The African Union (AU) has adopted a continental 10-year agricultural development strategy and action plan in a significant move towards bolstering agrifood systems across the continent.
The decision, made during the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Extraordinary Summit held in the Ugandan capital Kampala from January 9 to 11, is seen as a pivotal step in achieving sustainable agricultural growth, food security and poverty reduction on the continent.
The summit concluded with the adoption of the Kampala Declaration, which launched the CAADP 10-Year Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2035).
The plan aligns with the AU’s Agenda 2063 and envisions building resilient agrifood systems to ensure a healthy and prosperous Africa.
AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, Josefa Sacko emphasised the urgency of adapting agriculture to face challenges such as climate change, economic instability and rapid technological advancement.
“We must position the continent in such a manner that our agricultural sector is resilient to climate change as well as other shocks and is adaptive to advances in technology,” Sacko stated.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni called for African nations to shift from reliance on raw material exports to developing value-added agricultural products.
He urged investments in research, irrigation and modern agro-practices to transform Africa’s agricultural sector into a global economic powerhouse.
The Kampala Declaration outlined specific commitments to enhance animal resources’ contribution to agrifood systems.
These include the strengthening of disease surveillance systems, ramping up vaccine production, prioritising the eradication of pests by 2030, and promotion of the implementation of health protocols to safeguard human, animal, plant and environmental health.
Other commitments outlined under the Kampala Declaration include a call for investment in improved fodder crop varieties and alternative feed sources to enhance livestock productivity and resilience, and promotion of sustainable fishing practices and equitable management of aquatic resources.
The CAADP 10-Year Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2035) calls for collective and decisive action on several fronts, including recognizing livestock as a cornerstone of Africa’s agricultural economy, and establishing robust and interconnected crop, livestock and fisheries value chains that contribute to the overall resilience of agrifood systems across the continent.
Other proposed actions include developing and implementing climate adaptation mechanisms, including advanced irrigation systems, drought-resistant feed crops, and sustainable practices in aquaculture and livestock management, as well as expanding intra-African trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area while addressing infrastructure gaps.
The strategy and action will also aim to empower women, youth and marginalized communities to drive agricultural innovation and increase their participation in agricultural value chains.
CAADP has been crucial in driving agricultural transformation across Africa since its inception in 2003.
The programme aims to increase food security and nutrition in Africa, reduce rural poverty, create employment and contribute to economic development while safeguarding the environment.
JN/APA