Statement by the Delegation of the State of Eritrea at the Meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture in Preparation for the Extraordinary AU Summit on the Post-Malabo CAADP 9 January 2025, Kampala, Republic of Uganda

Mr. Chairperson,

Thank you for giving my delegation the floor.

At the outset I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to the people and Government of the sisterly Republic of Uganda for the warm hospitality accorded to my delegation.

I am honoured to deliver this statement on behalf of H.E. Mr. Arefaine Berhe, Minister of Agriculture of the State of Eritrea.

Mr. Chairperson,

Our continent, Africa, has high potential for agro food system development. At present, agricultural productivity and production in Africa are very low compared to the potential and the demand of ever-increasing population of the continent. Safety and nutrient content of the produces also matters to the health of the communities. The main challenges in the food system but not limited are climate change, global and regional political instabilities, pandemics, unsafe use of inorganic agricultural inputs, high post-harvest losses and lack of technology coupled with limited human and instructional limited capacity.

 Mr. Chairperson,

The Maputo Declaration followed by Malabo Declaration contributed to coordination in national and regional agriculture development. The full implementation of the Declarations and the national plans faced several challenges.  The documents, among others, helped as instruments to evaluate national policies, strategies, programs and projects that meet inclusive and sustainable agricultural production and safeguard environmental quality.

Mr. Chairperson,

Agriculture and food security are one of the priority of priorities of Eritrea’s development agenda. Before 2013 Eritrea’s five years sectorial strategic development plan’s theme was to ensure ‘’ food security’ and between 2013 and 2020 the theme revised to ‘’food and nutrition security’’. Since 2021 the safety maters more and the theme changed to ‘safe and nutritious food for everyone; everywhere’’. To meet the strategic objectives of 2024 to 2028 our strategic plan is focused on five programs i.e. i) agricultural land and natural resources management, ii) crop development, iii) livestock development, iv) integrated sustainable livelihood and agribusiness support and v) human and institutional capacity. These strategic objectives are in alignment with the Kamapala declaration.

Mr. Chairperson,

In order to meet the objective of ‘safe and nutritious food security’’, Eritrea is implementing several programs, to name a few, the Small and productive farming Plot (SPFP), the Minimum Integrated Household Agricultural Package (MIHAP); as well as the Small and Medium Commercial Farmers Strategy (SMCFS) and the transformation from inorganic to organic fertilizers.

In this regard, it is encouraging that the African food safety agency in place. It is our expectation that member states would benefit from the work of the agency. Environmental safety should be also included in agri food system for sustainable development.

The transformation from Agriculture to Agri-food system is very important for agricultural development.

Mr. Chairperson,

The task of implementing these targets set out in the Kampala Declaration primarily fall on the member states.  The real measurement of success is the positive changes achieved in the wellbeing of the people, and the transformation of Africa’s economy.

I thank you.