A major agricultural technology forum held in Kigali, Rwanda, has concluded with ambitious resolutions aimed at revitalising African agriculture through technology and collaboration. The four-day African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT), held from June 9 to 12 at the Kigali Convention Centre, convened over 800 delegates from 35 countries to discuss innovations tailored for smallholder farmers.
Themed “NextGen Ag-Tech Solutions for Africa’s Farmers,” the conference underscored the urgent need to scale up investment in agricultural technologies, particularly in rural infrastructure and agricultural education. In a joint communique, delegates welcomed resolutions from a high-level ministerial dialogue chaired by Rwanda’s Agriculture Minister, Mark Bagabe, advocating increased public budget allocations to support agritech.
Delegates agreed on a multi-sectoral approach, calling for collaboration between governments, research institutions, civil society, and private stakeholders to co-create and scale up solutions. A major highlight was the emphasis on aligning national strategies with continental agricultural blueprints to foster regional harmonisation and create an enabling environment for agri-tech commercialisation.
Key recommendations included promoting climate-smart innovations, ensuring equitable access to agro-inputs, and supporting youth engagement in agriculture. The forum called on governments and development partners to invest in youth-focused innovations and enhance access to finance, training, and mentorship for young farmers.
Additionally, the delegates stressed the importance of integrating traditional knowledge systems with modern research in areas like soil fertility, pest management, and climate prediction. Ethical management of intellectual property and support for open-source licensing of plant materials were also advocated to encourage wider access and innovation.
Live demonstrations and exhibitions showcased scalable technologies, while strategic dialogues explored sustainable models for last-mile delivery of these innovations to rural communities.
The forum concluded with a resounding message: no single entity can transform African agriculture alone. Instead, long-lasting partnerships built on trust and mutual benefit are essential to scale innovations and empower smallholder farmers across the continent.
The next edition of the ACAT conference will be hosted in Nairobi in 2027, offering another platform to measure progress and drive forward Africa’s agricultural revolution.
