KIGALI, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Leaders, policymakers and development partners on Wednesday called for urgent action, increased investment and stronger public-private partnerships to transform Africa's agri-food systems and address persistent hunger, poverty and unemployment at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, the Rwandan capital.
Opening the forum, Rwandan Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva said Africa has enormous agricultural potential but must urgently turn its resources into productivity and prosperity.
Nsengiyumva said Africa must move beyond viewing agriculture as a traditional sector and instead position it as a modern and dynamic source of decent employment, entrepreneurship, innovation and economic opportunity, particularly for young people and women.
"The task for us is to build credible partnerships that connect capital to these opportunities and ensure that value is shared fairly across the system, especially with smallholder farmers," he said.
Moses Vilakati, African Union commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy and sustainable environment, said Africa's major challenge is no longer a lack of policies, strategies or knowledge, but the failure to translate existing commitments into concrete results.
Vilakati called for greater access to quality seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, mechanization, digital technologies, finance, infrastructure, markets and extension services.
Gerardine Mukeshimana, vice-president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, similarly stressed the need for stronger investment and private-sector participation to achieve lasting transformation of African food systems.
She said Africa must make nutritious diets more affordable, create decent jobs and strengthen resilience while driving broader economic transformation.
Former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn warned that Africa's agricultural transformation continues to face deep structural challenges despite two decades of efforts.
He identified productivity, value-chain and implementation-related traps as major barriers to transformation, citing inadequate water control, low-yielding seeds, fragmented markets, post-harvest losses, weak transport and cold-chain infrastructure, trade barriers and limited access to finance.
The forum, which runs from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, brought together more than 5,000 delegates from over 50 countries, including political leaders, policymakers, researchers, farmers, investors, scientists and development partners. ■