This Week, on African Farms

China is taking advantage of the situation created by protectionist measures from the U.S. by opening its market to BRICS members like South Africa. This strategic move allows South African farmers to gain access to products including stone fruits, prunes, peaches, apricots, and cherries, providing a critical alternative market as trade relations with the US remain unstable.

Nigeria’s economy extended its growth streak for the twelfth consecutive month in November, with agriculture emerging as the strongest driver of expansion, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) report. The agricultural sector recorded a PMI of 58.2 index points, underscoring strong production activity that supported the overall economic performance.

Nigeria loses an estimated $9-$10 billion each year to post-harvest losses. This figure is equivalent to about 50% of national agricultural output, and is caused by poor handling, weak logistics, inadequate storage and limited processing capacity. The CEO of agritech company, Davidorlah Nigeria Ltd, warned the National Assembly that these losses threaten food security and restrict economic growth. He called for urgent investment in cold chains, silos, and modern processing hubs.

A new Tanzanian startup called LimaBot AI has launched an AI-powered tool that helps farmers diagnose crop diseases using any mobile phone. The platform allows users to send photos or text via WhatsApp, SMS, or USSD, making it accessible even in areas with poor internet. By analyzing this data along with satellite imagery, the system provides real-time treatment advice to help farmers save their crops, and it has already onboarded over 12,000 users across Kenya and Tanzania.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised Zimbabwe’s 2025 economic outlook upward, citing a stronger-than-expected recovery driven by robust agricultural output. The fund says that they anticipate a more resilient economic trajectory for Zimbabwe, supported by easing inflation and a stable foreign exchange rate.

The Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) has completed a financing package for Invictus Investment Company, a prominent Middle East and Africa-focused agro-food enterprise. The deal is designed to fast-track the consolidation of critical food processing and logistics assets across the African continent, directly addressing the large agricultural funding gap in the supply chain.

A major agribusiness giant, Export Trading Group (ETG), announced plans for multi-million-dollar investments in Nigeria, targeting the creation of more than 6,000 jobs. The investment will focus on seed development, fertilizer blending, oil processing facilities, and establishing Centres of Agro-Excellence in seven states.

Africa’s largest online livestock trading platform, SwiftVEE, has secured a $10.1 million Series A funding round led by African venture capital firm HAVAÍC. The funding will support the company's expansion into financial services alongside its core livestock marketplace.

Tanzania has confirmed an agricultural investment valued at $640 million for large-scale cassava production in Kilwa District, Lindi Region. The investor, Pan-Tanzania Agriculture Developments Limited, has been allocated 62,000 acres for cassava cultivation and the development of an industrial park for processing aimed at export markets.

Edo State in Nigeria has secured a $100 million foreign direct investment (FDI) in Presco Plc by Belgian agro-industrial group SIAT NV. This is the first tranche of a $1 billion commitment aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s agro-industrial landscape over the next decade. The capital will support Presco’s expansion, technology upgrades, and value addition.

Impact investors, Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P), have raised $48 million to expand access to climate-smart goods and services across Africa. The funding will target investments in agribusinesses that enhance climate resilience and sustainable practices.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Zambia Industrial Commercial Bank (ZICB) signed an agreement to mobilize a combined $32.5 million to support private sector development in Zambia’s agricultural sector. The deal targets agri-food SMEs, with at least 30% of the funds specifically targeting businesses led or owned by women.

Today is the last day for the 25th Session of the African Forestry and Wildlife Commission (AFWC) which is being held in Banjul, The Gambia, from December 1, 2025. The session has been focused on policy formulation for forest and wildlife management across the region.

The 10th edition of Food Africa 2025, the premier trade exhibition for the food and beverage industry in Africa and the Middle East, will take place in Cairo, Egypt, from December 9-12, 2025.