In a significant gathering aimed at enhancing Africa’s agricultural sector, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) hosted a two-day National Parliamentary retreat. The event, held under the Africa Food System Parliamentary Network (AFSPaN), focused on examining the roles of external development partners and assessing the implementation of the Maputo and Malabo declarations in Africa. AGRA, established in 2006, is dedicated to centering farmers in Africa’s economic growth and collaborates with various stakeholders including governments, private sector, and civil society.
According to Kenya News Agency, Chairperson of the Agricultural and Livestock Committee, the retreat’s primary goal was to engage legislators with development partners in agriculture. The event provided an opportunity for lawmakers to comprehend the contributions of external partners and to review the progress of the Maputo and Malabo declarations, which have been endorsed by African governments. The retreat saw participation from 32 Members of Parliament and the Senate from committees including Finance, Budget, National Planning, Agriculture, and Food Security.
Key discussions during the meeting highlighted the urgency of organizing agricultural systems for economic stimulus, addressing budget gaps, and implementing policy interventions for a green revolution. The Maputo declaration, which calls for allocating at least 10 percent of national budgetary resources to agriculture and rural development, and the Malabo Declaration, focusing on poverty reduction, ending hunger, and boosting intra-African agricultural trade, were central to these discussions. The declarations also emphasize the importance of agriculture in African economic growth and poverty reduction.
Dr. Mutunga underscored the critical role of agriculture as the economic backbone of most African countries and the need for increased policy interventions in the sector. He stressed the importance of the meeting in setting the direction for policy development to drive the green revolution in Africa. John Macharia, the Country Director of AGRA in Kenya, representing Agnes Kalibata, AGRA President, highlighted the necessity of unconventional business approaches, enhanced private sector involvement, and improved policy frameworks guiding agri-food transformation.
The AFSPaN initiative, launched at the 19th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) Partnership Platform in Lusaka, Zambia, aims to mobilize parliamentary support across Africa for inclusive agri-food system transformation. It brings together parliamentarians from national, regional, and continental bodies, focusing on key committees such as Agriculture, Environment, Food Security, Finance, Budget, and Planning.