UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa 57d ago

Commissioner Moses Vilakati of the African Union Commission's Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) department , speaks of water, the common denominator in resolving the challenges to Africa's food security, industry, economic growth and development. Africa’s food insecurity stems largely from its dependence on rainfed agriculture, underdeveloped irrigation, and underutilization of vast land and water resources, resulting in an annual food import bill of about US$100 billion. Despite being surrounded by oceans, the continent produces only around 2% of global fish, highlighting missed opportunities in the blue economy. Water is central to solving these challenges, as it underpins reliable, year‑round agriculture and is also essential for energy generation, which Africa needs to drive productivity, industrialisation, and economic transformation. He emphasises that digital transformation is a key pathway to modernising agriculture and attracting Africa’s youth, who favour technology‑driven approaches over traditional labour-intensive farming. Tools such as drip irrigation, greenhouses, remote sensing, and aquaponics can significantly boost productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. In particular, digitally managed aquaponics—combining fish farming and crop production—offers an innovative, water‑efficient system that can enhance food security while creating attractive, modern agricultural opportunities for young people. For more information, please visit: https://www.un.org/osaa/en/africa-dialogue-series-2026