NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 6 – The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) hosted a national parliamentary retreat in Mombasa to enhance the role of Parliament in Kenya’s food systems.
The retreat gave policymakers a platform to discuss, learn, and enhance their implementation of national food system strategies.
During the meeting, Members of Parliament from the Finance, Budget, National Planning, Agriculture, and Food Security committees were reminded of their role in transforming agri-food systems in Kenya through policy and legal formulation.
The Chairperson of the Agriculture and Livestock Committee, John Mutunga, stressed the urgency of increased policy interventions in the agricultural sector, saying that it is the economic backbone of most countries in Africa.
“This is a very important meeting for all the key stakeholders because it sets the pace for coming up with policies that will drive the green revolution in Africa,” said Mutunga.
Agnes Kalibata, President, AGRA, represented by John Macharia, AGRA’s Kenya Country Director, emphasized the significance of involving lawmakers in driving sustainable food systems in Africa.
“This retreat marks a pivotal moment in our collective journey towards inclusive agri-food transformation,” he said.
“Through these parliamentary retreats, AGRA aims to build a strong agency of action and collectivism, promoting parliamentary support for the implementation of national food system pathways and addressing critical areas identified by AFSPaN, including regional legislation for enhanced food trade and markets.”
The retreat aims at increasing parliamentary support for continental goals, enhancing capacity building, and creating a coalition between parliamentarians and non-state actors for more robust national-level advocacy.
The success of this retreat in Mombasa follows engagements in Ghana and Nigeria. It is set to be held next year in Malawi.
The retreat was under the Africa Food Systems Parliamentary Network (AFSPaN), an initiative aimed at mobilizing parliamentary support and advancing inclusive agri-food system transformation across the African continent.
