Future of Farming in Africa: A Call for Collective Action by All towards the Achievement of Food Security and Sovereignty.

Written by Agrojournalist Israel Obadare

Blessed by nature, Africa is a home to vast amount of arable land, energetic youthful population and other essential resources needed for large scale agriculture.

Estimates puts it that about 60% of the planet’s uncultivated arable land is in Africa. However, despite the abundance of the resources for agriculture in Africa, the continent continues to face the challenge of food shortage, access and affordability, making it depend on imports to meet most of its staple needs.

A great deal of foods consumed as staples in Africa are imported from countries in Europe, Asia, North and Southern America. These staples include grains such as wheat, barley, rice; fruits such as apples, grapes, avocados; cooking oils; animal sourced food such as fish, dairy amongst other agricultural products. This calls for concerns, and also necessitates a conversation around the prospect of food security and sovereignty in Africa; as all the above mentioned foods can be easily cultivated in commercial quantities here in Africa, only if we can get necessary things together.

With Africa population currently at 1.54 billion, growing an estimated 2.5% growth-rate per annum (Worldometer), TAFS (The African Farmer’s Stories) believes there is no better time to engage in intensive and productive conversations around the topics of food security and sovereignty than now.

Although Africa’s growth rate is expected to slow down to 2.3% post 2024, however, Africa’s population will reach 2.46 billion by 2050 (Statista, 2024), with the continental youth population expected to be the largest in the planet. All these figures from data leave us with no option of folding our arms to remain food poor/reliant.

Future of farming for food security and sovereignty of Africa is commercial, and should be sustainable. Achieving this will thus depend on a collective effort involving both government, private sectors, communities, youths and individuals.

Future of food in Africa goes beyond just food security, which is often narrowly defined as the availability and access to food. Instead, it will encompass the sovereign right of the African people to define their own food systems, control their agricultural production, and preserve local food biodiversity.

In the African context, it will mean reducing reliance on foreign food aid, embracing indigenous knowledge and practices, empowering local African farmers to drive agricultural innovation and food system etc.

Under-listed are some of the few things, stakeholders within the African food system, should take into consideration, in ensuring Africa’s food security and sovereignty.

• The Government: Each regional, sub-regional and national government in Africa has a duty to play in achieving food security and sovereignty within their jurisdiction. Each of the tiers in these leadership structure must lead the charge to implement workable policies that promote productive and sustainable agricultural practices in Africa. Inter-African unity government, like the AU, should reduce the bureaucracies of travels and strengthen the AfCFTA agreement to facilitate a freer movement of agricultural goods across African national borders. Each sub-national government within the African states should invest in its rural area infrastructures, improving farming conditions for smallholder farmers, and providing access to affordable credit, agricultural extension services, and technologies that can increase productivity while minimizing environmental impact.
• Private Sector: The private sector investor’ investment are crucial to drive food sufficiency in Africa. Investment in innovation and commercial agricultural enterprise is widely needed across Africa. By investing in primary production, agro-food processing, value chain development, and market access etc., private citizens/investors can help change the narrative in the African food system. They can help in transforming Africa’s agriculture from the current subsistence system to a largely commercial food production system.
• Smallholder Farmers/Community: Smallholder farmers are the backbone of agriculture in Africa. They produce more than 80% of the locally produced foods in the continent. However, they are largely faced with the challenges of climate change, soil degradation, water scarcity, limited access to land, inputs, markets etc. Empowering these farmers—many of whom are women—through training, affordable credits, subsidies, funding incentives etc. is essential for achieving the future we want for food in Africa. Agricultural cooperatives can also be encouraged within them to provide smallholder farmers in Africa a platform for resources pool, knowledge sharing, and bargaining power gain in the market.
• Youth Inclusion: Africa’s youth population is rapidly growing at a steady rate. This rapid youth population growth present both a challenge and an opportunity for the future of farming in Africa. Engaging young people in agriculture through practical education and teaching, entrepreneurship programs, access to low credit facility and access to modern farming technologies is critical for the sustainability of the sector. Increased youth involvement in Africa’s agricultural sector can bring fresh ideas, energy, perspective, innovation and prospect to solving challenges of the agricultural sector in Africa.
• Women: For the times, women in Africa are the most subjected demography, to systemic barriers that limits productivity and resource access. Addressing the issues of women marginalization is key to unlocking the full potential of the women working within the agricultural sector in Africa. Empowering women to farm in Africa, not only contributes to household food security, but will also drive a broader economic growth and social development.

In conclusion, the future of farming in Africa is a responsibility to be shared by all. Achieving food security, and beyond, food sovereignty, will require the active participation of all stakeholders, from policymakers and private sector investors to farmers, youth, and women. It is a journey that demands a commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation, and all hand must be on deck to achieve this.