Africa’s agricultural sector is standing at a crucial crossroads.

By the end of 2025, the continent’s food imports are projected to hit $110 billion a year, a figure that both signals a crisis and an enormous opportunity.

Agriculture already sustains over 60% of Africa’s population, yet limited financing, outdated infrastructure, and the growing threat of climate change continue to hold the sector back.

In response, both governments and private sector leaders have ramped up efforts to transform agriculture from a vulnerability into an engine for economic growth.

This momentum can be traced back to the 2003 Maputo Declaration, where African leaders committed to boosting public investment in agriculture, targeting a minimum of 10% of national budgets and aiming for agricultural productivity growth of at least 6% annually.

Two decades later, this commitment is beginning to bear fruit.

Crop production on the continent increased from 365 million metric tons in 1990 to 1.007 billion metric tons in 2019.

Forecasts suggest production will rise further to 1.213 billion metric tons by 2030 and reach 1.473 billion metric tons by 2043.

In 2023, the agriculture sector’s contribution to GDP remained vital across multiple countries.

Niger’s agricultural sector accounted for over 47% of its GDP, while Comoros and Ethiopia reported contributions of approximately 37% and 36%, respectively.

However, competition from cheap commodity imports continues to squeeze local farmers, highlighting the urgent need for targeted support.

Against this backdrop, several high-impact investment incentive programs have emerged across Africa to build a resilient, competitive, and sustainable agricultural economy.

Among the most prominent:

— Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), an African Union-led initiative that pushes for increased productivity and encourages nations to dedicate a significant portion of their budgets to agriculture.

CAADP has shaped agricultural policies continent-wide and attracted major investments.

— Green Investment Program for Africa (GIPA), managed by the African Development Bank, is another key player, mobilizing funding and technical assistance for projects at the intersection of agriculture and climate-smart technology.

— Financing for Agri-SMEs in Africa (FASA) initiative is unlocking crucial capital for small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector, improving financial inclusion and strengthening food systems from the grassroots level.

— Aceli Africa stands out for its role in bridging the gap between supply and demand for capital in agriculture, offering financial products specifically designed for agricultural SMEs and equipping financial institutions with the tools to lend more confidently in the sector.

— SAIS Investment Readiness Programme has been a game-changer, providing a year-long, tailored mentorship and capacity-building plan to prepare innovative agri-tech businesses for investment.

— Market Access Africa 2025 is working to integrate regional agricultural trade and advance agro-processing capabilities, helping to create more robust value chains across the continent.

— BRICS+ Agriculture Investment & Trade Summit 2025 has opened new doors for women agripreneurs by offering critical platforms for networking, trade, and investment.

— AgDevCo has been channeling patient, long-term capital into agribusinesses, driving sustainable and inclusive growth.

— African Development Bank’s Agro-Processing Zones Initiative is investing $2.2 billion into building agricultural processing zones across 28 states in Nigeria, a move expected to reduce post-harvest losses, strengthen supply chains, and create thousands of jobs.

— Helios Africa Climate Fund is setting a new benchmark with an initial $200 million commitment, targeting investments in low-carbon energy, climate-smart agriculture, and green innovations across the continent.

Its ambition is to become the largest Africa-focused climate fund, bolstering sustainable agriculture as part of the broader climate resilience agenda.

Each of these programs tackles specific bottlenecks, from funding gaps to technology adoption and value chain integration, while creating real-world opportunities for farmers, agripreneurs, and investors.

Together, they are helping to reframe agriculture not just as a traditional livelihood, but as one of Africa’s most promising sectors for sustainable growth, job creation, and economic transformation.