Agriculture in Africa’s Transformation: The Role of Smallholder Farmers
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Date
2025
Authors
Langyintuo, Augustine S.
Babu, Suresh Chandra
Akpalu, Wisdom
Dias, Paulo
Mbizule, Clare
Nkurunziza, Janvier D.
Tsowou, Komi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AERC
Abstract
The theme for the senior policy seminar “Agriculture in Africa’s Transformation: The Role of Smallholder Framers” is very topical because nearly 70% of Africans depend on agriculture for their incomes, yet the sector accounts for only a third of the continent’s gross domestic product (GDP). Efforts to improve farmer productivity and raise incomes can, therefore, drive demand in other important economic sectors. This would increase economic growth while providing the opportunity to simultaneously pull millions of people out of the vicious circle of poverty. According to a recent World Bank report, growth in the agricultural sector is estimated to be more than two times as effective at reducing poverty as growth in other sectors, and more current research shows that in sub-Saharan Africa, growth in agriculture is more than 10 times more effective at poverty reduction than growth in other sectors. The African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) and the World Food Programme (WFP) partnered to put together this timely senior policy seminar on Agriculture in Africa’s Transformation. Since March 2011, AERC has partnered with the WFP to run a Data Analysis and Knowledge Management Hub in support of the pilot Purchase for Progress (P4P) programme. Building on this partnership with WFP and emerging priorities in the region, the AERC strategic plan for 2015-2020 has a dedicated thematic research group on agriculture. Despite the importance of the sector in the continent, agriculture is not getting the requisite attention from policy makers. This is manifested by the non-inclusive growth in most African countries leading to youth unemployment and poverty in the rural areas, where a majority of the population lives. The AERC is grateful to all those who made the seminar a success, especially the Government of Mozambique, which welcomed us to the country and co-hosted Senior Policy Seminar XVII. I also thank the authors who produced very high-quality papers, and the participants for their active participation in producing the seminar’s policy recommendations to be shared with other African policy makers who did not find time to take part in this event.