Africa’s agrifood challenge is often framed as a production problem: raise yields, expand cultivated area and produce more food. Is this always the case?
CROWDING IN OR CROWDING OUT? RETHINKING FERTILISER SUBSIDIES FOR AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION
For millions of African farmers, the value of a fertiliser subsidy is ultimately determined by practical questions: does the fertiliser arrive on time, does it reach the farmer who needs it, does it improve productivity, and does the system make it easier or harder for farmers to eventually access inputs through functioning markets?
FROM KAMPALA COMMITMENTS TO INVESTMENT-READY AGRIFOOD SYSTEMS: REFLECTIONS FROM THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN CAADP DOMESTICATION WORKSHOP
AUDA-NEPAD convened the Southern African Cluster of SADC Member States in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, from the 15th – 18th June 2026, to support the domestication of the Kampala Declaration and its integration into National Agricultural Sector Investment Plans (NASIPs).
ANAPRI CONTRIBUTES TO SADC BUSINESS COUNCIL DIALOGUE ON UNLOCKING REGIONAL TRADE OPPORTUNITIES
ANAPRI participated in the SADC Business Council Strategic Dialogue Webinar, Unlocking Trade and Investment in SADC: Exploiting Opportunities under Current Global Shifts in AGOA and the China–Africa Economic Partnership Agreement (CAEPA), held virtually on 11 June 2026.
ZAMBIA HAS THE MAIZE AND SOYBEAN; WHAT IT NEEDS NOW IS TRADE PREDICTABILITY
Zambia has long been described as a country with the potential to become a regional food basket. It has land, water, farmers, processors, and a strategic location near major food-deficit markets. In good seasons, the country can produce sizable maize surpluses. Its soybean sector is also increasingly important, not only for grain exports, but also for feed, edible oil, livestock value chains and agro-processing.
UGANDA CAN FEED REGIONAL MARKETS; BUT IT MUST FIRST FIX THE COST OF TRADING
Uganda’s agricultural trade story begins with a major advantage: the country already produces many of the commodities that regional and global markets want.
TANZANIA’S AGRICULTURAL TRADE PROBLEM IS NOT PRODUCTION; IT IS POLICY UNCERTAINTY
Tanzania has the ingredients of a strong agricultural trading nation. It has land, diverse agro-ecological zones, a large farming population, access to regional markets, and strategic links to the East African Community, SADC, COMESA and AfCFTA. Agriculture contributes significantly to the economy and employs a large share of the population. Its exports include cashew nuts, coffee, cotton, tobacco, tea, cloves, horticulture and sesame, while staples such as maize and rice remain critical for regional food markets.
MALAWI’S MAIZE TRADE POLICY IS TRYING TO PROTECT FOOD SECURITY; IT MAY BE WEAKENING IT
Malawi’s agricultural trade story is a story of promise trapped by uncertainty. The country has fertile soils, water resources, a large farming population and a strategic location in Southern Africa. Agriculture remains the backbone of the economy, employing most of the workforce, contributing significantly to GDP and generating the bulk of foreign exchange earnings. On paper, Malawi should be better positioned to supply regional markets, diversify exports and strengthen agro-processing.
AGRICULTURAL TRADE DISRUPTIONS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: RAPID SYNTHESIS AND FEEDBACK FROM COUNTRY DIALOGUES
The webinar held on 13th May on Agricultural Trade Disruptions in sub-Saharan Africa: Rapid Synthesis and Feedback from Country Dialogues, organised by the Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes in partnership with AGRA, convened policymakers, researchers, regional institutions, and development partners to examine the growing scale and implications of agricultural trade disruptions across Africa. Drawing on evidence from Ghana, …
BREAKING THE CYCLE OF TRADE BANS IN MALAWI’S AGRICULTURE
Malawi’s agricultural trade system continues to be shaped by frequent and often abrupt policy decisions that ripple across markets, livelihoods, and the wider economy. This reality was at the centre of a policy dialogue convened on 21 April 2026 by MwAPATA Institute and the Centre for Agricultural Research and Development, both member centres of the Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes.