Agriculture Development Agency (AGRA) has reiterated its unwavering commitment to transforming African agriculture, emphasizing the need for enhanced investment in smallholder farmers against a backdrop of increasing global instability and evolving development support.
The recent shift in global development policy has upstaged the decades-long development financing framework with far-reaching consequences. The agency said these global funding adjustments, which according to the Institute for Security Studies could potentially push an additional 6 million Africans into extreme poverty by 2026, will likely jeopardise progress in agriculture, climate resilience, health, and education.
Alice Ruhweza, who assumed the helm as President at AGRA made the remarks at a reception event for the organisation’s key partners and donors and which also featured government officials, diplomats, development partners, and private sector leaders.
“We gather at a pivotal moment in international development when the ecosystem of support we have known for decades is fast changing. This shift in the funding landscape demands greater efficiency, innovation, and collaboration from organisations such as AGRA. These changes only underscore the urgency of AGRA’s mission,” said Ruhweza.
Despite these headwinds, Ruhweza said, AGRA remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering impact at scale.
Over the past two decades, AGRA has collaborated with African smallholder farmers, civil society, governments, development partners, and the private sector, reaching over 26 million farmers across 11 countries with access to improved seeds, affordable fertilisers, and vibrant markets access.
Ruhweza highlighted the importance of agriculture in Africa’s socio-economic transformation. The sector employs approximately 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 at reducing poverty than growth in other sectors,” she said
Despite these headwinds, AGRA is focused on delivering impact at scale.
Since its founding, the organisation has supported 26 million smallholder households directly and reached 21 million indirectly through policy reforms and partnerships. Key achievements include training over 500 African agricultural scientists; Supporting 54 seed companies and creating thousands of rural jobs; Promoting sustainable soil practices that have increased cereal yields by 61 percent on over 1.8 million hectares
Ruhweza emphasized AGRA’s work in five strategic areas: policy and state capacity, seed systems, inclusive markets, women and youth empowerment, and private sector engagement. In Tanzania, AGRA supported the design of an agro-industrialisation flagship expected to create 1 million jobs. In Malawi and Uganda, targeted women’s programs are boosting productivity by up to 30 percent.
She also emphasized the urgency for Africa to champion its own bold, homegrown solutions and highlighted the transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“In a world turning inward, Africa must turn outward with confidence. Hunger knows no borders—and neither does opportunity. The African Continental Free Trade Area (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,” she said.
