The Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), says agriculture holds the key to Africa’s economic recovery in post COVID-19.
Economies across the globe have been shattered, following almost a year after the first case of the virus was recorded in Wuhan, China.
Dr Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA, who said this at a forum, organised by the alliance, in Rwanda, called on African governments to invest massively in agriculture, to promote food security and create jobs for the youth.
She stressed that there was the need for governments and stakeholders in agriculture to work hard to promote food security in Africa.
“We must not relent in our effort to transform food systems for the benefit of everyone and build stronger, resilient and more sustainable food systems,” Dr Kalibata said.
She said a presidential summit, was held on the last day, as part of the event, which was addressed by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
President Kagame told the participants “We all need to take individual and collective responsibility to do what we need to do. The pathway to delivery is clear.”
Dr Catherine Nakaleme, a Ugandan Assistant Research Professor at the University of Maryland, and Dr André Bationo, a Researcher from Burkina Faso, were jointly awarded for the 2020 Africa Food Prize.
A former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Chairman, Africa Food Prize Committee, commended the awardees for their outstanding achievements.
This year’s AGRF virtual summit was held in Rwanda on the theme: “Feed the Cities, Grow the Continent: Leveraging Urban Food Markets to Achieve Sustainable Food Systems in Africa.”
The four-day meeting was to bring stakeholders in the agriculture sector together, to discuss measures to transform agriculture, raise productivity and income of farmers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Delegates at this year’s event included current and former presidents and heads of government, ministers, governors, mayors and leaders of international agencies, including the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU).
Highlights of the summit were the launch of the 2020 African Agricultural Status Report, titled, the Agribusiness Deal Room, a match-making, which sought to explore a wide range of investment opportunities valued at over US$4.7 billion.
Farmers Forum was held to discuss sustainability plans and strategies for overcoming recent challenges and increasing resilience in agriculture.
There was also a Ministerial Roundtable, which took stock of the continent with regards to policy reforms, partnerships, and financing towards achieving the 2025 Malabo Declaration target of ending hunger in Africa.
