Participants emerged with renewed resolve to push for more inclusion of farmers’ perspectives in national and regional planning, climate financing, and value chain reforms, and with concrete pathways for follow-up collaboration among governments, farmer organizations, and development partners.
multiple plenary and thematic sessions across topics including climate resilience, value chains, farmer organization strengthening, policy advocacy, and youth engagement (though detailed agendas with full speaker lists are not readily found in the public domain).
The Congress also marked EAFF’s 20th anniversary, bringing in delegates from national farmer federations, regional bodies (such as PAFO), and government agencies.
Opening / Plenary
EAFF President Elizabeth Nsimadala opened the Congress with a warning about food systems under stress, especially given climate shocks and trade imbalances.
Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, also made remarks about the urgency of investing in productivity and reducing import reliance.
Sara Mbago-Bhunu (IFAD regional director) delivered a virtual address on climate resilience, smallholder constraints, and the need for stronger partnerships.
Policy & Trade / Food Import Dependence Session
- Boaz Keizire, Director of Policy at AGRA, called for radical reallocation of resources from food imports toward farmer empowerment and domestic
production. Discussions focused on the challenges of trade imbalances, inefficient regional markets, and the policy levers needed to shift toward self-reliance.
Climate Resilience, Innovation & Technology Sessions
Several panels addressed climate adaptation strategies, use of climate-smart agriculture, early warning systems, and the role of digital tools in extension services.
Emphasis was placed on scaling promising technologies among smallholders, reducing post-harvest loss, and building resilience to shocks.
Women, Youth & Inclusion Sessions
- The Congress spotlighted inclusion of women and youth as critical to transforming agriculture. Commitments were made to increase their roles in agribusiness, leadership, and governance.
Finance / Agrifinance / Investment Sessions
One discussion centered on the limited proportion of bank lending to agriculture (often under 5 %) and the high interest rates that discourage uptake.
Panels explored blended finance, agricultural credit, access to credit via cooperatives or SACCOs, and the role of investment in scaling production.
Farmer Organization & Institutional Strengthening
Multiple sessions looked at how farmer organizations can be institutionalized, better governed, and connected across borders to enhance policy influence and collective bargaining.
Side Events, Exhibitions, and Networking
As part of the Congress, there was an exhibition of over 50 exhibitors showcasing agricultural innovations, inputs, technologies, and services.
The EAFF General Assembly also took place, where leadership elections or reaffirmations appear to have been part of the agenda (e.g. Nsimadala was re-elected).
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