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Malawi commits to agricultural transformation at Caadp Summit

Malawi has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming agriculture and ensuring food security during the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (Caadp) Summit held in Kampala, Uganda, from January 9 to 11.

The summit, a gathering of African leaders, policymakers, and agricultural experts, aimed to address the urgent need to overhaul the continent’s agrifood systems as the 2025 deadline of the Malabo Declaration approaches.

Kawale: We are allocating at least 10 percent of its national budget to the sector.

The Malawian delegation, led by Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale, emphasised the country’s alignment with Caadp’s goals and its dedication to the broader aspirations of Agenda 2063.

Speaking on the sidelines of the summit, Kawale underscored Malawi’s efforts to implement sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient agricultural systems.

The Kampala summit was convened at a critical point as Africa’s population is projected to hit 2.5 billion by 2050, necessitating urgent action to position the continent as a global agricultural powerhouse.

Key speakers included Monique Nsanzabaganwa, African Union Commission deputy chairperson and Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Nsanzabaganwa highlighted systemic challenges such as limited financing, underdeveloped infrastructure, and slow adoption of modern agricultural technologies that hinder progress.

“No member State is on track to achieve the Malabo Declaration targets by 2025,” she said, citing the AU’s fourth Caadp biennial review.

Her remarks paved the way for the endorsement of a new 10-year Caadp Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2035) aimed at building resilient agrifood systems, expanding intra-African trade, and creating millions of jobs for youth and women.

Museveni advocated for full commercialisation of agriculture and value addition to escape dependency on raw material exports.

On his part, Kawale highlighted Malawi’s notable achievements in agriculture, including consistently allocating at least 10 percent of its national budget to the sector, thereby meeting one of Caadp’s key benchmarks.

He pointed to the National Agri-food Systems Investment Plan as a roadmap for implementing Caadp strategies locally.

The minister also noted the government’s focus on enhancing rural infrastructure, expanding irrigation, and promoting climate-smart agriculture to counter climate variability challenges.

Reflecting on the Malabo Declaration, Kawale acknowledged significant progress in policy alignment and stakeholder collaboration, citing the launch of the National Agriculture Policy, the National Irrigation Policy, and the National Agricultural Land Resources and Management Policy.

However, he conceded that hurdles such as inadequate financing, reliance on rain-fed agriculture, and slow technological adoption remain.

“To address these challenges, Malawi is reforming agricultural input programmes, investing in mega farms, and leveraging public-private partnerships to mobilise resources,” said Kawale.

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