The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has reported that no African country has met the overall agricultural development benchmark under the Malabo Declaration. This declaration, aimed at enhancing agricultural development across the continent, has seen 45 countries submit reports, but none have achieved the set targets. The findings highlight significant gaps in public investment, agricultural research, and the implementation of continental commitments.
According to Abebe Haile-Gabriel, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa at the FAO, the fifth Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Biennial Review showed improvements in continental performance. However, he emphasized the urgent need to translate political commitments into measurable results. The review underscored that only four countries met the target of allocating at least 10% of public expenditure to agriculture, and only five achieved agricultural research spending equivalent to at least 1% of agricultural gross domestic product (GDP).
The failure to meet the Malabo benchmark raises serious questions about Africa’s ability to accelerate agricultural productivity, improve food security, and strengthen resilience against climate shocks, conflict, and economic pressures. Abebe Haile-Gabriel called on governments to provide predictable financing, strengthen institutions, and ensure that agricultural development plans are backed by clear responsibilities, implementation timelines, and accountability mechanisms. He stressed that political commitments must be reflected in actual spending and visible improvements for producers.
Abebe Haile-Gabriel also warned that Africa risks falling behind in agricultural competitiveness due to the rapid advancement of technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, satellite monitoring, and data-driven systems in global food production and natural resource management. He noted that internet connectivity remains a major constraint, with internet usage in Africa standing at 36% in 2025, compared to approximately 75% globally. This disparity highlights the challenge of ensuring digital agricultural technologies reach smallholder farmers across the continent.
Despite these challenges, Abebe Haile-Gabriel emphasized that innovation in agriculture should not be limited to sophisticated equipment. He cited examples of successful interventions, such as improved seeds, healthier soils, animal health services, affordable water management, and safer food handling, storage, and processing. For instance, FAO-supported South-South and triangular cooperation led to a fourfold increase in rice harvests on the same cultivated land following support that included improved drainage and seedling spacing.
Ethiopia’s State Minister of Agriculture, Sofia Kassa, echoed Abebe Haile-Gabriel’s calls for stronger investment, partnerships, and practical innovation to accelerate the transformation of Africa’s agrifood systems. She highlighted Ethiopia’s wheat self-sufficiency efforts, the Green Legacy Initiative, and the Lema Trufat initiative as key examples of development programs intended to translate political commitment into coordinated action and investment. However, she acknowledged that significant challenges remain in raising agricultural productivity, strengthening market connections, and expanding access to finance and technology, particularly for smallholder farmers in rural areas.
Sofia Kassa emphasized that innovation must encompass a wide range of technologies and approaches, including artificial intelligence, robotics, digital platforms, precision agriculture, and biotechnology, alongside institutional reforms that turn research and knowledge into practical, real-world benefits. The collaboration between governments, international organizations, and the private sector will be crucial in addressing these challenges and ensuring that agricultural development plans are effectively implemented to achieve the desired outcomes.
Key points
- No African country has met the Malabo Declaration's agricultural development benchmark.
- Only four countries allocated at least 10% of public expenditure to agriculture.
- Africa risks falling behind in agricultural competitiveness due to limited access to digital technologies.
