By Boaz Blackie Keizire

Last week, in the tea highlands of Limuru just outside Nairobi, I sat with Permanent Secretaries and senior officials from agriculture ministries across 15 African countries. Convened by AGRA, the retreat was not about drafting another strategy. It was about taking stock, honestly, of where Africa’s agricultural transformation stands nearly two decades into AGRA’s journey.

The timing could not have been more consequential. Global disruptions- from pandemics to geopolitical conflicts-have repeatedly exposed the fragility of food systems and the risks of overreliance on external supply chains. For Africa, these shocks have underscored a longstanding vulnerability: despite holding some of the world’s largest reserves of arable land, the continent still imports more than USD 70 billion worth of food each year. This is not merely a trade imbalance; it is a development failure that has left value chains underbuilt, jobs unrealised, and rural economies behind.

The stakes are rising quickly. Nearly 12 million young Africans enter the labour market annually, while only about three million formal jobs are created. This widening gap is both a political and economic fault line and an opportunity hiding in plain sight. By 2030, Africa’s agrifood system is projected to be worth USD 1 trillion. With the right choices, it could become the continent’s single largest engine for jobs, enterprise, and inclusive growth.

What emerged clearly from our discussions was not a lack of vision. Africa is rich in frameworks. The African Union’s Agenda 2063 charts an ambitious course toward shared prosperity, while the CAADP 2026–2035 Kampala Declaration provides a detailed roadmap for food systems transformation. What has been missing is execution. Political commitment has too often stopped at declarations. Investment has been episodic. Institutions have worked in silos. Accountability has been weak. Until political will translates into sustained financing, aligned institutions, and measurable delivery, even the best strategies will remain aspirational.

This is why the continent’s political calendar matters. As countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Mali approach election cycles between 2026 and 2027, a rare window has opened. Elections can be more than moments of transition; they can be turning points for national priorities. Agriculture must move from campaign rhetoric to funded, timebound commitments anchored in CAADP targets and credible national delivery plans.

Recent history offers stark reminders of the cost of delay. The COVID19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains. The Russia–Ukraine war sent shockwaves through food and fertiliser markets. Fresh disruptions linked to the Middle East are once again driving up costs. Africa imports nearly 90 percent of its fertiliser, leaving farmers acutely exposed to global price volatility, while rising fuel prices squeeze transport and agroprocessing costs. These repeated shocks raise a hard question: how many crises must pass before Africa decisively invests in its own food sovereignty?

It was in this context that the idea of an Africa Food Corridor, explored extensively during the retreat, resonated deeply. By strengthening regional trade, improving logistics, and lowering barriers to crossborder movement of food, Africa can better connect surplusproducing regions to deficit markets, reduce costs, and build resilience. Renewed investments in ports and transport corridors-though often driven by access to minerals-are beginning to unlock these possibilities. The challenge now is alignment: ensuring that infrastructure serves agricultural transformation rather than bypassing it.

None of this will succeed without a new compact between governments and the private sector. As the East African Grain Council underscored, trust is the currency of investment. Where governments provide predictable policies and credible enforcement, private capital follows. Where mistrust prevails, even welldesigned reforms stall.

Data and evidence must underpin this next phase. Effective delivery depends on knowing who farmers are, where they are, and what they need. Digital platforms and farmer registries are already changing this equation. Kenya’s Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (KIAMIS), adapted from Zambia’s ZIAMIS, has registered millions of farmers and is enabling more targeted delivery of inputs, subsidies, and extension services. Its real value lies not just in efficiency, but in enabling realtime, evidence based decisionmaking across the sector.

Inclusion remains the final test. Women, who make up close to half of Africa’s agricultural workforce, continue to face systematic barriers to land, finance, and services that suppress productivity. Closing this gap is not charity; it is one of the fastest and most costeffective ways to raise yields, incomes, and food security. At the same time, Africa’s youth must see agriculture not as a fallback, but as a frontier of opportunity. Digital tools, logistics platforms, and agritech innovations are opening new entry points as entrepreneurs and service providers across the value chain.

As AGRA marks 20 years, there is broad recognition that Africa has made real progress. But the next chapter will demand a different discipline-one that prizes delivery over declarations, coordination over fragmentation, and results over rhetoric. The convergence of political transitions, global disruptions, and emerging infrastructure presents a rare moment. Africa can continue to absorb external shocks and  deepen its dependence on imports, or it can choose to build resilient, integrated food systems that anchor prosperity at home.

When farmers prosper, Africa prospers. The task ahead is clear: to move from promise to performance, from frameworks to function, and to make agriculture not just a sector of potential, but the true backbone of Africa’s economy.

Boaz B. Keizire is the Director of Policy & State Capability at AGRA and a 2017 Fellow for the Aspen New Voices Fellowship

AGRA marks 20 years of operation across the continent, Rwanda stands out as one of the countries where its interventions have produced tangible and lasting results.

On KPMEDIA Podcast, Jean Paul Ndagijimana, AGRA’s Country Manager in Rwanda highlighted that the journey has been less about celebrating projects and more about building systems that work for farmers.

“AGRA was founded in 2006 following the vision of the late Kofi Annan, who believed that transforming agriculture was the fastest way to transform Africa,” Ndagijimana said. “Over 60 percent of Africans depend on agriculture, so any serious development agenda had to start there.”

In Rwanda, AGRA’s work began in the context of post-genocide reconstruction, when institutions including agriculture were being rebuilt almost from scratch. The organization identified human capacity as the most urgent gap.

“At that time, what Rwanda needed most was skilled people scientists, breeders, extension specialists,” Ndagijimana explained. “So AGRA invested heavily in education.”

Through partnerships with institutions such as the Rockefeller Foundation and the Gates Foundation, AGRA supported more than 50 Rwandans to obtain Master’s degrees and over 27 to complete PhDs in fields including crop science, plant genetics, and breeding. Many of these professionals are now working in research institutions, government agencies, and the private sector.

AGRA’s support went beyond training. Over the past 20 years, the organization has invested approximately USD 20 million in Rwanda, channelled into research infrastructure, laboratories, equipment, vehicles, and production facilities.

“A country does not only need people; it also needs tools,” Ndagijimana said. “We supported laboratories, in-vitro facilities for potatoes, and research stations in Musanze and other areas.”

These investments contributed to Rwanda’s ability to develop its own improved crop varieties. Today, Rwanda produces locally bred, high-yield maize varieties and is making similar progress in rice, soybeans, and potatoes.

One of AGRA’s most impactful interventions focused on addressing aflatoxin contamination in maize a problem that once locked farmers out of major markets. When Africa Improved Foods (AIF) opened its factory in Rwanda, it

was rejecting nearly 90 percent of locally produced maize due to quality concerns.

“It was painful,” Ndagijimana recalled. “The factory was in Rwanda, but farmers could not sell to it.”

AGRA worked with the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and international partners to introduce biological control solutions such as Failsafe, alongside improved post-harvest handling practices, including drying maize on the cob.

“Today, more than 90 percent of Rwandan maize meets AIF’s standards,” he said. “That completely changed the relationship between farmers and the market.”

AGRA also played a central role in shifting Rwanda’s seed system from state-dominated to private-sector-driven. In 2016, Rwanda had almost no private seed companies. Today, there are more than 20.

“Government was producing seed, distributing seed, and regulating seed it was too much,” Ndagijimana noted. “We worked with government to bring in private companies while allowing the state to focus on research and regulation.”

Private companies now dominate seed multiplication and marketing, while government institutions concentrate on breeder seed and quality assurance an arrangement that has strengthened sustainability and efficiency.

With youth and women forming the backbone of Rwanda’s population, AGRA has increasingly focused on making agriculture attractive, profitable, and modern.

“Young people don’t want agriculture that depends only on hard manual labor,” Ndagijimana said. “They want technology, data, and predictable income and that’s what we are supporting.”

Through greenhouses, irrigation systems, digital advisory services, and smart pest-management tools, AGRA has helped reposition agriculture as a business. The organization targets supporting 132,000 young people most of them women into agricultural employment by 2028.

AGRA’s latest strategy prioritizes value chains such as avocado, chili, and poultry due to their strong domestic and export demand.

“Chili can start generating income in as little as six months, and global demand is high,” Ndagijimana said. “Avocado offers long-term security one tree can produce for over 20 years.”

These commodities, he added, provide both quick wins and long-term income stability, especially for young agripreneurs.

Rwanda hosts the secretariat of the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF), a major continental platform convened by AGRA that brings together over 5,000 participants, including heads of state, investors, private companies, and development partners.

“Being the convener of AFSF shows the trust placed in AGRA,” Ndagijimana said. “And for Rwanda, hosting the forum generates millions of dollars in economic activity and invaluable knowledge exchange.”

He noted a growing trend of African and Rwandan diaspora investors using AFSF as a bridge to invest back home, particularly in high-value crops such as avocado and chili.

For Ndagijimana, the most meaningful measure of success is at the farmer level.

“What makes me happiest is seeing a farmer who used to beg for a buyer now negotiating prices with multiple buyers,” he said. “That power to choose that dignity that is real transformation.”

As AGRA looks ahead, its focus in Rwanda remains clear: strengthen implementation of sound policies, deepen private-sector engagement, and ensure that gains especially in seed systems and markets are sustained.

“We know where Rwanda is going,” Ndagijimana concluded. “The task now is to turn strong policies into everyday reality for farmers.”

After 20 years of AGRA’s engagement in Rwanda, the impact is no longer measured only in narratives, but in numbers. Over USD 20 million has been invested in Rwanda’s agricultural systems. More than 50 Rwandans have earned Master’s degrees and 27 have completed PhDs, strengthening the country’s scientific and institutional backbone.

Rwanda has moved from importing nearly 100 percent of its improved maize seed in 2017 to meeting domestic demand by 2022, with over 20 private seed companies now operating in the country, compared to virtually none a decade ago. In maize markets, rejection rates due to aflatoxin contamination dropped from 90 percent to below 10 percent, unlocking stable markets for thousands of smallholder farmers.

AGRA’s current strategy targets the creation of 132,000 jobs by 2028, most of them for youth and women, while high-value value chains such as chili and avocado are positioning Rwanda for long-term export growth.

Taken together, these figures point to a structural shift, from subsistence to systems, from uncertainty to structured markets, and from dependency to local capacity. For Rwanda’s agriculture sector, the next phase will be judged not by new pilots, but by how these numbers continue to grow and who benefits most from them.

AGRA’S Agricultural Transformation Office (ATO) made a strong showing at Nane Nane 2025, Tanzania’s annual national agricultural exhibition. The platform was used to promote the Agriculture Master Plan (AMP) in alignment with the Tanzania Development Vision 2050 (DIRA 2050), highlight AMP flagship initiatives, and engage stakeholders in shaping practical solutions for the agricultural sector.

Key Highlights

Farmer Voices
Farmers expressed optimism about the AMP and emerging technologies, requesting more accessible financing, suitable seed varieties, and clear guidance on loan access. Youth- and women-focused demonstrations were especially well-received for their practical, easy-to-apply content.

Outcomes & Next Steps
The event boosted AMP visibility, sparked new partnership opportunities, and gathered valuable farmer insights and feedback to inform upcoming priorities — including quick-win financing pilots and expanded outreach materials in Swahili. ATO reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the AMP remains practical and inclusive.

Leaders’ Perspectives
The Vice President urged stronger alignment with DIRA 2050 and closer links between policy and practice. The Ministry of Agriculture’s Permanent Secretary emphasised Nane Nane’s role as a platform for farmer education, training, and stakeholder engagement.

In the village of Goala, in the Centre-West region of Burkina Faso, a young woman is confidently reinventing rural farming with passion and an entrepreneurial spirit.

At 25, Rasmata Kientega is part of a new generation of rural women farmers who see the land not as a burden, but as a promise of dignity and a future.

An active member of the women’s cooperative Songre la Panga, Rasmata cultivates moringa, baobab, tomatoes, onions, and okra in the community nutrition garden established with support from the PRORES project, implemented by TREE AID and supported by AGRA. This garden not only feeds the village families but also generates real and steady income for 35 women. “This year, I sold 23,250 CFA francs worth of agricultural products,” says Rasmata. “Just with the leaves, we earned 22,500 francs. With tomatoes and onions, 115,000 francs. And with the okra, 35,000 francs.”

But for her, agriculture goes far beyond subsistence. It’s a source of personal pride, a path to economic independence, and a vision for the future. “I want to start a small ruminant livestock business,” she declares, standing among her 20 sheep. “It’s a profitable and promising activity. We just need a little boost to go further.”

Thanks to the project’s support, she has already gained access to land, hands-on training, and maize threshers. Her call now is clear: targeted support for local livestock farming to strengthen incomes, create jobs, and keep youth rooted in rural areas. Rasmata sees her future here, on her land, alongside her peers, transforming her community through smart and integrated agriculture.

Her journey shows that with the right resources, training, and confidence, young rural women can not only feed their villages but also build resilient agricultural micro-enterprises. It’s also a direct response to today’s challenges: food insecurity, climate change, and youth unemployment.

Where some see a need to migrate to cities or abroad, Rasmata sees an opportunity for local growth.

Her message is simple but powerful: agriculture is not a last resort. It’s a real profession. An ambition. A path to leadership.

“I want other girls to know that we can succeed right here, at home, with our land, our ideas, and our courage,” says Rasmata Kientega.

A collaborative Soil Values meeting helped partners coordinate efforts to improve soil health and strengthen farming systems across West Africa.

 In Lomé, Togo, regional and international partners came together under the Soil Values program to shape a unified vision for soil health transformation in West Africa. Spanning watershed management, inclusive markets, and enabling environments, the program convened key players such as IFDC, Wageningen University & Research, SNV, CIFOR-ICRAF, IITA, IWMI, and AGRA to align on shared priorities and co-develop the 2025 implementation roadmap. Additionally, the World Bank with its regional resilience progra FSRP, the Regional Hub for fertilizer and Soil Health for ECOWAS and Sahel, the private sector like WAFA, also participated for synergies identification and implementation.

The gathering focused on aligning strategies and resources to better support smallholder farmers across the region. Through open dialogue and practical planning, partners worked together to identify shared goals, close coordination gaps, and explore how joint actions could be scaled at both national and regional levels.

The session on the “Convening Component”, explored how evidence can help shape more effective collaboration. Dr. Asseta Diallo, Senior Specialist – Soil Health and Integrated Management at AGRA, emphasized the importance of data and partnership in moving from dialogue to results:

“When evidence meets collaboration, it becomes action. That is what we are here to build—a shared agenda rooted in science, guided by local voices, and owned by every partner in the room.”

Discussions focused on practical steps, such as co-organizing national soil health days, sharing data for improved planning, and connecting soil indicators to continental monitoring frameworks. AGRA shared technical guidance to help structure these convenings, ensuring they are grounded in evidence and inclusive of national and regional priorities.

Beyond practical Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM),  the Soil Values program shows the advantage of leveraging and synergizing efforts for a common purpose. Each partner brings unique capabilities, from research to community engagement to policy support. Together, they are laying the groundwork for healthier soils, improved and nutritious harvests, and more resilient livelihoods.

This kind of collaboration is essential to achieving impact at scale. By aligning investments, sharing knowledge, and supporting government efforts, the Soil Values partners are helping to transform food systems from the ground up—starting with the soil.

At 56 years old, Asabe David is more than a farmer and a mother of seven – she is a community builder and an advocate for change. A pillar of resilience in her community, Asabe has dedicated her life to nurturing her family and the land. Following the passing of her husband, David, she carries the mantle of providing for her children, cultivating maize as the primary crop. For years, like many smallholder farmers, her efforts were met with significant hurdles.

“Farming was our life,” Asabe recalls with a thoughtful expression. “But it was often a struggle, just enough to feed us, with little left over.”

That changed when a local partner, supported by AGRA’s Gender Consortium, extended its reach to Asabe’s cooperative. Through this collaboration, Asabe and her fellow women farmers gained access to vital training and resources designed to elevate their agricultural practices and amplify their collective voice.

“They taught us how to farm better, how to care for our tools, and most importantly, how to work together,” Asabe explains, emphasizing the power of unity. The training also equipped them with crucial advocacy skills, empowering them to engage with traditional leaders and local government to address their needs, particularly the pressing issue of land access.

A tangible turning point came when Asabe received improved maize seedlings through the AGRA-supported initiative. This access to higher-quality inputs, provided without the immediate pressure of repayment, offered a significant boost to her productivity and a glimmer of hope for a more secure harvest. While prioritizing food for her family, Asabe strategically plans to sell a portion later, demonstrating a growing understanding of market dynamics.

But the support extended beyond individual farming practices. The emphasis on cooperative strengthening and networking has fostered a powerful sense of solidarity among the women. Asabe has actively participated in building this network, recognizing that collective action is essential for driving meaningful change. Their unified voice amplifies their advocacy efforts, increasing their chances of securing the resources they need, including land and financial support.

Asabe’s vision for the future is deeply intertwined with the aspirations she holds for her children. While she herself has navigated the demanding realities of farming, her greatest hope is for her children to pursue education and opportunities beyond the farm. The potential for increased income through improved farming practices and collective bargaining, however, offers a pathway to ensuring her children have access to quality education and a brighter future.

Asabe’s journey, facilitated by AGRA’s Gender Consortium, reflects a crucial shift from individual struggle to collective empowerment. She embodies the potential of women farmers when provided with the right tools, knowledge, and a supportive network. Her story underscores the transformative impact of AGRA’s commitment to gender-inclusive agricultural development, demonstrating how empowering women not only strengthens their livelihoods but also cultivates hope and opportunity for generations to come. With continued support, Asabe and her fellow cooperative members are sowing the seeds for a more resilient and prosperous future for their community.

At an energetic pace, Habiba Abdulkarim is more than just a farmer; she is a connector and an advocate. A woman from the Zaria region of Kaduna State, Habiba has cultivated the land as part of a women’s cooperative, primarily growing maize and ginger. For years, accessing enough land to farm was a significant hurdle, limiting their potential and their harvests.

“We often worried about where we would find land to plant,” Habiba recalls, her brow furrowing slightly at the memory. “It held us back from growing more and improving our lives.”

That changed when the Gender Consortium, with the support of AGRA, brought new awareness and a pathway for advocacy to her community. Through workshops and guidance, Habiba and her fellow cooperative members learned how to voice their needs to traditional leaders. Their determined efforts led them to the Hakimi, who listened and allocated 2.4 hectares of land for their collective use.

“It was a huge relief,” Habiba exclaims, a smile spreading across her face. “Finally, we had a place to farm together, to plan and to grow.”

But the journey didn’t end with land. Habiba and her cooperative recognized another critical challenge: accessing quality seeds. Buying seeds individually was expensive and often meant settling for lower quality. Inspired by the spirit of collaboration fostered by AGRA, Habiba and other women’s cooperatives began to network. They connected with other women’s farming groups, realizing the strength in numbers.

“We learned that by working together, we could achieve more,” Habiba explains. “If many cooperatives pooled our money, we could buy better seeds at a better price.”

This collective approach caught the attention of AGRA, who stepped in to facilitate linkages with seed companies. By connecting these women’s cooperatives, AGRA helped bridge the gap between their needs and access to quality agricultural inputs.

Habiba’s story illustrates the power of collective action and the multiplier effect of AGRA’s support. By empowering women with advocacy skills and fostering networks, AGRA enabled them to not only secure land but also to address the critical issue of seed access. Habiba, now more confident and connected, is also encouraging other women in her community to embrace cooperative farming, sharing the knowledge and opportunities she has gained.

“We want other women to see that by working together and speaking up, we can overcome our challenges and build a better future for ourselves and our families,” Habiba emphasizes.

Habiba’s journey, while unique to her community, reflects a broader transformation. Across Nigeria, AGRA’s initiatives are strengthening the capacity of women farmers and their organizations, fostering collaboration, and improving access to essential resources. Habiba’s success is a testament to the potential that is unlocked when women are empowered to advocate for their needs and work together towards a common goal.

“Farming doesn’t have to be a lonely struggle,” Habiba concludes. “By joining hands and learning how to ask for what we need, we can grow stronger together.”

Habiba’s inspiring story demonstrates how empowering women with advocacy skills and fostering cooperative networks can lead to tangible improvements in land access and seed security, paving the way for greater agricultural productivity and economic empowerment.

Sarah Paul, a 35-year-old mother of seven, is transforming smallholder farming in Kaduna, Nigeria. Once struggling with low yields and limited resources, her farm now thrives, contributing significantly to her family’s well-being and Nigeria’s food security. Initially harvesting only two bags of maize per season, Sarah’s fortunes changed when she joined the AGRA-led Gender Consortium Project. This initiative provided crucial training in climate-smart farming, soil management, and improved seed varieties.

Access to quality inputs, facilitated by AGRA’s financing model, enabled Sarah to use high-yield, disease-resistant maize seeds and fertilizer, removing financial barriers. Her maize yields skyrocketed to 15–20 bags per season, and her income surged from ₦60,000 to nearly ₦1 million. This financial stability allows her to invest in her children’s education, securing their future.

Sarah’s success exemplifies Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, addressing the urgent need to increase smallholder productivity and build resilient food systems. By adopting innovative techniques and market-driven solutions, she strengthens food security and reduces reliance on imports. Sarah shares her knowledge with other women, inspiring them to achieve similar success, proving that investing in women farmers unlocks Nigeria’s agricultural potential. Through targeted interventions, numerous smallholders are transitioning to thriving agribusinesses.