The African Union (AU) has reiterated the pivotal role agriculture plays in Africa’s economy as it prepares for the CAADP Kampala Summit 2025, scheduled to run from January 9 to January 11. The summit will serve as a platform to discuss strategies for sustainable agricultural growth and food security across the continent.
In a statement shared on the AU’s X (formerly Twitter) handle, Ms. Core Leonel Josepha, the Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, emphasized the importance of food security in achieving socio-economic stability. “Food security is a basic need for any society. By examining food systems and value chains, our goal is for all Africans to access safe, affordable, and available food,” she said. She noted that African leaders have prioritized agriculture as a cornerstone of the continent’s development agenda.
The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), a flagship initiative adopted in 2023, serves as the cornerstone of this vision. Originating from an agricultural initiative championed by Uganda’s Head of State in 2003, CAADP gained prominence after the Maputo Declaration of 2004 and has since been integrated into the AU’s Agenda 2063. This program aims to address food security challenges and boost agricultural productivity across the continent.
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The CAADP Kampala Summit will focus on evaluating progress made under the program, highlighting achievements, and laying out strategies for the next phase of implementation from 2026 to 2035. As the third of its kind—following summits in Maputo in 2004 and Malabo in 2015—the event is expected to build on previous milestones and outline a clear roadmap for the future.
Keynote speakers include H.E. Amb. Josefa Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission; Hon. Dr. Girma Amente, Minister of Agriculture, Ethiopia; Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda; and Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, Prime Minister of Uganda.
The summit will showcase success stories, share innovative practices, and foster collaboration among member states to enhance agricultural productivity and resilience. As discussions unfold in Kampala, the AU continues to champion agriculture as the backbone of Africa’s economy, aiming to achieve food security and sustainable development for the continent.
