Research raises concerns over AGRA’s impact on traditional African crops

Research cited in an Al Jazeera opinion article has raised concerns that agricultural policies associated with AGRA have expanded maize cultivation while reducing the land, investment and production available to traditional African crops.

AGRA, formerly the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, was launched in 2006. The research says maize production more than doubled across 13 participating countries between 2006 and 2024, driven largely by a 71 per cent increase in planted area. Maize yields rose 40 per cent over 18 years, below AGRA’s stated target of a 100 per cent improvement.

The reported gains coincided with declines in several other crops. Millet production fell 27 per cent, yields declined 17 per cent and planted area fell 12 per cent. The research also reports a 21 per cent decline in cassava productivity and a 10 per cent decline for groundnuts.

The opinion article presents millet, sorghum, cassava, fonio, cowpeas and indigenous vegetables as important to dietary diversity, local knowledge and climate resilience. The Food and Agriculture Organization highlighted millet’s environmental and social benefits during the 2023 International Year of Millets.

AGRA’s current seed strategy is described as including millet, sorghum, cowpea and groundnut, while retaining an emphasis on improved and certified seeds, commercialisation and market-oriented systems. The source material does not establish that AGRA alone caused changes in crop distribution, yields or hunger.

The research publication, its authors, methodology and full list of countries were not identified in the source material. The claims are reported through an authored Al Jazeera opinion article, whose views it says do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.