• Angola and UNDP sign deal to launch AgriTech center in Huambo

• Project aims to support startups, digital tools, and sustainable farming

• High food import bill highlights need for stronger local production

Angola has made anoter step in efforts to modernize its agricultural sector. On April 15, the government signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to establish an AgriTech center of excellence in Huambo province.

The project, known as the Timbuktoo Angola AgriTech Centre of Excellence, is part of a broader pan-African initiative led by UNDP to boost innovation and entrepreneurship across the continent. It will be overseen by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and with support from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

Authorities say the center is designed to serve as a regional hub for agricultural technologies, with a focus on sustainable farming, digital solutions, and green technologies. It is expected to support the development of startups and small businesses, while encouraging the use of digital tools across agricultural value chains.

“The Center will act as a catalyst for a modern agricultural innovation ecosystem, promoting youth entrepreneurship, the adoption of digital tools, and the transformation of agricultural value chains.,” UNDP said in a statement.

While such initiatives can help modernize production systems, their impact will depend on how effectively innovation translates into large-scale productivity gains and whether young agribusinesses can access financing.

In Southern Africa, Angola ranks as the second-largest importer of food products after South Africa, largely due to domestic production constraints amid rising demand. The country’s food import bill averaged $2.58 billion per year between 2021 and 2023, according to UNCTAD data. Key imports include palm oil, poultry meat, rice, wheat, wheat flour, and sugar.

Stéphanas Assocle