The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and African Investment Climate Research (AFRICRES) honoured Farmer Organizations (FOs) across Africa on November 28, 2013 at a glamorous event in Accra, Ghana.

The 2013 African Farmer of the Year Awards (AFOYA) event was organized to recognize and reward smallholder farmers throughout Africa for their vital role in promoting food security across the African continent. In all, fifteen FOs from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Uganda received awards in five different categories including Income Diversity, Youth and Female Participation, Advocacy, Governance, and Market Access.  Impabaruta, a Rwandan Farmer Organization, emerged as the overall winner, picking the coveted prize.

It is expected that these awards will motivate FOs to improve their performance by strengthening their capacities in areas that are weak to ensure efficiency. Through this, FOs will be better placed to provide efficient services for their members to promote their work.

In his congratulatory message to the winners, the Lead Coordinator of AGRA’s Farmer Organization Support Centre in Africa (FOSCA), Mr. Fadel Ndiame, thanked the farmers for their contribution to Africa’s agriculture and economy. He urged them to do more, and not to rest on their laurels.

“African Farmer Organizations are playing a central role in promoting and driving agricultural transformation processes in Africa and that is why AGRA and AFRICRES deemed it necessary to recognize your efforts. It is our hope that these awards will motivate you to continue to put food on our tables and generate even greater revenue for Africa through agriculture,” Mr. Ndiame stated.

Below are the five categories and various winners:

1. Income Diversity Award

• National Union of Coffee Agribusiness and Farm Enterprises (NUCAFE), Uganda – Winner
• Kenya National Federation of Agri Producers (KENFAP) , Kenya – 1st Runner Up
• FASO JIGI/ PACCEM  from Mali – 2nd Runner Up
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1. Youth and Female Participation Award

• NAIMA Development CBO, Kenya – Winner
• Impabaruta, Rwanda – 1st Runner Up
• New Generation Commercial Farmers, Nigeria – 2nd Runner Up

1. Advocacy Award

• Schemers Community Based Organization, Kenya- Winner
• National Small Holder Farmer Association of Malawi (NASFAM), Malawi – 1st Runner Up
• L’Union Des Sociétés Coopératives Des Producteurs De Mais, Mali – 2nd Runner Up

1. Governance Award

• Hekima Horticulture Self-Help Group, Kenya – Winner
• IABM, Rwanda                                  - 1st Runner Up
• Konapindibu Financial and Agricultural Farmers, Sierra Leone – 2nd Runner Up

1. Market Access Award

• Union of Groups for Marketing of Agriculture products Mouhoun (UGCPA/BM), Burkina Faso -    Winner
• The Lord Is My Shepherd, Ghana, - 1st Runner Up
• Owefwe Obwambami Self-Help Group, Kenya – 2nd Runner Up

In his closing remarks, Professor Nicholas Biekpe, Managing Director of AFRICRES indicated that “Through this awards program, we expect that FOs will work progressively towards meeting the set quality standards necessary to enhance their sustainability and, ultimately, benefit smallholder farmers across Africa”.

The award ceremony was graced by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture (Livestock), Dr. Hannah Bissiw and various stakeholders from the agricultural sector.