The African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together” perfectly captures the essence of what African agriculture needs today – not siloed, isolated efforts, but coordinated, collaborative action.
This idea came to life during the recent high-level workshop hosted by the Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP). The workshop made one thing clear: if we are serious about transforming African agriculture, collaboration is not just an option, it’s the only pathway forward.
In my view, KSADP is a shining example of how partnerships can drive progress and unlock potential in agriculture. A US$90 million, five-year project funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF), and the Kano State Government, KSADP is much more than a project, it’s a blueprint for success. By aligning the efforts of governments, international organizations, the private sector, research and education institutes, it has created a ripple effect of agricultural growth that is both scalable and sustainable. This is the model that African agriculture needs to adopt across the continent.
The power of partnership
Why is collaboration so important? Firstly, the current situation in Africa is deeply concerning. The continent spent US$43 billion on food imports in 2019, which is expected to grow to US$90 billion annually by 2030. Agriculture in Africa is hamstrung by inefficiencies, with average yields from cereals being half those of India and one fifth of those of the US. And as is widely reported, 20% of the continent’s population suffers from chronic hunger, while according to the 2023 Africa Agriculture Status Report (AASR) over 20% is undernourished.
These challenges, which are compounded by climate shocks, pests, disease and conflict, can only be addressed through collaborative action. Food systems are composed of multiple components and interconnections. As such, they require integrated solutions. Yet, key players in the agricultural and food systems space often operate in silos, failing to take the coordinated and integrated approach necessary to deliver progress.
The achievements made so far by KSADP provide a valuable lesson. Launched in 2020, KSADP is multistakeholder project that draws on the diverse skills and knowledge of a range of committed organizations and individuals. Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) Nigeria is implementing the crop value chain component of the project through a $19.3 million sub-grant. Under the subgrant, SAA is providing technical backstopping and extension services to boost agricultural productivity and competitiveness.
In the first four years of KSADP value chain interventions, SAA had targeted 450,000 famers across 44 local government areas. The organisation had focused on a range of agricultural value chains including rice, maize, sorghum, millet, tomatoes, onions and cabbage.
At the moment, the SAA KSADP scorecard shows over 100% yield increases across the target crops, with rice yields increasing by an astounding 226%, while sorghum, millet, and maize yields have all risen by more than 150%.
The yield increases and value-adding activities have led to higher incomes for participating farmers, ranging from US$100 to US$800 per hectare, depending on the chosen crop value chain. Additionally, about 854 frontline extension personnel have been trained on various aspects of the value chain, equipped with 220 motorcycles and 380 tablets for data collection, and provided with monthly stipends.
These results did not happen in isolation. They are the product of coordinated efforts between stakeholders who pooled resources and expertise, working together to empower smallholder farmers.
A celebration of collaborative action
KSADP seeks to transform smallholder farming into a commercially viable business by developing commodity value chains to reduce rural poverty, food insecurity and unemployment, and by creating resilient agropastoral systems.
SAA is a proud technical partner to KSADP. And as a representative of SAA, I was delighted to see over 230 participants attending the KSADP workshop. This vibrant, two-day event, titled ‘Agricultural Transformation and What Works: Reflections from the Crop Value Chain of the KSADP’, was chaired by former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, represented by Mr Vitalis Ortese. It brought together actors from multiple sectors and delegates from multiple countries. In fact, the whole event was a celebration of multistakeholder dialogue and collaboration.
In his opening address, Dr Amit Roy, SAA Board Chairman, emphasized the value of strong partnerships in delivering results in the agricultural space. KSADP, he said, is a prime example of “how partnerships between governments, international organizations and technical experts can lead to sustainable change”. The project, he elaborated, is “a testament to those relationships”, representing a vital collaboration between its founding partners. He added that SAA “remains committed to playing a key role in these partnerships, fostering innovation and resilience in agriculture using new technologies”.
What we need now is to maintain the momentum through sustained cross-sector collaboration. Continued partnership between the government, private sector and development partners will be critical to achieving food security and prosperity for Kano State’s farming communities, and for Nigeria more widely. Indeed, if we are to scale and expand the KSADP model to other states, countries and regions, ongoing partnership and cocreation will be vital.
KSADP has evidenced the progress we can achieve in agriculture when we cut across traditional boundaries and unite diverse actors from diverse disciplines. It is a symbol of the collaborative leadership and efforts required to transform food systems in Africa. The project has pointed the way forward. It’s up to others now to follow.
