King wants united action to tackle Africa’s food systems

At the opening of the World Food Forum (WFF) in Rome, His Majesty King Letsie III delivered a powerful speech calling for urgent and united action to improve Africa’s agriculture and food systems.

King Letsie III said it is important to prepare for risks like climate change before they become big problems. He spoke about the need for better landscape restoration, climate information, and early warning systems to help farmers and protect communities.

Addressing the 8-day forum, which is ending today, the King highlighted Lesotho’s recent achievements, such as hosting the International Day of Potato, which showed how the potato can help improve food security, create jobs, and support rural incomes.

He explained that Lesotho’s high mountains are good for growing potatoes, but farmers need better seeds, technology, finance, and access to markets to succeed.

King Letsie III also called for more investment in areas like poultry, pig farming, and fish farming, which can help reduce food imports, improve nutrition, and create jobs, especially for young people and women.

He stressed that digital technology is essential for the future of farming in Africa. Digital agriculture can help farmers get the information they need about weather, prices, and markets, and make farming more efficient and profitable. He praised the FAO’s Digital Villages Initiative in Lesotho but said much more investment is needed.

The King warned that working alone and having small, separate projects is not enough. He said that governments, businesses, and development partners must work together with clear plans, good leadership, and support for farmers, youth, and women. He asked for more help for young people to see farming as a modern and profitable job, with access to land, finance, digital tools, and education.

King Letsie III, who is also the FAO Ambassador for Nutrition, said that the goal should be not just to produce more food, but to make sure everyone can afford healthy and nutritious diets. He called for better school feeding programs, nutrition education, and support for farmers to grow a wider variety of healthy foods.

He also said that new technologies should help local farmers and not replace their knowledge. Innovation must help Africa use land and water wisely, restore the environment, and deal with climate change.

King Letsie III ended his speech by urging all leaders, organizations, and communities to join together, set clear goals, and measure success by the number of lives improved and opportunities created for future generations.

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu highlighted the importance of this year’s theme, “The actions we take today, the new technologies we deploy, the traditional and indigenous wisdom we leverage, the young people we empower, will determine whether tomorrow’s agrifood systems can truly nourish a growing and changing world.”

Director-General Qu explained that innovation and faster action are needed more than ever because climate extremes are becoming more common, biodiversity is declining, water resources are under pressure, and many rural economies are struggling. Young people also face limited opportunities.

“We have to do more and better at scale,” Qu said. “We need innovation in technology and business models, in how we think, in how we design, and work together. This is exactly what the World Food Forum was built to do.”

The World Food Forum, now in its sixth year, brings together leaders, scientists, investors, farmers, and young people from around the world to find solutions for better food systems. This year’s theme is “Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow.” The event includes exhibitions, youth forums, and discussions on science, investment, water, and the vital role of Indigenous Peoples’ traditional knowledge.

As King Letsie III said, “Let us invest with purpose and innovate with responsibility so that every child, every family, and every community may be nourished tomorrow.”

Ntsoaki Motaung

Ntsoaki Motaung is an award-winning health journalist from Lesotho, specializing in community health stories with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as HIV. She has contributed to platforms like “Be in the KNOW,” highlighting issues such as the exclusion of people with disabilities from HIV prevention efforts in Lesotho.

In addition to her journalism, Ntsoaki serves as the Country Coordinator for the Regional Media Action Plan Support Network (REMAPSEN). She is also a 2023 CPHIA Journalism Fellow.