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Africa Needs to Produce 45 percent of its Agrifood by 2030: AU Commissioner

Addis Ababa, October 21, 2025 (ENA) - The food security challenges of Africa need urgent and targeted action, African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, Moses Vilakati said.

The 6th Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water, and Environment (ARDWE) is taking place in Addis Ababa.



In his opening remarks, Vilakati emphasized the urgent need for targeted action to address Africa's food security challenges.

He noted that the 6th ordinary session serves as a vital platform for reviewing progress on previous decisions and shaping the priorities for the next two years.

"This session comes at a pivotal moment as we transition from the Malabo CAADP Agenda (2014–2025) to the Kampala CAADP Agenda (2026–2035)," he stated, highlighting the theme of building resilient and sustainable agrifood systems in Africa.

Vilakati underscored the urgent goal of ensuring that 45percent of agrifood in Africa is produced locally by 2030.

The Commissioner also referenced the recent Second Africa Climate Summit, which gathered over 25,000 delegates, highlighting Africa's role in global climate solutions.

The summit culminated in the adoption of the African Leaders Addis Ababa Declaration on Climate Change, reinforcing Africa's commitment to resilient and green development, he noted.

Despite its rich natural resources, Vilakati pointed out that millions of Africans remain food insecure, with the continent spending between 50 and 100 billion USD annually on food imports.

He attributed the ongoing food security challenges to structural constraints such as degraded soils, limited access to quality seeds and fertilizers, and inadequate economic opportunities for youth and women.


To address these issues, a 100-day plan was launched aimed at accelerating continental efforts toward food security, he said, noting that the plan focuses on key areas including soil health, fertilizer optimization, seed systems development, and job creation for youth.

The four-day comprehensive discussions will be held on various reports and frameworks, including the 5th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Biennial Review Report, and strategies to enhance Africa’s voice on climate change globally.

Ethiopian News Agency
2023