Posted on May, 8, 2025 at 04:31 pm
Africa agricultural partners have agreed that the continent is ready to take its space in producing its own food, enough not just to sustain its population but also supply the world while using the resources within.
In Kenya alone, agriculture employs nearly two thirds of the country’s work force with most being smallholder farmers, cultivating nearly 70% of Kenya’s food production.
Further, agriculture contributes to almost a quarter of the country GDP remaining a cornerstone of the economy.
In partners gathering in Nairobi, Kenya, Agriculture Development Agency (AGRA) reiterated its unwavering commitment to transforming African agriculture, emphasizing the need for enhanced investment in smallholder farmers against a backdrop of increasing global instability and evolving development support.
Alice Ruhweza-AGRA president at a reception event for the organisation’s key partners and donors which also featured government officials, diplomats, development partners, and private sector leaders, termed the gathering as pivotal as it comes at moment in international development when the ecosystem of support which have been there for decades is fast changing.
“This shift in the funding landscape demands greater efficiency, innovation, and collaboration from organizations such as AGRA”, Ruhweza said, adding that “these changes only underscore the urgency of AGRA’s mission.” She said.
Over the past two decades, AGRA has collaborated with African smallholder farmers, civil society, governments, development partners, and the private sector, reaching over 26 million farmers across 11 countries with access to improved seeds, affordable fertilizers, and vibrant markets.
AGRA’s target for Kenya include doubling maize production to 7.9 million bags by 2027, increasing rice production by 574%, and creating 77,000 youth jobs over five years. Ruhweza said that through initiatives such as the National Value Chain Support Programme, AGRA helps 1.26 million farmers across 41 counties to access critical inputs.
Against the backdrop of evolving global priorities and climate change, Ruhweza emphasized the urgency for Africa to champion its own bold, homegrown solutions and highlighted the transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“The African Continental Free Trade Area offers immense potential. With a single market of 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion, intra-African trade in agriculture is projected to rise significantly, offering a game-changer for African farmers and agribusinesses, “she emphasized.
Ken Lusaka, Governor, Bungoma County, speaking at the gathering said: “We must change the perception of agriculture among youth and this can be achieved by being innovative to attract the youth into agriculture.”
In 2022, the 47 counties invested 10% of their expenditure into agriculture. It emerged that Kenya County governments have also made significant strides in supporting SMEs; and that Counties remain fully committed to building resilience and robust food systems with the governor putting out a call for partnerships to achieve the African bold goal.
This even as Fikirini Jacobs, PS, State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, emphasized that Agriculture is a silent giant that stands with a lot of immense potential for young people in Kenya.
“At the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, we are trying our best to ensure that all organisations have a platform to share and present on their youth agenda for the country - around youth empowerment, job creation and the creative development space.”
Africa’s future hinges on its youth and women hence the emphasis on the importance of equipping young people with the necessary skills and opportunities in agriculture and ensuring women farmers have equal access to resources and markets.
As global development resources become constrained, AGRA is calling upon African governments, philanthropies, impact investors, and private sector actors to collaboratively fill the widening financing gap.
The recent shift in global development policy has upstaged the decades-long development financing framework with far-reaching consequences. The agency said these global funding adjustments, which according to the Institute for Security Studies could potentially push an additional 6 million Africans into extreme poverty by 2026, that if not looked at is likely to jeopardize progress in agriculture, climate resilience, health, and education.
Source: Citizen