Speaking at a high-level side event titled “Russia-Africa Agro-Industrial Alliance: Overcoming Challenges Together,” as part of the 3rd Russia-Africa Summit, Youssouf highlighted the gap between the continent’s abundant agricultural resources and its limited irrigation capacity.

The AUC chief underscored that, despite possessing extensive arable land and significant water resources, only six percent of Africa’s agricultural land is irrigated. Meanwhile, Africa imports about 100 billion dollars worth of food annually, including rice, corn, wheat, and edible oils.

The official emphasized the need to expand irrigation systems, improve access to fertilizers, strengthen local production, and increase investment in agricultural research, technology transfer, and capacity building.

He suggested that establishing agricultural value chains would enable African countries to boost food production, retain a larger share of value within their own economies, and bolster food security.

Youssouf highlighted Russia’s potential to support the continent’s agricultural transformation through greater investment, cooperation, and the transfer of technology and technical expertise, advocating for closer collaboration between African institutions and Russian companies.

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