At the African Union Extraordinary Summit on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme held in Kampala, Uganda, President William Ruto called on African countries to unite in creating resilient food systems to combat hunger across the continent. Ruto highlighted the severe food insecurity affecting millions, despite Africa’s abundant natural resources, emphasizing the urgent need for investment in infrastructure, innovation, and technology to address these challenges.
The president stressed that achieving food security is not only about meeting basic needs but also about ensuring access to nutritious food, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and positioning agriculture as a key driver of job creation and economic growth. “To reap the benefits of food systems transformation, it is critical that we implement a common strategy as a collective obligation,” Ruto remarked, advocating for cross-sectoral, cross-border, and regional collaboration.
Ruto acknowledged the many obstacles Africa faces in transforming its food systems, citing the threats posed by climate change, environmental degradation, rapid population growth, and urbanization. However, he believes these challenges can be overcome through collective action and strategic partnerships. “We must pursue collaboration across sectors, borders, and regions,” he said, outlining the importance of collective action in lifting livelihoods, safeguarding the environment, and fulfilling Africa’s fundamental obligation to ensure its people are fed.
In his commitment to Africa’s agricultural future, Ruto pledged Kenya’s support for the Kampala Declaration, which aims to replace the Malabo Declaration and outline a new strategy for agricultural transformation across the continent. Kenya is already taking steps to achieve food security, focusing on increasing agricultural production, reducing imports, minimizing post-harvest losses, and enhancing export manufacturing in key agricultural value chains.
With these efforts, Ruto believes Kenya will lead the way in achieving a transformed and resilient food system that can meet the demands of a growing population and safeguard the continent’s future.
