Rwanda

While President Paul Kagame’s leadership of Rwanda has been championed as “visionary”, President Isaias Afwerki is accused of transforming Eritrea into a rogue, pariah state. Popular perceptions of these comparable countries have been simplistic – and polarised.

Two thirds of Africans depend on agriculture for their livelihood, and the sector accounts for 30-40% of the continent’s GDP. Flowers, fruit and vegetables from Africa are increasingly present on the shelves of European supermarkets. Smallholder farmers have been able to service...

Martha Byanyima chronicles the history and development of agricultural standards in Africa and argues that they provide an opportunity to increase the continent’s presence in global trade.

Self-sufficiency in food production is the new mantra of donors and policymakers in Africa. But farmers, large and small, can be much more ambitious. Agriculture is the continent’s most neglected – and important – potential competitive advantage. It is Africa’s best answe...