Dr. Argwals Calls for Climate-Smart Agriculture and Sustainable Trade to Drive Africa’s Growth

East Africa Times Reporter 

Mombasa, Kenya – The coastal city of Mombasa played host to a landmark conference where Dr. Argwals championed climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and sustainable trade as essential pillars for Africa’s economic growth and resilience.

The high-level meeting brought together farmers, policymakers, trade experts, and environmental leaders to chart practical pathways toward a greener, more prosperous future.

In his keynote address, Dr. Argwals, an authority on sustainable development and agricultural transformation, urged African nations to urgently adapt farming systems to the realities of climate change.

“We are facing a dual crisis — climate change and food insecurity,” he said. “But within this challenge lies opportunity. Climate-smart agriculture can raise productivity, protect the environment, and unlock new trade opportunities for African farmers.”

The forum showcased success stories from across East Africa, where regenerative soil practices, climate-resilient crops, and smart irrigation are beginning to transform rural livelihoods. Dr. Argwals emphasized that embedding such practices into trade and policy frameworks would strengthen competitiveness while reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint.

Panel discussions explored ways to expand farmers’ access to green financing, modern technologies, and inclusive markets. Development partners at the meeting pledged to back initiatives that link smallholder farmers to regional and global value chains.

“Trade today must go beyond exports and imports,” Dr. Argwals noted. “It must be responsible — ensuring that what we produce and sell supports both people and the planet.”

The conference concluded with a declaration committing governments, private sector actors, and development agencies to scale up CSA across borders, placing climate resilience at the core of Africa’s agricultural and economic agenda.