HIBAPRESS
On Friday in Addis Ababa, Morocco's initiatives for food security in Africa were highlighted during the work of the ministerial meeting of the sixth ordinary session of the specialized technical committee on agriculture, rural development, water, and environment of the African Union.
During this meeting, the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the African Union and the Economic Commission for Africa, Mohamed Arouch, affirmed that the Kingdom makes food security in Africa a strategic priority integrated into its socio-economic development programs, particularly the national strategy "Green Generation 2020-2030," recalling the launch of several practical initiatives and essential measures within the framework of the 2030 Agenda and the 2063 Agenda and various multilateral initiatives.
The Moroccan diplomat mentioned in this regard the call to establish an international fund dedicated to food security in Africa on the occasion of the second evaluation of the United Nations Summit on Food Systems, in addition to the launch of the initiative to adapt African agriculture in 2016, and the "Triple S" initiative to support sustainability, stability, and security in Africa.
He also highlighted the Kingdom's commitment through the tripartite partnership between the OCP Group, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), and the African Union Commission, signed in 2019, as well as the opening of 12 group representations on the continent with the aim of enhancing the production and distribution of fertilizers.
Mr. Arouch pointed out that the OCP Group also granted thousands of tons of fertilizers to several African countries, in a step that embodies the spirit of solidarity and care that Morocco gives to African farmers.
He added that the convening of this session comes at a pivotal stage for the African continent, with the transition from the Malabo Declaration (2014–2025) to the new strategy and the Kampala Action Plan (2026–2035), stressing that the Kingdom welcomes and supports all African initiatives that fall within this framework, especially those aimed at the sustainable transformation of agricultural and food systems and enhancing resilience to climate change.
He also stressed the importance of integrating policies related to agriculture, environment, and rural development, strengthening regional and continental cooperation and external partnerships, and implementing joint policies in the areas of biodiversity, combating desertification, sustainable land management, soil fertilization, innovation and digitalization in the agricultural sector.
On the other hand, the ambassador clarified that the Kingdom commends the launch of the vision and water policy in Africa and "the expected activation of the Food Sovereignty Alliance in Africa," noting that Morocco, thanks to its expertise in the field of governance and health monitoring of food products, renews its readiness to share its technical, institutional, and scientific expertise to contribute to establishing safe, competitive, and flexible agricultural and food systems on the continent.
Mr. Arouch also highlighted Morocco's obtaining the best ranking during the 2023-2025 session of the technical committee, which reflects the continuous efforts made in this field, pointing out that this performance embodies the insightful vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who has placed agriculture at the heart of the Kingdom's economic and social development.
The diplomat affirmed that Morocco, based on its active solidarity and its firm policy aimed at strengthening South-South integration, and based on the challenges facing the continent, renews its full readiness to cooperate closely with the African Union Commission, regional economic groups and all other member states, in order to translate the directives of the Kampala vision into practical measures, highlighting that the Kingdom will continue to defend the values of solidarity, unity and partnership upon which joint African action is based.
Mr. Arouch said in this regard, "Let us work together for an Africa that produces its food and feeds its people, with the sustainable preservation of natural resources for the benefit of future generations."
