Story by Memory Chamisa
THE Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) summit has begun in Kampala, Uganda.
There are expectations for African leaders to commit to building food systems that guarantee access to food, decent livelihoods, and a brighter future.
The summit is expected to address pressing concerns through agricultural transformation strategies outlined in the Kampala Declaration, which builds upon previous declarations – the Maputo Declaration (2003) and the Malabo Declaration (2014) all of which focus on eliminating hunger in Africa.
The Kampala Declaration introduces a Strategy and Action Plan for 2026 to 2035, marking a new chapter in Africa’s journey toward sustainable and resilient food systems.
The declaration also aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a prosperous, sustainable continent.
In attendance is Zimbabwe’s Head of Delegation, Minister of Lands,Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Albert Chimbindi, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, Mrs Sophia Nyamundeza, as wrll as Ambassador to Kenya, Uganda and Somalia, Mrs Winpeg Moyo, among other government officials.
The new CAADP Kampala Declaration aims to achieve six key goals to improve agriculture and food systems across Africa which is similar to Zimbabwe’s 2020 Agriculture and Rural Transformation Strategy.
The Zimbabwe’s Agriculture and Rural Transformation Strategy includes increase in food production by boosting farming and creating strong value chains to grow rural economies, livestock and fisheries production, a US$13.75 billion modern and technology-driven agriculture sector, inclusion by empowering women, youth, and marginalised groups to play a larger role in agriculture, building farming resilience systems that adapt to climate change and other challenges among others.
The three-day summit is running under the theme, “Sustainable and Resilient Agri-Food Systems for a Healthy and Prosperous Africa”, with more than 2 000 participants from at least 49 AU member states.
