Strategy for agricultural transformation in africa

AVC/ AEZ 
Key activities for transformation 
Coffee 

Expanded access to disease-resistant, high-yielding coffee varieties, fertilizer, and organic 
and inorganic pesticides 

Improved smallholder knowledge of technical best practices through extension, including 
intercropping, use of organic fertilizer, integrated pest management (IPM) and other 
practices known to increase yields 

Financing to support growth of coffee processing and packaging SMEs, such as those setting 
up and maintaining washing stations 

Strengthening of marketing and governance structures of coffee cooperatives and unions 

Support for removal of fees charged to smallholder coffee farmers; instead, consider placing 
them on processors or marketing agents 
Cashews 

Investment in research and development (R&D) for commercialization of value-added 
products for local and export markets, building on the advancements already made at Indian 
research institutes and several African institutes (such as the Cocoa Research Institute of 
Ghana (CRIG) and Tanzania’s Naliendele Agricultural Research Institute) 

Building and strengthening cooperative linkages with processors and exporters (especially 
of value-added products) 

Financing to support growth of cashew nut and cashew apple marketing and processing 
SMEs, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas 

Negotiation of lower interest rates for farmers, cooperatives, and cashew input supply and 
processing SMEs to lower barriers to sector growth 

Invest in integrated industrial processing, branding, and packaging for both local/regional 
consumption and export, in areas with high cashew production density, particularly if close 
to ports 
Cotton 

Building and improving long-term relationships between cotton companies and farmers, 
including through cooperatives; monitoring to ensure sufficient benefits accrue to all