Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Calls for Renewed Efforts to Transform Africa’s Agricultural Sector

By Faith wanza mueni 

Photo: Alice Ruhweza president Alliance for green revolution in Africa (AGRA)

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has called for a renewed and integrated approach to agriculture, warning that Africa must accelerate the transformation of its food systems to meet growing food demand, create jobs and build resilience.

Speaking during the launch of a report marking AGRA’s 20th anniversary, AGRA President Alice Ruhweza said the occasion provided an opportunity to reflect on progress made over the past two decades, identify remaining gaps and determine what needs to change to ensure farmers prosper.

“When farmers prosper, Africa prospers,” Ruhweza said, stressing that farmers require functioning markets, fair value for their produce, finance, knowledge, infrastructure, healthy soils and supportive policies to improve productivity and incomes.

Ruhweza said Africa had made significant progress compared with the 1980s and 1990s, when crop failures and food shortages were common in several countries.

She noted that countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Zambia and Ethiopia experienced regular food shortages, while structural adjustment programmes weakened agricultural extension services and reduced investment in agricultural research and infrastructure.

According to Ruhweza, by the 1990s many African countries had few community-based extension officers and agri-dealer shops, leaving smallholder farmers with limited access to inputs and agricultural services.

“We have made progress, but a transformation is not,” she said, noting that the continent still has significant gaps to address.

Ruhweza said AGRA’s next chapter would focus on helping countries close these gaps while ensuring agricultural interventions are locally driven, evidence-based and responsive to farmers’ realities.

She cautioned against treating Africa’s agricultural systems as having a single pathway, noting that differences in ecosystems, markets, institutions and farming communities require locally tailored solutions.

“The debate should not be reduced only to small labels and accounts. Agroecology, science, markets, policy, finance, indigenous knowledge and innovation all have a place where they help farmers become more productive, more resilient and more prosperous,” Alice said.

Ruhweza said Africa’s growing population, expanding urban food markets, increasing regional trade and the demand among young people for decent work present significant opportunities for investment in agriculture and agro-processing.

She, however, warned that increased productivity alone would not be enough if farmers could not earn fair value from their produce.

“Productivity without value cannot free farmers from poverty,” Ruhweza said, adding that Africa has an opportunity to trade differently, restore nature, build infrastructure and position agriculture as a foundation for food security, jobs and shared prosperity.

Strategy and transformation executive for AGRA Andrew Cox said the report was designed not only to document the organisation’s contribution over the past 20 years but also to capture lessons that could guide future interventions.

Cox said Africa’s agricultural sector had undergone major changes from the pre-colonial period through the colonial era and into independence, with colonial systems largely structured around export crops.

He said the shift transformed food systems and agricultural production while leaving several areas, including food production, research and investment, underdeveloped.

Cox noted that AGRA was established against the backdrop of efforts by African leaders to transform agriculture. He cited the 2003 Maputo Declaration and the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme as key milestones in efforts to strengthen agricultural development on the continent.

He said progress since then had been driven by governments, farmers’ organisations, civil society, research institutions, businesses and development partners.

Cox described the anniversary report as a story of challenges, opportunity and hope.

Meanwhile, vice president for technical expertise AGRA  Jonathan Said said the next phase of agricultural transformation must take into account emerging pressures, including climate change, soil degradation, water stress, rapid population growth, technology and changing regional trade patterns.

He said Africa’s rapidly growing population was increasing the number of people who need food, jobs and economic opportunities.

Said also pointed to the growing influence of technology and artificial intelligence, saying the changing digital landscape presents both opportunities and challenges for agriculture.

He said Africa must align its agricultural transformation with the African Union’s Common African Agricultural Development Programme and its targets for the coming decade.

“The current path is not working,” Said said, citing rising hunger, food losses and climate resilience challenges as signs that a different approach is required.

He called for stronger links between productivity, markets, investment, environmental stewardship and inclusive economic development.

Said said Africa’s agricultural transformation would require collective action and stronger partnerships if the continent is to feed its growing population while creating opportunities for young people and women.

The speakers said the next decade should therefore be defined by stronger country ownership, measurable results, increased investment and collaboration, with farmers remaining at the centre of Africa’s agricultural transformation.