Kagwe Urges Agricultural Overhaul at AFDB Conference

The Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe, has urged for swift measures to convert the agricultural sector from a struggling segment into a prosperous industry.

The CS stated that agriculture continues to be the foundation of the continent, offering sustenance to more than 60 percent of Africa’s populace and playing a role in the GDP.

He mentioned that small-scale farmers, who provide food for the country, find it difficult to obtain crucial financial support.

The CS addressed the gathering on Monday at the African Development Bank Conference focused on financing smallholder farmers.

“If we prioritise innovative, practical financing measures, we will turn agriculture into a powerful engine of economic growth. Let us commit to ensuring no farmer is left behind,” CS Kagwe said.

The CS highlighted the importance of implementing pragmatic and inclusive financial strategies to bolster Africa’s primary agricultural sector.

CS Kagwe highlighted the essential part played by agriculture in ensuring Africa’s economic stability.

“Agriculture serves as much more than just a provider of food; it fuels economic growth, creates jobs, and ensures food security,” Kagwe emphasized.

He urged for a reassessment of agricultural funding, encouraging all parties involved to focus their investments on crucial sectors such as soil assessment, fertilizers availability, refrigeration chains, and the development of agro-industrial businesses.

The CS greeted attendees at the summit, which included AfDB Vice President Beth Dunford, various ministers, and delegates from the Pan African Farmers Organization (PAFO).

The African Development Bank Group along with the Pan-African Farmers Organization (PAFO) are co-hosting an elite gathering aimed at discussing and exchanging insights on improving small-scale farmers’ access to financial services, investment prospects, market facilities, skill-development programs, and environmentally friendly farming techniques.

The conference identified

actionable innovative financing mechanisms, including climate finance for smallholder farmers, that can be employed to scale successful financing models.

The gathering on Monday assembled an array of stakeholders including government officials, academic researchers, farming groups, banking entities, investment firms, international aid supporters, public interest advocates, independent nonprofit workers, corporate agriculture executives, and tech suppliers.

They concentrated on charting out the network of stakeholders and emphasizing expandable financing strategies, presented novel funding approaches to aid smallholder farmers, and reinforced connections between the infrastructure supporting smallholders and those providing funds amongst other initiatives.