Africa’s Path to Food Sovereignty – ENA English

Africa’s Path to Food Sovereignty

Addis Ababa January 12/2025 (ENA) — Africa is a continent brimming with potential. The continent can produce enough food to sustain itself thanks to its wide range of climates and expansive agricultural regions. Nevertheless, Africa spends an incredible 50 billion USD annually on food imports in spite of its abundant resources. This situation not only illustrates the agricultural difficulties facing the continent, but it also highlights the pressing need for African countries to prioritize food sovereignty and make investments in their agricultural sectors.

The reliance on imported food poses several significant risks, particularly for food security and economic independence. Many African countries find themselves vulnerable to global market fluctuations, trade disputes, and supply chain disruptions. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted these vulnerabilities and pushed many nations to rethink their strategies for food production and distribution. By reducing food imports, African countries can bolster their economies, create jobs, and enhance resilience against global market shocks.

To tackle this issue, experts reiterate that African governments must prioritize several key strategies to enhance local food production. First and foremost, investing in agricultural technology is critical. By adopting modern farming techniques, such as precision agriculture, biotechnology, and sustainable irrigation methods, farmers can improve yields and reduce waste.

Furthermore, nurturing local food systems through investment in smallholder farmers is crucial. Smallholder farms provide a significant portion of Africa’s food supply, yet they often lack access to resources and markets. Providing them with financial support, training, and access to essential inputs like quality seeds and fertilizers can empower local farmers to increase their productivity.

CAADP

Despite all these challenges, Africans have been collaborating collectively through the African Union as well as independently to tackle the aforementioned issues of food insecurity. In this context, it is important to highlight the Post-Malabo Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP).

CAADP has long been a pivotal initiative aimed at transforming Africa’s agricultural landscape. The program seeks to enhance food security and boost economic growth across the continent, addressing both the challenges and opportunities that exist in the agriculture sector.

One of the key features of the CAADP is its focus on sustainable agricultural development, recognizing that Africa’s vast resources can be harnessed to foster food self-sufficiency. Following the Malabo Declaration, which was adopted in June 2014, African Union member states committed to a set of ambitious goals, including increasing agricultural productivity, enhancing value chains, and promoting inclusive and sustainable growth. The significance of this commitment cannot be understated, particularly as global food demands rise and climate change presents ongoing challenges.

In fostering collaboration and partnership, the Post-Malabo CAADP emphasizes the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement. It advocates for broader involvement of diverse groups, including governments, private sector stakeholders, and civil society organizations. This inclusive approach aims to create synergy across sectors, enabling stakeholders to share best practices and innovative solutions.

Furthermore, the program stresses the need for comprehensive investment in agriculture and rural development. There is a clear recognition that increased funding is essential to revitalize the agricultural sector. Countries are encouraged to increase their budgetary allocations for agriculture to at least 10 percent of national expenditures — a target that aims not only to improve productivity but to also enhance rural livelihoods and nutrition.

Fostering regional integration can also aid in reducing food imports. By enhancing trade agreements and cooperation among African nations, countries can share resources, technology, and market access, making it easier to achieve food security collectively. Initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) should be utilized to promote intra-African trade, removing barriers that hinder the movement of agricultural goods.

Africa’s annual expenditure of 50 billion USD on food imports is a challenge that can no longer be ignored. By implementing strategies to invest in technology, infrastructure, smallholder farmers, and education while fostering regional integration, African nations can take significant strides towards ending this dependency. The vision of a self-sufficient Africa, capable of feeding its population and engaging in sustainable economic growth, is not just a dream but an attainable goal—provided the commitment and resources are directed effectively to such efforts.

Positive Outcomes

One of the most significant positive results of the Malabo CAADP is the heightened commitment from African governments to invest in agriculture. The declaration emphasized the objective of dedicating a minimum of 10 percent of national budgets to the agricultural sector, resulting in increased funding for numerous agricultural initiatives. Nations such as Ethiopia have made impressive progress in meeting and surpassing this target, reflecting an increasing acknowledgment of agriculture’s role as a catalyst for economic growth. Notably, Ethiopia has achieved a historic milestone by ceasing wheat imports for the first time.

The Malabo CAADP has made strides in enhancing food security at a continental level. By addressing the challenges of hunger and malnutrition, the program has laid the groundwork for the African Union’s Agenda 2063 goal of ensuring a food-secure Africa. Through the mobilization of resources and concerted efforts among member states, there has been a marked reduction in the prevalence of hunger across several regions.

10-year CAADP Strategy: Africa’s Path to Food Sovereignty

The African Union has intensified its initiatives to address one of the continent’s longstanding issues. During the summit held in Kampala this week, it unveiled a decade-long strategy aimed at fostering agricultural transformation throughout Africa. The newly introduced Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programe (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2035) is designed to confront ongoing challenges while also responding to new threats such as climate change and economic disruptions.

Director for Agriculture, Food Security, and Environmental Sustainability at AUDA-NEPAD, Estherine Fotabong provided an overview of the new strategy, describing it as a result of a consultative and Africa-led process. “We have a comprehensive 10-year CAADP strategy that will guide our continent in tackling the pressing challenges we face in building sustainable and inclusive food systems.”

The strategy emphasizes a food systems approach to address Africa’s complex agricultural needs, focusing on agro-processing, post-production, and resilience against climate shocks. Inclusivity is a core pillar, with a special focus on empowering women, youth, and marginalized groups to access resources and opportunities.

As Africa sets its sights on the ambitious vision for 2026-2035, leaders are filled with hope that this strategy will unleash the continent’s agricultural capabilities, fostering food security, driving economic growth, and promoting sustainable development. This initiative aims to save the over 50 billion USD of imports expense and potentially generate 100 billion USD by 2035 through enhanced investments in agricultural activities.

The strategy is expected to serve as a crucial framework guiding Africa toward agricultural transformation. By prioritizing increased investment, regional collaboration, innovation, inclusivity, sustainability, and food security, this strategy transcends mere agricultural development; it acts as a powerful driver for broader socioeconomic advancement across the continent. The successes achieved so far underscore the immense potential of united efforts in building a resilient and prosperous agricultural sector in Africa.

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