KIGALI, Oct. 30 — Delegates at the opening of the commemoration of the 21st Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) Partnership Platform and the 16th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security urged African nations to accelerate efforts to achieve food sovereignty by investing in agriculture, value addition, and resilient agrifood systems.
“No nation can be truly free if it cannot feed its people. Scaling up agricultural production and value addition is critical,” Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment at the African Union Commission Moses Vilakati told the event on Wednesday in Kigali, the Rwandan capital.
“No longer should we be exporting raw materials only to import expensive finished products,” he added. Food security is not just a technical issue but also one of justice, empowerment, and moral responsibility, particularly for smallholder farmers, women, and youth, Vilakati said.
Agriculture remains the backbone of Africa’s economy and no child should go to bed hungry as food inflation continues to rise, he added.
The event, which runs through Friday under the theme “From Malabo to Kampala: Accelerating Just, Resilient Agrifood Systems Transformation for Nutrition and Sustainable Growth,” has brought together more than 400 delegates to advance fair and resilient agrifood systems for a food-secure Africa.
Speaking at the event, Rwanda’s Minister of State for Agriculture and Animal Resources Telesphore Ndabamenye said that this year’s theme “properly captures the spirit of our collective ambition.”
“It reminds us that Africa’s future depends on how effectively we move from commitment to coordinated action — shifting from talk to real action,” he said.
“Food security is not just about producing more. It is about producing better. It is about ensuring that every African, especially children and vulnerable groups, has access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food.
Food should be available to everyone,” Ndabamenye added. He emphasised the need to strengthen links between agriculture, nutrition, and health, ensuring that nutrition becomes an integral part of Africa’s development agenda.
Ndabamenye reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to climate-smart agriculture, youth and women’s empowerment, and value chains that boost nutrition and create jobs. (Xinhua)
