International Desk: China’s growing investment in Africa’s agricultural sector has come under renewed scrutiny after a new report claimed that Beijing’s funding strategy overlooks key areas essential for long-term food security and sustainable farming. The findings have once again fuelled debate over China’s alleged “debt trap diplomacy”.

The study reveals that Chinese financial institutions extended around US$2.26 billion in loans to finance 41 agricultural projects across Africa between 2000 and 2024. While the funding has boosted farming and irrigation, researchers argue that critical sectors such as food processing, storage, cold-chain infrastructure and market connectivity have received minimal attention.

Southern African nations, including Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, attracted the largest share of Chinese agricultural investment, while Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana and Egypt also emerged as major beneficiaries.

According to the report, 36 per cent of China’s agricultural funding was channelled into crop production and farming, with 29 per cent allocated to fisheries. By comparison, only 3 per cent was invested in storage and cold-chain facilities, while food processing received less than 2 per cent of the total investment.

Agricultural experts warn that increasing crop production alone is insufficient to strengthen the sector. Without investment in storage, processing, transport and efficient market access, farmers are unlikely to realise the full economic value of their produce.

The research also suggests that Beijing favours projects that can be completed quickly and offer a higher likelihood of success, indicating that investment decisions are influenced more by commercial viability and strategic interests than by Africa’s long-term agricultural priorities.

Analysts note that many African countries continue to face shortages of funding for irrigation systems, farm mechanisation, warehouses, cold storage and food-processing facilities. Although foreign investment remains vital, they argue that concentrating primarily on production while neglecting value addition limits sustainable agricultural growth.

The report further points out that Chinese investment in agricultural research, modern farming institutions and programmes linking smallholder farmers to domestic and international markets remains comparatively limited—despite these areas being critical to building resilient agricultural economies.

These findings have prompted renewed discussion over China’s investment model, with some analysts describing it as an extension of Beijing’s alleged “debt trap diplomacy”, arguing that large-scale lending can expand China’s strategic influence alongside development financing.

However, opinion remains divided. While several researchers view the investment pattern as part of China’s wider geopolitical strategy, others caution against categorising all Chinese overseas lending as a “debt trap”, arguing that each project should be assessed on its own economic and political context.

The report concludes that although Chinese investment has contributed to improving agricultural production across Africa, insufficient funding for food processing, storage, cold-chain logistics, market infrastructure and supply-chain integration could hinder the continent’s long-term agricultural development.