Senior government officials from various countries in Africa have urged a move away from plans and more action in addressing issues affecting agriculture on the continent.
This was captured in a meeting that was held in Limuru, where various Permanent Secretaries and other senior leaders from 15 different countries, such as Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and Rwanda, attended. The event was organized by Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Government of Kenya.
While opening the meeting, AGRA President Alice Ruhweza stated that the problem facing Africa in terms of addressing issues affecting agriculture is not coming up with ideas, but making such ideas work.
“The problem is not policy or strategy. The problem is policy and strategy implementation,” she added.
She also stated that some of the strategies that have been put in place to address issues affecting agriculture on the continent have failed because they were not well coordinated.
The event was also captured at a time when African countries are planning to put in place a plan under the CAADP framework for 2026 to 2035, targeting to improve food security and support farmers.
Kenya’s principal secretary for agriculture, Kipronoh Ronoh, noted that Kenya is already working towards improving agriculture in the continent by planning and partnering in the right ways.
Ronoh cited several programs aimed at assisting farmers in accessing better inputs and markets for their produce, and also the use of technology to improve agriculture.
Ronoh also noted that Kenya has made significant strides in digitally identifying farmers via KIAMIS, which has so far registered over 7 million farmers.
At the end of the meeting, several speakers noted that agriculture is a sector that holds a lot of promise for creating jobs and growing economies in the continent, but this will only come about if governments are willing to invest and work hand-in-hand with the private sector.
They also noted that agriculture needs practical results in the short term, especially over the next few farming seasons.
In his closing remarks, Kenya’s principal secretary for irrigation, Ephantus Kimotho, noted that irrigation will be key in improving food production in the continent.
Kimotho noted that Kenya is planning to put millions of acres of land into irrigation in the coming years to improve food production and curb food imports into the country.
At the end of the meeting, several leaders noted that countries need to focus on practical results on the ground and not just on paper if farmers are to benefit from the strategies and plans being made for them.
As Ruhweza noted, if farmers are doing well, the whole continent is doing well.
