Strategy for agricultural transformation in africa

The lessons learned from these experiences help frame the necessary conditions 
for achieving successful agricultural ‘transformation.’ Successful transformations are 
business led
, and involve the creation of three simultaneous conditions:
i
a large-scale dissemination of productivity-increasing technology and inputs, plus 
input intensity and capital intensity;
ii
the development of input and output markets structures and incentives that allow 
the full realization of the value of increased production; and, 
iii
a well-funded and competitive private sector that can manage and allocate skill 
and capital to scale emergent success and drive long-term sustainable agribusiness 
growth.
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There is a critical role for the public-sector to play to enable transformation,
by 
kick-starting the process with selected investments and directed activities (especially in 
circumventing ‘bootstrapping’ problems where markets fail to exist), shepherding the overall 

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transformation process to scale, and creating the enabling environment assets and policy 
conditions to allow businesses to thrive.
 
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The specific needs for transformation vary depending on country and commodity 
specific realities, but overall there are a recurring set of bottlenecks and constraints that 
must be addressed. 
 
Figure 6: African agricultural commodity value chains face common constraints
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These constraints are discussed in detailed in Chapter 1 of the Implementation Plan that 

accompanies this strategy document. Some of areas highlighted include:

The development of context-appropriate agricultural technologies and strengthening of 
mechanisms to distribute them widely 

The provision of enabling hard infrastructure (roads, energy, water) in rural areas – 
which have historically been underserved by both public and private investments – to 
improve production and connect farmers to downstream activities 

The use of innovative financial instruments to both de-risk investments and crowd in 
private sector financing. Underserved recipients, such as women, youth, and rural 
populations, will be priority targets for this additional funding 

The strengthening of national and regional institutional capacity required to effectively 
enable necessary conditions for and regulate agriculture and agribusiness sectors 

The disproportionate effect of all these constraints on historically marginalized 
populations (e.g. women, youth, and rural populations) 

The role of the production of nutrient-rich commodities in combatting malnutrition, 
especially among pregnant women and children under 5 years of age, and the 
historically underexplored intersection of agriculture and nutrition 
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See appendix for commodity-specific assessments of bottlenecks along value chains

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