Harnessing Africa’s Untapped Agricultural Potential Requires Deliberate Shift: IGAD Official

Addis Ababa, March 3, 2026 (ENA) – Transforming Africa’s agriculture into a climate resilient productive and competitive system needs a deliberate shift, IGAD Agriculture and Environment Division Director, Daher Elmi, said.

Addressing a two-day forum on Scaling Climate Smart Agriculture in Eastern and Southern Africa, the Director said Africa possesses the world’s largest scale of uncultivated land, the youngest population, and fast growing digital and innovation ecosystem.

As harnessing these opportunities requires a deliberate shift, we must transform Africa’s agriculture into a climate resilient productive and competitive system, he pointed out.

Climate smart agriculture is at the heart of this transformation, Elmi noted, adding that the response must be regional as no country can confront climate change alone, and food systems as climate shocks are regional. 

In this spirit, he stated that IGAD is undertaking several strategic initiatives that directly support scaling of smart agriculture and transform food systems in the region.

Natural Resource and Climate Change Program Director at the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute, Awoke Mulualem, said climate smart agriculture is essential for making the food systems in Ethiopia more productive, more resilient, and sustainable.

Noting that climate smart agriculture is part of the broader efforts of the country’s plan in the sector, he added that Ethiopia is taking concrete steps towards climate smart agriculture.

“We are restoring degraded lands and improving water retention in these areas. And we are enhancing soil health with better nutrient management.”

Such actions align with the national and regional agricultural plans, the Director stated, citing the establishment of a Climate Smart Agriculture Center of Excellence in the country and the development of a digital platform which helps translate policy into practice.

The Program Director also emphasized the significance of enhancing national and regional collaboration to realize climate smart agriculture in the region and beyond. 

New Zealand’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Olivia Owen, said for her part that agriculture underpins livelihoods, food securities, and economic transformations in every country.

“We are here today because we are committed to enhancing climate resilience, realizing food security, and reducing emissions.”

Stating the significance of supporting climate smart agriculture, innovation and scaling for food security, the Ambassador noted that regional cooperation and meetings like this are absolutely indispensable.

Similarly, Senior Agricultural Specialist at World Bank, Tim Robertson, said climate smart agriculture is critically important, stressing the need to accelerate collaboration among all stakeholders to unlock Africa’s ample agricultural potential.

The Specialist underlined the significance of technology for climate smart agriculture further pointing out the need for more innovation and creativity.