AGRA rallies Agri-food stakeholders to improve livehoods in Africa
The newly appointed President for The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Alice Ruhweza, has called for teamwork among players in Agri-food systems to improve livelihoods in Africa.
Rhuweza said AGRA supported smallholder farmers, civil society, governments, private sector and development partners to bring about transformation that is meant to economically empower communities.
Speaking at Nairobi Serena Hotel, Rhuweza said Africa needed to rise and shape its destiny adding that collaboration was not just a principle but the engine driving meaningful change.
“Africa holds the key not only to feeding itself but also to feeding the world by securing the future of global food security, climate resilience, and shared prosperity, ” Rhuweza said.
“By deepening intra-Africa trade, strengthening regional collaboration, investing in youths, and leveraging the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, we can transform Africa’s agricultural and food systems success into a global force.”
Rhuweza said Africa’s youths, with their robust ideas, energy, and ingenuity, were key in unlocking new solutions, new technologies a d new growth pathways.
She said changes in the geopolitical and economic environment had created an opportunity for Africa to adapt and become more efficient and and stronger in investing in food systems.
While acknowledging her predecessor Dr Agnes Kalibata for her contribution and leadership at AGRA, she called the stakeholders to share opportunities the would unlock the potential of Africa’s young people, where AGRA’s interventions could have the greatest impact.
“I ask you to share with where you see the biggest opportunity to build a more connected food system in Africa, where we must focus to truly drive change for farmers’ businesses, and the next generation because only together, with the youth at the forefront, can we achieve the next scale of transformation Africa needs” she said.
Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Africa Farmers Federation, Stephen Muchiri, said through AGRA’s support, EAFF had built e-granary which had enabled members to communicate through digital platforms.
Mastercard Director of Agri-food systems, Wambui Chege, said their partnership with AGRA focused on the young people and particularly women in a move aimed at spurring agriculture.
The Director Food Initiative at Rockefeller Foundation, Betty Kibara said they would be targeting regenerative agriculture to create agricultural systems to produce food, and benefit the environment and smallholder farmers.
Voicing optimism that Rhuweza would take the continent’s food systems to greater heights, Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka said there was a need to make agriculture attractive to the youths saying expansion of donor funding, policy change, digitalization and involvement of youth and women in agriculture were critical factors in agricultural transformation.
