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Agriculture : Kampala 2025, a strategic plan for resilient Africa

The roadmap adopted following the Extraordinary Summit of the African Union, which took place in Kampala from January 9 to 11, presents practical solutions to overcome the challenges hindering agricultural development. Continuing the Malabo Declaration and the objectives of the Detailed Programme for the Development of Agriculture in Africa (PDDAA), it focuses on the sector's priorities: food security, sustainability, and resilience... Analysis.

By Insaf Boughdiri

Agriculture, essential to the African economy, represents 30 to 50% of GDP in most countries and employs nearly 60% of the workforce. Yet, despite its central role, it faces major obstacles. Insufficient infrastructure, limited access to finance, increased vulnerability to climate change, and low productivity hinder its growth. The Kampala Declaration presents a series of commitments to address the growing challenges posed by Africa’s expanding population and global food demand.

Multiple challenges

African farmers face multiple challenges related to inadequate infrastructure, deteriorating roads leading to increased costs and post-harvest losses, thus reducing farm profitability. Similarly, irrigation remains underutilized, and inefficient water management limits productivity, especially during droughts.

In addition to these challenges, farmers also face difficulties related to traditional farming methods and limited access to modern equipment. They do not always have access to improved seeds or financing, limiting their ability to invest and increase yields. This is compounded by high vulnerability to climate-related hazards, including droughts, floods…

« We now have a clear roadmap »

These challenges were central to discussions at the Extraordinary African Union (AU) Summit held in Kampala from January 9 to 11, with the primary goal of developing a continental strategy to strengthen food security in the face of the numerous challenges facing African agriculture.

As a result of these discussions, the Kampala Declaration offers concrete solutions to Africa’s agricultural challenges, emphasizing sustainable production, women’s and youth empowerment, and strengthening intra-African trade. Its aim is to make the continent’s food systems more resilient to the effects of climate change and demographic growth, while paving the way for a fairer and more sustainable future for Africa.

Ambassador Josefa Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, emphasized at the summit the uniqueness of this declaration, which stands out from previous ones due to the clarity of its strategy and action plan. « We now have a clear roadmap, » she emphasized, noting that this declaration marks a turning point with achievable strategic goals and a long-term vision for the agricultural sector, perfectly aligned with Agenda 2063.

This roadmap is based on six key commitments aimed at strengthening food security and promoting sustainable agriculture in Africa. Major priorities include intensifying sustainable food production, agro-industrialization, and boosting intra-African trade. Heads of State have agreed to reduce post-harvest losses by 50% and triple intra-African trade in agro-food products and inputs by 2035. Another key goal is to achieve 35% of locally processed foods in the agro-food GDP by 2035 to strengthen the continent’s self-sufficiency.

This ambitious commitment is part of a broader framework: the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to stimulate intra-African trade by removing trade barriers and fostering economic integration across the continent. By aligning its objectives with those of the Kampala Declaration, the AfCFTA becomes a vital lever to accelerate the transformation of African agriculture. It could thus play a decisive role in improving market access, increasing agricultural productivity, and encouraging innovation in the sector, while contributing to building a more inclusive and resilient economy.

Mobilization of USD 100 billion in investments

The joint involvement of the public sector, private sector, farmer organizations, and local communities is essential to ensure the success of the Kampala Declaration’s action plan. In this regard, heads of state have committed to allocating at least 10% of their annual public budgets to the agricultural sector, in line with the goals set in the Maputo (2003) and Malabo (2014) declarations. Additionally, commitments include mobilizing USD 100 billion in investments from both public and private sources. These funds will support strategic initiatives aimed at transforming the continent’s agri-food systems and enhancing their competitiveness.

The declaration also highlights the importance of investing in production, transformation, and distribution infrastructure. These investments are crucial to strengthening agricultural transformation and establishing an efficient and sustainable supply chain capable of meeting the growing needs of the African population.

Furthermore, targeted policies and programs aim to support smallholder farmers and family producers, who are considered key players in ensuring inclusive and equitable agricultural growth. Finally, special emphasis is placed on investment in innovation and technology.

By focusing on innovation, regional collaboration, and empowering youth and women, the Kampala Declaration paves the way for a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous African agriculture.

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