The Liberian Vice President, Jeremiah Kpan Koung, and Agriculture Minister, Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, are slated to attend a crucial agricultural summit in Kampala, Uganda, from January 9th to 11th, 2025. This extraordinary meeting, convened under the banner of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Program (CAADP), aims to chart a transformative course for the continent’s food systems over the next decade. The summit, organized by the African Union Commission and its affiliated agencies, will focus on endorsing the draft Kampala CAADP Declaration, a visionary document outlining the aspirations for Africa’s agri-food sector from 2026 to 2035. This declaration underscores the imperative of inclusive transformation, sustainable economic growth, and shared prosperity. Complementing the declaration will be the approval of a 10-year CAADP Strategy and Action Plan, detailing the concrete steps required to achieve the ambitious goals set forth in the Kampala Declaration. This integrated approach seeks to solidify Africa’s commitment to food security and agricultural advancement.
The Kampala meeting holds significant importance for Africa’s agricultural landscape as it builds upon the legacy of CAADP, a framework established in 2003 to address the continent’s food security challenges. CAADP has played a pivotal role in driving agricultural transformation across Africa by emphasizing increased food production, poverty reduction, employment generation, and economic development, all while ensuring environmental sustainability. The program’s core targets include achieving a 6% annual growth rate in the agricultural sector and encouraging African Union member states to dedicate at least 10% of their national budgets to agriculture. This commitment to resource allocation underscores the recognition of agriculture as a critical driver of overall socio-economic progress. The Kampala summit serves as a platform to reaffirm these commitments and strategize for their effective implementation.
Liberia, a signatory to the CAADP framework since 2008, exemplifies the challenges and opportunities facing many African nations in their pursuit of agricultural transformation. Despite pronouncements by successive administrations to prioritize agriculture and leverage its potential for poverty reduction and enhanced food security, Liberia, like many other countries, has yet to allocate the stipulated 10% of its national budget to the sector. This funding gap highlights a persistent challenge in translating policy pronouncements into concrete budgetary allocations. The country’s reliance on external funding, primarily through loans and grants, further underscores the need for greater domestic resource mobilization to ensure the long-term sustainability and ownership of agricultural development initiatives. While external support has played a role, it has not been sufficient to fully address the complex challenges facing the sector.
The Liberian government’s current focus on revitalizing the economy includes a five-year strategic plan aimed at mobilizing resources for agricultural development, aligning with the principles and processes of CAADP. This plan signifies a renewed commitment to leverage CAADP as a guiding framework for achieving agricultural transformation. The plan’s emphasis on resource mobilization recognizes the crucial link between adequate funding and the sector’s ability to contribute to national development goals. By aligning with CAADP principles, Liberia aims to benefit from the program’s experience and expertise in driving agricultural growth and achieving food security. The participation of Liberia’s Vice President and Agriculture Minister in the Kampala summit demonstrates the country’s commitment to engaging with continental efforts to advance agricultural development.
The Kampala summit arrives at a critical juncture for Africa’s agricultural sector. The continent faces mounting challenges, including climate change, population growth, and persistent poverty, which necessitate a concerted and strategic approach to agricultural development. The draft Kampala Declaration and the accompanying 10-year strategy and action plan offer a roadmap for navigating these challenges and harnessing the transformative potential of agriculture. The summit provides a platform for African leaders to reaffirm their commitment to CAADP principles, share best practices, and forge partnerships to accelerate agricultural growth. The outcomes of the summit will be instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture in Africa and contributing to the continent’s overall sustainable development agenda.
The participation of high-level delegates, including heads of state, agriculture ministers, private sector actors, and civil society representatives, underscores the inclusive nature of the Kampala summit and the recognition of the multifaceted nature of agricultural transformation. This collaborative approach is essential for fostering a shared vision and mobilizing diverse stakeholders to contribute to the realization of CAADP goals. The engagement of the private sector is particularly crucial for leveraging investment and innovation in the agricultural value chain. Civil society organizations play a vital role in advocating for the interests of smallholder farmers and ensuring that agricultural development policies are inclusive and equitable. The Kampala summit provides a unique opportunity for these diverse actors to come together and forge a common path towards a more prosperous and food-secure Africa.
