‘Skills shortage stunts agribusiness growth’

Africa’s ambition to transform its agriculture into a modern, competitive agribusiness sector is increasingly constrained by a shortage of specialised skills rather than a lack of agronomic knowledge, according to new research from University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) in Morocco.

The findings, generated within the university’s ecosystem including the Africa Business School and the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, show that while the continent produces a growing number of agriculture graduates each year, the workforce often lacks the multidisciplinary capabilities required to drive modern agribusiness value chains.

Prof  Mohammed Rachid Doukkali, an applied economist at UM6P, said the challenge confronting African agriculture is no longer simply about improving crop yields but about building a new generation of professionals capable of managing the entire agrifood ecosystem.

“The central structural barrier to agricultural transformation in Africa is not only agronomic knowledge. It is the shortage of hybrid professionals who combine business management, digital intelligence and sustainability expertise, and who can connect agriculture with upstream and downstream value chains,” Doukkali explained.

According to the research, the most critical shortages are in value chain management, agro-industrial processing, digital and data literacy, agricultural finance and cooperative governance. Many graduates entering the sector lack the expertise to manage integrated supply chains, scale agribusiness operations, or structure bankable agricultural investments.

Doukkali noted that digital transformation remains particularly limited in Africa’s agribusiness workforce.

“There is currently no consolidated data measuring advanced digital competencies in Africa’s agricultural workforce. But available evidence suggests adoption remains very low, particularly beyond basic mobile-based services,” he said.

A study on technology adoption in smallholder farming indicated that only about 13 per cent of farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa were registered for digital agricultural services such as weather information or market linkages as of 2021. More advanced capabilities such as data analytics, precision agriculture technologies, geographic information systems and digital traceability platforms remain scarce across much of the sector.

To help address these gaps, UM6P launched a specialised Master in Agribusiness programme through its Africa Business School. Since the programme began, the university has trained several cohorts of students drawn from across the continent.

The first graduating class in 2025 produced 19 professionals, while 14 students are currently enrolled in the 2026 cohort and 18 students in the 2027 class. An alumni survey conducted six months after graduation showed that around 80 per cent of the first cohort had already secured employment.

“These early employment outcomes reflect the strong demand for professionals capable of navigating modern agribusiness ecosystems. Companies are looking for graduates who understand both agricultural production and the business architecture surrounding it,” Doukkali said.

Women currently account for just under 37 per cent of the latest intake, a figure the university hopes to expand through targeted scholarships, mentorship initiatives and leadership development programmes.

Doukkali stressed that increasing women’s participation in higher agricultural education could deliver major productivity gains for the continent.

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“Evidence from institutions such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, the African Development Bank and the World Bank suggest that closing gender gaps in agriculture could increase productivity by between 20 and 30 per cent. Women’s leadership in agribusiness is also associated with stronger cooperative performance, higher innovation adoption and improved food security outcomes,” he said.

Beyond farming itself, the research points to rapid growth in employment opportunities across the broader agrifood system, particularly in food processing, logistics and agricultural inputs.

In 2021, non-agricultural segments of Africa’s agrifood system — including processing, distribution and services — accounted for about 16.5 per cent of total agrifood employment, a figure expected to rise significantly in the coming decade.

Doukkali said several subsectors are poised for strong expansion, including grain processing, fruit and vegetable packaging, dairy transformation, edible oils, aquaculture and sustainable agricultural inputs.

“The most critical shortages in the coming decade will likely appear at middle-management and technical management levels. Industries will need professionals capable of supervising industrial operations, ensuring quality standards and managing increasingly complex supply chains,” he said.

UM6P’s programme therefore places strong emphasis on experiential learning, integrating field immersion projects, farm-based training, industry internships and applied research with agribusiness firms and cooperatives across Africa.

“Hands-on learning is essential. Agribusiness transformation cannot be taught only in classrooms. Students must engage directly with real farms, cooperatives and agro-industrial enterprises in order to understand operational realities,” Doukkali said.

The university has also established partnerships with multiple African universities, research institutions, agricultural ministries and industry actors, supporting cross-border student mobility and collaborative research initiatives.

“These partnerships allow knowledge to circulate across countries and help build a pan-African network of agribusiness professionals. Agricultural transformation is ultimately a continental challenge that requires collaboration across institutions, sectors and borders,” Doukkali said.

As Africa’s population continues to grow rapidly and demand for food expands, experts warn that building a skilled agribusiness workforce will be critical to ensuring the continent’s food security and economic development.

“The future of African agriculture will depend not only on land and water,” Doukkali said. “It will depend on people — professionals capable of transforming agriculture into a modern, competitive and resilient agrifood system.”