Lagging Agricultural Development in Africa and the Way Forward: Progress and Challenges for the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)

■ Agricultural development has been subject to significant delays in Africa. Although a target of annual agriculture sector growth is 6%, it has consistently stagnated at around 2-3%. And the undernourished population has increased since 2014. This policy note analyses the progress of the CAADP, a flagship program promoted by the African Union (AU), at the continental, regional economic communities (RECs) and national levels. Drawing on Amameishi (2024), it discusses challenges in CAADP that hinder agricultural development in Africa and proposes measures to accelerate its progress. ■ The analysis finds that although many documents and frameworks necessary for promoting CAADP have been prepared, effective actions on respective development issues have not yet been adequately implemented. In other words, insufficient priority has been placed on the implementation stage, contributing to the stagnation of agricultural development. ■ In order to get agricultural development on track as planned, it is necessary to (a) strengthen political leadership to focus on achieving results and promote actions necessary for the implementation stage, (b) clarify the targets to be achieved, and (c) build the capacity for implementation to achieve results. ■ In recent years, various challenges have emerged in the agricultural sector in Africa, such as climate change and fragility caused by regional conflicts. At the forthcoming Ninth Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD 9), to be held in 2025, it is strongly hoped that agricultural development will be included as an urgent priority issue. AU, African governments and development agencies are required to give the highest priority to implementing measures for future agricultural development and food security in Africa.