Rwanda’s Agriculture Minister Dr Telesphore Ndabamenye has urged African countries to move from commitments to concrete investment and action to tackle hunger, raise farmers’ incomes and build more resilient food systems.
Speaking at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 in Kigali, Ndabamenye said Africa has the potential to achieve food security, but this will require stronger governance, investment, innovation, technology and cooperation.
“Let us imagine an Africa where no child dies of hunger, where farmers have increased production that raises their incomes, and where food systems can withstand the effects of climate change and other global challenges,” Ndabamenye said.
He argued that African countries should move beyond discussions and direct more resources towards solutions that benefit farmers, businesses and communities while strengthening national economies.
“Africa can achieve this. But it will not happen by chance. It will happen through good governance, leadership, investment, innovation, partnerships and implementing the commitments we make,” he said.
Ndabamenye identified governance of the food sector as one of the foundations for transforming Africa’s food systems.
“We call on our leaders to put more effort into building strong governance systems for the food sector,” he said.
He said effective governance can improve coordination among institutions involved in food production and distribution, strengthen accountability and create policies that enable different actors in the food system to work together.
The minister also highlighted Rwanda’s experience, attributing progress in the country’s agricultural sector to government policies and strategies, investment, functioning institutions, technology, farmers and partnerships.
He acknowledged that Africa continues to face major food-system challenges, including hunger, malnutrition, climate-related shocks, rising food prices and inadequate investment.
Rather than treating these challenges only as crises requiring short-term responses, he called for investment in agricultural systems capable of producing food, creating employment and generating income.
“Let there be food, money and jobs,” Ndabamenye said.
His remarks came as more than 5,000 participants from over 50 countries gathered in Kigali for the 20th Africa Food Systems Forum. The forum is focused on investment in Africa’s agri-food systems, with emphasis on food security, job creation and resilience.
The gathering brings together government officials, farmers, investors, development partners, researchers, private-sector representatives and other actors involved in Africa’s food systems.
Ndabamenye said Rwanda’s hosting of the forum provides an opportunity to share the country’s experience while learning from approaches being developed elsewhere on the continent.
For him, the measure of progress should ultimately be whether agricultural transformation delivers tangible results for Africans—more food, higher incomes for farmers and more jobs.
The call comes as the forum seeks to push African food-system discussions towards greater investment and practical implementation, rather than leaving commitments at the level of policy declarations.
