Africa: Strengthen Africa's Seed Systems El Niño Threat Becomes Reality Again

What the report says

At the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, agricultural and development officials warned that Africa needs stronger seed systems as climate shocks intensify. The report, published by Inter Press Service and distributed by AllAfrica, said governments have promoted climate-smart farming, including drought-resistant and drought-tolerant crops such as millet, sorghum and improved maize, but adoption has slowed in many places.

The article links that challenge to weak distribution networks, counterfeit seed products, limited access to information and shortages of early-generation seed. It also cites a recent policy report showing a decline in the area planted to millets and sorghum relative to maize, even as maize remains a major staple across sub-Saharan Africa. Speakers at the Kigali forum, including officials from the African Union, AGRA, CIMMYT, the African Development Bank and seed companies, said the gap between research and delivery remains a major obstacle.

The timing matters because the World Meteorological Organization has warned that El Niño is strengthening and could bring more extreme heat, drought and floods into 2027. The story recalls the severe El Niño-linked drought that hit southern Africa in the 2023/2024 season, causing crop losses and food insecurity. A cited estimate said acute food insecurity affected 167 million Africans in 2025, underscoring the scale of the problem.

The broader message is that scientists say climate-resilient seeds already exist, but farmers need better financing, extension services, market access and last-mile delivery systems to use them before the next weather shock arrives.