This document summarizes six underappreciated facts about African agriculture and their implications for poverty reduction and agricultural growth strategies. The key facts are that farm sizes are declining rapidly, grain productivity growth will be inadequate, most farmers are net buyers of staple crops, retail food prices are decreasing, supermarkets account for a small portion of food sales, and markets have not truly been liberalized. These facts suggest strategies need to focus on diversification, improving traditional markets, and investing in public goods rather than input subsidies. Reallocating budgets to long-term investments like R&D and reducing policy unpredictability could encourage growth.
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