January 22, 2025 | No. 67 |
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| The African Union adopts ten-year strategy and action plan to transform Africa's agri-food systems and ensure food security |
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The African Union (AU) has adopted a new agricultural development strategy that will see the continent increase its agrifood output by 45 percent by 2035 and transform its agri-food systems as part of its new plan to become food secure in a decade. This is after the African Union Extraordinary Summit on the Post-Malabo Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) held in Kampala, Uganda, adopted the 10-year CAADP Strategy and Action Plan and the Kampala CAADP Declaration on Building Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems in Africa, which will be implemented from 2026 to 2035.
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| What is Nigeria attempting to learn from Zimbabwe’s agriculture? |
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It is good to see African countries trying to learn from each other’s experiences. In December, Business Insider published an interesting piece titled “Nigeria Turns to Zimbabwe for agricultural tips.” During the visit, Nigeria’s agricultural minister, Abubakar Shaib Kyari, stated that the country wanted to “study Zimbabwe’s agricultural revolution and noted that Nigeria is interested in learning more about Zimbabwe’s mechanization strategy.” Zimbabwe is undoubtedly an interesting case study for agriculture, demonstrating farmers’ resilience in a fragile policy environment. Engaging with farmers and officials there can teach us many stories, especially from the early 2000s, when the country embarked on its (failed) land reform programme. But it’s unclear whether Zimbabwe offers valuable lessons on agricultural growth. I am not trying to be reductionist here—I am seriously puzzled.
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| RAIN Phase III: Applications Open! |
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RAIN Phase III: Applications Open!
Deadline: 31st January, 2025
The Resilient Agriculture Innovations for Nature (RAIN) Challenge is back for its third phase! Organized by GRP in partnership with the Shockwave Foundation and Munich Re Foundation, this initiative supports agricultural innovators in East Africa. Applications close 31 January 2025.
What is RAIN? RAIN helps seed-level agricultural innovations scale into sustainable, nature-positive businesses. The focus is on boosting resilience to climate shocks, enhancing equity, protecting biodiversity, and fostering gender-inclusive solutions in East Africa (Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda).
Benefits - Up to $50,000 cash prize.
- Mentorship, leadership academy, and investor connections.
Key Dates - Applications: 10 Dec 2024 – 31 Jan 2025.
- Webinar: 16 Jan 2025, 15:00 EAT.
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| Multi-stakeholder innovation platform established in South Ethiopia |
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Effective multifunctional agroforestry and the sustainable use of biodiversity depend on robust collaboration among diverse stakeholders. Recognizing the importance of integrating local and transdisciplinary knowledge in a synergistic and mutually reinforcing manner, one of the key outcomes of the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)’s “Multifunctional Agroforestry for Enhanced Biodiversity, Improved Livelihood, and Resilient Landscapes in Ethiopian Highlands” project has been the establishment of a stakeholders’ platform. The initiative, implemented in collaboration with the Global Center on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC) and funded by the UK Government, successfully created a platform in South Ethiopia—a region renowned for its rich tradition of agroforestry.
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| A bold reform in Comoros: Opening up the rice market to increase food security and catalyze private sector growth |
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For decades, Comoros has grappled with rice shortages, a persistent issue rooted in the state monopoly held over ordinary rice imports by the National Office of Rice Importation and Trading (Office national d’importation et de commercialisation du riz, ONICOR), a cash-strapped state-owned enterprise (SOE). This situation has led to frequent scarcities (e.g., the documented shortages in 2021, 2022, and 2023) as well as rising prices exceeding those recommended by the Government of Comoros. The resulting food insecurity has often posed critical challenges, especially for a population reliant on ordinary rice as a key staple. Recognizing the urgent need for change, the government, supported by the World Bank, initiated a transformative policy reform that is already showing promising results and unlocking opportunities for private sector growth. Read more
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| Use of climate smart agriculture technologies in West Africa peri-urban Sahel in Niger |
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Climate change affects peri-urban agricultural systems. However, most studies on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) often focused on climate-smart villages in the Sahel region. This study investigated peri-urban farming systems in West African Sahel cities. Globally, agricultural productivity improvement requires applying technologies and resource access, particularly in dry-season farming. The achievements of Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 8, 12, and 13 in developing countries rely on utilising Climate-Smart Agriculture Technologies (CSAT) to address climate change, youth unemployment, and food insecurity. The study employed a mixed-method research design, employing field and household surveys of 142 peri-urban smallholder farmers, key informants, and desktop-based research in collecting data.Read More
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| Smart agriculture: African farmers urged to gradually reduce use of pesticides and fertilizers rather than abandon them to reduce risk of significant crop and economic losses |
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After decades of mono-cropping and overgrazing, around 65% of Africa’s farmland is now considered unproductive or degraded, leaving more than 270 million people facing chronic hunger. But while there is general agreement that food security is a priority for Africa, how to achieve it is a far more polarised debate. For AFSA, which is a coalition of civil society groups and farmers, the answer to food security in Africa lies with the concept of agroecology, and combining traditional, local knowledge with science to restore biodiversity and build more resilient food systems. “Agroecology is modern science that uses indigenous ways,” he says. “It’s about working with nature, not against it.”
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| Kenya’s farmers have lots of digital tools to help boost productivity – how they can be made more effective |
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Digital agriculture is often hailed as an almost magical trigger for promoting successful farming, even among smallholder farmers in the developing world. Its proponents argue that using digital tools to, for instance, generate records and calendar schedules can help farmers grow better crops, manage their resources more efficiently, and connect with organised markets, all while reducing post-harvest losses. But not all researchers are convinced that digital solutions are the answer to farmers’ problems. Some argue that the hype around these tools diverts attention from the real, on-the-ground challenges farmers face.
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| Population Bulge Pushes Africa to Food Drawing Board |
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The Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), is an Agenda 2063 continental initiative that aims to help African countries eliminate hunger and reduce poverty by raising economic growth through agriculture-led development. Through CAADP, African governments agreed to allocate at least 10% of national budgets to agriculture and rural development, and to achieve agricultural growth rates of at least 6% per annum. Underlying these commitments are targets for reducing poverty and malnutrition, increasing productivity and farm incomes, and improving the sustainability of agricultural production and use of natural resources. Read more
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| Harnessing technology and innovation to boost Eastern Africa's agriculture |
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The Eastern Africa sub-region finds itself at a crossroads, facing significant opportunities and unprecedented challenges to its agricultural systems. With a population of over 280 million, including 30 million pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, the sub-region is endowed with immense resources. The vast arable land, abundant livestock, fisheries, and aquaculture resources, along with rich biodiversity, make it a favourable place for agriculture-centred economic transformation.
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Becoming an AAAE member: The African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE) is a nonprofit association serving the professional interests of those working in agricultural and broadly related fields of development economics. Becoming a member of AAAE brings together people who work in the same industry and/or share common interests and goals. Please subscribe today and become a member to help in advocating for our shared purpose. |
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African Association of Agricultural Economists c/o University of Nairobi, C.A.V.S, Upper Kabete Campus Loresho Ridge Road, Nairobi, Kenya |
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