This Week, on African Farms

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, following an agreement between the United States and Iran, is expected to lower fertiliser and fuel costs for African farmers ahead of the 2026–27 summer crop season.

Still on fertiliser, Nigeria’s government shared that they've saved about $43.99 million through the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI), which is helping to protect domestic farmers from global fertiliser market disruptions.

Backed by a $500 million financing mechanism, Ghana has opened discussions with Thai investors to establish 100,000 hectares of palm plantations and processing facilities between 2026 and 2032.

The Ghanaian government has also commenced the distribution of 40,000 bags of fertiliser to smallholders under its Feed Ghana Programme. Partnering with the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, the initiative should lower production costs and mitigate food inflation.

South Africa and Italy have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand agricultural cooperation. Finalised at the inaugural South Africa–Italy Agrifood Forum, the agreement establishes a working framework covering agricultural research, biosecurity, and animal and plant health.

In Kitui County, Kenya, local officials warned that traditional planting practices are limiting food security efforts. Agriculture executive Stephen Kimwele reported that farmers who continue to plant maize and beans despite unreliable rainfall face poor harvests, whereas those shifting to drought-tolerant sorghum, millet, cowpeas, and green grams are achieving higher yields and returns.

Nigeria’s Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA) and the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) have signed a four-year agreement to improve access to agricultural machinery.

Dangote Group and Africa Finance Corporation have signed a $600 million financing agreement for Greenview Fertiliser Corporation.

The African Development Bank has committed $86 million to Nigeria's Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) program.

Nuru has secured a $7.5 million grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust for a cross-border agricultural initiative.

The Women in Tech Accelerator 2026 is offering $600,000+ in collective grants, mentorship, and global investor networks for early-to-mid-stage startups in agritech, AI, and fintech. This is open to founders in Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan. Applications close on June 30, 2026.

The Financing Agri-Food Systems Sustainably (FINAS) 2026 Summit will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from June 30 to July 2. Under the theme "Towards Sustainable Financial Architecture for Africa's Food Systems," the summit will focus on mobilising investment and establishing measurable outcomes for agri-food financing.

The World Bank GAFSP Grants has launched a new $163 million grant program. The funding is available to support climate-smart agriculture, food security, and smallholder innovation in vulnerable and low-income countries. The window closes on September 15.

The Crop Trust is calling for proposals for its $2.39 million (€2.2 million) Power of Diversity grants. The project is looking for initiatives in Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, Tanzania, and Uganda that strengthen the value chains of nutritious, climate-resilient, and underutilised crops. The application deadline is July 3, 2026.

The Growtech West Africa exhibition is scheduled to take place at the Landmark Centre in Lagos from January 26 to 28, 2027. The event will showcase agricultural technologies and innovations targeting the regional farming sector.