Kenya Hosts Regional Forum to Spur Food System Transformation

NAIROBI, Xinhua: Transforming African food systems to ensure they are responsive to climatic shocks, pests, diseases, and market volatility requires harmonized policies and farmer-centered investments, officials said Wednesday at a forum in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.

The two-day Continental Learning Workshop and Dialogue on the African Food Policy was convened by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) and the Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya.

Kipronoh Ronoh, principal secretary of the State Department for Agriculture in the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, said African countries require harmonized policy frameworks to guide food systems transformation, tackle hunger and malnutrition, and boost farmers’ incomes.

“Africa stands at a crucial crossroad in shaping the future of food systems,” Ronoh said. “Despite abundant resources and rich food traditions, millions still face hunger, malnutrition and environmental stress. The solution lies in harmonizing fragmented policies.”

Ronoh emphasized that unified, people-centered food policies will address governance gaps, enhance farmers’ resilience to climatic stresses, loss of soil fertility, and post-harvest losses.

Million Belay, general coordinator of the AFSA, said a shift to food production systems that are nature-positive and culturally acceptable is key to tackling the triple burden of hunger, malnutrition, and obesity in Africa.

According to Belay, governments should reimagine food policies to scale up farming that promotes dietary diversity, ecosystem protection, equity, and resilience for small-holder farmers.

Clement Adjorlolo, principal program officer for agriculture and rural transformation at the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development, said harmonized policies are key to achieving food sovereignty on the continent while fostering cross-border trade in agricultural products.

The forum, running from Wednesday to Thursday, brought together senior government officials, researchers and campaigners from 16 African countries.