The Prime Minister of Uganda, Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, has urged delegates at the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala summit 2025 to fight and end the importation of foodstuffs into Africa.
While addressing CAADP delegates at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala on Thursday, January 9, 2025, Nabbanja said it’s a shame for a continent with fertile soils to still import foodstuffs.
“What a shame!” That a continent that was gifted by God with such a proportion of the world’s arable and fertile land is experiencing such a trend in food imports!” Nabanja said.
Nabbanja highlighted that, according to the African Development Bank report, over 60% of Africa’s working population is involved in agriculture.
She pointed out that the continent’s soil is rich and fertile, with 65% of the world’s remaining uncultivated arable land, abundant fresh water, sufficient rainfall, and ample sunshine.
Despite these advantages, she noted that in 2021, Africa’s food imports totaled approximately USD 100 billion, largely driven by population growth.
Nabanja urged the delegates to come up with different proposals to end the importation of foodstuffs.
“This session of the Summit should come up with concrete proposals on how Africa can come out of such an undesirable situation. For us to guarantee our future as Africans, we must feed ourselves,” Nabanja added.
The CAADP summit, focused on enhancing food security, improving nutrition, reducing rural poverty, creating employment, and fostering economic development while protecting the environment, aims for a 6% annual growth rate in the agricultural sector. It also calls for African Union member states to allocate at least 10% of their budgets to agriculture.
The summit, which is being held in Kampala, is being attended by dignitaries from 43 member states and is scheduled from Thursday, January 9, 2025, to Saturday, January 11, 2025.
