Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has called for immediate action to transform agriculture from a struggling sector into a thriving industry.
The CS said agriculture remains the backbone of the continent, providing livelihoods for over 60 per cent of Africa’s population and contributing to GDP.
He said small-scale farmers who feed the nation struggle to access essential financial resources.
The CS spoke on Monday during the African Development Bank Conference 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 emphasised the need for practical and inclusive financial solutions to support the backbone of Africa’s agricultural sector.
CS Kagwe underscored the critical role of agriculture in Africa’s economic stability.
“Agriculture is more than a food source, it is a driver of economic growth, job creation, and food security,” Kagwe stated.
He called for a recalibration of agricultural financing urging stakeholders to prioritize investment in key areas, including soil analysis, fertilizer access, cold chain facilities and agribusiness industrialization.
The CS welcomed guests to the summit including AfDB Vice President Beth Dunford, fellow ministers, and representatives from the Pan African Farmers Organization (PAFO).
The African Development Bank Group and the Pan-African Farmers Organization (PAFO) are jointly hosting a high-level conference to discuss and share knowledge on enhancing smallholder farmers’ access to financial resources, investment opportunities, market infrastructure, capacity-building initiatives, and sustainable agricultural practices.
The conference identified actionable innovative financing mechanisms, including climate finance for smallholder farmers, that can be employed to scale successful financing models.
The conference held on Monday, brought together policymakers, research institutions, farmer associations, financial institutions, investors, development partners, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, agribusiness leaders, and technology providers.
They focused on mapping the ecosystem of actors and highlighting scalable financial mechanisms, showcased innovative funding models to support smallholder farmers, and strengthened linkages between the smallholder support ecosystem and funders among others.
