Kampala to host CAADP meeting

8 January 2025, 12:12 pm

By Byamukama Alozious

Uganda is set to host the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) summit from January 9-11, 2025. This extraordinary summit aims to promote inclusive growth and sustainable development throughout the continent.

CAADP is Africa’s agricultural agenda, seeking to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty in Africa through agriculture-led development. African governments have committed to allocating at least 10% of their national budgets to agriculture and rural development, with a goal of achieving agricultural growth rates of at least 6% per annum.

The program is implemented at various levels, including national, regional, and continental. The first CAADP strategy and action plan was adopted in Maputo, Mozambique in 2003, and the current process focuses on the third strategy and action plan, set to be implemented from 2026 to 2035.

Uganda’s Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries Frank Tumwebaze, was elected to chair the African Union plan for 2026 and is also leading the development of the Kampala Declaration. These initiatives will be adopted during the African Union summit in Kampala, pursuant to a decision made during the 37th ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government.

In relation to the realisation of CAADP, Uganda has made significant strides in implementing various initiatives. These include the Uganda Climate Plan, Resilient Pastoral Livelihoods Projects, National Development Plan, National Agriculture Investment Plan, Parish Development Model, Agro-Industrialisation project, and various Food Security projects.

As the chair of CAADP for 2025-2026, Uganda will focus on promoting sustainable food production, boosting agriculture, increasing investment and financing for agricultural innovations, ensuring food and nutrition security with a focus on safe, nutritious, and affordable food, promoting inclusivity in agriculture particularly for women and other marginalised groups, and building resilience in agri-food systems in relation to climate change.

The CAADP summit in Kampala will bring together leaders to discuss sustainable agriculture, endorse Africa’s Agri-Food System 10-Year Strategy and Action Plan, and address key challenges in food security and agri-food systems. The event will emphasise the importance of unified action in securing Africa’s agricultural future and promoting a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.