African leaders convened in Kampala, Uganda, to adopt the Kampala Declaration, a transformative policy aimed at modernising agriculture and combating hunger across the continent. The summit, which marked the end of the Malabo Declaration, focused on enhancing food systems through investment in farming infrastructure and technology.
Kenyan President William Ruto urged bold action, stating, “Together, we can build a robust and enduring foundation for sustainable agriculture.” He highlighted Kenya’s success in surpassing irrigation targets by 147% under the previous framework and committed to integrating the new declaration into Kenya’s agricultural strategy through 2029.
The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) remains central to the initiative, mandating member states to allocate 10% of national budgets to agriculture and achieve 6% annual growth in the sector. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni emphasized the shift from subsistence to commercial farming, proposing the use of the River Congo for irrigation in arid regions.
The summit also addressed challenges such as youth disengagement from farming and urban migration, highlighted by African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat. Leaders from Angola, Burundi, Ethiopia, and other nations pledged to work collaboratively toward food security and sustainable agricultural growth.
This united effort underscores Africa’s commitment to ending hunger and unlocking the potential of its agricultural sector to drive economic progress and prosperity.
