Alupo calls for solutions to persistent Agric challenges in Africa

Uganda's Vice-President Jessica Alupo has asked agriculture ministers and stakeholders meeting in Kampala to address the persistent bottlenecks that have failed the sector to progress.

According to Alupo, the sector is still challenged with limited public sector investment by member countries in the development of the agricultural sector; limited adoption and use of new agricultural mechanisation technologies; Over-reliance on nature amidst climate change; limited involvement of youth and those with large chunks of unutilised land; inadequate supportive infrastructure like energy, roads, markets, cold-chain facilities; Limited intra-Africa trade in agricultural products among others.

Alupo explained that even though agriculture remains the main source of employment along the value chain, providing raw materials for industry and contributing to the GDP of domestic economies, it has remained underdeveloped due to the above challenges.

“I am sure you all acknowledge these bottlenecks and as we convene here, I hope these and more have been and continue to be on top of your agenda. I am also hopeful that the resultant Kampala CAADP Declaration will tackle these issues holistically,” she said.

She made the call while officiating at the opening of a joint meeting of the Ministers of agriculture and foreign affairs during the African Union extra-ordinary summit on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) strategy and action plan 2026 – 35, at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort and Conference Centre in Kampala. This was on January 10, 2025.

For the above challenges to be managed, Alupo called for collaboration between agriculture and other sectors such as energy, transport infrastructure and market access among others to be included in all these plans.

“I wish to note that agriculture should not be looked at in isolation because complementarity is key. Without energy, for instance, value addition will be affected and without the appropriate transport infrastructure, market access will be impeded,” she added.

John Mulimba, the foreign affairs state minister of Uganda, added that for the challenges to be addressed efforts should be directed towards making finance and incentives to the private sector, promote rural and market infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses which are estimated at $ 48billion annually in addition to timely update of weather changes.

On his part Frank Tumwebaze, Uganda’s agriculture minister called for the implementation of all the ideas being shared in the summit for CAADP to have an impact in the sector.

“Let us not just advance ideas but let our heads of state and governments support the implementation and domestication of the recommendations and add them into our plans,” he added.