What's Happening?
Alice Ruhweza, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), has called for increased public investment in agriculture during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal. She emphasized the need for African countries to meet and exceed commitments made in the Maputo and Malabo Declarations, which advocate for spending at least 10% of GDP on agriculture. Ruhweza highlighted the challenges faced by the continent, including high food import costs, unemployment, infrastructure gaps, and climate vulnerabilities. She urged stakeholders to unite behind the African Union Kampala Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Declaration, which aims to increase agrifood output, reduce post-harvest losses, and achieve zero hunger by 2035.
Why It's Important?
Increased investment in agriculture is vital for addressing food security challenges in Africa. By prioritizing agriculture as a central pillar of economic and social development, African countries can reduce reliance on food imports and create employment opportunities. The AGRA President's call to action underscores the importance of sustainable agricultural practices and intra-African trade to boost the continent's agrifood systems. Empowering women, youth, and marginalized groups, along with enhancing climate resilience, are key components of the strategy to transform Africa's food systems. The forum serves as a platform for dialogue and action, bringing together leaders and stakeholders to shape the future of agriculture in Africa.
What's Next?
The Africa Food Systems Forum will continue to drive high-level discussions and commitments on agriculture until September 5, 2025. Stakeholders, including governments, private sector, researchers, and civil society, are expected to collaborate on implementing the AU Kampala CAADP Declaration. Countries may embed the agenda in national plans and foster partnerships to scale up transformative solutions. The focus on empowering youth and women, along with infrastructure development and technological advancement, will be crucial for achieving the forum's goals. AGRA will continue to support smallholder farmers and stakeholders in building a vibrant agrifood system.
