"It is evident that this priority has become a matter of the greatest urgency, as our countries are experiencing the full force of climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic and a major war (Russia-Ukraine)", said Sall at the his opening speech at the Dakar 2 African Food Summit, held in Diamniadio, a city under construction about 36 kilometers from the Senegalese capital.
"If we add the shortage of fertilizers and rising prices (...), this unprecedented crisis challenges us on the urgency of our continent ending its food dependence on the outside world", he added. Sall stressed that "Africa must learn to feed itself and contribute to feeding the world".
In this regard, he recalled the agricultural potential of the African continent, with over 65% of the world's unexplored arable land. "It is the paradox of a continent that continues to import most of its food products", he warned.
Sall recalled the "voluntary commitment" required following the agreement of African Heads of State and Government in the Maputo Declaration of July 2003, to allocate at least 10% of the national budget to the agricultural sector.
Advocates transforming Africa's food system
For his part, the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, underlined the need to focus on transforming the food system on the African continent.
"Transforming the food system is critical to alleviating poverty, promoting food security, sustainable development and creating productive jobs, especially for women and youth," Guterres said in a statement read out by a UN spokesperson.
Guterres called for "the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with its enormous potential to increase agricultural productivity, create agricultural value chains and expand trade, including intra-African trade".
