Addis Ababa: In a powerful show of unity, the African Union Commission (AUC), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) called on African leaders to prioritize agriculture and increase climate finance to ensure food security amid worsening climate change impacts.
Speaking at a high-level event in Addis Ababa, FAO Deputy-General Maria Helena Semedo called attention to climate change’s disproportionate impact on Africa and warned of growing hunger risks.
She touted sustainable agriculture’s potential to deliver food security while combating climate change.
Semedo advocated for targeted investments in sustainable food systems and prioritizing small-scale producers in climate funding.
AUC Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat in his message stressed the need for increased financial support for Africa’s agriculture systems despite the continent’s minor contribution to global emissions.
He emphasized the cost-effectiveness of climate a
daptation funds compared to costly emergency responses.
CAHOSCC Coordinator and Kenyan President William Ruto highlighted agriculture’s critical importance in Africa, contributing 35 percent of GDP and employing the most people.
However, he warned of the sector’s vulnerability to climate change which disproportionately harms farmers and food-insecure communities. Ruto stressed the urgent need to invest in adaptation measures and food sovereignty.
‘Together we can overcome climate change challenges through strategic investments and policies to transform Africa into a global breadbasket while ensuring regional food security,’ Ruto summarized their unified stance.
The officials called for increased adaptation finance, innovative partnerships, and collaborative government and private sector efforts to create a resilient, sustainable agriculture sector in Africa.
They announced structures to shape the post-2025 agricultural policy when the Malabo Declaration expires
Source: Ethiopian News Agency