This Week, on African Farms

Poultry producers in South Africa have achieved a milestone, ranking second globally for technical efficiency, behind only Brazil and ahead of the United States. The industry is currently processing around 23 million birds every week, but experts say they can perform even better.

Worsening insecurity in Northern Nigeria has reached a tipping point, with over 300,000 farmers in Niger State alone forced to abandon their communities due to persistent attacks and illegal taxation by armed groups. This mass displacement is leaving vast stretches of fertile land idle just as the rainy season approaches. If these farmers aren't able to return and plant now, we are looking at a severe food shortage by harvest time.

Egypt has officially approved the establishment of the Al Ahly Green Agricultural Group, the country’s first private equity investment manager dedicated entirely to the agricultural sector. This move comes as Egypt reports $11.5 billion in agricultural exports for 2025, reaching 167 countries.

A new World Bank report shows that digital platforms are finally breaking down barriers for over 733,000 people across West Africa. In Côte d’Ivoire, the Agristore platform has connected 400,000 people to new buyers, while in Benin, more than 103,000 farmers are now using digital tools for advisory services and machinery access.

Stakeholders in Nigeria, including ActionAid and the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation, have raised alarms over the proposed $1 billion allocation for agriculture in the 2026 budget. They argue that this level of funding is insufficient to meet the goals of the National Agrifood Systems Investment Plan, especially as the country battles record inflation and a deepening food security crisis.

Experts are pushing Agrivoltaics as a promising long-term strategy to address Africa’s growing food, energy and climate challenges. A new African Agrivoltaics Platform Initiative is set to launch in Paris this April, to support policy reform, market development, and innovative finance. The idea behind Agrivoltaics is to use the same land to generate solar power and grow crops, which can lower water use through shade while providing the energy needed for irrigation and cold storage.

A development initiative in South Sudan is helping 1,200 small-scale farmers, mostly women, to improve their yields and market links with traders in Juba. Funded by India, Brazil, and South Africa, the project provides irrigation and training in climate-smart farming, allowing rural families to generate a consistent income despite the harsh environment.

Two new German-financed projects have launched in northern Cameroon with a $4.5 million budget to help farmers deal with climate change. The "RESEAU" and "Soil Matters" initiatives are focusing on soil health and water management in one of the country's most critical agricultural zones, aiming to help farmers transition to agroecological practices that can withstand the erratic weather patterns of the Sahel.

Nigerian commodity firm Sunbeth Global Concepts Limited has raised $118.4 million through a commercial paper issuance to expand its cocoa export operations. The offer was 65% oversubscribed, showing massive investor confidence in the global demand for Nigerian cocoa.

Phatisa has made its first investment through its Food Fund 3 (which reached a first close of $86 million) by acquiring Zaad Holdings, a South African giant in the seeds and agricultural inputs sector.

Acumen has invested in AgroEknor, a Nigerian agribusiness that exports dried hibiscus to Mexico, the US, and China, while producing a local hibiscus cordial to create more value within the country.

Applications are open for the AWARD Women in Agriculture Leadership Program Fellowship 2026 for the Africa-Australia Partnership for Climate Responsive Agriculture. The Fellowship targets African women agricultural scientists working in National Agricultural Research Institutions (NARIs), government ministries, universities, and international research organizations from across six African countries, including Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Senegal.

Rwanda’s AgriTech4Rwanda Innovation Challenge has received a boost through a new partnership between I&M Bank and the Rwanda Green Fund. They are offering "recoverable grants" and risk-sharing finance to help agritech SMEs become more investment-ready and climate-resilient.

Cameroon is still looking for 275 young entrepreneurs. The Ministry of Livestock is opening applications for young graduates interested in starting businesses in livestock or aquaculture. They are setting up 10 incubation centers across the country to help young professionals turn their ideas into real companies.