Capacity Building
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Programme 2.3 · Capacity Building

Special Agri-Zones

Geographic zones optimised for strategic commodities, with infrastructure, incentives and investor protection.

Industry DevelopmentIndustry DevelopmentProduct Development & InnovationProductDevelopment& InnovationSustainable Product TechniquesSustainableProductTechniquesValue-added ProductsValue-addedProductsFood Safety & QualityFood Safety& QualityCapacity BuildingCapacity BuildingDistribution HubsDistributionHubsCooperative StoresCooperativeStoresSpecial Agri-ZonesSpecialAgri-ZonesFarmers MarketsFarmersMarketsResource MobilizationResource MobilizationAccess to R&DAccessto R&DAccess to Next-Generation Technologies (NGTs)Accessto NGTsAccess to FinanceAccessto FinanceAccess to MarketsAccessto MarketsIntra-TradeIntra-TradePrice StabilityPriceStabilityContract FarmingContractFarmingTrade Agreements & PartnershipsTradeAgreements &PartnershipsLobbying & AdvocacyLobbying &AdvocacyModel Support CentersModel Support CentersInternational Best PracticesInternationalBestPracticesClimate-Smart AgricultureClimate-SmartAgricultureAgri-Centres of ExcellenceAgri-Centresof ExcellenceCrop Planning & MonitoringCropPlanning &Monitoring

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What the programme does

  • Zones planned around strategic commodities for food security.
  • Possible stewardship by regional bodies such as IOFS for neutrality and investor protection.
  • Shared infrastructure for production, processing and logistics.
The solution

Special agri-zones

Geographically defined areas of a country that are specialised and developed for agriculture.

AdvantagesHigher productivity, job creation and new investment, while promoting sustainable agriculture.

Case study

Africa and Asia

Special agro-industrial processing zones

Nearly 5,400 special economic zones operate in 147 economies, and Asian countries used them to anchor processing and export industries. Africa is now applying the model to farming: the African Development Bank is investing over $3 billion in agro-industrial processing zones in more than 11 countries.

$2.2 billion

Outcome$2.2 billion secured for Nigeria's zones, against an initial target of $750 million.

Source: UNCTAD, World Investment Report 2019; African Development Bank, as reported February 2025 ↗

Where we work

Country projects, partners and results for this programme will be listed here, with figures reported against objectives and key results.

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Governments, investors and producers can register interest in this programme.

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