The AGRF 2021 Summit was launched in Kenya’s Nairobi County. The forum was welcomed by the country’s President Kenyatta who was represented by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya.
The AGRF is the world’s premier forum for African agriculture, bringing together stakeholders in the agricultural landscape to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African agriculture forward. The four-day Summit will take place from September 7th to 10th in Nairobi County.
Among the key topics discussed in the summit includes unlocking Africa’s potential despite COVID-19 Pandemic. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya noted that the Covid-19 pandemic is persistent and underscored the urgency for transformation of food systems adding that Kenya had set in place its food systems transformation prior to Covid-19 but the pandemic has awakened it in relativity for food systems. Evidence, he noted shows that production of major food commodities has been stagnating if not declining against a backdrop of rapidly increasing population.
Intra-regional trade
He observed that for Africa to feed herself sustainably there is need to enhance inter and intra-regional trade by embracing Africa continent free trade agreement through lowering trade barriers, harmonizing regional policies and ensuring regulatory environments are friendly.
Munya further noted that including women participation in food systems is vital hence the need to address issues of land access, finance and education by breaking cultural barriers and norms that discriminate against women.
“Harnessing agricultural technology and innovation is equally critical as it will allow us to plan better for the sector and respond to the impact of climate change and other stresses in our food system,” said the CS.
Munya explained that technology will also help boost agriculture productivity, for food production, expand agro- processing potential, deploy extension advisory services and streamline value chain activities. He emphasized that youth engagement is critical to sustain the continent’s food systems noting that Africa is the world’s youngest continent with 60% being young people who are slightly more than 20 years.
Private sector
“Our young people must take charge of their future by feeding themselves with nutritious and safe diet that will not only promote the health of people but also boost economic wealth,” Munya added.
Agnes Kalibata, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) said the African continent is built on agriculture with 70 percent of its people being farmers and 60 percent of women living on agriculture and yet not making enough out of it.
“Every time we invest 10%, we impact our GDP which is around 6% and we reduce poverty by 7%. There are huge opportunities in the agriculture sector. We will need to have a conversation with the private sector, trying to understand why they are not investing and how we would like them to invest. We should try to understand how we can support them to be able to do a good job because at the end of the day agriculture is the business and it is not just for subsistence,” Kalibata said.
The AGRF 2021 summit will have 500 in-person participants. Another 10,000 participants will join virtually from more than 150 countries. Another 10,000 participants will join virtually from more than 150 countries
