What's happened
Al Jazeera, All Africa and related outlets report on Africa’s food systems. A Green Revolution led by AGRA has coincided with a drop in millet production and land loss for traditional staples, while maize expansion grows. The Africa Food Systems Forum highlights calls for cheaper finance, irrigation, and women’s inclusion to shore up climate resilience and nutrition.
What's behind the headline?
Context and dynamics
- The articles collectively show a shift in African agriculture from diverse staples to maize-driven systems, with climate pressures intensifying.
- AGRA’s Green Revolution policy mix has coincided with increased land devoted to maize and reduced investment in millet, cassava, and groundnuts.
- The Africa Food Systems Forum frames policy demands around irrigation, finance, and inclusion, highlighting how drought, climate shocks, and global supply disruptions shape choices at the farm level.
Stakes and actors
- Governments and development partners are urged to scale irrigation and fund CAADP commitments, with a target of $100bn in public and private finance.
- The World Farmers’ Organisation and PAFO emphasize farmer-led investment and social protection gaps.
- Women farmers are identified as key to resilience, but face triple burdens and unequal access to land and credit.
Outlook
- If irrigation expands and finance becomes more accessible, farming systems could become more drought-resilient and nutritionally diverse. However, failure to address gender constraints and land rights could limit gains.
How we got here
Since AGRA launched in 2006, subsidies and investment have boosted maize but reduced millet and other staples. El Niño-driven droughts threaten rainfed farming. The Kigali forum is shaping calls for irrigation expansion, finance reform, and women’s empowerment to strengthen Africa’s food systems.
Our analysis
Al Jazeera (Million Belay) highlights Africa’s millet declines and maize expansion under AGRA’s Green Revolution. All Africa reports on the Africa Food Systems Forum’s calls for cheaper finance and irrigation, and the role of women in farming resilience. The articles collectively emphasize CAADP goals and the need for climate-resilient crops and investment. Quotes from PAFO and World Farmers’ Organisation underscore farmer perspectives.
Go deeper
- What new irrigation projects are most immediate?
- How will finance reforms reach smallholders, especially women?
More on these topics
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Africa - Continent
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.3 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area and 20% of its land area.
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Malawi - Country in East Africa
Malawi, officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland.
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Kenya - Country in East Africa
Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country in Eastern Africa. At 580,367 square kilometres, Kenya is the world's 48th largest country by total area. With a population of more than 47.6 million people, Kenya is the 29th most populous country.
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Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa - Agricultural development organization
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa is an organisation that seeks to transform African agriculture from a subsistence model to strong businesses that improve the livelihoods of the continent’s farming households.