production structures, Member States shall cooperate in the following fields: (a) The production of agricultural inputs, fertilisers, pesticides, selected seeds, agricultural machinery and equipment and veterinary products; (b) The development of river and lake basins; (c) The development and protection of marine and fishery resources; (d) Plant and animal protection; (e) The harmonisation of agricultural development strategies and policies at regional and Community levels, in particular, in so far as they relate to production, trade and marketing of major agricultural products and inputs; and (f) The harmonisation of food security policies in order to ensure: (i) The reduction of losses in food production; (ii) The strengthening of existing institutions for the management of natural calamities, agricultural diseases and pest control; (iii) The conclusion of agreements on food security at the regional and continental levels; (iv) The provision of food aid to Member States in the event of serious food shortage; and (v) The protection of regional and continental markets primarily for the benefit of African agricultural products.
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