Putin Says Modern Agricultural Technology Can Help Africa Become a Major Food Exporter
Addis Ababa, October 30, 2026 (FMC) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has said modern agricultural technologies and improved production systems could enable African countries not only to meet their own food requirements but also to emerge as major exporters of agricultural products, reaffirming Russia’s readiness to share its expertise with countries across the continent.
Addressing the plenary session of the third Russia–Africa Summit in Moscow on October 29, Putin identified agriculture as a major area for expanded cooperation, citing opportunities to strengthen food production, improve productivity and develop agricultural value chains through technology transfer and joint investment.
He said Russia was prepared to share its experience in agribusiness and support African partners in adopting advanced technologies in livestock farming, crop production, food processing and storage.
Putin noted that Russia had transformed its own agricultural sector, moving from being a major grain importer in the early 2000s to becoming the world’s leading grain exporter. He said the experience demonstrated the potential of modern technology and better-organised agricultural production to raise output and improve efficiency.
The Russian President said African countries had substantial agricultural land and could achieve significant gains by expanding access to modern technologies and expertise suited to their different climatic conditions.
He also highlighted Russia’s contribution to African food security through agricultural exports. Russia supplied more than 18 million tonnes of grain to African countries in 2025 and a further 13 million tonnes during the first nine months of 2026, according to figures he presented at the summit.
Russia’s fertilizer exports to the continent also increased, reaching approximately 1.5 million tonnes in 2025 and exceeding 2.2 million tonnes in 2026 at the time of his address.
Putin said Russia would continue supplying grain to African markets and was ready to strengthen cooperation beyond exports by supporting agricultural production and the development of local processing and storage capacity.
He also cited Russia’s contributions to the United Nations World Food Programme and its provision of humanitarian assistance to African countries facing food needs.
The Russian President stressed that cooperation in agriculture could extend across the entire production chain, from farming technologies and livestock development to processing and storage, creating opportunities for African countries to increase domestic production and participate more effectively in international food markets.
His remarks came as the third Russia–Africa Summit, held under the theme “For Peace, Security and Development,” placed economic cooperation, food security, technology and investment among its central priorities.