AGRA

Today marked the successful conclusion of the four-day Africa Food Systems Forum, which united over 5,000 delegates, 38 smallholder farmer groups, 97 countries, 302 speakers, 882 youth, 7 former heads of state, 37 ministers and 149 members of the press. Significant commitments were made, partnerships formed, and investments mobilized, marking a renewed commitment to the  transformation of Africa’s food systems.

Below are the highlights of Day 4:

GoGettaz Agripreneurs Winners Take Home USD $50,000

As the forum came to an end, we had a conversation with the youth who had the opportunity to directly ask questions to the leaders. The session touched on how AFS partners can support young people to learn and find jobs in food systems. It was also during this session that one male and one female winners of this year’s GoGettaz Agripeneurs were awarded USD 50,000 each for leading scalable and impactful business and social ventures.

Youth Involvement  in Agriculture Cemented with the Kigali Youth Declaration

The young people at the Africa food Systems 2024 committed to being accountable for the Africa food systems, a commitment set to be presented at COP29.

The Kigali Youth Declaration calls on various stakeholders to amplify the voice of the young people, address the pressing issues of climate change and youth employment in Africa and explore strategies to accelerate youth access to work opportunities in the agricultural and food system sector.

Cote D’ivoire and Rwanda Legacy Programmes

Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire today presented their legacy programmes and called for support from development partners, private institutions, and stakeholders for its implementation. The legacy programme initiative aims to transform the country’s food systems into operational, bankable investments that can be funded by partners and implemented over the next five years.

Rwanda’s case was compelling: the country boasts a 2.3% growth rate, with 27% of GDP derived from agriculture. As the top-performing country in implementing the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), Rwanda reinforced its commitment to advancing the sector. Key goals for Rwanda’s government include creating an enabling environment for youth employment, expanding avocado, chili, and potato production through public-private partnerships, and enhancing the livestock sector, particularly beef and poultry. Rwanda’s total investment requirement stands at $6 billion.

For Côte d’Ivoire, agriculture plays a central role in the country’s economy. The sector contributes 17% of GDP and accounts for more than 50% of export earnings.

However, challenges remain in achieving food security, such as limited access to high-yield, climate-resilient seeds and low mechanization in farming practices. Côte d’Ivoire is addressing these issues through the Social Project for the Acceleration of Food Production and Processing (PROSVIT-CI), a project estimated at XOF 5,881.2 billion (USD 9.8 billion). The government appealed to stakeholders for support to meet its goals.

The Great Debate: Africa’s Path to Food Security

The closing session featured key voices in Africa’s economic landscape: Wamkele Mene, CEO of AfCFTA; Lord Collins, UK Minister for Africa; and James Mwangi, CEO of Equity Group Holdings Limited.

Wamkele Mene underscored Africa’s current food insecurity crisis driven by external geopolitical factors, stating, “Millions have been pushed into poverty, but African countries have the potential to feed the continent.” He emphasized the need to reduce intra-African trade barriers, particularly on agricultural products, to unlock access to new markets and tackle the continent’s food challenges.

Dr James Mwangi drew attention to climate change, describing it as the “pandemic of agriculture” for smallholder farmers. He called for governments to address this with the same urgency as the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, “smallholder farmers cannot be left to fend for themselves.”

Lord Collins highlighted the UK’s commitment to economic partnerships with Africa, emphasizing, “Economic growth is how we will feed us all in the future.” He praised the innovation and entrepreneurship showcased at the Forum, encouraging a paradigm shift in African agricultural leadership to fully realize the sector’s potential.

1. AFP Winner announcement and awards dinner

Tinotenda Mhiko, CEO of the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) of Zimbabwe, was named the winner of the 2024 Africa Food Prize, receiving a $100,000 award for his groundbreaking leadership and innovation in advancing food security through strategic irrigation initiatives, which is revolutionizing Zimbabwe’s food systems.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Mhiko stated, “I have worked will all classes of farmers over 15 years to improve productivity. Over time I have found that the first step to achieving this is innovation. We have implemented impactful models alongside the use of technological innovations which have helped achieve this.”

2. ⁠Investing in Regenerative agriculture

The Investing in Regenerative Food Systems session focused on the principles and practices of regenerative agriculture, presenting practical solutions to address global challenges such as climate change and environmental degradation.

The discussion highlighted best practices, lessons learned, and models that had been successfully scaled and replicated to produce transformative outcomes. Topics covered included sustainable farming techniques, improving soil health, nature-based solutions, promoting biodiversity, and enhancing climate resilience.

Regenerative agriculture must consider the multiplicity of landscapes, integrating land use planning alongside biodiversity and conservation efforts. We should also view ecosystem health as a key factor in productivity, using metrics that go beyond just yield, Ms. Nancy Rapando, Co-coordinator, Policy Advisor, Policy and Advocacy, ISFFA.

Experts shared success stories and explored innovative policies that have supported regenerative food systems, offering insights into strategies aimed at enhancing resilience and food security in agriculture while ensuring landscape and ecosystem restoration in Africa.

3. ⁠Agribusiness Dealroom Knowledge Session: VALUE4HER, ITC, SheTrades, IAFN WAYA

The session featured a panel discussion that touched on key issues facing women entrepreneurs such as access to markets, finance and business development services. The forum brought together key figures representing women agripreneurs across the continent, chief among them the 2024 Women Agripreneur of the Year Award Overall Winner Affiong Williams.

In her remarks during the panel discussion, Affiong noted, “As women in agribusiness, we’ve proven we can build thriving ventures. To unlock further growth, we must deeply understand our market. This enables us to conceptualize products that resonate, attract investment, and propel our businesses forward.”

4. Youth Mini Hackathon

The youth had a session to refresh on day one and two’s learnings. This was a chance for Day one absentees to pitch and get feedback from the judges and mentors as they selected the best five team pitches. The youth presented their innovative ideas and received feedback from industry experts and peers, and the most promising solutions were awarded cash prizes ranging from $400 to $1000.

5. ⁠Media’s role in transforming Africa’s Food Systems

Media professionals from across the continent today had a session to highlight the role of the media industry in supporting and amplifying the African food systems narrative by amplifying key messages and generating conversations through mainstream and online media platforms. This session convened a broad group of communication and media specialists and practitioners from food systems, agriculture, agribusiness, environment, and rural development fields to discuss how to unpack Africa’s food systems’ potential, develop a positive narrative to attract investors, youth and women to the sector, and showcase best practices, lessons learned, and innovations in communicating or reporting on advances in food systems. The session also provided an opportunity to launch a Food Systems Media Platform, a continental fellowship, and a magazine on food systems transformation.

6. Food systems- The Bigger Picture

Today’s session on “Food Systems: The Bigger Picture” highlighted the urgent need for a more inclusive and collaborative approach to transforming agriculture across Africa. Discussions touched on blended finance, smart agriculture, and increased private-sector engagement.

Ms. Delphine Traore, CEO of Allianz Africa and Board Chair of AGRA, highlighted a critical challenge: while 95% of agricultural production in Africa is processed by agri-SMEs, only 25% of these enterprises have access to financing. Investors often shy away from the sector, viewing the African continent as a high-risk investment.

James Mwangi, CEO of Equity Bank Limited, outlined three key innovations that can be adopted to strengthen small-scale farming in Africa: Capacity-building initiatives to help farmers adapt to climate change, de-risking partnerships; reducing reliance on rain-fed agriculture.

7. South-South Triangular Cooperation

The session on South-South Cooperation emphasized the crucial role investment agencies play in strengthening agri-food systems. A key focus was on bridging existing gaps to make the sector more attractive to private investors, which is essential for scaling sustainable agricultural practices and boosting productivity. Empowering women through improved access to finance also emerged as a vital point of discussion.

Dr. Cheng Cheng highlighted an innovative climate-friendly loan program designed for small-scale farmers cultivating palm oil and other oil crops. This program ties funding to sustainable farming practices, promoting eco-friendly palm oil production in Africa. Such initiatives directly address sustainability challenges on the ground while supporting the development of greener food systems across the continent.

8. The Climate Clock – Scaling Food Systems and Climate Action – A Continental Agenda

Today’s session reaffirmed the critical need to integrate agriculture and food systems into climate action strategies across Africa. Building on momentum from key global events such as COP28 and the Africa Climate Summit, African countries are taking significant steps to align sustainable food systems with climate policies.

In today’s session, discussions revolved around scaling up the food systems and climate action agenda at the continental level. As African countries prepare for COP30, experts explored how nations can share progress and best practices for integrating food systems into their climate policies, investments, and national plans.

9. Investing in soil health to Feed a Continent

The panel highlighted that investments in soil health and land restoration could boost crop yields by 6-10% and slow biodiversity loss by 11% by 2050. Speakers called for action on the various declarations, emphasizing the need for collaboration, realism, and urgency in addressing the soil health and food security agenda. As Africa’s population continues to grow, so too must the commitment to innovative, sustainable solutions for feeding the continent’s future.

10. Market Structure a Major Challenge for the Ethiopian Coffee Sector

Official reports indicate that the Ethiopian coffee sector faces labour shortages due to the migration of young people to urban areas in search of better opportunities. This migration results in an ageing farming population, which poses challenges for the future sustainability of coffee farming.

11. The Accountability Room- Climate Clock

This session served as a space for drafting concrete proposals on scaling up the food systems and climate action agenda at the continental level. In preparation for COP30, African countries shared their progress and best practices for mainstreaming food systems into their climate policies, investments, and plans.

This session brought together the continent’s experts who are championing the work on the food systems and climate nexus to learn more about the latest developments, research findings, and current and future actions on this topic.

12. Investing in Regenerative food systems

This panel discussion focused on best practices, lessons learned, and delivery models with proven potential for replication and scale and capacity to produce transformative outcomes through practical regenerative agri-food solutions for global challenges such as climate change and environmental degradation. The sessions delve into the key principles and practices of regenerative agriculture, a powerful approach that promotes sustainability, resilience, and food security. Engage with farmers, researchers, and practitioners at the forefront of this field as they share their expertise and success stories on practical programs and policies.

NUTRITION, HEALTH, TRADE & MARKETS

On the second day of the Africa Food Sytems Forum, delegates once again united, calling for effective ways of implementing the food systems policies in the continent. Hon Richard Nyirishema, the Minister of Sports Rwanda, emphasizing on good nutritious food for the athletes, while Dr Agnes Kalibata, the President of AGRA, said that Legacy Programs are a great opportunities for countries to step up and work faster, and it is time for countries to work together, because they need each other, where trade is an essential means to how we source our food.

Here are the highlights of the day.

Food and Nutrition Session

At the Food and Nutrition session  held at the sidelines of the AFS summit, policy makers and nutrition specialists came together to reflect on policies and programs as well as discuss how to bring various food system actors on board to generate impactful nutrition and health outcomes.

Nutrition has long been overlooked in food system conversations. However, today’s session brought these conversations to the fore, highlighting the importance of the quality of food rather than just the quantity.

Speakers highlighted the enormous cost of malnutrition to Africa, not only in terms of healthcare but also in lost productivity. Micronutrient deficiencies remain a silent killer, particularly among children, while issues of obesity are increasingly affecting the labor workforce across food system value chains. Investing in nutrition is both a moral imperative and a sound economic strategy. To achieve these goals, nutrition must be a core component of sectoral policies and food system programs, making them more “nutrition-sensitive”.

Remarks by Hon. Richard Nyirishema, Rwanda Sports Minister, “Sports, nutrition, and health go hand-in-hand, offering people of different abilities and ages worldwide the chance for happier, healthier, and more productive lives. Various sports legends from the continent came from rural areas or modest urban backgrounds but have been performing for many years thanks to discipline, good health, and nutrition. Today, the Hon Minister of Sports in Rwanda, emphasized the need of eating a nutritious diet, and more so indigenous food, since it is important in body development for athletes.”

Country Deal Room Launch: Zambia Legacy Program 

It was an auspicious, moment for Zambia as the spotlight turned to its abundant resources and untapped potential in agriculture.

With 42 million hectares of arable land, only 1.5 million of which is currently cultivated, Zambia is poised to become a powerhouse in agricultural production. The country also boasts 40% of all water resources in the SADC region, further underscoring its capacity for expansion in this sector.

Participants called for increased collaboration and trade between countries. As Dr. Kalibata emphasized, “We are at a time where trade is becoming extremely important to how we secure food in our countries. It’s not just about how we produce; it’s about how we trade.”

“Zambia experienced one the most severe droughts in its recent history- and because of that they had to come up with a response plan to ensure Agriculture production was not disrupted and therefore came CATSP – focused on irrigated agriculture and mechanization, access to credit and finance,” – Dr Chizumba Shepande, Director in the Ministry of Agriculture

Women Agri-Prenuer of the Year Award (WAYA)

Affiong Williams, Founder and CEO of ReelFruit was the overall winner of the (WAYA) award, for outstanding contributions that exemplify how enterprise can transform lives and the agribusiness sector proving that sustainable impactful businesses can be built by women, receiving a cash prize of $40,000.

This year’s WAYA awards finalists were selected from a record-breaking 1,535 applications spanning 44 African nations, a significant increase from the 1,430 applicants and 42 participating nations in 2023. This highlights the growing influence and importance of women in Africa’s agribusiness sector. The finalists represented diverse countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.

https://agra.org/news/agra-announces-the-2024-women-agri-preneurs-of-the-year-award-winners-at-the-afs-forum/

Council of the Wise Session

H.E. Former President, Goodluck Jonathan statement highlights a critical issue in Africa’s food systems: the alarming lack of agro-biodiversity and its impact on nutrition and food security.

The African continent faces an urgent need for visionaries and innovators to address challenges in food security and nutrition while also fostering job creation. To support the emerging leaders in the food systems sector, the Council of the Wise—comprising former African leaders—has committed to investing in education, mentoring, and entrepreneurship initiatives aimed at empowering the continent’s youth to drive positive change.

During the session of the Council of the Wise, an honorary member,  Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the former President of Nigeria, highlighted the importance of the older generation guiding young people in transforming the food systems sector, particularly through technology. He added that Africa is in the hands of young people and therefore, they have a critical role to play in shaping the continent’s future.

Ministerial Roundtable 

Earlier, a ministerial roundtable chaired by H.E Dr Ibrahim Mayaki was held at #AFSForum24 to discuss solutions that advances food systems transformation, and taking stock of countries’ progress, and identifying actions to drive change in a digital and climate era.

The session brought together government ministers and other high-level officials to share their experiences and perspectives on implementing policies and programs to improve food systems in their respective countries, while harnessing energy potential in the region. The discussions focused on the challenges and opportunities of food system transformation and how countries can work together to accelerate progress towards sustainable and equitable food systems.Parliamentary session.

“Focusing on agrifood systems necessitates a break from siloed ways of working, and existing systems of accountability. This shift demands us to step out of our professional comfort zones and embrace new path lines. However I am proud to say that our ministers are tackling this challenges with novelty approaches and a steadfast commitment to new ways of working. They are actively sharing experiences and learning from one another,” said Dr Mayaki.

Agriculture Parliamentarian in Africa

As we build a holistic view of food systems transformation that takes into consideration, gender issues that enhance resilience are important, this was the call from Parliamentarians. Parliamentary Network Forum championing food systems transformation at #AFSForum2024, spoke about policies that improves gender agenda. “The African Food Systems Forum continues to be a flagship event – where some of the most brilliant, committed and determined minds, gather from around the world, with a singular purpose – not just to end hunger and poverty once and for all on our continent, but to truly to transform the lives and futures of our people,” Hon Jeremiah Lissouba.

The African Food Systems Parliamentary Network (AFSPaN) emphasized the importance of partnerships, coalitions, and synergies in transforming Africa’s agrifood systems. The creation of AFSPaN was motivated by the need to translate policy into impactful change on the ground.

The network is founded on the belief that Parliamentarians play a critical role in bridging the gap between policy and practice. As legislators and budget custodians, their role is vital in informing stakeholders, providing legal frameworks, ensuring alignment of public spending with investment plans, and strengthening accountability.

Financing models and products on the continent

This session was discussing the best practices and financing models for women involved in food systems value chains across the continent, with a focus on nutrition, and how these models can be scaled up to ensure the inclusion of and a more significant role for women in food systems.

#Agriculture is key to our #YoungAfricaWorks strategy. With our partners, we’ve enabled 4.2M youth, nearly 50% young women, to pursue agrifood livelihoods. At the #AFSForum2024, Daniel Hailu emphasized the importance of co-designing interventions with the local context in mind.

While, Hedwig Siewertsen,  Head of Inclusive Finance, emphasized on “Women are extremely good at managing risk. The way women do business is very different from how men do business. While men tend to put all their eggs in one basket, women tend to diversify.”

“At Bayer, we are intentional and very gender sensitive. We are building an ecosystem of women, through the Better Life Farming Model. Bayer’s Better Life Farming initiative aims to help empower smallholder farmers with solutions that improve harvests — and lives. We started this programme with women and the uptake was amazing. And we are empowering them with holistic skills. This program supports women through soil health practice, regenerative agriculture and financing of input supply,” Mildred Nadah Pita, Head of Public Affairs at Bayer.

Uganda AgriBusiness Dealroom Session

 Uganda Minister of State for Animal Industry, MP Isingiro County North, Member of MUBS Council , Dr Bright Rwamirama, had a chance to woo the delegates on why invest in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.

Opportunities Highlighted:

• Bananas Farming
• Cassava Farming
• Coffee Value Chain
• Fruits Farming
• Industrial Parks

Farmers Forum

The Farmers’ Forum was attended by farmers unions and farmers from  Africa, Asia, and Latin America to exchange experiences and share best practices regarding participation in food systems policies, access to financing and markets, and capacity to deliver healthy foods produced.  The interactive featured progress being made in the quality, aggregation, and marketing.  Also featured was capacity building platforms for farmers, farmer representation, advocacy, financial solutions, communication.  Opening the session,  IFAD Vice-President endorsed their commitment to support farmers who are key anchors of food systems’

Global Leaders call for an inclusive food systems, and more investments in nutritious foods 

Kigali Convention Center played host to the Africa’s largest forum on agriculture, the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024. The official opening ceremony was officiated by Rwanda’s Prime Minister, Hon Édouard Ngirente. This year’s theme “Innovate, Accelerate, and Scale, calls for harnessing the creativity of Africa’s youth and women to drive economic progress, and that was the message that each speaker rallied at the opening ceremony. Here is the sneak peak of what happened on Day 1 of AFS Forum 2024.

 Sierra Leone Legacy Program

Sierra Leone took center stage with a powerful keynote address from Hon. Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, Chief Minister of Sierra Leone, who highlighted the potential of Sierra Leone to export rice, cassava, cocoa, and coffee as he appealed for investment in the country. “Private sector investment is critical for Sierra Leone’s 1.8 bn dollars needed to transform our food systems,” he said. Hon. Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, provided an in-depth overview of the program, outlining its goals, expected impacts, and the unique opportunities it presents for investors.  He highlighted Sierra Leone’s ambition to feed itself through the Feed Salone Flagship program to enhance food security.

 Official Opening Ceremony

AFS Forum was officially opened at the Kigali Conference Center Auditorium and featured remarks from Dr. Agnes Kalibata, AGRA President, who welcomed the delegates and noted that “Welcome to AFSForum2024. This year’s theme, Innovate, Accelerate, and Scale, calls for harnessing the creativity of Africa’s youth and women to drive economic progress. I am very happy to say that 40% of the current CALA cohort are youth. These young leaders come from industry and government. The program brings together heads of different departments and enables them to work together to solve problems in food systems.” AGRA Board Chair His Excellency, Hailemariam Dessalegn said this year’s theme underlines the need for us to forge partnerships that ensure that farming is intensive, climate smart and sustainable. “This commitment includes creating a conducive policy environment for our youth to get involved. I am confident food systems can be a champion of change leading other industries with solutions. Let us be the champions for this change.”

Édouard Ngirente, Prime Minister of Rwanda also remarked, “The Africa Food Systems Forum has served as a critical platform that has influenced agriculture policies, enhanced investments and made progress in delivering sustainable food systems.” The opening ceremony set the stage for insightful discussions on the progress and gaps in the implementation of the continental food systems agenda and how to accelerate and scale food systems delivery at the policy, programming and investment levels through public private partnerships that put youth and women at the center.

Africa Agriculture Status Report 2024

The session featured the launch Africa Agriculture Status Report 2024 which highlighted MSMEs as a force in building Africa’s Food Systems. Medium and large-scale agribusinesses are playing an increasingly important role in Africa’s agro-food system, with new value chain investments that are capturing opportunities for growth over the past 10-15 years. These new investments have been triggered by a combination of factors (such as food price crises and policy incentives) and driven by growing local, regional and international food demand (underpinned by rising incomes, urbanization, and changing diets)

Gogettaz Grand Finale

Innovative agribusiness youth entrepreneurs had the opportunity to showcase their ventures and pitch their ideas in front of a panel of judges and potential investors.

Dealroom Opening and Launch 

Participants had an opportunity to explore trade deals of varying tickets size and partnership opportunities that could help enhance sourcing from African MSME’s, smallholder farmers and governments. Paul Lawson, Norweigan Government, remarked, “The banks are not ready to take the risk of supporting agri-SMEs. That’s why we will launch a 35m dollar fund next month for agri-SMEs.” The Deal Room continues to operate throughout the Forum, it is expected to facilitate numerous deals and partnerships that will have a lasting impact on Africa’s agricultural landscape. The momentum generated today is a promising sign of the transformative potential that lies ahead. Last year’s edition mobilized USD 10.2m & we expect this number to grow this year. The session brought together actors from different value chains and brought to life their experiences and the benefits of investing in African Food Systems.

Burkina Faso and Mali Forge Strategic Alliance in Agriculture and Food Systems

Burkina Faso and Mali recently hosted a collaborative dealroom session, highlighting their shared vision for agricultural transformation. The event was introduced by Jules Some, AGRA’s Country Director in Burkina Faso, and officially opened by Mali’s Minister of Agriculture, Daniel Siméon Kelema.

The session underscored the two nations’ investment priorities and strategic plans for advancing their agriculture and food systems. Alassane Guire, Cabinet Director for Burkina Faso’s Minister of Agriculture, outlined the Burkinabe government’s key reforms. These include the enhancement of agricultural inputs, spearheaded by the Company of Inputs and Agropastoral Equipment (SOBIMAP), the pursuit of blended financing, and the fostering of public-private partnerships.

Mali’s strategic focus, presented by Minister Kelema, emphasized improving soil health and fertility, making agriculture more profitable, boosting productivity, integrating irrigation systems, advancing mechanization, and strengthening resilience against climate change.

The session also featured notable attendees, including H.E. Yaya Doucoure, Ambassador of Mali to Rwanda, Rodouwna Mohamed Ali, Commissioner for Food Safety, Alassane Nikiema, General Director of SOBIMAP, and Ouattara Oula Damien, General Director of Dumu Ka Fa.

Culinary Village Platform with Paul Newman, CEO, SDG2 Advocacy Hub & Founder, Chefs Manifesto

The Culinary Village was a vibrant celebration of Africa’s diverse and rich culinary heritage. Lots of excitement as chefs, food enthusiasts, and attendees from across the continent gathered to explore the unique flavours that define African cuisine. There were insightful conversations on making agriculture attractive to youth across the different value chains, from production to processing and putting food on the table! Challenges were noted in the conversation between Paul Newnham and AGRA’s Bertha Mkandawire. “Every year, 10M young Africans are stepping into the formal job market which can’t rope them all in. Agriculture is the gateway for young people,” said Bertha Mkandawire, the nutrition lead at AGRA.

Innovate, Accelerate, and Scale: A Call to Action for Smallholder Farmers

The Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 kicked off on September 2nd in Kigali, Rwanda, under the theme “Innovate, Accelerate, and Scale.” The forum aims to address the critical need to increase yields for smallholder farmers across the continent.

Linking Smallholder Farmers with Markets

Adeyemo Olusola, AGRAs Lead in Extension Services, highlighted AGRA’s successful Village Based Model approach, which has significantly improved market access for smallholder farmers. This model has been instrumental in connecting farmers to larger markets, thereby increasing their income and sustainability.

“At AGRA, our inclusive approach to supporting smallholder farmers is through Village Based Advisors (VBA). These are people who work in the community, and this approach has helped to link smallholder farmers to markets. VBAs can reach farmers effectively and efficiently. They have become early adopters and connect farmers to good farming practices. We have started scaling VBAs to Super VBA, (agro-dealers and aggregators).

Nutrition and School Feeding Programs

AGRA’s lead on nutrition, Bertha Mkandawire, discussed the impactful school feeding program, emphasizing its role in improving child nutrition and educational outcomes. The program has not only provided nutritious meals to children but also created a stable market for local farmers.

Soil Health and Organic Fertilizers

At the soil health session, Asseta Dialo stressed the importance of implementing the Soil Health Africa Declaration. She advocated for the adoption of organic fertilizers to enhance soil fertility and increase crop yields, which is crucial for sustainable agriculture. While AGRA’s Director of Climate Adaptation, Sustainable Agriculture & Resilience Prof. Tilahun Amede, said “Last mile extension is critical for the successful soil health management.”

Launch of the Seed Index Report

In collaboration with TASAI and the African Union, AGRA launched a comprehensive Seed Index Report. This report aims to provide valuable insights into seed systems across Africa, helping to improve seed quality and availability for farmers.

Africa Mechanization Coalition

AGRA Vice President Prof. Hamadi Boga led the launch of the Africa Mechanization Coalition. This initiative seeks to promote the use of modern agricultural machinery, which is essential for increasing productivity and reducing labor-intensive farming practices. “Public and private sector coming together to enhance the level of mechanization in agrifood systems in Africa. Not just tractors but also food loss reducing solutions like threshers and storage  for climate smart, youth inclusive agriculture,” he said.

Supporting Access to Markets and Finance

Nega Wubeneh, Head of Markets & Trades, emphasized AGRA’s commitment to supporting smallholder farmers by improving their access to markets and finance. This support is vital for the economic empowerment of farmers and the overall growth of the agricultural sector. He added, that AGRA has also introduced digital solutions to enhance extension services, aiming to reduce the extension officer-to-farmer ratio. These digital tools provide farmers with timely and accurate information, helping them make informed decisions.

Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture Cohort 4 (CALA)

The day concluded with the launch of the Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture Cohort 4. This initiative calls for an increase in leadership within the agricultural sector, fostering the next generation of agricultural leaders. “CALA is an initiative I have personally championed from the outset, and we at AGRA are deeply proud of its achievements. We’re also extremely thankful to the African Management Institute (AMI), who act as our delivery, implementation and learning partner across all CALA activities,” said Dr Agnes Kalibata.

Across the continent, hundreds of CALA alumni and delegates are now leading transformation programmes within their organisations and countries, advancing food security and sustainable agriculture. Hailing from government, the private sector and civil society, participants have applied their learning to drive meaningful improvements in agricultural policy, productivity, and community wellbeing.

Youth in Climate Demand Paper

The Ban Ki-moon Center launched a demand paper for youth in climate, urging leaders to adjust financing mechanisms to better support young people in climate action. This call to action aims to ensure that youth are at the forefront of climate resilience efforts.

Food Systems Transformation Emerging Insights from Mega Initiatives 

“Sustainable programs require more than just good intentions; they need to be embedded within the political and economic realities of a country. At AGRA Nigeria, we recognize this and prioritize alignment with government priorities. This strategic approach ensures not only initial buy-in but also the long-term viability and success of our programs,” these were the remarks of Rufus Idris, Country Director, AGRA Nigeria

Day 0 of the Africa Food Systems Forum set a strong foundation for the days to come, with a clear focus on innovation, acceleration, and scaling solutions to transform agriculture and food systems in Africa.

AGRA’s recent media panel brought together professionals from the media and communications sectors to discuss the evolving landscape of reporting on food systems transformation. Across three panels, participants explored how traditional and digital media can better engage audiences, not only by meeting their information needs but also by delivering accurate facts and figures on pressing issues like food security and climate change.

Moderated by Siki Kigongo, Senior Regional Communications Officer at AGRA and AFSF, the first panel emphasized the importance of equipping journalists with the knowledge and skills to report effectively on food systems. Panelists, including Zeynab Wandati, Climate and Sustainability Editor at Nation Media Group (Kenya), and Hellen Mwale, Senior Editor at Daily Nation (Zambia), stressed the need for specialization within media, enabling journalists to convey complex information coherently and without political bias. The panel also highlighted the importance of simplifying data so that both journalists and their audiences can fully grasp key topics. Collaboration with farmers, policymakers, and researchers was deemed essential to ensure accurate, well-rounded reporting.

The second panel, featuring Benjamin Kojo Fiafor, Senior Country Representative at Farm Radio International (Ghana), Amy Sarr Fall, Founder and Director of Intelligences Presse (Senegal), and Katie Taft, Communications and Engagement Lead at Gates Ag One, focused on the media’s catalytic role in advancing a positive narrative around agriculture and food systems.

“Radio is far from dead. Converged with other media, it remains a powerful tool for educating communities, and addressing local languages and cultural nuances.”  Benjamin Fiafor, Senior Country Representative at Farm Radio International (Ghana)

The panelists underscored the need for positive journalism that empowers journalists to share real stories independently, free from the agendas of organizations or institutions. Amy Sarr Fall advocated for creating better working conditions for journalists, calling on media to highlight the vast opportunities in agriculture and the potential of Africa’s land. Katie Taft shared insights from her work with Dr. Agnes Kalibata, former UN Special Envoy on Food Systems, emphasizing the importance of having the right stakeholders at the table to ensure inclusive, widespread conversations on food systems. She also stressed the need for collaboration across media, organizations, and other sectors to ensure comprehensive coverage.

The final panel delved into the use of various platforms to engage youth audiences. Jean Claude Niyomugabo, a social media influencer and content creator from Rwanda, discussed how leveraging different platforms helps tailor content to diverse audience needs and makes journalism more accessible by simplifying news in a way that resonates with younger generations. Abenaitwe Cliff, Journalist and Deputy Managing Director of Water Journalists Africa, pointed out that while new media facilitates fast reporting and data-driven journalism, it is crucial to maintain journalistic integrity by prioritizing facts and truth. James Munyaneza, Managing Editor at The New Times, added that high-quality, well-structured content is key, stressing that traditional and new media should complement each other in telling impactful stories.

“To engage the youth, we must use platforms that resonate with them and present our institution’s agenda in ways that show agriculture and other sectors as viable career paths, fostering their growth.” Jean Kiarie, Head of Communications, AGRA.

Key Takeaways:

– The importance of training journalists to specialize in food systems reporting.

– The media’s responsibility to deliver factual, unbiased information, free from political or institutional influences.

– Radio’s enduring relevance in reaching diverse communities, particularly when combined with other media.

– The power of positive storytelling to showcase agriculture’s potential in Africa.

– The need for collaboration between media, farmers, policymakers, and researchers to ensure accurate reporting.

– The role of social media in engaging youth and making complex topics more accessible.

By fostering collaboration between traditional and new media, the panelists agreed that we can ensure that the transformation of food systems is communicated clearly, effectively, and inclusively.

Ethiopia is Africa’s largest coffee producer and the world’s fifth-largest exporter of Arabica coffee. However, a large portion of what is produced is consumed domestically due to market imbalances that affect the product marketing structure.

The primary limitations of coffee marketing in Ethiopia are said to be weak infrastructure, poor pre-and post-harvest handlings of coffee technologies in the country, absence of adequate credit arrangements for coffee marketing, lack of market extension services, and lack of marketing linkage between market participants and long coffee marketing chain in washed and dry coffee.

Haileyesus Biwota Lealem, Operations Manager, Gashuna Coffee, an Ethiopian coffee company from the vibrant Amhara region of Ethiopia, speaking on the sidelines of the AFS Forum 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda, said the country’s coffee sector lacks market structure despite having the best quality coffee in the world.

“The issue we are facing right now is that we don’t have a market structure. We have the coffee, we have the land, we have the richness in our country, but it’s hard to penetrate the global market,” said Haileyesus Biwota Lealem.

According to a Journal article titled “Current Status of Speciality Coffee Production and Market in Ethiopia”, by Usman Mohammed and Adbela Tufa, from the Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Wallaga University, Shambu, Ethiopia, approximately 85 percent of coffee farmers recognised coffee price fluctuation as a major risk issue for their farms, and the impact of price volatility as a direct element in the growth of rural poverty in communities.

In addition, Mr. Haileyesus stated that young people have shunned the sector sector. “For instance, Ethiopia is Africa’s largest coffee producer and the world’s fifth largest exporter. We have the best quality coffee, but we don’t have the manpower. Young people are not involved in the coffee business, they are more into white-collar jobs and this a major problem,” he said.

Official reports indicate that the Ethiopian coffee sector faces labour shortages due to the migration of young people to urban areas in search of better opportunities. This migration results in an ageing farming population, which poses challenges for the future sustainability of coffee farming.

As a first-time attendee of the AFS Forum 2024, Mr. Haileyesus said the forum has allowed him to network with diverse stakeholders, including world leaders, investors, academia, and farmers’ organisations, among others, and this has made him gain insights into how to accelerate food systems transformation in his home country Ethiopia and Africa at large.

The AFS Forum 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda, has united agricultural professionals, policymakers, investors, and NGOs in discussing and advancing sustainable farming practices, investment strategies, and women’s leadership across Africa’s food systems.

Kigali, Rwanda – 5th September 2024 Tinotenda Mhiko, CEO of the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) of Zimbabwe, has been named the winner of the 2024 Africa Food Prize, receiving a $100,000 award for his groundbreaking leadership and innovation in advancing food security through strategic irrigation initiatives, which is revolutionizing Zimbabwe’s food systems.

Mhiko’s visionary leadership at ARDA has been a driving force in overcoming some of Zimbabwe’s most pressing agricultural challenges, such as recurrent droughts, erratic rainfall, and widespread land degradation. His bold and innovative strategies have expanded the area under irrigation from 6,000 hectares in 2016 to a projected 15,000 hectares by 2025, positioning ARDA as a model of sustainability and profitability in African agriculture. By upgrading irrigation infrastructure, integrating advanced technologies like drip irrigation and solar-powered systems, and diversifying crop production, Mhiko through ARDA has significantly improved water use efficiency, boosted crop yields, and strengthened resilience to climate change. These achievements have not only enhanced food security but also spurred economic development at a national level.

Under Mhiko’s vision, ARDA has also cultivated a culture of collaboration and innovation, engaging stakeholders and building partnerships with government bodies, private sector players, and international development organizations. His work ilustrates a holistic and adaptive approach to irrigation that addresses technical, economic, and environmental aspects, setting a benchmark for agricultural transformation in Zimbabwe and beyond.

The $100,000 Africa Food Prize honors Africans who are spearheading transformative agricultural initiatives. It highlights bold initiatives and technical innovations that can be replicated across the continent to foster a new era of food security and economic opportunity. This year’s award not only celebrates individual excellence but also emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing the multifaceted challenges facing Africa’s food systems.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Mhiko stated, “I have worked will all classes of farmers over 15year s to improve productivity. Over time I have found that the first step to achieving this is innovation. We have implemented impactful models alongside the use of technological innovations which have helped achieve this.”

The announcement was made by former Nigerien Prime Minister  H.E. Ibrahim Mayaki during the 2024 Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda. In his remarks, President Kikwete praised Mhiko for his exceptional contributions, stating, ” This is an example of what transformative leadership looks like. Beyond the issues of science and innovation, there is a dimension of empowerment of farmers. You can see the impact of this vision in empowering farmers.”

The Africa Food Prize recognizes groundbreaking work in agriculture and calls on governments, organizations, and individuals to support similar initiatives and invest in Africa’s agricultural future. Each year, the prize seeks nominations for individuals or institutions that are leading efforts to transform farming in Africa, with an emphasis on poverty reduction, nutrition security, and job creation. Nominations are reviewed based on criteria assessing the impact, scalability, and sustainability of agricultural programs.

Notes to the Editors

About Women Agri-preneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA) 

The VALUE4HER Women Agri-preneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA) is an AGRA-led recognition initiative launched in 2021 under AGRA’s flagship VALUE4HER initiative that seeks to strengthen women agripreneurship in Africa. WAYA recognizes African female agri-preneurs who have excelled in the agricultural value chains and have demonstrated remarkable innovation by contributing positively towards food security, climate resilience, women and youth empowerment. The awards aim to create visibility for successful women and promote them as positive role models, trigger innovation, and spur ambition among women agri-preneurs. The awards are a collaboration between AGRA and various partners, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, UKAID, USAID, and in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. Other delivery partners include the International Agri-food Network (IAFN), Association of Women in Agriculture Kenya (AWAK) and the Africa Development Research, Evaluation & Strategy (ADRES) Group. 

About the 2024 Africa Food Systems Forum 

The AFS Forum is the world’s premier forum for African agriculture and food systems, bringing together stakeholders to take practical action and share lessons that will move African food systems forward. The 2024 AFS Forum, to be held under the theme “Innovate, Accelerate and Scale: Delivering Food Systems Transformation in a Digital and Climate Era”, will be a timely opportunity to convene diverse stakeholders, including world leaders, investors, academia, farmers’ organizations, and the private sector, to spotlight innovations, technologies, best practices, business models, policy delivery mechanisms, and investments to accelerate food systems transformation in Africa and beyond, with youth and women at the helm.

About AGRA

Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution dedicated to placing smallholder farmers at the core of the continent’s burgeoning economy. AGRA’s mission is to transform agriculture from a mere struggle for survival into a thriving business. In collaboration with its partners, AGRA catalyzes and sustains an inclusive agricultural transformation aimed at increasing incomes and enhancing food security in 11 countries.

[Kigali, Rwanda – September 4, 2024] – AGRA has today announced six winners of the 2024 Women Agri-preneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA) during the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum) held in Kigali, Rwanda.

This year’s WAYA awards finalists were selected from a record-breaking 1,535 applications spanning 44 African nations, a significant increase from the 1,430 applicants and 42 participating nations in 2023. This highlights the growing influence and importance of women in Africa’s agribusiness sector. The finalists represented diverse countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The 2024 WAYA Winners by Category include:

• Grand Prize Winner:

Affiong Williams, Founder and CEO of ReelFruit – Awarded for outstanding contributions that exemplify how enterprise can transform lives and the agribusiness sector proving that sustainable impactful businesses can be built by women, receiving a cash prize of $40,000.

• Young Female Agri-preneur (Rising Star):

Jovia Kisakaye, Founder & CEO, Ecobed Biotech Brand, Uganda – Celebrated as a high-potential young leader in agribusiness under the age of 35, Jovia was awarded for her leadership and ambition with her company Ecobed Biotech’s flagship program training young farmers to set up and manage black soldier fly farms enabling them to transform organic waste into valuable resources receiving a cash prize of $25,000.

• Women Empowerment Champion:

Fannie Gondwe, Founder and Executive Director, Perisha Agro, Malawi – Acknowledged for making significant strides in promoting women’s empowerment in agriculture, having reached 800,000 households and providing training to 6000 smallholder farmers 80% of them being women. She received a cash prize of $25,000.

• Resilient and Inspirational Leader:

Daniella Virivuswagha, Founder, ChemChemAgro – Awarded for demonstrating resilience and inspirational leadership in the face of challenges, Daniella’s business uses connected sensors and artificial intelligence and API Connect to collect environmental data providing bee keepers with crucial information on optimal hive locations and pesticide risks.receiving a cash prize of $25,000.

• Outstanding Value-Adding Enterprise:

Florence Bassono, Founder, Faso Attieke, Burkina Faso – Recognized for her exceptional contributions to adding value to agricultural products, through transforming of the cassava value chain receiving a cash prize of $25,000.

• Female Ag Tech Innovator:

Aisha Raheem, Founder, Farmz2u, Nigeria– Honored for pioneering technological advancements in agribusiness,through Farmz2u which provides innovative solutions including digital extension services, climate smart technologies and supply chain optimization tools, receiving a cash prize of $25,000.

Speaking during the fourth edition of the WAYA awarding ceremony, Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA, remarked, “The WAYA awards shine a spotlight on the extraordinary women who are transforming Africa’s agricultural landscape. These women are not only leaders in their fields but are also driving inclusive growth, fostering innovation, and empowering their communities. Their contributions are pivotal to the continent’s food security and economic development.”

Ms. Nana Yaa Boakyewaa Amoah, Director for Gender, Youth & Inclusiveness at AGRA, one the judges, added, “Women represent 50% of the agricultural labor force in Africa and are responsible for 70% of production. Yet, they remain underrepresented in leadership roles within agribusiness. The WAYA awards aim to bridge this gap by recognizing and incentivizing women as key drivers of agricultural transformation in Africa.”

The other judges responsible for selecting this year’s winners included; Delphine Traoré, CEO, Sanlam Allianz General Insurance & AGRA Board Member, Jeniffer Ramnath, Chief Digital and Information Officer, Mastercard Foundation, Mary Boote, Vice Chair, International Agri-Food Network & CEO, Global Farmer Network, Judy Matu, National Executive Chairlady, Association of Women in Agriculture, Kenya, Oluyemisi Iranloye, and WAYA 2022 Grand Prize Winner & CEO, Psaltry International & Psaltry Foundation.

Ms. Judy Matu, WAYA 2024 Judge and National Executive Chairlady of the Association of Women in Agriculture Kenya, stated, “As judges, our role goes beyond evaluating achievements. We amplify the voices of these remarkable women and highlight their contributions to sustainable agribusiness and economic growth across Africa. It is an honor to celebrate their success and impact.”

The WAYA initiative, launched at the AGRF 2021 Summit, has become a cornerstone of AGRA’s efforts to strengthen women’s agribusiness enterprises across the continent. The initiative is supported by VALUE4HERConnect, Africa’s first women-in-agribusiness digital marketplace. Through VALUE4HER, AGRA enhances the performance of women entrepreneurs by improving their access to markets, finance, and investments.

Notes to the Editors

About Women Agri-preneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA) 

The VALUE4HER Women Agri-preneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA) is an AGRA-led recognition initiative launched in 2021 under AGRA’s flagship VALUE4HER initiative that seeks to strengthen women agripreneurship in Africa. WAYA recognizes African female agri-preneurs who have excelled in the agricultural value chains and have demonstrated remarkable innovation by contributing positively towards food security, climate resilience, women and youth empowerment. The awards aim to create visibility for successful women and promote them as positive role models, trigger innovation, and spur ambition among women agri-preneurs. The awards are a collaboration between AGRA and various partners, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, UKAID, USAID, and in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. Other delivery partners include the International Agri-food Network (IAFN), Association of Women in Agriculture Kenya (AWAK) and the Africa Development Research, Evaluation & Strategy (ADRES) Group. 

About the 2024 Africa Food Systems Forum 

The AFS Forum is the world’s premier forum for African agriculture and food systems, bringing together stakeholders to take practical action and share lessons that will move African food systems forward. The 2024 AFS Forum, to be held under the theme “Innovate, Accelerate and Scale: Delivering Food Systems Transformation in a Digital and Climate Era”, will be a timely opportunity to convene diverse stakeholders, including world leaders, investors, academia, farmers’ organizations, and the private sector, to spotlight innovations, technologies, best practices, business models, policy delivery mechanisms, and investments to accelerate food systems transformation in Africa and beyond, with youth and women at the helm.

About AGRA

Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution dedicated to placing smallholder farmers at the core of the continent’s burgeoning economy. AGRA’s mission is to transform agriculture from a mere struggle for survival into a thriving business. In collaboration with its partners, AGRA catalyzes and sustains an inclusive agricultural transformation aimed at increasing incomes and enhancing food security in 11 countries.

Betty Kabara, a native of Eastern Kenya, grew up with a deep understanding of the challenges and rewards of providing nutritious meals for children. Her childhood experiences, centered around the humble Githeri meal, shaped her passion for ensuring that every child has access to healthy, affordable food.

“I remember cooking Githeri on a wood fire as a child,” Betty recalls. “It was a constant struggle to balance playing outside with ensuring the food cooked properly. The slightest distraction could lead to a ruined meal.”

Betty’s firsthand experience with the challenges of food preparation inspired her to become a champion for nutritious school meals. She recognized the importance of providing not only sufficient food but also food that is rich in essential nutrients.

“School feeding programs are vital for the development of millions of children in Africa,” Betty emphasizes. “While increasing access is crucial, we must also prioritize the quality of the food being served.”

Betty’s dedication to improving school meals led her to spearhead the development of high-iron beans and sorghum varieties. These nutrient-rich grains are not only affordable,  but also highly beneficial for children’s growth and development.

“High-iron beans are a game-changer for school feeding programs,” Betty explains. “They are affordable, nutritious, and can satisfy the needs of many children at a minimal cost. The iron content is essential for a child’s overall health and development.”

As a testament to her commitment, Betty is launching the 45 Whole Grain initiative, a groundbreaking effort to promote the use of whole grains in school feeding programs. This initiative aims to provide children with a more balanced and nutritious diet, contributing to their overall well-being.

#FoodSystems #AFSForum24 #AGRAImpact  #AFSForum2024