The Africa Food Systems Parliamentary Network (AFSPaN) is calling on governments to increase investment in agriculture as the continent prepares to roll out a new strategy for developing its food systems. Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, chairman of AFSPaN, emphasized the need for increased financing for agriculture, stressing that money from development partners is not enough.
Dr. Jasaw, who is also a member of parliament for Wa East and former ranking member of the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs committee, urged MPs to engage their finance ministries to dedicate more resources to funding agricultural and related sectors. He made these remarks at a side event during the Extraordinary Summit on the Post Malabo Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) in Kampala, Uganda.
The CAADP has been the cornerstone framework for driving agricultural transformation across Africa over the past 20 years. Launched in 2003, it has contributed to increasing agricultural GDP, higher average incomes, and significant reductions in hunger and poverty. However, the Malabo Declaration, which committed African governments to investing at least 10% of GDP in agriculture, expired at the end of 2024.
The ongoing summit aims to firm up the CAADP Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2035) and the Kampala Declaration 2025 to forge a new way forward. About 2,000 delegates, including heads of state and governments, have gathered for the summit.
AFSPaN is a network of MPs working together to amplify the objectives of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development. The network undertakes monitoring of governments' performance in implementing CAADP and ensures targets are met.
The new CAADP strategy and Kampala Declaration will evaluate achievements and challenges since the Maputo and Malabo Declarations, accelerate commitment execution, and address gaps in funding, policy, and execution. The plan introduces innovative financing models, such as blended finance and agricultural bonds, to attract additional funding for sustainable development and tackling climate change.
Dr. Jasaw highlighted the urgent need for action on climate change, citing his personal experience of losing 400 acres of maize due to drought. He emphasized the importance of governments responding directly to farmers' challenges and problems.
Other speakers, including Dr. Dora Siliya, a former MP and Minister of Agriculture in Zambia, and Jeremy Lissouba, an MP in Congo-Brazzaville and secretary-general of AFSPaN, echoed the need for increased investment in agriculture and collaboration between food systems actors.
By 2030, the food economy in Africa is projected to be worth about $1 trillion, making it a key sector for creating wealth, jobs, and reducing poverty. With the continent's population expected to nearly double by 2050, the need for sustainable and resilient food systems has never been more pressing.
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