2021 Africa Green Revolution Forum begins in Kenya

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - The Africa Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) 2021 summit officially began in Nairobi on Wednesday under the theme, “Pathways to recovery and resilient food systems.”

The summit will explore pathways and actions to accelerate recovery and resilience in African food systems.

It will also feature stakeholders in the agricultural landscape to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African agriculture forward.

The new commitments include those to future food systems in Africa, equitable livelihoods, nutrition and health, resilience and competitiveness.

Also to be showcased will be future leaders of African agriculture including youth, women and entrepreneurs from across the continent.

AGRF Acting Managing Director Jennifer Baarn told the summit that 2021 is an important year for agriculture in Africa because countries are recovering and emerging from the coronavirus pandemic.

The summit will bring together 10 heads of state, 30 ministers and more than 10,000 delegates from across the globe in four days of high-level dialogues, events and debates in the Kenyan capital -- physically and virtually, where possible.

Hailemariam Dessalegn, Chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa joined the summit via a video link from Burkina Faso and said the conference will provide an opportunity for Kenya to showcase its leadership and progress in achieving food and nutrition security.

“Kenya will use the moment to provide practical examples of how agriculture can accelerate progress and prosperity for countries and their citizens on the continent. We will also be able to learn from other participating countries on their own best practices and success stories,” he said.

Dessalegn said that last week he met presidents Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, Muhammadu Buhari from Nigeria and Roch Marc Christian Kabore of Burkina Faso and discussed “the priorities of the respective governments in agricultural development and food and nutrition security especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.”

He also said that more than 20% of Africans are facing severe food insecurity, 50% live in moderate food insecurity who occasionally go hungry at a time when Africa is producing more food than ever but losing and wasting as much as 30% - 40% of food in sub-Saharan Africa that is never consumed.