This Week, on African Farms

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has begun construction of a $2.5 billion fertilizer plant in Gode, Ethiopia, in partnership with Ethiopian Investment Holdings. The complex will produce three million metric tonnes of urea each year. It will use Ethiopia’s natural gas reserves to boost farming output, create local jobs, and enhance food security across the region.

Nigeria has adopted the Kampala Declaration (2026–2036), a continental plan to boost sustainable food production and African agricultural trade. This commitment will help Nigeria attract over $1 billion in private investment by 2027 and reduce post-harvest losses. The government is supporting the plan by providing 2,000 tractors and launching Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones.

South Africa has blocked all fresh produce imports from Namibia, causing a crisis for Namibian farmers, and forcing one company to dump over 1,000 tonnes of tomatoes. The ban, which began due to an administrative issue with plant health rules, has left thousands of workers without jobs and puts millions of dollars’ worth of crops at risk.

Kenya plans to create a new sovereign wealth fund and an infrastructure fund to reduce its reliance on heavy debt. These funds, which will initially be financed by selling shares in the state-owned Kenya Pipeline Company, are expected to raise over $1 billion. This capital will then be invested in key national areas, including agriculture, power generation, and critical infrastructure.

Nigeria has recorded a breakthrough with the successful cultivation of rainfed wheat in Plateau State. This allows farmers grow wheat during the rainy season without needing irrigation, opening up large new areas for farming. The change is expected to cut the country's huge annual wheat import bill and strengthen local food security.

Tanzania has set a goal to raise its exports to the United Kingdom to £1 billion ($1.26 billion) by 2030, with fresh produce as a main area of growth. To meet this target, the country needs to build trust with British buyers and ensure local exporters meet strict market demands. This effort requires close ties between the two countries and aims to significantly boost Tanzania's export economy.

A new study in Togo found that nearly one in three fruits and vegetables sold contain pesticide residues above international standards. Researchers also detected substances that are banned in many countries, raising concerns for public health and the country's agriculture exports.

Nigeria is losing over $10 billion every year because of poor storage facilities, which result in large post-harvest losses of food. The Minister of Agriculture disclosed this during an economic session where a study was released that highlights opportunities to strengthen food supply chains, especially in northern Nigeria. Addressing this storage problem is critical for national food security.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) signed a €120 million guarantee with Mota-Engil Africa to support a €170 million commercial loan. This is the first guarantee the Bank has given directly to an infrastructure construction company on the continent. By sharing the risk, the AfDB is making it possible for private lenders to fund essential, long-term infrastructure projects across more than a dozen African countries.

The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) Plc has helped provide over $47 million in commercial financing for agribusiness this year. This result is NIRSAL's strongest yearly performance since it started. By giving lenders a guarantee against risk, NIRSAL has channeled new funds into key areas like grains, cocoa, and livestock, restoring bank confidence in the sector.

Robust International secured $25 million in working capital from OeEB and Impact Fund Denmark. This allows Robust’s new processing plants in Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Mozambique buy nuts directly from over 600,000 smallholder farmers and process locally.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) committed $6 million to the Catalyst Fund to support new climate technology startups across Africa. The fund will invest in companies focused on climate-smart services and sustainable incomes in countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt. Part of the commitment is dedicated funding to ensure support for women-led businesses.

Trade show company, VNU Europe, has announced its first event in Africa focused on the professional animal production sector. The event will rotate yearly between East and West Africa, starting in Kigali, Rwanda in 2026 and then moving to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in October 2027.

London will host the UK-Africa Women in Food & Agribusiness Investment Summit (WiFAI), themed “Redesigning Agrifood Investment with a Gender Lens." The event aims to strengthen trade and investment ties between the UK and Africa with a focus on gender.