-2024 Africa Agriculture Status Report
The 2024 Africa Agriculture Status Report launched in Kigali, Rwanda, has highlighted the critical role of the private sector in the continent’s food economy.
The report reveals that urbanization, rising food consumption, and changing dietary habits are key factors behind the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Africa.
The report emphasized that the private sector drives nearly 80% of Africa’s food economy with the MSMEs managing around 85% of agrifood value chains in Africa. It underscored the need to support private enterprises to enhance food security and stimulate economic growth.
Urban areas are at the forefront of these developments. With cities accounting for over 50% of food purchases in many African countries, the report indicated that urbanization significantly drives MSME growth. Furthermore, rural markets are also expanding, driven by improvements in food purchases and market access.
The report, Harnessing the Private Sector for Food Systems Transformation in Africa, is part of broader efforts to build healthier, more inclusive, sustainable, resilient, and equitable food systems across the continent.
The forum brought together 5,000 stakeholders, including world leaders, investors, academia, farmer organizations, and private sector representatives, to collaborate on solutions that will advance Africa’s food system, with particular attention to issues such as climate change, finance, and infrastructure.
The gathering also sought to accelerate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa by 2030, focusing on innovative approaches and scaling up successful initiatives.
