The African Union Commission has called on member states to domesticate and implement the Kampala Declaration on food systems transformation, underscoring its critical role in addressing food insecurity and building climate resilience across the continent.
Moses Vilakati, the AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE), emphasized that the declaration adopted in January 2025—builds on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and is pivotal to achieving the goals of the earlier Malabo Declaration of 2014.
Speaking at the Joint ClimSA-SEWA Forum in Windhoek, Namibia, Vilakati stressed the importance of scientific data in guiding agricultural practices. “We must use science to improve productivity. For example, the use of inorganic fertilizer should be guided by soil testing to determine the correct type and quantity,” he said.
Africa, he warned, is increasingly vulnerable to climate change. Citing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Vilakati highlighted impacts such as biodiversity loss, water scarcity, declining food production, and slowed economic growth. “With 55–62% of sub-Saharan Africa’s workforce in agriculture and 95% of cropland reliant on rain-fed farming, climate risks disproportionately affect the continent,” he noted.
The Commissioner emphasized that women, rural communities, and the urban poor are especially at risk. He lauded the ClimSA and SEWA initiatives for helping nations strengthen their capacity to deliver timely, reliable climate and weather information—critical tools in mitigating these challenges.
Vilakati also advocated for afforestation, reforestation, and agroforestry as effective strategies to combat climate change while generating income for vulnerable households. “Tree planting improves ecosystem services, supports pollination, and acts as a carbon sink,” he said.
Additionally, he urged countries to establish seed banks to preserve indigenous, drought-tolerant crops like sorghum and millet, which could prove vital as climate conditions evolve and threaten the dominance of maize in African diets.
With the Kampala Declaration as a guiding framework, Vilakati reiterated the need for bold action to transform Africa’s food systems, bolster resilience, and ensure a food-secure future for the continent.
