Speaking at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, farmers and agricultural organisations said bureaucracy, high borrowing costs and political interference continue to prevent smallholder farmers from accessing available funding.
Smallholder farmers produce much of Africa’s food but receive less than 1% of the finance they need to build resilience and respond to climate-related shocks.
Farmers’ representatives urged governments and private investors to increase funding, improve access to affordable loans and grants, and work directly with farmer organisations.
They also called for stronger cooperatives and better agricultural infrastructure, including irrigation, storage and cold-chain facilities, to help farmers increase production and reduce Africa’s dependence on food imports.
“Finance must reach farmers at the grassroots level,” farmer representatives said, stressing that stronger cooperation between governments, financial institutions and farmers is essential for transforming Africa’s food systems.
