Reducing settlement, payment risks in agric (The Nation) 

The Nation (Nigeria) published an article on markets in Africa are creating vast opportunities for economic growth. Africa’s food market, according to a World Bank report on agribusiness in Africa, may hit $939 billion by 2030. However, there is a challenge in the sector: the lingering settlement and payment gap in transactions, which is making it difficult for more farmers and producers to explore markets. IFPRI reported that agricultural markets on the continent were being plagued by high transaction costs and excessive risks. Agro-businesses are facing inefficient commodity and settlement payment systems. To this end, IFPRI and other groups have been campaigning for sustainable solutions to address various risks discouraging investment across value chains of relevance.