As Malawi joins other nations at the UN Climate Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, African agricultural body AGRA has urged global leaders to move from promises to tangible action that directly benefits farmers.
The call comes as Malawi’s delegation — led by officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change — pushes for stronger international support for adaptation and financing that can help smallholders recover from worsening climate shocks.
COP30, also known as the “Implementation COP” or the “COP of Truth”, is expected to focus on turning climate pledges into concrete results.
For Malawi — still reeling from the effects of Cyclone Freddy and erratic rainfall patterns — the conference presents a critical opportunity to secure climate finance and technology transfers that can protect its fragile food systems.
In a statement released on the sidelines of the conference, AGRA President Alice Ruhweza said Africa’s smallholder farmers, including millions in Malawi, “are not waiting for the future — they are shaping it.”
She called for what she termed a “farmer-first climate breakthrough” that puts soils, youth, and food systems at the heart of climate action.
“The time for talk is over. We must see action where it matters most — on farms, in our soils, and in the lives of smallholders,” Ruhweza said.
AGRA is urging governments and partners to turn their climate commitments into practical finance and policy packages that strengthen rural resilience, create jobs for young people, and unlock growth in food economies.
For a predominantly agrarian country like Malawi, where over 80 percent of citizens depend on farming, this call resonates strongly.
Erratic rains, prolonged droughts, and rapid soil degradation continue to threaten livelihoods and food production.
According to Tilahun Amede, AGRA’s Director for Sustainable Farming, Climate Adaptation, and Resilience, “Resilience is built when the right policies, finance, and technical solutions meet at the farm level.”
He added that AGRA’s focus at COP30 is on promoting soil health, inclusive finance, and climate-smart practices that deliver both short-term gains and long-term sustainability.
AGRA’s data shows that nearly 65 percent of Africa’s productive land is degraded — a trend mirrored in Malawi’s depleted soils, which have led to declining maize yields.
The organisation is calling for targeted investment in soil rehabilitation, diversified cropping, and data systems that monitor soil health to guide national agricultural planning.
At the same time, AGRA is championing a youth-focused climate agenda that promotes agribusiness innovation.
The organisation wants more financing pathways for young entrepreneurs in agriculture, especially in value chains such as processing, logistics, and seed distribution.
Ruhweza said the real test for COP30 will be whether leaders can channel climate finance into practical solutions that farmers can access.
She emphasised that resilience must be built “from the ground up,” through evidence-based policies and market systems that work for farmers, not against them.
The Belém Declaration on Hunger, Poverty, and Human-Centered Climate Action — endorsed by 43 countries and the European Union — underpins this vision.
It calls for a rebalancing of climate finance towards communities most exposed to climate shocks and highlights the need for climate-responsive social protection and insurance for smallholder farmers.
Agricultural experts in Malawi say AGRA’s call should inspire policymakers to accelerate the implementation of the National Resilience Strategy (NRS) and align climate action with the Malawi 2063 goals.
“This message is clear: climate change solutions must start in the field,” said one Lilongwe-based agricultural economist.
“Malawi can lead by example if we invest more in our soils, our youth, and the farmers who feed us.”
COP30 runs from November 10 to 22 in Belém, with AGRA showcasing innovations under the Growing Innovations partnership alongside the Gates Foundation, Embrapa, CGIAR, and other global partners.
