Africa: A Harvest That Employs the Century - Yields, Value Chains, and the 2050 Workforce

What the report says

At AGRA’s 20th anniversary event in Nairobi, professor Kingsley Moghalu used a keynote address on August 31, 2026 to argue that African agriculture can become a stronger engine of growth if countries focus on raising productivity, strengthening value chains and improving policy execution. The remarks, published by AllAfrica on September 3, 2026, framed agriculture as a major employer and a key part of many African economies, but one held back by low yields, limited irrigation, weak processing and large post-harvest losses.

Moghalu said the continent should prioritize higher-yield seed systems, better soil management and fertilizer use, and more targeted irrigation on land where water is available. He also urged a shift away from measuring success mainly by acreage planted, and toward metrics such as yield per hectare, output per worker and nutrient efficiency. The address pointed to examples from countries including Ghana, Senegal and Ethiopia as evidence that output can rise when investment is sustained.

A second emphasis was on building more of the food economy close to farms, including storage, cold chains, roads and local processing for crops such as cassava, tomatoes and dairy. The speech argued that these investments could help reduce losses, raise farmer incomes and support jobs in logistics and manufacturing. It also called for stronger coordination across ministries and more practical use of development finance, especially for agri-SMEs and regional trade under AfCFTA. The broader context is Africa’s effort to align agriculture with future workforce needs and food security goals.