Agriculture is Africa’s job engine – Economic analyst

By Rebecca Okine

Economic analyst at Zed, Emmanuel Boateng, has highlighted agriculture as a central pillar for job creation and economic growth across Africa. His comments follow a recent report from the World Bank that underscores agribusiness as a major engine for inclusive development and mass employment on the continent.

Speaking on the Business Breakfast on Zed, Mr. Boateng pointed out that agriculture is not only a key contributor to employment, but also to the overall economic structure of many African countries. He referred to the World Bank’s findings that agriculture, especially agribusiness, holds significant potential for tackling the continent’s high unemployment rates.

“Well, agriculture is increasingly recognized as a major sector for job creation and economic growth in Africa,” Mr. Boateng said. “For instance, in Ghana, a significant proportion of the population is employed in agriculture.”

Mr. Boateng explained that Africa’s vast arable land gives the continent a unique advantage in agricultural production. “The majority of the world’s arable land is situated here in Africa. We have the land, the soil, and the climate to make agriculture thrive,” he said. “Agriculture here spans farming, livestock rearing, and other related activities.”

The analyst highlighted that Africa’s contribution to the global market is significant. For example, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire together produce more than 50% of the world’s cocoa beans, underscoring the continent’s agricultural potential. “This makes agriculture a major success for the continent,”Mr. Boateng noted.

Beyond farming, agriculture in Africa provides employment across the entire value chain, from production to processing and distribution. “Agriculture is not just about planting seeds. It’s about harvesting, processing, packaging, and distribution to the final consumer. This sector offers extensive opportunities for job creation in all these areas,” Mr. Boateng explained.

According to Boateng, the World Bank has pointed out that investment in agribusiness is more effective in generating jobs compared to equivalent spending in manufacturing or services. “For every $1 million invested in agribusiness, it generates more jobs than the same amount invested in the manufacturing or services sectors,” he said. “This shows that agriculture is a highly efficient sector for job creation.”

He also stressed that agriculture’s employment capacity is vast. “About 70 to 80% of rural workers in Africa are employed in agriculture, which makes the sector capable of absorbing a significant portion of the labor force.” Mr. Boateng’s insights come at a critical time for Africa, where youth unemployment remains a persistent challenge. By harnessing the continent’s agricultural potential, he believes that economic development and job creation can be achieved on a larger scale.