21/07/2025
Africa’s Agriculture Paradox
Africa has what it takes to feed itself and the world, yet still spends over $50 billion annually importing food. This happens despite the continent holding approximately 60% of the world’s unused arable land (Financial Times).
Even more concerning is that only 6% of Africa’s cultivated land is irrigated, leaving 94% dependent on unpredictable rainfall. In contrast, Asia irrigates about 37% of its farmland and Latin America about 14%, making African agriculture especially vulnerable to drought and climate variability (AGRA).
The issue doesn’t stop at production. Africa experiences post-harvest losses ranging from 30% to 50%, particularly in fruits, vegetables, and perishables. Globally, food loss rates are significantly lower at around 10–20% (Bizcommunity Africa). For grains alone, Africa loses about $4 billion annually, which could feed over 48 million people each year (FAO).
Productivity remains low. For instance, average maize yield in Africa is just 1.7 tons per hectare, while the United States achieves about 10 tons per hectare (Reddit - Optimists Unite). A key contributing factor is low fertilizer use. In sub-Saharan Africa, farmers apply only about 10 kg per hectare, compared to 130 kg per hectare in Asia (Reddit - Ethiopia).
Although agriculture employs 60–70% of Africa’s workforce, most African governments allocate less than 5% of their budgets to agriculture. This is in stark contrast to developed nations that heavily subsidize their farming sectors (AGRA).
The demographic mismatch is also stark. Africa has the world’s youngest population, yet the average African farmer is over 60 years old. Meanwhile, other regions are using digital tools and mechanization to bridge the labor gap, which Africa still largely lacks (World Bank).
Mechanization levels are extremely low. Africa has only one tractor per 1,300 hectares of farmland. For context, India has one per 50 hectares and Brazil one per 23 hectares (Farming First / World Bank).
The environment adds even more pressure. About 45% of African land is either desertified or at high risk, and climate change may reduce yields by 17% to 22% by 2050, particularly in dryland areas (Wikipedia – Desertification in Africa).
In conclusion, Africa holds the natural resources, labor force, and climate to thrive agriculturally. Yet due to underinvestment, poor infrastructure, lack of innovation, and environmental degradation, it remains heavily food insecure.
These are not just statistics; they are urgent indicators that call for action and strategic investment.
What can we do about all of this?
