The importance of agriculture and its potential for African development is widely acknowledged. African economies’ are mainly based on agriculture, which is at least twice as effective in reducing poverty as growth generated by other sectors.

African countries can learn from China’s agricultural development process, recognizing that the local context is very different from China’s. However, there are some important universal lessons for African policymakers.

Many external support programs have not been well integrated with the African smallholder agricultural system; African countries have not developed the capacity to provide the necessary support services for smallholders.

Africa should identify and make adjustments to China’s experience in order to adapt to local and regional situations; just as China has done throughout its long history. African nations need to make their own agricultural plans and continue to develop the human and fiscal resources to implement them.

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