Strategy for agricultural transformation in africa

Figure 2: Untapped agricultural potential is limiting economic development across Africa  
Notes: (1) Best practices = average of top 10 countries in the world by yield in the commodity; (2) Out of 
Africa;
Source: FAOstat; World Bank; IFPRI; IITA, ICCO, AfDB “Agriculture and Agribusiness Strategy 2015-2019”, 
Dalberg analysis
Figure 3: Urbanization is driving up demand for ‘premium’ food products (e.g., rice) that 
are not supplied by African producers
 
Source: IFPRI, Policy options for accelerated growth and competitiveness of the domestic rice economy in 
Nigeria; World Bank;; Africa Rice Center, The New Rice for Africa – a Compendium; World Bank Data; 
Dalberg analysis; CGIAR, Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation 
1.5 
Without intervention, net import levels will likely increase to over US$100bn by 
2025.
Today, 120m Africans are out of work and more than 400m live on less than US$1.25 
per day. Relatively low productivity, underutilized agricultural land, and lost opportunities for 
value addition has perpetuated poverty and food insecurity. Wide-reaching food shortages, 
such as occurred in 2008, have led to food crises and riots in many African capitals. Price 
Shifting consumption preferences to 
‘premium’ 
rice
Premium
Standard
Urban
35.0
24.1
(
%
69
)
10.9
(
%
31
)
9.1
(
%
30
)
21.4
(
%
70
)
Rural
30.5
Per capita rice consumption by grade 
–
Nigeria Example
Kg 
per capita per 
year
Increasing urbanization across Africa
African urbanization rates; 
millions of people, 2000
-
2025
2020
635
2025
2005
2010
532
372
311
2015
2000
446
263