Africa's trade revolution:AfCFTA and AGRA join forces to put farmers first.

Africa's ambition to feed itself and trade its way to prosperity took a meaningful step forward on 14th February, when two of the continent's most influential institutions made their collaboration official.

On the sidelines of the 39th African Union Summit, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and AGRA signed a Memorandum of Understanding, setting the stage for a deeper, more purposeful working relationship. The agreement signals a deliberate shift from paperwork to practice, placing agriculture at the heart of Africa's continental trade ambitions.

With 50 countries now having ratified the AfCFTA Agreement, the conversation is no longer about whether Africa will trade more freely. It is about how. And for millions of smallholder farmers, agribusinesses, and food processors across the continent, the answer to that question matters enormously.

H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, said, "The AfCFTA offers Africa a historic opportunity to shift from exporting raw commodities to building regional value chains that create jobs, raise farmer incomes and strengthen food security.Our partnership with AGRA is about moving from ambition to execution, ensuring that agricultural trade delivers tangible benefits for producers, processors and consumers across the continent."

The partnership will be guided by the AfCFTA Agri-Trade Action Plan, a practical framework targeting the reduction of non-tariff barriers, stronger trade facilitation, investment in regional value chains, and greater emphasis on value addition within African borders.

For AGRA President Alice Ruhweza, the real test lies in making trade work for the people who grow Africa's food. "Trade will not transform Africa's food systems unless farmers and agri-enterprises are able to produce competitively, meet international quality standards, and connect to reliable markets," she said. "This partnership is about making intra-African food trade work in practice — linking policy to delivery so that agriculture becomes a driver of inclusive growth, resilience and shared prosperity."

Together, both institutions are betting that a well-functioning continental market is not just good economics — it is the foundation of a more food-secure, self-sufficient Africa.

Turning the tide on post harvest loss in Tanzania.

Not every major change begins with loud announcements or grand declarations. Some arrive quietly and slowly reshape the landscape.

In Tanzania’s agricultural sector, one of the most pressing yet often overlooked challenges is post harvest loss. While developed countries tend to lose around 40 per cent of food at the retail and consumer stages, Tanzania faces a very different reality. Nearly 40 per cent of food is lost during post harvest handling and processing.

For horticultural produce such as fruits and vegetables, the situation is even more serious, with losses climbing to nearly 70 per cent. Poor storage facilities, weak transport systems, pests, rodents, diseases and mould all play a part. Policy gaps, infrastructure challenges and limited coordination also contribute to the problem.

The impact reaches far beyond the farm. Food security is weakened and farmers lose potential income. Tanzania has avoided famine in recent years, yet the country has developed a large market for its grains and pulses across neighbouring nations and overseas. Demand from these markets remains strong and far from fully satisfied. Food lost after harvest could have helped bridge this gap, increase export earnings and improve farmers’ livelihoods.

With the population now at about 66 million and growing rapidly, pressure on food systems continues to rise while farmland steadily declines. Recognising these challenges, the government introduced the National Post Harvest Management Strategy under the Agricultural Sector Development Programme Phase II. The goal is to reduce post harvest losses by half.

Technology is playing an important role in this effort. The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, working through the Pan Africa Bean Research Alliance programme, partnered with the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute to launch the project titled “Scaling Multi-Crop Threshing Machines for Women and Youth Empowerment in Tanzania”.

Through this initiative, farmers were introduced to MultiCrop Thresher machines capable of threshing and cleaning crops including maize, beans, sorghum, pigeon peas, sunflower, soybeans, finger millet, cowpeas, lablab and green grams. Beyond cutting losses, the machines reduce labour demands, improve grain quality and open business opportunities for young people and women.

Most of the beneficiaries were women and youth who received the machines at a 50 per cent subsidy after training by Imara Tech Ltd. Founded in 2016 by Alfred Chengula, the company has grown into a promising agri tech enterprise producing equipment for smallholder farmers across several African countries. Its journey shows how local innovation can strengthen food systems, create jobs and support a more secure agricultural future for Tanzania.

Kenya Goes Digital: New Electronic Warehouse Receipt System Set to Reshape Agricultural Trade. (Image credit: State Department for Trade)

Kenya has taken a significant step forward in modernising its agricultural sector with the launch of the Electronic Warehouse Receipt System Central Registry, known as the eWRS-CR.

Developed by the Warehouse Receipt System Council (WRSC) in partnership with TradeMark Africa and backed by funding from the British High Commission in Kenya, the platform is designed to tackle some of the most persistent challenges facing the country's farming community.

At its core, the system is a secure, government-owned digital platform that automates and centralises the management of warehouse receipts. For farmers who have long struggled with post-harvest losses, limited access to credit and unpredictable market conditions, this represents a genuine shift in how agricultural trade can work. The platform allows farmers and commodity owners to store produce in certified warehouses and receive electronic receipts as proof of ownership. Those receipts can then be used as collateral to access loans, giving farmers financial breathing room without forcing them into distress sales.

The numbers behind the problem are stark. Smallholder farmers account for more than 75 per cent of Kenya's agricultural output, yet less than five per cent of bank lending reaches the sector. Post-harvest losses for some commodities run as high as 30 to 40 per cent. The eWRS-CR directly targets both issues by creating a more structured, transparent and trustworthy trading environment.

Principal Secretary for Industry, Dr Juma Mukhwana, officiated the launch and spoke to the platform's broader significance. "The e-WRS Central Registry is not merely a technology platform; it is a confidence-building intervention designed to catalyse participation across the agricultural value chain. By enhancing transparency, strengthening trust, and enabling access to finance, this system empowers farmers, attracts private sector investment, and contributes to Kenya's broader economic transformation," he said.

WRSC Chairman Patrick Mbogo , added, "The launch of the Electronic Warehouse Receipt System Central Registry marks a defining moment in Kenya's journey toward a modern, transparent and efficient agricultural marketing system. This platform strengthens trust among market participants, enhances commodity security, and unlocks access to financing for farmers and agribusinesses. It lays a firm foundation for structured agricultural trade and positions Kenya as a regional leader in agricultural market innovation."

Country Director of TradeMark Africa, Lilian Mwai, underlined the regional dimension of the initiative. "By improving traceability and enabling access to finance, this platform empowers farmers and agribusinesses to compete more effectively in domestic and regional trade. The No Stop Border initiative becomes practical by fixing systems at source. Goods moving across Africa should not face unnecessary delays caused by fragmented systems. Systems like the Electronic Warehouse Receipt platform ensure that commodities are traceable, trusted and trade-ready from the moment they enter the value chain," she said.

Deputy High Commissioner Diana Dalton of the British High Commission echoed the sentiment. "Kenya and the UK are injecting innovation into agriculture. Not only does this system put more money into farmers' pockets, but it also allows produce like maize to be used as collateral for short-term loans, enabling farmers to meet immediate needs without selling at lower prices. The renewed Strategic Partnership between Kenya and the UK is driving modernisation for businesses of all sizes, adding crucial value to produce before export," she said.

The system is already live and fully operational. To date, 114 warehouse receipts have been registered, covering nearly 600,000 kilograms of deposited commodities. Kenya's transition from a pilot phase to nationwide rollout signals a serious commitment to building an agricultural economy that works better for everyone in the value chain.

Rwanda secures major IFAD Investment to strengthen agriculture and irrigation.

The Government of Rwanda has secured significant financial support to strengthen its agricultural sector, with a strong focus on improving irrigation and natural resource management in rural communities.

The country has obtained US78.5mn, equivalent to more than Rwf110 billion, in financing from the International Fund for Agricultural Development to advance agricultural development and resilience.

The financing agreement was signed back in February 2026 by Yusuf Murangwa, Rwanda’s Minister of Finance, representing the government, and Dagmawi Habte-Selassie, IFAD Country Director, representing the organisation. The funding will support the second phase of the Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project, widely known as KIIWP2. The programme will focus on expanding irrigation systems and strengthening watershed management across the district.

A major portion of the investment will benefit farmers in Kayonza District, where agriculture is a key source of livelihood. By improving irrigation infrastructure, the project will help ensure farmers have more reliable access to water. This is particularly important in a region where agricultural production is increasingly affected by climate variability. Better water management will allow farmers to maintain productivity while protecting vital natural resources.

The project also includes support for small livestock value chains. This will open up additional income opportunities for farming households and encourage diversification of rural livelihoods. By supporting multiple sources of income, the programme aims to strengthen the economic stability of rural communities.

Beyond improving agricultural infrastructure, the initiative is designed to tackle several broader challenges facing the sector. It seeks to reduce poverty, improve food security, strengthen climate resilience and increase incomes among rural populations. These goals align closely with Rwanda’s long term development priorities.

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of the Rwandan economy, but the sector faces growing pressures. Unpredictable weather patterns often disrupt harvests, while domestic production has struggled to keep pace with rising food demand. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Rwanda’s agricultural imports averaged US$655mn annually between 2019 and 2021, compared with US$352.4mn between 2012 and 2014.

Alongside the IFAD support, the government has committed 75 billion Rwandan francs to the national agricultural input subsidy programme for the 2025 to 2026 farming season. This represents a 38.8 percent increase compared with the previous season.

IFAD has worked with Rwanda since 1981. By 2024, the organisation had co financed 21 rural development programmes, committing US$791mn and supporting more than US$1.5mn households.

These efforts also support the country’s Fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation, known as PSTA 5, which runs from 2024 to 2029 and focuses on building sustainable and resilient agri food systems while strengthening food security and economic growth.