Transforming Africa's economy requires placing smallholder farmers at the core of agricultural development, according to experts who gathered at a TIME Impact Dinner in Kigali, Rwanda. Discussions on September 2 highlighted that while Africa's agricultural productivity has grown, significant work remains to improve farmers' livelihoods and foster sustainable economic expansion.
A report released by AGRA, an organization focused on scaling agricultural innovations for smallholder farmers, indicates that the continent's farm output has nearly doubled over the past two decades. However, Ismahane Elouafi, executive managing director of CGIAR, noted that investments have not sufficiently ensured that these gains are broadly distributed. "We have made increases in productivity, but not enough," Elouafi stated, explaining that a farmer might have good soil but lack adequate water or irrigation systems, leading to a piecemeal approach rather than a holistic food system.
Many African nations do not prioritize food systems within their economic and development strategies, according to Kingsley Moghalu, founder of the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation. "Our countries look at agriculture as some niche area, and that bypasses 80% of its potential," he said.
Agriculture is a vital component of Africa's economy, accounting for 20% of GDP and employing over 60% of the workforce, according to the World Economic Forum. Coupled with a growing population expected to constitute 25% of the global workforce by 2050, this presents a substantial opportunity for growth if the workforce becomes skilled in agri-food systems, Moghalu observed.
Temiyeoluwa Alabi, head of corporate communications at ThriveAgric, stressed that strengthening the food system depends on addressing the needs of smallholder farmers. "We try to emphasize the need to look at the smallholder farmer as an important … entity within the value chain," Alabi said. "Otherwise, we can't unlock the real value, because if the farmer just won't get value for what he does, then there cannot be prosperity for him."
Technological advancements offer a pathway to significant improvements. "In Africa there is definitely a lack of infrastructure that makes the value chain very long," Elouafi noted. "But I think now with AI, with advisory services, with the way we can really look at big data, we could make a very quick and very fast impact and improvement."
Elizabeth Wathuti, a climate activist and founder of Green Generation Initiative, cautioned that technological integration should not burden farmers. "If we are to have a change, we must invest in the entire value chain," Wathuti stated. "Technology and innovation is not supposed to make the farmers realign their lives to accommodate it. It's supposed to actually look at how it's addressing the realities on the ground and what exactly the farmer is doing on the ground."
Success metrics must extend beyond crop yields, Wathuti added. "For farmers that are in areas that are completely degraded, it is almost impossible for them to be able to continue adapting to a changing climate. How are we strengthening the farmers and ensuring that the farmers actually have more security?" she asked. "We have to also look at the profitability and the value that the farmer gets from being able to put in the work to be able to produce our food."