By Zeynab Wandati
What you need to know:
- The declaration acknowledges the pressing challenges facing Africa’s agriculture, noting that “Africa’s population is projected to reach 2.5 billion people by 2050 while the global population is expected to reach 9.8 billion people.”
- African heads of state and governments have adopted a landmark declaration to revolutionise the continent’s agricultural sector with ambitious goals, including achieving zero hunger by 2035 and mobilising $100 billion in public and private investments.
The Kampala CAADP (Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme) Declaration, adopted during an Extraordinary African Union Summit held in Uganda from January 9-11, marks a significant shift toward building resilient and sustainable agrifood – commercial production of food by farming- systems across Africa.
CAADP is Africa’s blueprint for agricultural transformation, wealth creation, food security, nutrition, economic growth and prosperity.
“We commit to increasing agrifood output by 45 per cent by the end of 2035 through the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices to meet the growing African food requirements and global trade opportunities,” the declaration states, highlighting the urgency of transformation in the face of projected population growth.
The declaration acknowledges the pressing challenges facing Africa’s agriculture, noting that “Africa’s population is projected to reach 2.5 billion people by 2050 while the global population is expected to reach 9.8 billion people.”
Among the declaration’s key targets is a commitment to triple intra-African trade in agrifood products and inputs by 2035, aligning with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) objectives. The plan also aims to raise the share of locally processed food to 35 per cent of agrifood GDP by 2035.
Particular emphasis is placed on inclusion and equity, with the declaration committing to “reducing the yield gap between men and women farmers by 50 per cent, and empowering at least 30 per cent of women, 30 per cent youth and 30 per cent of vulnerable groups in agrifood value chains by 2035.”
The declaration recognises the critical role of climate change and technological innovation in shaping the future of African agriculture. “Changing rainfall patterns, rising temperatures and frequent extreme weather events highlight the critical need for sustainable land and water management, as well as climate-smart agricultural practices,” the document emphasises.
To ensure effective implementation, the declaration highlights the “importance of involving various stakeholders, including member states, regional economic communities, civil society organisations, and international partners.” A biennial Agricultural Review Process will begin in 2027 to monitor progress.
This comprehensive plan represents Africa’s most ambitious agricultural transformation agenda to date. It addresses a wide range of issues, including food security and climate resilience, while emphasising the need for inclusive growth and sustainable development in the agricultural sector.
As African leaders chart a new course for agricultural transformation through the Kampala CAADP Declaration, a critical examination of past challenges and current efforts reveals why building resilient food systems remains an elusive goal across the continent.
The unfulfilled promise of Malabo
The 2014 Malabo Declaration set ambitious targets for African agriculture, including doubling agricultural productivity and halving poverty through agriculture by 2025. However, most countries have fallen short of these goals. According to the latest CAADP Biennial Review. Only Rwanda and Morocco have consistently made progress toward the Malabo commitments. Limited funding, weak institutional capacity, and vulnerability to climate shocks are some of the challenges.
Country-specific approaches and challenges
Different African nations have adopted varying strategies to address food insecurity. Ethiopia has invested heavily in its Agricultural Transformation Agency, focusing on modernising smallholder farming through technology adoption and improved seed systems. The country’s wheat self-sufficiency initiative has shown promising results, turning Ethiopia from a net importer to a potential exporter.
In Ghana, the Planting for Food and Jobs programme has subsidised inputs and provided extension services to farmers. However, the programme’s sustainability has been questioned due to its high cost and dependence on government subsidies.
Kenya’s approach has centred on climate-smart agriculture and digital innovation. The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation has developed drought-resistant crop varieties.
Senegal’s Grande Offensive Agricole pour la Nourriture et l’Abondance initiative has focused on irrigation infrastructure and rice self-sufficiency. While rice production has increased, the country still relies heavily on imports.
Global context and persistent challenges
The global food system’s vulnerability has been exposed by recent crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted supply chains and highlighted the risks of over-dependence on food imports. The Russia-Ukraine conflict also affected global grain supplies and fertiliser prices. At the same time, extreme weather events linked to climate change have caused crop failures worldwide.
For Africa, these global challenges are compounded by regional issues such as infrastructure deficits, financial constraints and, an ageing farmer population and youth migration from rural areas.
The Kampala Declaration’s new approach
The Kampala Declaration addresses these challenges through three key innovative approaches. The declaration focuses on technology integration, which puts emphasis on digital agriculture and precision farming, support for biotechnology adoption and investment in climate-smart agricultural practices. The second approach, value chain development, puts focus on agro-industrialisation, support for small and medium-sized food processing enterprises and strengthening regional trade corridors. Inclusive finance is the last approach, which includes
commitment to mobilise $100 billion in investment, emphasis on climate finance for smallholder farmers and support for innovative financing mechanisms.
The declaration is set to come into effect on January 1, 2026, marking the beginning of what African leaders hope will be a transformative decade for the continent’s agricultural sector. For Kenya and other African nations, the declaration provides a framework for transformation, but the real work lies in translating these commitments into actionable programmes that can survive political transitions, economic and climatic shocks.
zwandati@ke.nationmedia.com