The report Collaborations and Partnerships to Promote Agricultural Development in Africa was released in 2025 by the Global South Research Center (GSRC), a research institution dedicated to advancing development knowledge and cooperation among Global South countries. It presents a comprehensive examination of the state of agricultural development in Africa, historical evolution and the strategic pathways needed to accelerate transformation across the continent.
The report begins by emphasizing agriculture’s foundational role in Africa’s economic and social development. It highlights that agriculture supports hundreds of millions of people, contributes significantly to national economies, and remains essential for social stability and long‑term development. The report underscores that agriculture is not only a source of food and livelihoods but also a key driver of broader economic transformation and a necessary foundation for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The report provides a detailed assessment of Africa’s agricultural resource endowments, noting the continent’s substantial advantages—including 45% of the world’s arable land, abundant freshwater resources, diverse agro‑ecological zones, and a large, youthful labor force. However, it also underscores the paradox that despite these strengths, African agriculture remains positioned at the lower end of global value chains, with limited production capacity and persistent food security challenges.
This report identifies six major constraints that hinder Africa’s agricultural development: (1) Inadequate public expenditure and market-based investment, resulting in limited access to finance for smallholders and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); (2) A systemic deficit and weak maintenance of infrastructure, including irrigation, transport, and logistics infrastructure, leading to significant production volatility and high post-harvest losses; (3) Insufficient research and development of context-appropriate agricultural technologies, compounded by weak extension services and underdeveloped product standards; (4) Limited organizational support for small and fragmented farmers, contributing to a poorly integrated value chain; (5) An unfavourable position in global markets alongside weak regional market integration, constraining Africa’s participation in higher value added activities; (6) High vulnerability to climate change and extreme weather events. Each constraint is analysed in detail, highlighting how historical legacies, external shocks, and internal structural issues have shaped the current landscape.
To provide deeper context, the report traces the historical evolution of African agriculture from the colonial period to the present. It examines how colonial monoculture systems, early post‑independence state‑led development models, structural adjustment reforms, and recent efforts to pursue independent development paths have influenced agricultural performance and policy choices. This historical perspective helps explain the persistent structural challenges facing the sector today.
The report also includes case studies of Kenya and Ethiopia, illustrating how coordinated government action, private‑sector participation, and community engagement can generate progress when aligned with national conditions and resource endowments. These examples demonstrate that targeted reforms, institutional strengthening, and strategic investment can create viable pathways for agricultural transformation.
Finally, the report proposes six priority areas for future agricultural transformation, including strengthening data and policy experimentation, enhancing planning feasibility, supporting cooperatives, innovating financing mechanisms, promoting agro‑processing, and deepening integration into global and regional markets. These recommendations are summarized as essential steps for building a more resilient, productive, and inclusive agricultural sector in Africa.
Click here to access and download the full document for more detailed information.
