The agricultural expert has called on the African countries to adopt strategic agendas to guarantee a sustainable food system within the region.
Jonathan Lubega, the program associate and policy analyst of the Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI), says African leaders should focus on holistic discussions that prioritize resilience and sustainability within agri-food systems that go beyond mere cultivation.
Lubega was on Tuesday, January 7th, 2025, discussing the forthcoming meeting of African leaders in Kampala.
Leaders, including the heads of states, agricultural ministers, and others from all the 55 African countries, are due to meet in Kampala during the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) summit scheduled for January 9-11, 2025.
The summit aims at increasing food security and nutrition, reducing rural poverty, creating employment, and contributing to economic development while safeguarding the environment.
The summit’s theme revolves around two pivotal concepts, which focus on creating sustainable food systems that can withstand various challenges.
“These systems are envisioned as comprehensive frameworks that extend beyond mere cultivation,” Lubega said.
Lubega noted that a practical example can be observed in maize farming, where success is contingent not only on agricultural practices but also on external factors such as market dynamics and labor availability.
“Despite facing numerous challenges, Uganda has made commendable strides through its National Development Plan (NDPIV). This plan includes an agro-industrialization program that aligns with Vision 2040 and contributes to Africa’s Vision 2063”, Lubega asserted.
However, Lubega stressed that various policy challenges indicate that much work remains to be done, citing statistics from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) that revealed that 4 out of 10 people in Uganda face food insecurity.
“This alarming figure therefore underscores the need for continued efforts towards achieving food resilience,”Lubega said.
Additionally, the CAADP advocates for governments to allocate at least 10% of their national budgets to agriculture.
Unfortunately, Uganda has consistently fallen short of this commitment. Lubega argued that this shortfall hampers effective implementation and progress in promoting resilient food systems.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni recently toured various sub regions of the country, calling for holistic involvement in agriculture to spur wealth creation.
