The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) is looking to scale up its impact across Africa’s agricultural sector as it marks 40 years of global operations, with a renewed focus on innovation, sustainability, and farmer support.

Speaking at the organisation’s annual meeting in Abuja, Country Director Godwin Atser said the milestone presents an opportunity to reassess past achievements while repositioning strategies to address emerging challenges in agriculture.

Held under the theme “SAA at 40: Deepening Impact and Expanding Reach at Scale,” the gathering brought together stakeholders to reflect on progress made and chart a path forward for greater sector-wide transformation. Atser noted that SAA’s annual themes are deliberately designed to respond to evolving agricultural challenges, guiding both interventions and policy direction.

He highlighted recent focus areas, including resilience in food systems, climate-smart agriculture, and the decarbonisation of cropping systems—initiatives that have attracted support from partners such as the African Development Bank and the Nippon Foundation. These efforts have contributed to advancing sustainable farming practices and improving soil health across key regions.

Digital innovation has also become a priority. Atser pointed to the growing role of technology in agricultural extension, noting that current ratios—estimated at one extension officer for every 10,000 farmers—highlight the urgent need for scalable, tech-driven advisory solutions. Support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, through the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services, is helping to expand digital extension services and bridge this gap.

Despite ongoing efforts, challenges remain significant. Nigeria continues to spend an estimated $10 billion annually on food imports, underscoring persistent gaps in domestic production capacity. Addressing this imbalance will require stronger adoption of modern technologies, improved extension systems, and better market integration for farmers.

The event also drew support from international and government stakeholders. Hideo Suzuki emphasised the importance of modernising agriculture through mechanisation, improved productivity, and reduced post-harvest losses, noting that smallholder farmers remain central to food security and rural livelihoods.

Representing the government, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi highlighted SAA’s contributions to improving farmer productivity and incomes through climate-smart and market-oriented initiatives. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to agriculture as a key pillar of economic diversification under the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Development partners, including the World Bank, GIZ, and OCP Africa, were also recognised for their role in supporting initiatives such as the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme, which has introduced tools like soil health cards and expanded laboratory infrastructure across multiple states.

As SAA looks ahead, the focus remains on scaling proven solutions, strengthening partnerships, and expanding its reach to millions more farmers. With climate pressures, population growth, and food security concerns intensifying, the organisation’s next phase will be critical in shaping a more resilient and productive agricultural future for Africa.