The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture, or Ruform, is a consortium of 60 African universities in 25 countries across Africa. It is aimed at improving the role that universities play in contributing to the well-being of small-scale farmers and economic development in sub-Sahara Africa.

This year’s conference is presented under the theme ‘Linking Agricultural Universities with Civil Society, the Private Sector, Governments and other Stakeholders in support of Agricultural Development in Africa’. 

The conference is co-hosted by the Agricultural Research Council, the University of Stellenbosch and five other South African Universities.

ARC CEO, Dr Shadrack Moephuli, and Deputy Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister, Bheki Cele, will also be in attendance. 

Other delegates include 50 vice-chancellors, policy makers, development partners, several delegates from the African Union, SADC, and COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa), as well as delegates from all over Africa, Asia, Europe and USA.

The ARC said in a statement the main objective of the conference is to discuss strategies for strengthening the African higher agricultural education sector.

These will then be linked with economic development by actively sharing lessons and experiences, as well as research findings.

“The overall goal is to improve the performance of the agricultural sector in Africa by engaging all partners, particularly the private sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods,” the statement reads.