As Africa grapples with the twin challenges of food insecurity and climate vulnerability, a growing chorus of voices is calling for a radical shift in how agricultural policies and innovations are designed. At the heart of this movement is Elizabeth Nsimadala, a Ugandan farmer and President of the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF), who believes that the continent’s smallholder farmers must be repositioned—not as passive beneficiaries, but as active architects of agricultural transformation.

The Case for Farmer-Centric Innovation

Agriculture remains the backbone of Africa’s economy, employing nearly 60% of its population. Yet, despite its centrality, the sector continues to face systemic hurdles: limited access to inputs and technology, inadequate financing, fragmented markets, and the escalating impacts of climate change.
Nsimadala argues that while governments across the continent regularly roll out new policy reforms, these initiatives often fail to reflect the lived realities of farmers. “Smallholders are rarely consulted,” she noted. “Their voices are missing from the conversations that shape the very policies meant to support them.”

Her remarks came during the 2nd African Conference on Agricultural Technology (ACAT 2025), held in Kigali, Rwanda. The event convened stakeholders from across the continent to explore how next-generation ag-tech solutions can close the innovation gap and empower farmers.

Spotlight on National Initiatives

Nsimadala pointed to several national programmes as examples of well-intentioned efforts that could benefit from deeper farmer involvement:

• Ghana’s Feed Ghana Programme aims to boost food production and job creation through crop prioritization and urban agriculture. “It’s a great initiative,” she said, “but were farmers involved in designing it?”
• Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers Programme, launched by the Central Bank of Nigeria, connects smallholders with processors and financial institutions to improve productivity and reduce food imports.
• Rwanda’s Feed the Future initiative focuses on increasing incomes and improving nutrition through sustainable farming practices and market development.

While these programmes show promise, Nsimadala believes their impact could be amplified if farmers were engaged from the outset. She also called for increased public investment, urging African governments to allocate at least 10% of national budgets to agriculture.

“Food is the most basic human need,” she said. “It’s essential not just for health, but for the strength of entire communities.”

Adding Value Through Agroprocessing

Dr. Daniel Kyalo Willy, Senior Manager at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), echoed Nsimadala’s call for transformation—but with a focus on value addition. He introduced AATF’s Integrated Business Model, which empowers farmers to move beyond subsistence by engaging in agroprocessing.

“It’s about turning raw commodities into market-ready products,” Kyalo explained. “From milling and drying to packaging and product innovation.”

AATF has trained over 5,000 smallholder farmers across Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and value addition. The model is supported by public-private partnerships and tailored training materials designed for long-term use.

“Integrated rural transformation through agroprocessing is urgent,” Kyalo said. “We can scale this model across Africa—starting now.”

Inclusion Is Key

Ishmael Sunga, CEO of the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU), reinforced the need for inclusive policy design. He warned that excluding farmers from the innovation process undermines the very goals these programmes aim to achieve.

“We want farmers to be co-creators—not just recipients—of agricultural solutions,” Sunga said. “Their insights are critical to shaping policies that actually work.”

Agriculture as a Catalyst for Change

The consensus at ACAT 2025 was clear: agriculture must be treated not as a fallback sector, but as a frontier of economic transformation. Real progress will require bold investment, inclusive design, and accountability at every level.

Farmer-centric innovation isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s a strategic one. By placing smallholders at the center of agricultural development, Africa can unlock higher adoption rates, improved livelihoods, and lasting impact across its rural communities.