Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Dr Anxious Masuka said agriculture transformation requires a strong institutional foundation, supportive policies and sustained accountability to translate development ambitions into tangible results.
Speaking at the ongoing Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Partnership Platform and the inaugural Kampala Policy Learning Event (KAPLE) in Harare yesterday, Masuka said African countries needed to move beyond policy formulation and establish the systems and capacities required to implement agricultural transformation effectively.
“Transformation begins with a strong foundation and a committed group driving the change,” Masuka said, outlining the key requirements for countries seeking to modernise their agricultural sectors.
He said the transformation agenda must be anchored by policies and institutions capable of supporting long-term agricultural development while creating an environment in which farmers, businesses and other stakeholders can contribute meaningfully to the sector.
“This must be supported by the right policies, institutions, enabling legal and operational environments, adequate human and technical resources, and strong monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning systems,” he added.
He said the availability of sound policies alone was not sufficient to achieve meaningful transformation, with governments also required to establish legal and operational frameworks that enable agricultural programmes to be implemented efficiently.
“Agricultural transformation depends on institutions having the expertise and capacity necessary to implement development programmes,” he added.
He also identified monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning as critical components of the transformation process.
“Strong monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning systems are necessary to track progress, identify implementation gaps and ensure that agricultural interventions delivered the intended outcomes,” Masuka said.
The Kampala Policy Learning Event provides a platform for policymakers and development stakeholders to exchange practical lessons and examine approaches that can strengthen implementation of agricultural transformation programmes.
The CAADP Partnership Platform brings together African governments and agricultural stakeholders to advance coordinated action on food systems, agricultural productivity and rural development, while policy learning platforms such as KAPLE seek to strengthen the practical application of lessons emerging from implementation.
