Browsing: Africa Food Systems Forum

Africa food systems

Africa food systems, optimism in the face of failing commitments

Industry and Trade
  • The Malabo Declaration deadline has expired with only a handful of African countries on track.
  • Of 51 AU member states, only Rwanda is on course to achieving the 2014 Malabo commitments on financing agriculture.
  • In year’s Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, authorities cited a myriad of challenges in achieving key goals.

Africa food systems are failing but there is still optimism. This is despite the fact that we are only one year away from the Malabo Declaration’s deadline and only six years to the end of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In June 2014, the Malabo Declaration was made in Equatorial Guinea, where all African countries made a commitment to spend 10 per cent of their annual national budgets on agriculture.

“Only four countries achieved the Malabo target of allocating 10 percent of public spending to agriculture (Burundi, DR Congo, Ethiopia and Mali),” writes Moumini Savadogo for Farming First …

Tanzania, Kenya Presidents define Africa’s path to food security

Countries
  • Over 283 million Africans experience hunger daily, and millions suffer from malnutrition, a crisis that demands attention
  • Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu urges African leaders to prioritize the agriculture sector and align it with the 2014 Malabo Declaration.
  • Kenya’s William Ruto says the adoption of technology, including online distribution of fertilizer, is transforming agriculture.

Africa faces a pivotal moment where challenges looming on its doorstep can be transformed into opportunities to revamp and reshape its agriculture policies and strategies.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan emphasized this during the Africa Food Systems Summit 2023, held in Dar es Salaam from September 5-8.

Dr Samia urged African leaders to prioritize the agriculture sector, aligning their goals with current economic needs and the Malabo Declaration 2014, which calls for increased agriculture budgets and inclusive growth.

Over 283 million Africans experience hunger daily, and millions suffer from malnutrition, a crisis that demands attention. President Samia implored fellow …