AFRICA – Africa is poised for a transformative decade in agriculture following the adoption of the African Union’s (AU) new agricultural development strategy.
The 10-year Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan, endorsed during the AU Extraordinary Summit in Kampala, Uganda, aims to increase the continent’s agri-food output by 45% by 2035.
The initiative also seeks to bolster food security and revamp Africa’s agri-food systems to meet the growing demand for food.
The CAADP, a flagship initiative under the AU’s Agenda 2063, aspires to stimulate economic growth through agriculture-led development while addressing hunger and poverty.
Originally launched in 2003 with the Maputo Declaration and reaffirmed in 2014 with the Malabo Declaration, CAADP has become the cornerstone of Africa’s agricultural transformation efforts.
Key goals for agricultural transformation
The Kampala Declaration outlines six commitments designed to transform Africa’s agri-food systems.
Among its targets are reducing post-harvest losses by 50%, tripling intra-African trade in agri-food products, and increasing the contribution of locally processed food to the agri-food GDP to 35% by 2035.
Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, addressing the summit, stressed the importance of adding value to agricultural products.
“This Africa of having no food and begging is not the real Africa, but the colonial and neo-colonial Africa. The battle for value addition has been a big one because lobbies want to keep Africa as a raw-materials-producing continent,” Museveni remarked.
He also called for the elimination of non-tariff barriers (NTBs), which he argued are significant impediments to intra-African trade.
Assessing the progress of CAADP
While the CAADP strategy builds on a legacy of ambitious commitments, progress has been uneven across the continent.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), acknowledged the shortcomings in implementation since 2014.
“The various biennial evaluations of the commitments made by Member States show progress, but at an unsatisfactory pace,” he stated.
Mahamat emphasized that the Kampala Declaration represents a collaborative effort to identify and address key barriers to agricultural growth.
The AU’s renewed strategy highlights the need for sustainable food production, agro-industrialization, and enhanced trade within Africa.
These goals are seen as critical, particularly as the continent’s population is projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, with global food demand expected to rise significantly.
Building resilience through innovation
A central pillar of the new strategy is fostering innovation and sustainability within the agri-food systems. The action plan calls for the adoption of climate-resilient farming practices and the promotion of agro-industrialization to enhance food production and distribution.
Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie noted the urgency of acting decisively.
“This Summit marks a defining moment for Africa, where we will be able to chart out the course of the continent’s agri-food system,” he said.
His comments echoed the broader sentiment of the summit, which focused on implementing actionable steps to achieve the ambitious targets.
Addressing trade barriers and market integration
To achieve its goals, the strategy places significant emphasis on boosting intra-African trade. It aims to address logistical bottlenecks, improve infrastructure, and harmonize policies to facilitate the seamless movement of agricultural goods across borders.
Experts at the summit highlighted the need to integrate markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“The battle for open borders is fundamental to agricultural growth,” Museveni reiterated, calling for member states to dismantle NTBs that hinder regional trade.
Global partnerships and support
The Kampala Declaration has also drawn support from international development partners.
Norway’s State Minister for International Development, Ms. Bjørg Sandkjær, commended Africa’s bold vision, emphasizing the critical role of agri-food systems in driving economic growth, ensuring food security, and improving nutrition.
“This strategy aligns with the continent’s aspirations for prosperity, resilience, and inclusive development,” she said.
Roadmap for action
AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, Amb. Josefa Sacko, highlighted the clarity of the new strategy.
“We now have realistic and implementable strategic objectives, a broad policy scope enhancing food system approaches, and targets that reflect the continent’s aspirations,” she noted.
Sacko added that the roadmap includes provisions for inclusivity, ensuring stakeholders across the agricultural value chain are actively involved in realizing the goals.
As the 55 AU member states prepare to implement the strategy starting in 2026, the focus will remain on collaboration, value addition, and tackling trade barriers.