The 2022 African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) Summit started on Monday in Kigali, Rwanda, bringing together political leaders, businesses persons, civil society representatives, among others to formulate policies towards the continental food security agenda.

The Kigali event is the 12th AGRF Summit, an event held every year since 2010.

This year’s summit, set to run until September 9, is being held under the theme ’Grow, Nourish and Reward – Bold Actions for Resilient Food systems’.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister of Rwanda Edouard Ngirente reiterated his country’s confidence in the AGRF 2022 to come up with a sustainable solution to the food system issue on the African continent.

"Rwanda is confident that the AGRF 2022 Summit will come up with concrete actions that can build sustainable and resilient food systems to feed nearly 256 million reportedly suffering from severe food insecurity on the African continent," he said.

"Commodities such as beef, grain wheat, sugar, rice and soybeans that Africa has been importing, can be better produced on the continent if we implement the right policies."

On his part, former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and the AGRF Chair said that while African leaders have shown commitment to support food systems transformation, collective action will be needed to accelerate progress and real change.

"No country is healthy unless food and livelihoods are healthy," said Desalegn.

"Delivering for the planet, people, and prosperity will require collective efforts from all sectors. However, African governments should lead these efforts by prioritising and integrating policies that address multiple objectives including those that call for healthy and nutritious diets, decent income for the farmers and policies that address climate and other environmental fragilities."

Various leaders are lined up to speak at the Summit, including Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall.

AE News