The new strategy emphasizes the critical role of agri-food systems not just for economic growth but ensuring food security improved nutrition and sustainable health outcomes for all.
The Head of State and
government from Africa have endorsed a new strategy aimed at improving the agri-food
systems in the continent. The UN Food and Agricultural Organization hold that Africa holds the key to moving towards a world free from hunger and
poverty.
It states that It is in Africa where enormous gains can be made, and agrifood
systems transformation is the definitive foundation for the continent to
realize sustainable development and modernization.
The leaders have agreed on a
new 10-year agriculture strategy for Africa at a Summit at Speak resort Munyonyo. It is hoped that it can transform agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive,
more resilient, and more sustainable to deliver on the commitments of
the Sustainable Development Goals and the post-
Malabo agenda.
Further, the leaders says by encouraging better production through such means as mechanization,
digitalization, and agrifood industrialization, and green-powered
irrigation, African nations can boost productivity and efficiency, and
enhance resilience to the climate crisis. Studies show that more than 1 billion
Africans cannot afford a healthy diet.
The summit which follows three
days of meetings of the Ministers of agriculture and foreign affairs who have been meeting in Kampala at a Summit
Organised by the African Union.
The ministers put final touches to
the Comprehensive
Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan, set
to run from 2026- 2035.
The Comprehensive
Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan, set
to run from 2026- 2035, has been under development over the last 10 months,
following directives from the African Heads of State and Government. It has
been guided by the African Union Commission.
The CAADP strategy under the Kampala Declaration and
the action plan is expected to boost the implementation of the Malabo
Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared
Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods, adopted in 2014.
It aims to leverage resources
for driving economic growth, enhancing food security, and improving
livelihoods, while addressing the impacts of climate change, in alignment with
the CAADP principles.
And it seeks to
achieve this by stimulating investment, fostering partnerships, and empowering
vulnerable smallholder farmers.
It is aligned with the African Union’s Agenda
2063, which envisions among others, a prosperous Africa based on inclusive
growth and sustainable development.
It also emphasizes
achieving food security and nutrition, transforming agriculture into a leading
driver of economic growth, and reducing the continent's dependence on food
imports.
Amb. Josefa Sacko, the AU Commissioner
for Agriculture, Rural
Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment
She
said overall, the 10-year CAADP Strategy and Action Plan aims to boost food
production, expand value addition, boost intra-Africa trade, create millions of
jobs for our youth and women, build inclusive agrifood value chains, and build
resilient and sustainable agrifood systems that will withstand shocks and
stressors now and in the future.
Ambassador
Sacko said they are dedicated to strengthening governance through
evidence-based decision-making and enhancing accountability among all
stakeholders.
“Inclusivity
is a fundamental aspect of our approach; we will ensure that women, youth, and
marginalized groups have access to resources, thereby facilitating their
equitable participation in the agrifood sector,” she said.
According
to Amb. Sacko, the Kampala CAADP declaration is different the ones that have been
implemented during the last two decades because it has included a comprehensive
strategy and plan. The Maputo and later Malabo declarations solely focused on
the declarations.
“This
will allow the Member States to begin implementation immediately after the Head
of State and government have adopted it. We now have a clear roadmap, a theory
of change that outlines the pathways for transformation, realistic and implementable
strategic objective” she said
It
is expected that once implemented, it will enhance the food system approaches
and targets the continent’s aspirations.
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In “We are well-prepared……
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Adopted in 2014,
the African Union’s Malabo Agenda intended to foster agriculture-led
development that eliminates hunger, reduces poverty and food insecurity.
The decade
covered by the Malabo agenda comes to an end with mixed results. One of the major
challenge is that the continent has failed to meet the ending hunger targets
which have been met this year.
Speaking at the
opening of the high-level ordinary summit, President Museveni decried the fact
that Africa still lacks or begs for food.
“This Africa of having no food, of begging is not
the real Africa. But the colonial and neocolonial Africa. It is a shames” he
said.
Museveni urged
for the removal of the nontariff barriers the African Continental Free Trade
Area (AfCFTA) to stimulate trade and provide financial support throughout the
agricultural value chain.
“There is no
doubt that nontariff barriers undermine the advance of agriculture in Africa.
If you have bumper harvests, let products” he said.
/// Cue in “Uganda
easily produces ……
Cue out…..get out
of business do something else…” /////
The most recent
AU Biennial Review of the Malabo Declaration encouraged member states to
implement national and regional policies and strategic plans that facilitate timely
and sufficient access to fertilizers.
"This includes the removal of tariff and
non-tariff barriers under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to
stimulate trade and provide financial support throughout the agricultural value
chain" it said.
Additionally,
countries were urged to work towards implementing the 10-year action plan and
the Soils Initiative for Africa.
Other challenges
include the fact that most of food production in the continent is rain-fed. Only
about 10 percent of food production in Africa comes
from irrigated lands.
FAO has indicated that in many countries, water scarcity represents a critical constraint to
food production and a major cause of poverty and hunger.
The FAO further notes that improved water management is one of the keys
to producing enough food to alleviate the suffering of today and feed an
additional 3 000 million people by the year 2030.
The fight for the
Nile River water with in the Nile basin and countries in North Africa persist.
Museveni wondered
why Africa has not discussed with DRC about how the water from the Congo River
can be used to boost agriculture productivity.
“Uganda is lucky in that we have a lot of
water. Out major problem is to persuade our uninformed or misinformed people by
guiding them to stop undermining our water resources by encroaching on the wetlands”
Said Museveni.
///Cue in “here
in the Nile Valley…….
Cue Out…… is the Atlantic
thirsty for water? ///
The Biennial Review panel
also found that the low usage of fertilizers and significant disparities among
African countries in fertilizer application rates are likely not to realize the
expected improved crop yields hence likely to be a major obstacle to achieving
food sufficiency and prosperous farming communities.
“To establish
resilient food systems, end hunger, and ensure African farmers' prosperity, it
is imperative to incentivize all countries to increase their fertilizer
application rates” it said.
The President of Ethiopia,
Taye Astike Selassie called for a renewed commitment and concerted action for
Africa that is food sovereign and prosperous.
“This summit makes
a defining moment for Africa where we will be able to chart out the continent’s
agri-food system” he said.
///Cue In “
Africa’s Agrifood…..
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areas”///
He said with the
growing population growth, Africa has to ensure the availability of diverse and
high quality food products. “The huge potential of technological innovation such
as digital agriculture, precision farming and other innovations are pivotal to transforming
our agri-food system.”
President, Taye Astike Selassie said.
He said the
Kampala CAADP declaration signifies a renewed commitment to best propel
progress and delivering tangible outcomes for the people of Africa.
Recent estimates
by the UN indicate that more than a billion Africans cannot afford a healthy
diet. While the effects of these shocks have had global impacts, it is in
Africa that the proportion of the population affected by hunger has increased
the most.
Increasing prices
of food, fuel and fertilizers have led to increased food price inflation and
brought additional millions of Africans into a state of food insecurity because
of the heavy reliance of the continent on international food markets for wheat,
rice and edible oils.
The Chairperson
of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat said Africa should be proud that it has a young population
that constitutes 60% of its total population. And that it should be also proud
that it has 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, ester and forest resources.
“This
is why it is deeply questioned about the current paradoxical food security
situation. Hunger still kills in Africa. The profound disaffection between land
and African youth. The disaffection of these young people and agriculture and
the real world, their separation with ancestral land towards urban uncertainties
increase our existential drama.” Observes Mahamat.
He then asked who should be held responsible
for such a phenomenon. “Not the youth for sure. But our systems. They have failed
to promote efficient strategies that generate hope and prosperity in our land”
he said.
///“These
ambitious………
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pace of progress”///
Has been noted that many member states continue to under fund
the Agriculture sector budgets it many refer to it as the backbone for their economies
ad livelihoods.
Embedded in the
CAADP framework, and adopted in 2014, the Malabo Agenda was intended to
contribute to implementing agriculture-led development on the continent that
eliminates hunger, reduces poverty and food insecurity, and facilitates higher
sustainable economic growth and development.
Bjørg Sandkjær , the State Secretary (Deputy Minister) for
International Development at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affair said the development partner have supported
the African Union since 2003 when the Maputo declaration was pronounced.
She
said despite impressive gains in food production and agricultural growth, challenges
persist in achieving the goals of poverty reduction, food insecurity and
inclusive growth as laid out in the CAADP framework.
“Today, we stand at a
pivotal moment. We have as development partners a strong message from the
discussions at the summit. We have had the reaffirmation of commitment by the member
states to a transformation agenda. And agenda that shifts from traditional
growth to more holistic and integrated growth” she said.
////Cue In “Strengthening governance…..
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The new strategy emphasizes the critical role of agri-food
systems not just for economic growth but ensuring food security improved nutrition
and sustainable health outcomes for all.