President Ruto calls for investment in food security to end hunger in Africa

President William Ruto has called for global collaboration to end hunger and implement policies and programmes that boost food production to feed the rising populations.

He said governments, international organisations, the private sector, and other partners should work together to ensure farmers have access to the necessary inputs, irrigation systems and infrastructure to prevent post-harvest losses, among others.

"We must develop agricultural systems that meet the unique needs of diverse communities, invest aggressively to expand sustainable production in all the value chains that constitute our food systems and give priority to strategies aimed at building resilient food systems," he said.

He was speaking on Thursday at the World Without Hunger Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The event was sponsored by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the African Union Commission (AUC).

President Ruto told the meeting that Kenya is taking steps towards food security, including providing affordable inputs to farmers and placing more fertile land under irrigation.

Further, he noted that Kenya has doubled the school feeding programme to $30 million (Ksh.4 billion) in 2023, ensuring that children get nutritious meals daily, thus ensuring that they are kept in school.

"In a world of growing inequality, widespread poverty, conflict and climatic disruption, the urgency of ending hunger for good and ensuring food for all our rapidly growing populations has never been greater," he said.

He called on African governments to invest in agricultural education to equip farmers with the skills they need to be efficient, innovative and adaptive.

UNIDO Director-General Gerd Muller called on the developed countries to fulfil their past promises to Africa such as inclusive access to financial markets and delivering funding for climate change mitigation in the continent.

Other leaders who addressed the meeting included Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, UAE Minister of State Sheikh Shakbout and Deputy African Union Commission Chairperson Monique Nsanzabagwana.