Africa Eyes Agricultural Overhaul as Food Imports Hit $100B Annually
Statistics show Africa's net food imports have grown 3.4% annually since 1980, driven largely by population growth.
KAMPALA, Uganda — African leaders will gather in Uganda next month to address the continent's growing food import dependency, which has reached $100 billion annually despite possessing 65% of the world's uncultivated arable land, writes Wakhungu Andanje.
The January summit aims to adopt a new continental agricultural strategy for 2026-2035 under the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), officials announced Friday.
"The irony is obvious, and it is within us as Africans to resolve it," said Major General David Kasura-Kyomukama, permanent secretary at the pre-CAADP summit.
He noted that five countries account for 50% of Africa's total food imports, with major suppliers including Brazil, India, and the European Union.
Statistics show Africa's net food imports have grown 3.4% annually since 1980, driven largely by population growth.
This dependency persists despite the continent's agricultural advantages: abundant freshwater, approximately 300 days of sunshine annually, and 60% of its workforce engaged in farming.
Frank K. Tumwebaze, Uganda's agriculture minister and chair of the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, said the January summit will draw 2,000 participants, including researchers, development partners, and agricultural practitioners.
"A population that cannot feed itself cannot guarantee its future existence," Kasura-Kyomukama warned, emphasising the need for improved agro-industrialisation and food self-reliance.
The summit will feature special sessions on women and youth in agriculture, as well as addressing refugee impacts on food systems.
It marks CAADP's third strategic phase, following previous agreements in Maputo (2003) and Malabo (2014).