By Ify Mgbemena
In a bold call to action at the inaugural high-level conference on financing smallholder farmers in Nairobi, the Pan-African Farmers Organization (PAFO) President, Ibrahim Coulibaly, urged stakeholders to bridge the funding gap that hampers Africa’s agricultural potential.
Speaking at the event, Coulibaly thanked Kenyan authorities for hosting the conference and applauded the African Development Bank for its commitment to innovative financing initiatives.
Addressing a diverse audience – including government ministers, development partners, and smallholder representatives, Coulibaly highlighted that although only 6% of African farmers currently have access to formal banking, they produce 80% of the continent’s food and create up to 70% of its jobs.
He noted that agriculture contributes between 15% and 40% of the GDP in many African nations, despite most farmers still relying on rain-fed agriculture amid escalating climate challenges.
Emphasizing Africa’s vast potential, bolstered by 60% of the world’s arable land, abundant water resources, and a young, growing population, Coulibaly warned that the current lack of sustainable funding is unsustainable.
“Investing in smallholder finance is essential if we are to save our continent from famine, malnutrition, poverty, and recurring conflicts,” he declared.
Coulibaly also commended past political commitments made in Maputo, Malabo, and Kampala as important groundwork.
“Today, we are not merely discussing challenges; we are planting the seeds for a future where sustainable funding transforms our agricultural landscape,” he said.
However, the conference is set to foster robust partnerships aimed at developing scalable, long-term solutions for smallholder financing, ensuring that Africa’s smallholder farmers are empowered to drive food security and economic stability across the continent.
