Africa needs resilient agriculture for addressing a global food crises | Spiked.co.zw

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Ambassador Josefa Sacko, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Development at the African Union Commission (AUC) has called for robust interventions to support AU member states in building a resilient agricultural sector amid global food crises.

She made the remarks today during the 3-day Validation Workshop of the Ten-Year CAADP Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2035) that kicked off today at the Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, Uganda.

The Commissioner said the validation workshop of the Ten-Year CAADP Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2035) would hopefully culminate into the Kampala Declaration to succeed the 2014 Malabo Declaration.

Following the Maputo Declaration in 2003, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) has become an Agenda 2063 flagship programme and the pivotal framework for catalyzing agricultural transformation across Africa.

The 20 years of implementation of CAADP have seen an increase in Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), average incomes, agricultural output and productivity, agricultural trade, and agricultural investments as well as a significant reduction in hunger and poverty. Since 2000, sub-Saharan Africa has also achieved the highest rate of agricultural growth more than any other region throughout the world (Approximately 4.3 percent).

“Progress has however been slower than anticipated due to immense challenges and shocks due to climate change, pandemics like COVID, and global economic disruptions. Our Member States are far from realizing the seven Malabo commitments as shown by our Fourth Biennial Review Report. This calls for robust interventions to support member states in building a resilient agricultural sector amid global food crises.

“The Executive Council Forty-Fourth Ordinary Session held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 14-15 February 2024, emphasized the need to develop a Post-Malabo Agenda that addresses sustainable food systems in line with the 2021 Food Systems Summit where Africa was the only Continent that produced a Common Position and emerging issues such as climate change.

“The Post Malabo Agenda presents a pivotal moment for reshaping Africa’s priorities. While building upon CAADP’s existing strengths, it will significantly adapt to tackle emerging challenges and align with global trends,” Ambassador Sacko said.

Hon. Frank K. Tumwebaze, Uganda’s Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and Chairperson of the AU Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment, addressing the same gathering, said with the impending expiry of the Malabo CAADP Strategy and Action Plan as adopted in the Malabo Declaration, the African Union Commission has led a widely consultative process to develop a successor Strategy and Action Plan for the period 2026 2035, which will be presented to the Extra-Ordinary Summit of the African Union that will be held in Kampala, Uganda in January 2025, for adoption.

He expressed appreciation to H.E. Amb. Josefa Sacko, AUC Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Development for ably leading this process

The implementation of CAADP has been through successive ten-year Strategies and Action Plans, with the current one having been adopted in 2014 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

He said through the Biennial Reviews, where Africa has made significant strides in transforming the agricultural sector, there is still room to achieve more under the next phase of CAADP.

“Therefore, as we move to the next phase of CAADP, we should pay special attention to where we have had strengths and consolidate them, and identify where we have had gaps in terms of priorities, systems, and approaches, and plug them.

With the impending expiry of the Malabo CAADP Strategy and Action Plan as adopted in the Malabo Declaration, the African Union Commission has led a widely consultative process to develop a successor Strategy and Action Plan for the period 2026 to 2035, which will be presented to the Extra-Ordinary Summit of the African Union that will be held in Kampala, Uganda in January 2025, for adoption.

The Minister urged governments to have plants, animals, feed, and food security plans. He said there is a need for an interplay between smallholder and large-scale farmers.

“The government should support mechanization and irrigation working with large scale farmers whereas smallholder farmers should be supported to move into commercialization in addition to producing their own sufficient food,” Minister Tumwebaze said.