Moyo proposes asset-based model to link peace, farming and African prosperity

Edwin Masimba Moyo, founder of AgriConnectAfrica, has proposed an economic model that links peacebuilding with agricultural development and asset ownership, arguing that empowering farmers with productive assets and reliable market access could help reduce poverty and strengthen stability across Africa.
Moyo’s model, which he calls The Economics of Peace, is built around the formula V(Peace) = A × (1+r)^t, representing the relationship between the value of peace, asset ownership, returns on investment and time.

He argues that peace should be treated as an economic asset supported by policies and systems that enable households to build wealth, rather than as a political slogan or a goal pursued mainly through humanitarian assistance and security interventions.

“Peace should not be treated merely as the absence of conflict. It must also create the conditions for people to build assets, earn sustainable incomes and secure a better future for their families,” Moyo said.

According to him, Africa’s persistent poverty cannot be addressed sustainably without tackling the structural challenges facing farmers, including limited access to finance, inadequate storage, weak market connections and uncertainty over land ownership.

He noted that Africa possesses substantial agricultural potential but continues to depend heavily on imported food. He cited annual food imports of about $80 billion and the continent’s share of the world’s uncultivated arable land as indicators of the gap between its agricultural resources and food production capacity.
Moyo, who said he had spent more than two decades working in agriculture in Zimbabwe and other African countries, argued that farmers often receive a small share of the value generated along agricultural supply chains because of their limited bargaining power and access to markets.

He also criticised political and economic systems that, in his view, leave rural communities dependent on short-term assistance instead of enabling them to build independent sources of income.

Drawing on his experience in Zimbabwe, Moyo recalled his involvement in the Kondozi horticultural project, which he said employed about 5,000 people directly, supported 10,000 smallholder farming families and exported 1,500 metric tonnes of produce to Europe.

He alleged that political interests contributed to the project’s eventual collapse, arguing that agricultural initiatives capable of empowering large numbers of people can face challenges when they threaten established interests. These claims were presented as his personal account and were not independently verified in the material provided.

Moyo also alleged that he faced false fraud accusations and damaging press reports during his efforts to work with farmers. The allegations and his account of the circumstances surrounding them would require independent verification.

He said such experiences influenced his decision to develop a framework that places farmers’ economic independence at the centre of peacebuilding.
Under the model, A represents assets, including titled land, livestock, irrigation equipment and digital financial resources. The variable r represents the rate of return generated by those assets, while t represents time, reflecting the period over which returns can accumulate.

Moyo argues that farmers who lack productive assets are more vulnerable to economic shocks and political dependence. Conversely, access to assets, finance, technology and stable markets can improve their ability to generate income and plan for the future.

To illustrate the model, he proposed a hypothetical investment of $100 in productive assets for a farmer, with an annual return of 20 per cent sustained over 10 years.

Using compound growth, the investment would increase to approximately $619, assuming the annual return remains constant and all returns are reinvested.
Moyo said the example demonstrates how sustained market access and productive investment could help rural households build wealth over time. However, the projection is illustrative and does not account for inflation, taxes, production losses, changing prices or other risks that could affect actual returns.
He also outlined how AgriConnectAfrica intends to apply the framework through digital identification, asset wallets, agricultural financing, escrow arrangements, crop insurance and long-term buyer contracts.

According to Moyo, the platform is designed to help financial institutions track how funding reaches farmers and how the money is used to acquire productive assets. He cited examples involving farmer funding, repayment rates, asset acquisition and women’s participation, although the figures require independent confirmation.

He said the combination of financing, technology and reliable market access could help farmers improve productivity, create jobs and increase household incomes.

“Give a farmer an asset, give him the tools to grow it, and provide him with stable market access over time. That is how we can build lasting prosperity and strengthen the foundations of peace,” Moyo said.

Moyo maintained that communities with stronger economic opportunities and assets worth protecting would have greater incentives to preserve stability and resist conflict.

He argued that governments, financial institutions and development organisations should therefore place greater emphasis on long-term agricultural investment, secure property rights, access to markets and mechanisms that allow farmers to retain more value from their production.

While the model presents asset ownership and economic opportunity as important components of peacebuilding, its wider impact would depend on implementation, access to finance, market conditions, institutional accountability and the ability of farmers to achieve sustainable returns.

Moyo said AgriConnectAfrica’s approach seeks to connect agricultural productivity with financial inclusion and long-term economic security, with the broader objective of helping African communities move from dependence towards greater prosperity and stability.