Why Africa Must Rethink Its Agricultural Model for Food Security

In recent years, Africa's food security has become a pressing concern. Despite possessing 60% of the world's uncultivated arable land, the continent is struggling to feed its rapidly growing population. With over 1.4 billion people, Africa imports an estimated $35 billion in food annually, a figure projected to rise to $110 billion by 2025 if no significant changes are made. For a continent so rich in agricultural potential, this paradox underscores the urgency of transforming Africa’s agricultural model to ensure future food security.

Africa’s Underperformance in Agriculture

Africa’s agricultural sector is burdened by structural inefficiencies that hinder its potential. Smallholder farms dominate the landscape, and most farmers rely on traditional methods, making yields low compared to other regions. African farmers produce less than half of what their counterparts in Asia or Latin America achieve. For instance, while the global average maize yield hovers around 5.6 metric tons per hectare, Africa’s average remains stuck at a mere 1.7 metric tons​

This inefficiency is due to poor access to technology, limited use of fertilizers, and overreliance on rain-fed farming, which is increasingly unreliable due to climate change.

Additionally, inadequate infrastructure, such as poor road networks and a lack of storage facilities, leads to substantial post-harvest losses. In fact, as much as 30% of food is lost between harvest and market, exacerbating food insecurity​

The Importance of Value Addition

Africa’s agricultural exports remain overwhelmingly focused on raw commodities—cocoa, coffee, tea—while the continent imports processed food products. This trade imbalance not only keeps Africa dependent on imports but also deprives it of the higher value that could be captured through local processing. For example, Africa produces 70% of the world’s cocoa yet processes less than 10%, meaning that the lion’s share of profits is captured by foreign companies. Without value addition, Africa remains trapped in a colonial-style export economy that exports raw materials at low prices and imports processed goods at high cost.

For African agriculture to flourish, there must be a concerted shift toward local processing and value addition. Agro-industrial parks and processing zones, such as those seen in Ethiopia and Kenya, could play a transformative role by encouraging local industries to process agricultural products domestically. This not only creates jobs and reduces the import bill but also diversifies economies and insulates them from global commodity price shocks.

The Case for Supply Chain Modernization

One of the biggest hurdles to agricultural productivity in Africa is the inefficiency of its supply chains. The disconnect between farmers and markets, compounded by poor infrastructure, means that even when yields are high, getting food to markets remains a challenge. Roads are often impassable during rainy seasons, and the lack of cold storage exacerbates post-harvest losses. As a result, food either rots in the fields or is sold at heavily discounted prices, making farming an unattractive venture.

To address this, African governments must invest heavily in rural infrastructure, including roads, storage facilities, and irrigation systems. Furthermore, improving logistics and transport networks could enable farmers to access regional and international markets more efficiently, reducing waste and boosting incomes.

Lessons from Emerging Economies

Countries in Asia and Latin America provide instructive models for Africa. Vietnam, for example, transformed from a net importer of rice to one of the world’s leading rice exporters by focusing on modernizing its agricultural practices, improving irrigation, and expanding market access. Similarly, Brazil’s emphasis on agribusiness and mechanization has turned the country into an agricultural powerhouse. These examples highlight the importance of adopting modern techniques and creating market linkages to boost productivity and ensure food security.

Africa can take a page from these success stories by encouraging the adoption of new technologies. Precision farming, for instance, can optimize resource use by enabling farmers to monitor soil conditions, water levels, and crop health in real time. Mobile technology is already transforming how African farmers access information, markets, and financial services. Initiatives like Kenya’s M-Pesa have allowed farmers to access credit and insurance, reducing their vulnerability to climatic and market shocks​

Climate-Smart Agriculture

Given the growing threat of climate change, the future of agriculture in Africa will also depend on sustainability. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) offers an integrated approach that boosts productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing resilience to climate change. Practices such as agroforestry, conservation agriculture, and efficient irrigation systems can help farmers adapt to changing weather patterns while improving soil health and yields.

Ethiopia’s Sustainable Land Management Program is a prime example of CSA in action. Through soil and water conservation techniques, Ethiopian farmers have improved crop yields while also reducing erosion and protecting natural resources. Expanding such initiatives across the continent could help African countries not only boost food production but also mitigate the worst effects of climate change​

The Role of Policy

While there is no shortage of potential solutions, progress requires a firm political commitment. Governments must provide the necessary support to farmers, from subsidized inputs to extension services that offer training in modern farming methods. Beyond government intervention, the private sector has a critical role to play. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) can accelerate the development of infrastructure and agro-processing industries, leveraging private capital to scale solutions that work.

The African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) provides a roadmap for increasing agricultural investment. If properly implemented, CAADP could help African countries raise productivity and achieve the goal of food security by 2030. However, political will remains a stumbling block, as many countries have yet to meet the target of allocating 10% of their national budgets to agriculture.

Africa’s agricultural sector is both a challenge and an opportunity. The continent’s ability to feed itself, and ultimately the world, will depend on how quickly it can transition from subsistence farming to a modern, efficient agricultural system. This will require investment in infrastructure, technology, and policy reforms that prioritize value addition and supply chain efficiency. The stakes are high, but the potential rewards—food security, job creation, and economic independence—are even higher. For Africa, the time to rethink its agricultural model is now.