Charles Muchoki | Africa Guardian
Over 2,000 delegates from at least 49 African Union (AU) member states are participating in the ongoing Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) summit, which is prioritizing the transformation of Africa’s agrifood systems.
Under the theme, “Sustainable and Resilient Agrifood Systems for a Healthy and Prosperous Africa,” the three-day summit began yesterday at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala and will conclude tomorrow.
The summit aims to finalize the draft CAADP Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2035), along with the Kampala CAADP Declaration, both designed to enhance Africa’s food systems.
Josefa Sacko, the AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, emphasized that the summit would yield pivotal decisions to shape Africa’s agrifood future over the next decade.
“This summit, along with the Kampala Declaration, marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to transform Africa’s agrifood systems. It reflects our shared commitment to food sovereignty and a prosperous, food-secure Africa,” Ambassador Sacko remarked. “Looking ahead, I am confident that through our collaborative efforts, we will achieve the ambitious goals set for the coming decade.”
The CAADP strategy, spanning the next 10 years, focuses on increasing food production, expanding value-added processing, enhancing intra-Africa trade, generating millions of jobs for youth and women, developing inclusive agrifood value chains, and building resilient and sustainable agrifood systems capable of withstanding future challenges.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, in her address, called on Africa’s agriculture ministers to work toward reducing the continent’s dependence on food imports.
“We must ensure that our agricultural sector is resilient to climate change and other shocks, while also adapting to technological advancements,” Ms. Nabbanja stressed.
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