Kenya has joined hands with Brazil in a renewed global effort to fight hunger, build resilient food systems, and tackle climate change, calling for stronger cooperation among developing nations.

Speaking on behalf of President William Ruto at the 2nd Brazil–Africa Dialogue on Food Security, Hunger, and Rural Development, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula praised Brazil’s leadership and urged for more partnerships among countries in the Global South to solve rising food insecurity.

“It is a great honour to attend this high-level meeting and deliver greetings from the President and the people of Kenya,” Wetang’ula said. “The world is facing a food crisis caused by climate change, economic shocks, and conflicts. We need urgent, inclusive, and practical solutions.”

A recent report on global food crises shows that more than 295 million people in 53 countries suffered from extreme hunger in 2024. Most of these cases were driven by climate-related disasters and economic instability.

The Brazil–Africa Dialogue aims to encourage knowledge sharing among developing nations to find long-term solutions for food security.

Wetang’ula said Kenya is shifting from short-term food relief to long-term investments in agriculture and resilience. He shared several ongoing reforms designed to empower smallholder farmers and improve food systems.

Some of the key efforts include using digital tools to provide farmers with real-time weather and market data, expanding access to agricultural loans, and focusing on women and youth in farming.

Kenya has also introduced programs such as: E-voucher systems for farm inputs, urban hydroponic gardens, and school feeding initiatives that source food from local small-scale farmers.

“These efforts reflect our strong commitment to ending hunger and building sustainable food systems,” Wetang’ula said. “Kenya is proud to be part of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, launched in Rio de Janeiro last year.”

Wetang’ula highlighted the need to strengthen trade between African countries, pointing to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a key tool for improving access to food across borders.

He also noted that Kenya views Brazil as a strategic trade partner. Over the last 10 years, trade between the two countries has grown steadily, with Kenya exporting fish, coffee, tea, and other products.

Brazil has also supported Kenya’s cotton farming through the Cotton Victoria Project, which is helping revive the crop in East Africa.

As part of the visit, the Kenyan delegation toured Brazil’s model farms and interacted with farmers who are using innovative techniques to boost food production. Wetang’ula said Kenya hopes to learn from Brazil’s success, especially in the livestock and sugar industries.

Brazil is currently the world’s top exporter of beef and the leading sugar producer globally. Kenya, which is reforming its own sugar industry—responsible for 7.5% of the GDP—aims to adopt similar value addition strategies to improve its global competitiveness.

“Livestock alone contributes around 12% of Kenya’s GDP,” Wetang’ula said. “We are eager to learn from Brazil on how to expand this sector and reach international markets.”

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