Africa is losing its forests at an alarming pace, and agriculture-driven deforestation has emerged as the biggest reason behind this crisis. According to the State of Food and Agriculture report released last month, sub-Saharan Africa lost nearly 72 million hectares of forest between 2001 and 2023 an area roughly equal to the size of Kenya. As the continent struggles to feed its rapidly growing population, expanding farmland has increasingly come at the cost of its remaining wild landscapes.
At the heart of the problem lies Africa’s persistently low crop yields, which are the lowest in the world. On average, African farms produce only about half the yield per hectare seen in India and nearly one-fifth of what farms in the United States achieve. These low productivity levels mean that producing more food often requires clearing more land, putting immense pressure on forests, biodiversity, and ecosystems.
Experts argue that the most effective solution is not expanding agriculture into forests, but helping smallholder farmers grow more food on the land they already cultivate. Achieving this goal requires stronger investment in agricultural research that can transform African farming through better seeds, improved nutrition, and climate-resilient practices.
Such a transformation demands collaboration that has so far been missing. Farmers, nutrition advocates, rural development leaders, conservationists, and environmental groups must work together to push for greater public investment in agricultural research. Without this united effort, efforts to reduce hunger and protect forests will continue to work at cross purposes.
Agricultural and conservation communities, experts say, are ultimately fighting the same battle. When forests are destroyed to feed people, both humanity and nature suffer. But when farmers are supported with better seeds, fertilisers, and sustainable farming methods, food production rises while forests remain intact. This approach allows people and the planet to thrive together.
The timing for increased investment in agricultural research is particularly important. New technologies, especially artificial intelligence, are rapidly improving the work of African researchers. AI tools are helping scientists develop disease-resistant bananas, maize varieties resistant to lethal necrosis, and sorghum crops that can withstand Striga, a parasitic plant that devastates yields.
African leaders have long acknowledged the need to improve agricultural productivity. In 2003, governments signed the Maputo Declaration, committing to allocate at least 10 per cent of national budgets to agriculture. A year later, former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for a uniquely African Green Revolution led by African governments and farmers.
While some progress was made through subsidies and market access initiatives, sustained public funding for agricultural transformation has largely failed to materialise. Only seven African countries have consistently met the 10 per cent spending target. One of the most neglected areas remains agricultural research aimed at developing high-yield, nutritious, climate-smart, and locally adapted seeds.
According to the African Union, at least 20 African countries invest so little in agricultural research that their systems are effectively non-functional. In contrast, countries such as China and South Korea invest around two per cent of their agricultural GDP in research and development. In most African nations, this figure remains below one per cent.
Relying on imported agricultural technologies is also not a viable solution. Farming systems are deeply shaped by local climates, soils, and cultural practices, meaning seeds and technologies developed elsewhere often fail in African conditions. The continent must invest in its own research institutions to develop solutions tailored to local needs.
Special emphasis is needed on climate-resilient and nutritious crops such as sorghum and millets, which are well-suited to Africa’s drylands. These dry regions cover about 65 per cent of the continent’s land area and are under increasing pressure as population growth outpaces food production. Promoting such crops aligns with the African Union’s Kampala CAADP Declaration for 2026–2035, which calls for more diverse and nutrient-rich farming systems.
The economic benefits of investing in agricultural research are substantial. Studies show that every dollar invested can generate up to 200 dollars in economic returns. Research also indicates that agricultural growth in sub-Saharan Africa is far more effective at reducing extreme poverty than growth in any other sector. However, these benefits often take a decade or more to become visible, making them less attractive to policymakers focused on short election cycles.
Despite this challenge, experts stress that a unified voice from conservationists, health advocates, development leaders, and farming communities can make agricultural transformation politically unavoidable. Investing in agricultural research is essential not only to improve nutrition in the world’s fastest-growing continent but also to protect Africa’s forests and wildlife for future generations.