AfCFTA member states and stakeholders endorse agri-food trade action plan: To unlock Africa’s agricultural potential

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat concluded two days of Joint Agriculture and Trade Stakeholders Consultations in Addis Ababa, with participants validating a comprehensive Agri-Food Trade Action Plan designed to transform Africa’s agricultural sector into a driver of continental integration and economic growth.

The consultations brought together senior technical officials from Ministries of Trade and Agriculture across AfCFTA State Parties, Regional Economic Communities, private sector representatives, and development partners to finalise a framework that bridges the gap between agricultural production and market access across the continent.

Opening the meeting, H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, emphasised that a competitive and resilient agricultural sector is essential to realising the AfCFTA’s objectives. “This revised Agri-Food Trade Action Plan is not an abstract framework, but a practical tool designed to connect Africa’s production potential with Africa’s markets,” he stated.

The Secretary-General outlined how the Plan identifies strategic value chains where Africa holds clear comparative advantages and details the reforms needed to unlock them, including reducing non-tariff barriers, harmonising standards, improving border efficiency, and investing in trade-related infrastructure. He stressed that effective implementation of the Agri-Food Trade Plan requires close coordination between ministries responsible for trade and agriculture, working alongside Regional Economic Communities and the private sector.

The Secretary-General highlighted the need to leverage digital trade tools including the AfCFTA e-Tariff Book, e-Certificate of Origin, and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System to facilitate agricultural trade across borders.

Dr. Janet Edeme, Head of Agriculture and Rural Development at the African Union Commission’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, underscored the importance of the joint consultation approach. “By assembling representatives from both sectors, we foster a unified approach, thereby enhancing the coherence required for effective implementation,” she noted, highlighting the growing recognition of agriculture and trade interdependence.

Dr. Alexis Kabayiza, Chief Technical Advisor in the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Rwanda, emphasised that collaboration between agriculture and trade communities at national, regional, and continental levels is essential. He stressed that shared success depends on coordinated actions guided by private-sector realities and data-driven solutions, reaffirming Rwanda’s commitment to working with all African Member States to translate the Action Plan into tangible gains for farmers, SMEs, processors, and consumers.

Participants aligned on five priority areas to advance agricultural trade under the AfCFTA. These include enhancing coordination between agriculture and trade policy areas, expanding strategic agri-food value chains with particular focus on cotton and cashew, mobilising sustainable financing to unlock investment and scale production, improving market access and predictability for farmers and small enterprises, and strengthening monitoring and accountability for delivery.

The Action Plan provides a practical pathway to connect production to market, retain value within the continent, and drive new opportunities across the agricultural economy, addressing a critical gap in Africa’s economic transformation.

The consultations also tackled Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, which remain critical to achieving continental commitments under the African Union Agenda 2063. Despite the adoption of the AU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Policy Framework, implementation across Africa remains limited due to low awareness at national and regional levels, impeding effective domestication and resulting in foodborne diseases, pest invasions, reduced productivity, and market access losses.

The validation of the Agri-Food Trade Action Plan represents a collaborative effort between the AfCFTA Secretariat, AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa), and UK International Development. This partnership aims to strengthen cross-sectoral coordination by engaging focal points from Ministries of Agriculture and Trade, building joint ownership and deepening integration of the Plan at national and regional levels.

 

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