African countries import more than $100 billion in food imports annually a pattern that the African Union says ought to change. The AU is driving for improved productivity to deliver sustainable food systems for the continent and cut down on imports and at the same time boost earnings for rural and urban farmers. CNBC Africa’s Aby Agina spoke to Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, AU Special Envoy on Food Systems for more.
African countries import more than $100 billion in food importations annually a pattern that the African Union says ought to change. The AU is driving for improved productivity to deliver sustainable food systems for the continent and cut down on imports and at the same time boost earnings for rural and urban farmers. Well, I had an interview with Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, the Africa Union Special Envoy for Food Systems, and here is more. The objective of the meeting was to define a strategy for food systems transformation in Africa for the next 10 years. You know, this issue of food system transformation has been a priority for African governments for the last 25 years. It started in Maputo under the name of ADEP, the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program, and in Maputo in 2003 was designed the first 10-year strategy of agricultural transformation. We are talking then about agricultural transformation and we moved to Malibu 10 years after in 2014 under Malibu declaration, looked at agriculture in a multi-sectoral dimension. So 10 years after that, now in 2025, we are talking about food systems because it's a more comprehensive and systemic approach to agricultural transformation as it includes production, it includes agro-processing, it includes support to farmers, it includes trade issues, infrastructure issues. So it's a strategic framework which will be implemented in all African governments and in all African countries. Well, Dr. Mayake, the question around food systems is quite emotive right now for African countries. We've seen the last couple of years the adverse impact that climate change has had on countries. This has affected food supply. This has seen a spike in food prices. And of course, this is a major concern. As the African Union, what is the union doing in terms of driving reforms and rolling out initiatives that will be able to stabilize food supply in the continent as well as tackle the ever-pressing challenges of food insecurity? It's a very good question. And when we talk about food systems, there are three critical issues that need to be taken into account. First of all, there is the issue of governance of food systems. And what do I mean by that? How policies nationally are defined in order to support production, in order to support farmers, in order to allow access to food. And the second pillar is the economic or macroeconomic pillar. How do you link these food policies to economic policies? It's very important. Why? Because it tackles the issue of inequality. People don't have access to food most of the time because they don't have the resources and they don't have the money. So you need to fix that issue, which is an economic issue. And the third dimension is the trade dimension. All countries cannot produce the same thing. We need a regional approach to food sovereignty, not a national approach. And we need to make sure that trade is allowed and value chains are optimized so that Africa can improve its intra-Africa trade, its intra-trade within the continent regarding food products. So these three issues have all a common ground, which is political prioritization. When governments put food systems as a priority, they can allocate resources to the issues I mentioned, and they can make sure that as we have a strong demographic growth rate, we can tackle that challenge of population increase by producing the necessary food, nutritious food. But as you said, the elephant in the room is evidently climate. And adaptation is the critical dimension that we need to face. As you know, we support the highest cost in terms of climate change, and it has a direct impact on our productivity. And then science is important. Technology is important. But in addition to science and technology, it is also important for us to make sure that farmers are supported and are helped in coping with climate change. They have been doing so for centuries, but we need to come in as it has become a very important challenge which goes beyond their capacities. So all in all, the role of governments nationally and the role of regional and continental institutions is crucial in making sure that we have more food sovereignty, we are less dependent, and we import less than we do today. Remember, we import around $100 billion in terms of food in the continent, which doesn't make sense. If we could allocate these resources to the improvement of production, productivity, to tackling issues regarding adaptation, we could be able to export rather than import. Very detailed insights there, Dr. Mayaki. And perhaps looking into the future, what should African governments do, especially when it comes to encouraging the agricultural practices? As it stands right now, the average age for a farmer in Africa is about 65 years old. What is your message to the upcoming generation, and what can the union, African union, do when it comes to selling this as an area that the youth can develop and become a part of it, considering that Africa still has a huge chunk of its land being arable across the continent? It's very interesting that you mentioned the average age of the African farmer, which is around 65 years. And at the same time, the median age in the continent is 19 years old. So you have a huge majority of the population, which is very young, and you have farmers who are quite old. And what does that reveal? It reveals that the youth is not really interested by a food system transformation. And there comes the issue of right policies in order to attract the youth, not only in production, but in agribusiness issues. And that cannot be done if you do not support and discriminate positively towards the farmers in order to attract the youth in the farming sector and allow a diversification of a rural economy. These farmers that we are referring to today produce 80% of the food we eat, with all the limitations that I mentioned. Now imagine if we create the necessary ecosystem institutionally, economically, in terms of support, in terms of science, in terms of technological innovation, in order to attract the youth, then we'll be able to reach the CADEP targets of 6% productivity every year. And we'll be able really to be a powerhouse, Africa as a whole, in terms of food production and food systems transformation. So three things are necessary. First of all, we need to redirect the support of the governments and the states towards the farmers and towards the transformation of a rural economy. And this means allocating more resources to both sectors. Secondly, we need to make agriculture attractive, and it has to be a business. And this is why agribusiness is very important. And what does that mean? It means giving the necessary tools and creating the necessary incentives for agribusiness to develop. And mind you, agribusiness developments will be the foundation for the industrialization of the continent. We should never forget that. And the third point is to look at the other factors that have a determining impact on food systems. Issues like energy, because you need energy in order to produce food. And issues like infrastructure, because you need rural roads, you need corridors in order to be able to trade the food that you produce. So at the center of this is evidently the government, but the government cannot do it alone. It needs to have a partnership with the private sector and with the farmers' organization, so that policy design is not only monopolized by governments, but is a shared practice and a shared responsibility between these three actors.
Theme: Regional Approach to Food Security and Agricultural Transformation in Africa
African countries are at a critical juncture in their quest for food security, with annual food imports exceeding $100 billion. The African Union (AU) has taken note of this concerning pattern and is advocating for a regional approach to bolster food security and drive agricultural transformation across the continent. In a recent interview with CNBC Africa, Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, the AU Special Envoy on Food Systems, shared insights on the importance of enhancing productivity, promoting sustainable food systems, and reducing food imports to boost earnings for rural and urban farmers. Dr. Mayaki emphasized the need for a strategic framework to guide food system transformation in Africa over the next decade. He highlighted the evolution of agricultural development programs in Africa, from the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program (ADEP) in Maputo to the Malabo Declaration in 2014, which recognized the multi-sectoral dimensions of agriculture. The focus has now shifted to food systems, encompassing production, agro-processing, farmer support, trade, and infrastructure issues. The interview delved into the challenges posed by climate change, which has adversely impacted food supply and led to food price spikes in recent years. Dr. Mayaki outlined three critical pillars for addressing these challenges: governance of food systems, linking food and economic policies to address inequality, and promoting regional trade to enhance food sovereignty. He underscored the importance of political prioritization by governments in tackling food insecurity and ensuring access to nutritious food for the growing population. One of the key concerns raised was the aging demographic of African farmers, with the average age currently at 65 years, while the continent's median age is only 19 years. Dr. Mayaki stressed the need to attract the youth to agriculture and agribusiness by implementing policies that provide support and incentives for young farmers. He highlighted the potential for youth engagement in transforming the rural economy and driving productivity growth to meet the targets set by the CADEP. To achieve this vision, Dr. Mayaki outlined three crucial steps: redirecting government support towards farmers and rural economy transformation, making agriculture a viable business through agribusiness development, and addressing factors like energy and infrastructure that impact food systems. He emphasized the importance of partnerships between governments, the private sector, and farmers' organizations to collectively design and implement effective policies that drive sustainable agricultural practices and economic growth. In conclusion, Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki's insights shed light on the path forward for Africa's food system transformation. By adopting a regional approach, prioritizing youth engagement, and fostering strategic partnerships, African countries can pave the way for enhanced food security, increased productivity, and reduced reliance on food imports.
"When governments put food systems as a priority, they can allocate resources to the issues I mentioned, and they can make sure that as we have a strong demographic growth rate, we can tackle that challenge of population increase by producing the necessary food, nutritious food."
['Africa', 'food security', 'agricultural transformation', 'climate change', 'youth engagement', 'sustainable food systems', 'regional trade', 'AU Special Envoy', 'Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki']