Agriculture Is Africa’s Biggest Employer — Family Farms Feed the Continent
Agriculture Is Africa’s Biggest Employer — Tourism Is a Distant Second
Agriculture is Africa’s largest employer. Family farms — defined as farms relying primarily on household labor — average just 2.5 acres yet employ about two-thirds of the continent’s population.
African agriculture can be broadly divided into two systems: industrialized farming and subsistence farming. While industrial farms focus on cash crops and export commodities, most African households rely on small plots worked by family members.
Africa’s vast arable land and subtropical and tropical climates support long growing seasons. Farming is the primary source of food and income for millions. Experts say the continent could feed itself — and much of the world — if smallholders had better access to modern tools, credit, and infrastructure.
Although Africa has 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, it imports more than $40 billion in food every year — mostly cereals like rice and wheat.
Agriculture accounts for 32% of Africa’s GDP and employs about 65% of the labor force. Tourism, though important, is far behind. Transforming farming with modern technology could turn Africa into a major global food supplier and reduce hunger and food insecurity.
Family farms produce about 80% of the continent’s food, yet many farmers still use hand tools passed down for generations.
Despite farming being Africa’s backbone, only about 6% of cultivated land is irrigated — leaving crops highly vulnerable to drought.
If the day of harvesting or eating yams is the same as the day of planting yams, even goats will not be allowed to eat the yam peels. — African Food Proverb
