AGRA

Today marked the successful conclusion of the four-day Africa Food Systems Forum, which united over 5,000 delegates, 38 smallholder farmer groups, 97 countries, 302 speakers, 882 youth, 7 former heads of state, 37 ministers and 149 members of the press. Significant commitments were made, partnerships formed, and investments mobilized, marking a renewed commitment to the  transformation of Africa’s food systems.

Below are the highlights of Day 4:

GoGettaz Agripreneurs Winners Take Home USD $50,000

As the forum came to an end, we had a conversation with the youth who had the opportunity to directly ask questions to the leaders. The session touched on how AFS partners can support young people to learn and find jobs in food systems. It was also during this session that one male and one female winners of this year’s GoGettaz Agripeneurs were awarded USD 50,000 each for leading scalable and impactful business and social ventures.

Youth Involvement  in Agriculture Cemented with the Kigali Youth Declaration

The young people at the Africa food Systems 2024 committed to being accountable for the Africa food systems, a commitment set to be presented at COP29.

The Kigali Youth Declaration calls on various stakeholders to amplify the voice of the young people, address the pressing issues of climate change and youth employment in Africa and explore strategies to accelerate youth access to work opportunities in the agricultural and food system sector.

Cote D’ivoire and Rwanda Legacy Programmes

Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire today presented their legacy programmes and called for support from development partners, private institutions, and stakeholders for its implementation. The legacy programme initiative aims to transform the country’s food systems into operational, bankable investments that can be funded by partners and implemented over the next five years.

Rwanda’s case was compelling: the country boasts a 2.3% growth rate, with 27% of GDP derived from agriculture. As the top-performing country in implementing the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), Rwanda reinforced its commitment to advancing the sector. Key goals for Rwanda’s government include creating an enabling environment for youth employment, expanding avocado, chili, and potato production through public-private partnerships, and enhancing the livestock sector, particularly beef and poultry. Rwanda’s total investment requirement stands at $6 billion.

For Côte d’Ivoire, agriculture plays a central role in the country’s economy. The sector contributes 17% of GDP and accounts for more than 50% of export earnings.

However, challenges remain in achieving food security, such as limited access to high-yield, climate-resilient seeds and low mechanization in farming practices. Côte d’Ivoire is addressing these issues through the Social Project for the Acceleration of Food Production and Processing (PROSVIT-CI), a project estimated at XOF 5,881.2 billion (USD 9.8 billion). The government appealed to stakeholders for support to meet its goals.

The Great Debate: Africa’s Path to Food Security

The closing session featured key voices in Africa’s economic landscape: Wamkele Mene, CEO of AfCFTA; Lord Collins, UK Minister for Africa; and James Mwangi, CEO of Equity Group Holdings Limited.

Wamkele Mene underscored Africa’s current food insecurity crisis driven by external geopolitical factors, stating, “Millions have been pushed into poverty, but African countries have the potential to feed the continent.” He emphasized the need to reduce intra-African trade barriers, particularly on agricultural products, to unlock access to new markets and tackle the continent’s food challenges.

Dr James Mwangi drew attention to climate change, describing it as the “pandemic of agriculture” for smallholder farmers. He called for governments to address this with the same urgency as the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, “smallholder farmers cannot be left to fend for themselves.”

Lord Collins highlighted the UK’s commitment to economic partnerships with Africa, emphasizing, “Economic growth is how we will feed us all in the future.” He praised the innovation and entrepreneurship showcased at the Forum, encouraging a paradigm shift in African agricultural leadership to fully realize the sector’s potential.