The Agricultural Development Agency, (AGRA), has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to transforming African agriculture, underscoring the need for increased investment in smallholder farmers against a backdrop of increasing global instability and evolving development assistance.
Recent shifts in global development policy have upended decades of development finance frameworks, with far-reaching consequences. The agency said these global funding adjustments, could push an additional 6 million Africans into extreme poverty by 2026, according to the Institute for Security Studies.
“We gather at a pivotal moment in international development, when the ecosystem of support we have known for known for decades is rapidly changing. This shift in the funding landscape demands greater efficiency,
innovation and collaboration from organizations like AGRA,” Alice Ruhweza, President of AGRA, adding that the changes only underscore the urgency of AGRA’s mission.
Ruhweza noted that AGRA remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering impact at scale. Over the past two decades, AGRA has worked with African smallholder farmers, civil society, governments, development partners and the private sector, governments, development partners and the private sector to reach more than 26 million farmers in 11 countries.
Ruhweza emphasized the importance of agriculture in Africa’s socio-economic transformation. The sector employs about 65 percent of the continent’s workforce and contributes up to 35 percent of GDP in many countries.
“Growth in agriculture is up to three times more effective in reducing poverty than growth in other sectors,” she said.
Since its inception, AGRA has reached 26 million smallholder households directly and 21 million indirectly through policy reforms and partnerships. Key achievements include training more than 500 African agricultural scientists; supporting 54 seed companies and creating thousands of rural jobs; promoting sustainable soil management practices that have increased cereal yields by 61 percent on more than 1.8 million hectares.
Ruhweza highlighted AGRA’s work in five strategic areas: policy and government capacity, seed systems, inclusive markets, women and youth empowerment.markets, women and youth empowerment, and private sector engagement.
In Tanzania, AGRA has supported the design of an agro-industrialization flagship that is expected to create 1 million jobs. In Malawi and Uganda,targeted programs for women are increasing productivity by up to 30 percent.Against a backdrop of shifting global priorities and climate change.
Ruhweza stressed the urgency for Africa to champion its own bold, home-grown solutions, highlighting the transformative potential of theAfrican Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“In a world turning inward, Africa must turn outward with confidence,” Ruhweza urged. “Hunger knows no borders and opportunity. AFCFTA offers immense potential. With a single market of 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of USD3.4 trillion, intra-African trade in agriculture is projected to rise by over 50% by 2025 and up to 574 percent by 2030,” she said.
Ruhweza also emphasized the importance of harnessing the power of Africa’s demographic dividend and gender inclusion. With 11 million young people entering the labour market annually, she said agriculture must be repositioned as a career of choice.
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“Women make up 70 percent of Africa’s agricultural workforce. Empowering them with land rights, extension services, and market access can raise productivity by as much as 30%,” she noted.
Programs in countries like Malawi and Uganda are already driving this transformation.As global development resources shrink, AGRA is calling on African governments, philanthropies, impact investors, and private sector actors to fill the gap.
