The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is calling for increased local investment in agriculture as shifts in global development funding threaten to stall Africa’s progress in food security, climate resilience, health, and education.
At a recent high-level reception in Nairobi, AGRA President Alice Ruhweza highlighted the urgency for Africa-led solutions. “We gather at a pivotal moment in international development. The support ecosystem we’ve relied on for decades is changing fast. This shift demands greater efficiency, innovation, and collaboration,” she noted.
According to the Institute for Security Studies, if no action is taken, an additional six million Africans could fall into extreme poverty by 2026.“Agriculture employs 65% of Africa’s workforce and contributes up to 35% of GDP in many countries. Growth in agriculture is up to three times more effective at reducing poverty than growth in other sectors.” Over the last 20 years, AGRA has supported more than 26 million smallholder farmers across 11 African countries, improving access to quality seeds, affordable fertilizers, and dynamic markets. An additional 21 million farmers have been reached through policy reforms and partnerships.
In Kenya, AGRA’s National Value Chain Support Programme is transforming the agricultural sector by aiming to double maize production to 7.9 million bags by 2027, increase rice production by 574 percent, and create 77,000 jobs for youth across 41 counties. This effort reflects AGRA’s broader strategy, which is anchored in five key areas: strengthening policy and state capacity, developing robust seed systems, building inclusive markets, empowering women and youth, and fostering private sector engagement.
The achievements so far are notable. Over 500 African agricultural scientists have been trained, 54 seed companies supported, and sustainable soil practices promoted—boosting cereal yields by 61 percent on more than 1.8 million hectares. In Tanzania, AGRA helped design an agro-industrial flagship initiative projected to create one million jobs. In Malawi and Uganda, programs targeting women have improved their productivity by as much as 30 percent.
Ruhweza also stressed the transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), calling it a “game-changer” for African farmers and agribusinesses. With a single market of 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion, intra-African agricultural trade is expected to increase by more than 50 percent by 2025 and up to 574 percent by 2030. “In a world turning inward, Africa must turn outward with confidence,” she asserted. “Hunger knows no borders—and neither does opportunity.”
AGRA is also championing greater youth participation in agriculture. Ruhweza pointed out that 11 million young Africans enter the job market annually and argued that agriculture must be repositioned as a career of choice. She also highlighted the economic potential of empowering women, who currently comprise 70 percent of Africa’s agricultural workforce.
As traditional global funding sources shrink, AGRA is urging African governments, philanthropists, impact investors, and the private sector to step up and fill the gap. Ruhweza concluded with a compelling appeal: “To all who believe in Africa’s potential—invest in our farmers, back our innovations, and join us in ensuring that agriculture becomes a source of hope and prosperity.”