African Farmers Demand Agroecology Focus in New Agricultural Policy
As the African Union Commission prepares the final draft of the Kampala Declaration, all eyes are on how these demands will be addressed.
KAMPALA, Uganda — African farmers and civil society groups are calling for a radical shift in continental agricultural policy, writes Winston Mwale.
They're urging the inclusion of agroecology as a central strategy in the upcoming Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration.
The demand comes from a two-day convening in Kampala on October 3-4, 2024, where representatives from various sectors gathered to review the CAADP strategy and action plan for 2026-2035.
"We strongly call for agroecology to be a core strategy in the Kampala Declaration," the group stated in a position paper.
They argue this approach would "safeguard African biodiversity, improve nutrition and health, enhance soil health, increase resilience to climate and other crises, and strengthen local food systems."
The participants expressed deep concern over the disconnect between policy directives and the needs of small-scale farmers.
They criticized the draft document for being "dominated by the private sector and external corporate interests."
"We demand an end to the tokenistic inclusion of smallholder farmers and allied civil society organizations in key policy processes," the statement declared.
The group proposed creating an advisory council for smallholder farmers within the CAADP framework.
The collective also strongly opposed genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in African agriculture.
"We reject the inclusion of GMOs and corporate-driven technologies in the Kampala Declaration," they stated, warning that such technologies "promote dependency on multinational corporations."
The group urged increased public investment in smallholder agriculture, calling for a recommitment to the 10% public investment target set in previous declarations.
Africa's food insecurity remains a pressing concern.
The statement noted, "Africa is the most food-insecure region globally, with one in five people— around 278 million—facing hunger."
This underscores the urgency of their call for a new approach to agricultural policy.
As the African Union Commission prepares the final draft of the Kampala Declaration, all eyes are on how these demands will be addressed.
The outcome could significantly shape the future of African agriculture and food systems for years to come.