The transformation of Africa’s food systems, crucial to achieving the continent’s hunger eradication goals, demands sustained investments in quality seeds, technology, post-harvest storage, and value addition, senior officials from the African Development Bank (AfDB) stated on Tuesday.
Akinwumi Adesina, President of the AfDB, emphasised that agricultural investment holds the potential to drive Africa towards a new era of industrial growth, food security, and global export competitiveness. Speaking at the conclusion of the high-level conference, Scaling Finance for Smallholder Farmers in Africa, held in Nairobi, Adesina urged both governments and the private sector to capitalise on the vast investment opportunities within the agricultural sector to foster economic growth and job creation.
Africa’s agricultural landscape remains largely subsistence-based, with over 70 per cent of farming operations falling into this category. Unlocking the full potential of this sector requires a coordinated approach that combines public and private sector investments in production, storage, agro-processing, and marketing. Adesina highlighted that the AfDB has prioritised funding for tested agricultural technologies, improved access to crucial inputs such as fertiliser and enhanced seeds, as well as capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening smallholder farmers’ resilience and productivity.
Beth Dunford, AfDB Vice President for Agriculture, Human, and Social Development, underlined the necessity of new investments to tackle persistent challenges in Africa’s food systems. These include restricted access to high-quality seeds, adverse weather conditions, post-harvest losses, and market fluctuations. She further advocated for robust public-private partnerships to stimulate investment in the agricultural sector, fortify resilience against climate change, and ensure sustainable incomes for rural farmers.
The two-day forum, organised by the Kenyan government in collaboration with the AfDB and the Pan-African Farmers Organization, attracted nearly 300 delegates. The attendees included senior policymakers, industry leaders, donors, innovators, entrepreneurs, and farmers’ advocacy groups. Their deliberations underscored the urgent need for Africa to harness innovative financial solutions and policy frameworks to revolutionise its agricultural sector.
As Africa seeks to address food insecurity and boost agricultural productivity, strategic investments in infrastructure, technology, and market access will play a decisive role in determining the continent’s economic trajectory.
