Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni – As the purse strings of Uncle Sam tighten, Africa is being urged to look inwards, cultivating its vast agricultural potential to banish the spectre of hunger and secure its food future. This impassioned plea came from African Union (AU) Commissioner for Agriculture Moses Vilakati, speaking exclusively to SABC News on the sidelines of a pivotal gathering in Kempton Park. The launch of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme’s new strategy and action plan has taken on a sharper urgency in the wake of dwindling US aid, forcing the continent to confront the need for self-reliance head-on.  

Vilakati minced no words, questioning the conspicuous absence of national banks and pension funds in the agricultural engine room. “Where are the national banks, because the money is just roving there?” he challenged, his voice resonating with a sense of untapped potential. “To what extent will they be involved in agricultural processes? To what extent are pension funds being involved in agriculture, because before they go and count the money, it must be eaten?”  

His message was clear: it’s time for a fundamental shift in mindset. Agriculture, he asserted, must be elevated to the forefront of national priorities. “It is about time the mindset changes to say, let’s put agriculture and the freight on what we do,” Vilakati declared, his conviction palpable. “If we do that, we will make this continent self-reliant.”

The Commissioner’s remarks underscore a growing recognition that Africa’s fertile lands hold the key to unlocking food security and fostering economic independence. The challenge now lies in translating this vision into concrete action, mobilising domestic resources, and channelling investment into the very soil that sustains its people. The strategy launched in Kempton Park will undoubtedly be a crucial blueprint, but the true test will be in its implementation and the willingness of African nations to truly cultivate their own destiny.