Policymakers at the Financing Agri-food Systems Sustainably Summit 2025 in Nairobi have called on African governments to significantly boost public funding for agriculture to enhance food security and drive long-term economic growth.
Held under the theme “Taking Ownership: Rethinking Sustainable Financing for Africa’s Food Systems,” the three-day summit brought together regional leaders and sector stakeholders to chart innovative financing strategies for transforming agri-food systems across the continent.
Despite agriculture employing over 60% of Africa’s population, delegates noted the sector continues to receive disproportionately low investment. Kenya’s Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe, highlighted that agriculture accounts for 22.5% of the country’s GDP but receives just 3% of the national budget.
Kagwe emphasized that increasing the allocation to 10% would not only fulfill the commitments of the 2014 Malabo Declaration and 2025 Kampala CAADP Declaration but also potentially boost productivity by 45%, eliminate post-harvest losses, and triple intra-African agri-trade by 2035.
East African Community Secretary General Veronica Nduva stressed the need to modernize agriculture through climate-resilient systems, improved infrastructure, technology, and inclusive financial tools, especially for smallholder farmers.
Joining remotely, AU Commissioner Moses Vilakati confirmed the African Union’s commitment to mobilizing $100 billion by 2035 for agri-food system transformation. He advocated for innovative financing mechanisms to de-risk agricultural investments and empower women and youth—the backbone of Africa’s food systems.
Source: Xinhua
