This Week, on African Farms

The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz has officially become a food security emergency for Africa. Because Africa imports about 80% of its fertiliser, the blocked shipping routes and production halts in the Persian Gulf have sent prices skyrocketing. Small-scale farmers warn they might miss the planting season entirely if diesel and fertiliser supplies aren't bolstered immediately. Researchers are now urging a radical shift toward "nutrition-focused" food systems that rely less on imported chemicals, pushing for more diversified crops and organic farming to break this dangerous dependency.

Nigeria has set an ambitious target to grow its livestock sector from $32 billion to $74 billion by 2035. The plan is a direct response to the country’s acute hunger crisis and food inflation, which is currently sitting above 30%. The strategy involves expanding veterinary services, improving feed systems, and calling for "single-digit" lending rates so that agribusinesses can actually afford to scale.

Rising temperatures in the Great Lakes region are allowing pests and crop diseases to move into higher-altitude farming areas where they were never a problem before. A new study in Rwanda and Burundi shows that nearly half of the pests affecting staple crops like bananas, cassava, and potatoes are climbing the mountains as the climate warms. This move is threatening the food security of millions of smallholders who don't have the infrastructure or specialized seeds to fight these pests at high altitudes.

China has officially reduced tariffs on a wide range of South African products, including wine, meat, grains, and citrus. Under the China-Africa Economic Partnership Agreement, many of these goods now have tariff-free access, which is a massive win for exporters who previously struggled with high duties.

Farmers in South Africa’s Eastern Cape are watching their lemon export dreams die following severe flooding and heavy rainfall. The damage in major citrus-growing areas has made harvesting nearly impossible in some spots. While high shipments to Europe earlier in the season have provided a small buffer, the industry is now facing bad weather, uncertainty over US tariffs, and the logistical issues caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

Tensions between farmers and banks in Nigeria reached a boiling point this week at a summit in Lagos. Agricultural leaders accused banks of "diverting" funds intended for farming into the real estate sector, claiming that poor implementation is worsening the funding crisis. Bank representatives defended themselves by bringing up the “fragmented operations" and high risks of small-scale farming.

Sudan is set to receive an $87 million grant from the African Development Fund for its BOOST project. The $100 million initiative will provide seeds and climate-smart tech to 1.2 million people in the Blue Nile, Sennar, and Kassala regions to strengthen food security during the ongoing conflict.

Apollo Agriculture has raised $2.5 million in a first-of-its-kind "securitization" deal for African agriculture. Securitization basically means pooling illiquid assets and converting them into marketable, interest-bearing securities. The Nairobi-based firm sold a bundle of 24,000 smallholder farmer loans to the IDH Farmfit Fund, a move that allows them to raise fresh capital for more lending.

Nigerian food commerce startup, Baskett, has secured $300,000 in venture funding. The investment is part of a growing trend of investor confidence in Nigerian agritech founders who are focusing on fixing supply chain inefficiencies.

The Global Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF) 2026 is open for applications. They are offering up to €5,000 in funding for social-impact projects that promote sustainable agriculture in Eastern Africa. The deadline is May 22, 2026.

The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA) is looking for a Programs Officer in Nairobi. They want someone with a passion for gender equality and livelihoods justice to lead their programs on gender-transformative agrifood systems. The deadline is May 20, 2026.

The Resolution Foundation is recruiting for three research and policy roles focused on economic and livelihood issues. If you’re a policy worker looking to make a difference, check out their open positions.