Honorable Frank Tumwebaze, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries of the Republic of Uganda and Chair of the AU Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment
Your Excellency Ambassador Josefa Sacko, Commissioner Agriculture, Rural Development Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission.
Honorable Ministers
Honorable Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
All Protocols Observed
It is an honor and a privilege to stand before you today at this extraordinary summit of the African Union, where we gather under the vital theme: “Sustainable and Resilient Agri-food Systems for a Healthy and Prosperous Africa.” This gathering is not just a meeting of minds; it is a convergence of our shared aspirations, collective challenges, and unwavering commitment to the future of agriculture and food security on our continent.
As we embark on the journey of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan for 2026 to 2035, we must recognize the critical role that agriculture plays in the socio-economic fabric of Africa. Agriculture is not merely a sector; it is the backbone of our economies, the source of livelihoods for millions, and a key driver of sustainable development.
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
The CAADP framework has been instrumental in guiding our efforts to enhance agricultural productivity, improve food security, and promote sustainable practices. However, as we look ahead, we must acknowledge the evolving challenges we face—climate change, population growth, urbanization, and the ongoing impacts of global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions.
Our vision for sustainable and resilient agri-food systems must be rooted in innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability. We envision a future where:
1. Realize Food and Nutrition Security: Every African has access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. We must prioritize investments in agricultural research and development, infrastructure, and technology to enhance productivity and reduce post-harvest losses.
2. Sustainable Practices are the Norm: We must embrace sustainable agricultural practices that protect our ecosystems, conserve biodiversity, and mitigate the impacts of climate change. This includes promoting agroecology, sustainable land management, and water conservation techniques.
3. Resilience is Built into Our Systems: Our agri-food systems must be resilient to shocks and stresses. This requires strengthening our supply chains, diversifying our production systems, and investing in social safety nets to support vulnerable populations.
4. Youth and Women are Empowered: The future of agriculture lies in the hands of our youth and women. We must create opportunities for young people to engage in agriculture through education, access to finance, and technology. Empowering women as key players in agriculture will not only enhance productivity but also drive economic growth and social equity.
5. Regional Cooperation is Strengthened: We must foster collaboration among African nations to share knowledge, resources, and best practices. Regional integration will enhance our collective capacity to address food security challenges and promote trade in agricultural products.
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
Over the past years Ethiopia has cascaded the CAADP in to national agricultural investment plans (NAIP), the Ethiopian NAIP has focused on transforming the agricultural sector to achieve food and nutrition security, improve livelihoods, and foster economic growth. The plan emphasizes the importance of increasing public investment in agriculture, which is crucial for achieving the CAADP target. It has significantly increased its agricultural budget allocation and has demonstrated its commitment by meeting the 6 % annual growth target of CAADP. The implementation of the National Agricultural Investment Plan (NAIP) has contributed to consistent improvements in annual agricultural production, elevating both crop yields and overall food production and livestock production, and also performed better in addressing resilience targets of the CAADP.
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
Ethiopia has furthermore, maintain its championship through its dedicated commitment to AU’s decision on CAADP values and principles, facilitating enabling environment for AU’s forums, as it has strategic position as African political capital and persistent engagement in the subsequent CAADP Biennial Reporting.
In implementing agricultural development, Ethiopia has been exemplary to Africa in some prioritized agricultural initiatives among which, The wheat production enhancement initiative, increased total wheat production to 231 million quintal per year. The initiative has significantly enhanced Ethiopia’s self-reliance in wheat production. This initiative is not only fully substitute wheat import, but also fortifies food and nutrition security, underscoring Ethiopia’s resilience in addressing global agricultural challenges. The second exemplary initiative is the Green legacy, which has been demonstrated a remarkable progress in environmental sustainability by planting over 40 billion trees over the last six years. This has contributed to combating climate change, enhancing biodiversity, and restoring degraded ecosystems. These efforts symbolize a harmonious balance between agricultural productivity and environmental stewardship.
The third exemplary undertakings is the transformative Lemat Trufat (Bounty of the Basket) initiative which has improved the livestock sector production and productivity specially dairy, poultry, egg, honey, fish and meat production, which also boosted incomes in rural areas and strengthened food and nutrition security by diversifying agricultural out puts.
The aforementioned exemplary infinitives have been attained by the commitment of high-level leadership and by repurposing domestic and development partners resources. In this regard, the comment of our small holder farmers, the engagement of the private sectors, development partners, professionals and other stake holders in the joint effort is highly acknowledged and appreciated. In implementing these initiatives a lot has been learned in areas of resource mobilization and repurposing, technology supply and utilization, coordination mechanism, leaders commitment at different level and also shared the lesson to other countries.
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
As we deliberate on the CAADP Strategy and Action Plan, let us commit to actionable steps that will translate our vision into reality. I urge each of you to:
● Prioritize Agricultural Investment: As outlined in the Maputo Declaration, allocate at least 10% of national budgets to agriculture to ensure that we have the resources needed to drive transformation.
● Enhance Policy Frameworks: Develop and implement policies that support sustainable agricultural practices, promote food sovereignty, and protect the rights of smallholder farmers.
● Foster Innovation and Technology Transfer: Invest in research and development to harness the potential of technology in agriculture, from precision farming to digital platforms that connect farmers to markets.
● Engage Stakeholders: Involve all stakeholders—farmers, civil society, the private sector, and academia—in the planning and implementation of agricultural policies to ensure that our strategies are inclusive and effective.
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
Please allow me to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the development partners, private sectors, stakeholder and the small holder farmers without which these all deliverables are achieved
As we celebrate the successes of the CAADP for the last two decades let us remember that this journey is a collective effort. It is through partnership, collaboration, and mutual respect among all stakeholders, international organizations, civil society, the private sector, and especially our smallholder farmers, that we will achieve our vision of a food-secure, resilient, and prosperous Africa.
Moving forward, in the next decade of Kampala declaration, let us continue to strengthen our alliances, share knowledge, and focus our efforts on ensuring that no one is left behind. Together, we have the potential to turn challenges into opportunities, elevating the agricultural sector to new heights and securing a brighter future for all Africans.
Let us move forward with determination and purpose as we embark on this critical journey together.
Thank you for your attention!!
