Access to technology and finance can change agriculture in Africa

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines how agricultural technologies (AgTech) and improved access to finance and fertilisers can address food insecurity and low productivity in Africa. It highlights the role of digital tools in providing credit, insurance, and data-driven farming advice, while detailing strategic efforts to increase domestic fertiliser production and soil health across the continent.

• While Africa's total agricultural production is forecast to increase steadily until 2043, per capita production is expected to decline slowly due to rapid population growth. The report suggests that without an "agricultural revolution," the continent faces continued food insecurity and a reliance on expensive imports.
• Agricultural technologies (AgTech) are being deployed to overcome market barriers and improve productivity. Examples include the Hello Tractor platform for equipment rentals, the use of AI by OCP and Microsoft for soil mapping and fertiliser customization, and Atmo's AI-driven weather forecasting for COMESA. In Kenya, FarmDrive uses machine learning and geospatial data to determine credit scores for smallholder farmers, while DigiFarm provides access to loans, insurance, and inputs.
• Digital financial services and blockchain are expanding access to insurance and information. In Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda, over 20,000 farmers use blockchain and satellite imagery for affordable insurance contracts. Additionally, the Farmerline platform in Ghana has provided approximately one million farmers with weather forecasts, financial tips, and market price advice.
• Africa suffers from low fertiliser use compared to global averages, with sub-Saharan Africa using 22 kg per hectare against a world average of 146 kg per hectare. High distribution costs, poor infrastructure, and inappropriate regulations make fertilisers more expensive in Africa, despite the continent producing 30 million metric tons annually—double its own consumption. Approximately 90% of fertiliser used in sub-Saharan Africa is imported.
• Strategic initiatives are targeting soil health and fertiliser self-sufficiency. Nigeria's Indorama Eleme plant, completed in 2016, produces 1.5 million metric tons annually to reduce imports. Morocco's OCP Group planned a US$1.5 billion plant for a 2025 start. Furthermore, the African Union's Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan 2023-2033 aims to triple fertiliser use from 18 kg/ha in 2020 to 54 kg/ha by 2033.

APA

le Roux, A., & Cilliers, J. (2026). Access to technology and finance can change agriculture in Africa. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=04-agriculture&topic=08-access-to-technology

Chicago

le Roux, Alize, and Jakkie Cilliers. Access to technology and finance can change agriculture in Africa. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=04-agriculture&topic=08-access-to-technology.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=le Roux |first1=Alize |last2=Cilliers |first2=Jakkie |title=Access to technology and finance can change agriculture in Africa |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=29 March 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=04-agriculture&topic=08-access-to-technology |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{leroux2026access, author = {le Roux, Alize and Cilliers, Jakkie}, title = {{Access to technology and finance can change agriculture in Africa}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = mar, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=04-agriculture&topic=08-access-to-technology}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }