According to the AfDB's 2026 Annual Development Effectiveness Review (ADER), released on Thursday, the bank's agricultural interventions expanded access to improved technologies for millions of farmers while strengthening agricultural value chains and boosting the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The report showed that more than 2.1 million women farmers gained access to improved agricultural technologies and inputs, while 1,861 women-led or women-owned agribusinesses received support through AfDB-backed programmes.
Agribusiness and value chains gain momentum
The review highlighted growing efforts to transform agriculture from a subsistence activity into a commercially viable sector capable of attracting investment and generating employment.
AfDB-supported operations reached nearly 5,000 agribusinesses in 2025, helping strengthen production, processing, and market access across agricultural value chains.
The bank noted that Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) remain a key pillar of this strategy, linking farmers to processors, logistics networks, and markets while encouraging private-sector participation.
Climate-smart technologies boost productivity
According to the report, 6.9 million farmers adopted improved climate-resilient technologies in 2025, helping strengthen agricultural productivity and resilience amid increasing climate-related challenges.
The bank highlighted the deployment of improved seed varieties and climate-smart farming practices designed to enhance yields and support long-term agricultural transformation.
Despite these gains, the report noted that moderate or severe food insecurity still affects 58 percent of Africa's population, underscoring the need for larger investments in agricultural productivity and resilience.
Nigeria projects illustrate investment potential
The report cited Nigeria as an example of the economic impact of targeted agricultural investments.
Under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme, wheat cultivation expanded from 11,820 hectares in 2021 to around 400,000 hectares in 2025, benefiting approximately 400,000 smallholder farmers and creating around 25,000 jobs.
Meanwhile, the AfDB-backed Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme is expected to mobilize up to $1 billion in private investment and generate around 500,000 jobs, including 100,000 direct jobs.
The bank said such initiatives demonstrate how agricultural investments can contribute to employment creation, private-sector development, and broader economic transformation across Africa.
Financing remains key to agricultural transformation
The report stressed that expanding access to finance remains critical for scaling up agricultural production and agribusiness development.
It highlighted the Agri-Food SME Catalytic Financing Mechanism, backed by CAD100 million from the Canadian government, as part of efforts to mobilize additional capital for agricultural SMEs and attract private investment into the sector.
The AfDB concluded that accelerating agricultural transformation will be essential not only for improving food security but also for creating jobs, strengthening rural economies, and supporting sustainable economic growth across the continent.
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