Crops

Public-private collaboration key to Africa's agrifood systems

Finance still remains inaccessible for small and medium agricultural enterprises. (Image source: FAO)

Africa's agrifood systems are facing a crisis and require urgent financial addressing to eliminate hunger and food insecurity, finds a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the African Union Commission (AUC)

The report has highlighted a sharp gap between current public and private financing of agriculture, pointing to the need for substantial and consistent economic support to transform Africa’s agrifood systems. While increased government investments have been observed on agriculture, forestry and fishing in Africa, it still has a long way to go in bringing visible transformation on the face of multiple fiscal pressures on the nation.

External flows such as official development assistance reflected less than 27% allocation to food security and nutrition. Private investment also remains low, with bank credit to agriculture accounting for less than four percent of total credit. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in food and agriculture remains poor, with annual flows hardly crossing US$2bn.

Finance still remains inaccessible for small and medium agricultural enterprises, as their requirements exceed the capacity of microfinance and also falls short for banks.

Titled, Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition, the report foreward read "financing for agrifood system transformation in Africa should provide the financial resources that contribute to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition in all its forms".

“The findings call for urgent actions and increased financing for a sustainable transformation of agrifood systems in Africa.”

The foreward has been penned by FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa Abebe Haile-Gabriel; the Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist of ECA Hanan Morsy; the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment of the AUC, H.E Moses Vilakati; and the Assistant Executive Director of WFP Rania Dagash Kamara.

To make meaningful progress, the report calls for a strengthened policy and institutional environment that encourages public-private collaboration and de-risks agrifood investments. It outlines a roadmap that includes enhancing access to affordable credit, building the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises, and leveraging climate finance and blended finance solutions.

Agri-Expo bags award for its partnership innovations in agriculture

Agri-Expo has bagged the Industry Innovation Award. (Image source: Agri Expo)

Ahead of the 31st Commonwealth Agriculture Conference of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth (RASC) in Cape Town, the event organiser, Agri-Expo, has bagged the Industry Innovation Award at the 2026 Western Cape Economy Innovation Awards by the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Acknowledging the award as an encouragement to the agricultural society's vision in building industrial partnerships and uplifting rural economies, Agri-Expo's general manager, Breyton Milford, said, “For us, this award is ultimately about people – the producers, entrepreneurs, innovators, volunteers and communities who help drive agriculture forward every day.”

“Thank you to Agri Western Cape for nominating us and for championing collaboration across the agricultural sector. We are proud to share this achievement with our members, partners and the broader agricultural community,” he said

The company hitting its 195th anniversary in 2026 is another milestone which makes the award extra special for the team. “The award highlights the organisation’s ability to honour its legacy while continuing to evolve in step with the needs of the agricultural sector. From the introduction of the Hollard Game Changer Award and the South African Preserve Championships to the ongoing evolution of the South African Dairy Championships and our support of agricultural shows, innovation remains at the heart of everything we do,” Milford says.

“This acknowledges the impact of our unique multi-platform model that brings together producers, industry, government and markets to create opportunities for growth across the agricultural value chain,” Milford says. “We are particularly proud that this award recognises both new initiatives and the continuous renewal of longstanding projects.”

Nominees were assessed against strict, results-based criteria, including measurable economic impact, practical innovation and the number of local businesses and employees directly benefiting from each initiative. The awards also highlight 'systemic innovation' – the redesign of interconnected systems, supply chains and collaborative models that generate shared value across multiple stakeholders.

AgriConnect Compact to make Ghana self sufficient in food security

Image_of_self_sufficient_in_food_security

The compact will also work to strengthen Ghana's overall agri-food resilience.

Keeping agriculture at the forefront of national development, the Government of Ghana has launched the AgriConnect Compact framework driven by a self sufficient approach that ensures food security by cutting down imports, employment generation and investment mobilisation in targeted segments of the industry

Food and nutrition accessibility and job creation will drive the first phase of the project over the next few years at approximately US$3.5bn costs, which will be borne by the government with the World Bank's support alongside other development partners. The forest economy, cashew, coconut, rubber and fisheries are the country's strategic zones picked by the government for the implementation of production boost practices to leverage market reach and economic expansion. The compact will also work to strengthen Ghana's overall agri-food resilience, including produces such as cocoa, oil palm, rice, maize and poultry.

“Ghana’s AgriConnect Compact is a bold step toward building a more productive, resilient, and jobs-rich food system. By linking policy reform with investment and delivery, Ghana is creating the conditions to strengthen food security, support farmers and agribusinesses, and unlock private capital at scale,” said Guangzhe Chen, World Bank Group Vice President for Planet.

“AgriConnect is about turning Ghana’s agricultural potential into tangible results: more food on the table, more jobs for young people, and more value created here at home. This Compact provides a clear roadmap to modernize agriculture, support farmers, and build stronger value chains that can drive growth nationwide,” said Eric Opoku, Minister of Food and Agriculture.

“The Government of Ghana remains fully committed to working with all stakeholders to translate the aspirations of this AgriConnect Compact into tangible results for our people. This is Ghana’s moment to feed itself, employ its youth, build competitive industries and create wealth from its own soil," said Thomas Nyarko Ampem, Deputy Minister of Finance.

African Union's Kampala CAADP to transform agrifood systems

The Kampala CAADP Declaration was signed in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Image source: African Union)

To enable an agriculture-led development for hunger and poverty eradication, the African Union has launched the Kampala Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme Strategy and Action Plan (2026 – 2035) as part of Agenda 2063 continental initiative

The move was built with the objective of mobilising US$100bn, boost agrifood generation by 45 per cent, triple intra-African trade in farm goods, and cut post-harvest losses in half. The African government will be leading the implementation process, while continental institutions tackle coordination and monitoring as critical stakeholders keep joining with expansion.

"There are key CAADP aspects such as market opening, infrastructure development or pest and disease control that are better managed through inter-country collaboration, hence the need for Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to play the lead role," said Fred Bwino, Minister of State for Agriculture, the Republic of Uganda/Chair of the African Union Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (ARDWE).

On his part, the African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE), Moses Vilakati, said that the new CAADP Strategy and Action Plan 2025-2036 marks a significant shift towards agrifood systems transformation.

“We recognise that agriculture is not just about production, but about creating a holistic system that encompasses production, processing, distribution, and consumption. It also envisions sustainable and resilient agri-food systems for a healthy and prosperous Africa,” he said.

With nine of the 10 countries from Africa prone to climate change, about 9% of the African Union Member states' national budgets are now dedicated to tackling climate extremes.

South Africa's Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, emphasised on the urgency of technology adoption which is currently not going at a pace as it should be because of inherent market issues. Rapid digital development can potentially accelerate agricultural growth and productivity while also drawing substantial farm investments.

"The agrifood system requires innovative technologies to adapt suitably to local social conditions and be updated in response to environmental factors, such as the co-evolution of pests and diseases, degradation of water and land resources, and climate change," Steenhuisen said.

The Kampala CAADP Declaration was signed in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the presence of Bwino.

Ecobank, AGRA to secure agribusinesses and farmers

Ecobank Group and AGRA have signed a MoU. (Image source: Ecobank Group)

In a move to unlock easy financial access for agribusinesses and farmer organisations, Ecobank Group and AGRA have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that can potentially shape Africa’s agricultural ecosystem

Agricultural financing, commercialisation and climate resilience remain key challenges for Africa, and the MoU combines Ecobank’s extensive pan-African banking network and AGRA’s deep expertise in agricultural transformation to address them. Risk-sharing facilities, guarantees and blended finance mechanisms will be put in place to meet the challenges of climate change, and secure resilient agrisolutions. While Ecobank will offer tailored financial solutions, including working capital, asset finance, and trade finance, AGRA will provide funding support, beneficiary mobilisation, and technical assistance to enhance the financial literacy, governance, and investment readiness of agribusiness SMEs and cooperatives.

Anup Suri, group executive commercial and consumer banking, Ecobank Group, said, "To transform Africa's economy, we must treat agriculture as a high-growth commercial sector rather than a subsistence activity. Through this strategic alliance with AGRA, Ecobank is unlocking the massive capital required to scale agribusinesses across the continent. We are de-risking the sector, backing women and youth entrepreneurs, and building a resilient food system that will power Africa's next decade of growth."

Alice Ruhweza, president - AGRA, said, "Agriculture is not one sector among many for Africa; it is the foundation on which the continent's entire development agenda rests. As African leaders advance the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) strategy for the decade ahead, this partnership with Ecobank translates that ambition into action. AGRA, working with its partners, has over the last twenty years established evidence, value chain knowledge, and on-the-ground insight into the opportunities for women and young people to build agribusinesses that thrive. Pairing that expertise with Ecobank's reach and capabilities is how we make the case, credibly and concretely, that African food systems are one of the most compelling opportunities of our time."

Sidebar

Magazine menu