CAADP Summit: President Museveni calls for agriculture transformation in Africa

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has made a passionate call for urgent agricultural transformation at the Extraordinary African Union (AU) Summit on the Post-Malabo Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) held in Kampala on January 11, 2024.

 He emphasized the need for African nations to shift from subsistence farming to a fully commercialized agricultural sector to unlock economic potential and achieve food security.

In his opening remarks, President Museveni welcomed the esteemed delegates and highlighted Uganda’s historical economic evolution. He noted, “To truly achieve prosperity, we must commercialize agriculture. Only then can we provide food security and enhance the incomes of our households.”

Museveni outlined strategic initiatives aimed at transforming agriculture, particularly for smallholder farmers and larger landholders. He encouraged intensive farming practices for those with smaller plots while advocating for extensive farming for larger agricultural enterprises, stating, “Our strategic approach should include high-value crops for smaller families and scalable, lower-value crops for larger farms."

The President underscored the critical importance of value addition in agriculture, illuminating the disparity between raw material exports and processed goods. He pointed out that a kilogram of coffee fetches only USD 2.5 when sold as a raw commodity, but when processed, can generate significantly higher returns, up to USD 40. “This loss of opportunity leads to job losses and economic stagnation,” he warned, advocating for homegrown solutions to keep agricultural processing within Africa.
Highlighting the need for integration within the agricultural supply chain, President Museveni articulated a vision where local products serve the domestic hospitality industry. “We must promote our local produce—tourists should partake in the bounties of Ugandan agriculture rather than imported alternatives,” he urged.

The speech addressed challenges that hinder agricultural growth, such as the mismanagement of water resources and the impact of non-tariff barriers on trade between African nations. Museveni stressed the importance of maintaining access for Ugandan products, asserting, “If one country enjoys a bumper harvest, they should allow Ugandan goods to compete rather than delicensing them, which can push our farmers to bankruptcy.”

 President Museveni's address resonated with a sense of urgency for collective agricultural action across Africa. He asserted that with focused strategies, the continent can reclaim its agricultural heritage, fostering food sovereignty and turning Africa into an economic powerhouse. 

The summit serves as a pivotal platform for leaders to unify their efforts and drive transformative change within agriculture, ensuring prosperity for all.