This Week, on African Farms

Africa’s largest industrial conglomerate, Dangote Industries, has secured a $4.2 billion deal with China’s GCL Group. This 25-year natural gas agreement is designed to power a huge new fertiliser complex in Ethiopia. Once it’s finished in 2029, it will be the largest modern fertiliser hub in East Africa, producing 3 million tonnes of urea every year to meet Ethiopia's domestic needs and supply the rest of the region.

Kenya is officially moving toward export-led industrialisation as its zero-tariff access to China takes effect on May 1st. This is a game-changer for 1.4 billion consumers who will now have duty-free access to Kenyan avocados, macadamia nuts, cut flowers, and herbs. For Kenyan farmers, it means their produce will finally be competitive in one of the world's biggest markets.

Environmental activist, Nnimmo Bassey, has warned against the growing influence of "junk food culture" and genetically engineered foods that push a predominantly Western diet onto local populations. He described hunger as being increasingly tied to geopolitical and economic power plays, where the loss of traditional food systems in favour of global corporate interests further pushes inequality and weakens local food systems.

Sierra Leone is launching a major push for precision agriculture by adopting digital soil mapping. Backed by the World Bank, the project will create a national Digital Soil Information System. By giving farmers data-driven advice on exactly what nutrients their rice, maize, and cassava crops need, the government hopes its "FeedSalone" strategy will finally reduce the country's reliance on food imports.

Côte d’Ivoire is rolling out a network of 15 technology hubs to support women in agribusiness. These centres will feature laboratories and processing units designed to help women farmers turn their raw crops into higher-value products, giving them the digital tools and processing skills they need to scale their businesses.

Aqua-Spark, the Netherlands-based aquaculture investment firm, has held the final close of its Africa-focused fund at $48 million. This initial vehicle targets the entire Sub-Saharan aquaculture value chain, with the firm having a bold target to grow into a $250 million engine over the next decade.

Farmers are facing longer waits for foot-and-mouth disease vaccines in South Africa after a high court ruled against private procurement. While the Agriculture Ministry says this maintains a "coordinated legal framework," farming groups argue that every day of delay causes more financial strain for producers who are desperate to protect their herds.

Research in Nigeria is urging cocoa farmers to stop cutting down trees for short-term gains. While high prices make it tempting to clear land, trees are vital for regulating temperature and reducing pests. They also provide extra income from fruit and timber, which helps households stay resilient as climate change makes farming tougher.

Dangote Industries has signed a $4.2 billion, 25-year gas supply deal with China’s GCL Group to power a new $2.5 billion urea fertiliser complex in Ethiopia. The project is a joint venture with Ethiopian Investment Holdings, with Dangote holding a 60% stake, and is expected to be fully operational by 2029.

The World Bank has approved $215.9 million for agricultural transformation in Burkina Faso, focusing on modernising rice and maize processing units to achieve cereal self-sufficiency by 2030.

FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, has signed a 7-year $100 million financing facility for Olam Agri to support the supply of staple rice from major Asian producers like India, Thailand, and Vietnam, into African markets to maintain food supply stability.

Nigeria has secured a $91.6 million financing agreement with the EIB to strengthen agricultural value chains, particularly for cocoa and dairy production.

The World Bank and the Dutch government have secured a $20 million grant to boost tomato production in Ghana through new cluster farming initiatives.

UNDP has launched a call for AgriTech startups to join the Pan-African Incubation Programme in Ghana. Supported by the Government of Japan, the Timbuktoo initiative is looking for innovative startups to join its first cohort in May. The deadline to apply is 27 April 2026.