Addis Ababa, October 28, 2026 (FMC) — African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has called for structural transformation of Africa’s agricultural sector to unlock the continent’s vast productive potential, strengthen food security and reduce dependence on imported food.
Speaking at a high-level side event titled “Russia–Africa Agro-Industrial Alliance: Meeting the Challenges Together,” held on the sidelines of the 3rd Russia–Africa Summit in Moscow, Youssouf highlighted the gap between Africa’s abundant agricultural resources and its limited irrigation capacity.
Despite its extensive arable land and significant water resources, only 6% of Africa’s arable land is irrigated, while the continent imports approximately $100 billion worth of food annually, including rice, maize, wheat and edible oils.
The Chairperson stressed the need to expand irrigation, improve access to fertilizers, strengthen local production and increase investment in agricultural research, technology transfer and skills development.
He noted that building domestic agricultural value chains would enable African countries to raise food production, retain greater value within their economies and strengthen food security.
Youssouf also underscored Russia’s potential to support Africa’s agricultural transformation through increased investment, cooperation and the transfer of technology and expertise, calling for stronger engagement between African institutions and Russian businesses in the agricultural sector.
He reaffirmed that sustainable food security depends on Africa’s ability to mobilize its own resources and strengthen productive capacities while expanding local value addition.