Rethinking public support to agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa

This report examines the reform of agricultural subsidy programs in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically in Malawi, Kenya, and Zambia, to address fiscal pressures, climate change, and soil degradation.

• Public spending on agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa is below the African Union's target and is primarily concentrated in input subsidy programs for maize seed and inorganic fertilizer. While these programs can lower costs and stabilize production during shocks in the short term, they often hinder diversification and reinforce input-heavy systems that slow the transition to climate-resilient production.
• Degraded soils reduce yields and the efficacy of subsidy programs. Improving soil health and productivity requires a combination of improved agronomic support, soil management practices, and organic inputs.
• The success of input subsidies and their subsequent reform depends on institutional, legal, and policy frameworks. Key enabling factors include secure land rights, affordable finance, access to information, functioning markets, and investments in data systems, infrastructure, and input quality standards.

APA

McConnell,, C. (2026). Rethinking public support to agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/rethinking-public-support-agriculture-sub-saharan-africa

Chicago

McConnell,, Claire. Rethinking public support to agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2026. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/rethinking-public-support-agriculture-sub-saharan-africa.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=McConnell, |first1=Claire |title=Rethinking public support to agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=23 June 2026 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/rethinking-public-support-agriculture-sub-saharan-africa |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mcconnell2026rethinking, author = {McConnell,, Claire}, title = {{Rethinking public support to agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2026}, month = jun, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/rethinking-public-support-agriculture-sub-saharan-africa}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }