Developing enhanced agricultural value chains in Africa

In no part of the world does the need to generate employment combine more urgently with the need for food security than in Africa. Roughly half the population of Africa was already struggling to put food on the table even before the pandemic began. Now, with rising food prices the continent faces the genuine prospect of hunger. More than 250 million Africans are considered food insecure despite possessing more than 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land. Africa faces the twin challenge of providing adequate nutrition for its ever-growing population and raising the incomes of smallholder farmers. In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where 70% of the labour force still works on farms, investments in agriculture value chains have the potential to diversify economies, raise incomes and enhance food security. However, value chain development requires the collective action of policymakers, donors of international aid,  and the private sector. 

The NTU- SBF Centre for African Studies and the African Development Bank (AfDB) joins hands to conduct a virtual ‘roundtable’ with key stakeholders in Asia and Africa to help unpack the challenge of raising agricultural productivity, mitigate risks and promote the development of agricultural value chains.

Click here for audio transcript.

	Mr Takashi Hanajiri Director and Head, Asia External Representation Office, African Development Bank
	Ms Atsuko Toda Director for Agricultural Finance and Rural Development, African Development Bank
	Mr Amit Jain Director, NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies
	Mr Ranveer Chauhan Chairman, NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies Advisory Board