African ministers of agriculture urged to promote sound agri-food systems

Dr. Agnes Kalibata, the President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has urged ministers responsible for agriculture on the African continent to drive real change in the food systems in the face of climate challenges.

She raised the issue during a ministerial roundtable held on 4 September 2024 at the Africa Food Systems Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda from 2 to 6 September 2024.

“The future of Africa’s food security rests in our hands, and I trust that this session will ignite meaningful discussions and commitments that push us closer to our shared goals,” Dr. Kalibata said.

She challenged the ministers to focus on four critical fronts that are essential to driving real change in the food systems in the face of climate challenges as follows:

1. Clarify Your Vision and Strategy for Food Systems: Each of our nations must clearly define its vision, strategy, and flagship programs for food systems transformation. This will provide a road map that aligns with our national priorities, guiding investments and ensuring that we tackle the right challenges with the most effective solutions.

2. Sector Coordination and Multisectoral Collaboration: Food systems cannot thrive in isolation. We must work in tandem with other critical sectors—environment, health, energy, and finance—to build resilient and sustainable food systems. Collaboration across these sectors will enable us to harness synergies and unlock greater value for our people.

3. Design Bankable Proposals and Mobilize Resources: It is time to move beyond reliance on external aid. We must design bankable proposals that attract financing from both domestic and international sources, including the private sector. Our nations hold untapped potential, and we need to create environments that encourage businesses to invest in our food systems.

4. Create Predictive and Enabling Policies: Finally, we must adopt policies that are forward-looking and avoid market distortions, such as subsidies that hinder long-term growth. Instead, let’s channel resources into major drivers of growth, such as research and development, infrastructure, and technology, to ensure our food systems can thrive.