This Week, on African Farms

The Ivorian cocoa sector is expecting a harvest of 2 million tonnes for the 2025-2026 season, up from the initial forecast of 1.8 million tonnes. This crop is a boost for the world's top producer, providing some relief as global commodity markets remain volatile.

The conflict in the Middle East continues to strain Africa’s food and energy systems. Key fuel and fertiliser exports are being blocked by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, with experts warning that the economic impacts will hit import-dependent countries such as Madagascar, Benin, Mozambique, and Guinea within the next 6 to 18 months.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has set a target of achieving regional rice self-sufficiency by 2035. At a recent investment roundtable in Accra, regional leaders declared that West Africa can no longer afford to import what it can grow locally. The region currently produces 61% of the rice it consumes, as urbanization and population growth continue to outpace local production, leaving a supply gap.

In response to these supply chain vulnerabilities, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) has unveiled a $10.6 billion (6,000 billion CFA) project portfolio to transform the region's agriculture by 2040. The plan targets three strategic value chains: fertilizers, rice, and cotton. Currently, UEMOA countries are exposed to global price spikes, spending an average of $963.7 million annually on imported fertilisers alone, with demand driven mainly by Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, and Senegal.

Kenya has approved field trials for gene-edited banana varieties designed to resist Banana Xanthomonas Wilt, a disease that threatens food security across East Africa. The National Biosafety Authority ruled that the banana lines developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) are not classified as genetically modified organisms because they contain no foreign genetic material, allowing them to proceed through conventional research channels.

The Nigerian government has begun auditing and modernising its existing grazing reserves and ranches to support a national ranching system and curb ongoing farmer-herder conflicts. The initiative, which includes rehabilitation work at the Kawu Grazing Reserve in Abuja, aims to secure cattle production, improve food security, and bring stability back to rural communities.

Egypt has launched its first export of dried egg products to Jordan, shipping an initial 30-tonne consignment. The move is part of a strategy to expand poultry exports across the Middle East and manage a local oversupply of eggs and poultry following the sector's recovery from avian flu.

Wilmar International and TGI Group have signed a 50-50 joint venture to combine their operating food and agribusinesses in Nigeria and Benin, creating a fully integrated platform serving an addressable market of $12 billion across West Africa.

Kenya plans to mobilize $4.6 billion (598 billion shillings) through its National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan to bring an additional 400,000 hectares under sustainable irrigation by 2035, and is currently in talks with Portugal to secure technical and financial cooperation.

The World Bank has committed $3.8 billion to climate-smart agriculture projects across Africa, anchored by its AICCRA program, which recently secured a new $46 million grant to scale up technology adoption.

Ecobank Group has launched the world’s first Nature Bond by a commercial bank on the London Stock Exchange, securing Moody's highest sustainability rating of SQS1 to direct international capital to support African farmers, sustainable agriculture, and ecosystem protection.

Liberia has secured a $36 million investment commitment from Cambodia-based Mainland Group to construct local rubber processing plants and integrate smallholders via contract farming.

The World Bank GAFSP Grants have 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 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 underutilized crops. The application deadline is July 3, 2026.

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 Äänit Prize by the Mandela Rhodes Foundation is accepting applications from African-led social impact ventures. They are offering up to $100,000 in funding for active projects in climate, agriculture, health, and education. The deadline is June 17, 2026.

The Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge is open for applications, offering Seed Grants of $25,000, Growth Grants of $100,000, and Grand Prizes of $250,000 for scalable innovations in food security and climate resilience.

The GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition 2026 is now open, offering young African agribusiness founders a chance to win up to $50,000 in funding alongside mentorship and investor exposure. According to the organisers, the initiative is focused on identifying scalable and impact-driven agribusinesses across the continent.

The Youth4Climate Call for Solutions 2026 is accepting applications for youth-led climate-smart agriculture and sustainable food system innovations, offering up to $30,000 in funding.

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 School of Agricultural Policy has opened applications for its next cohort. The training program is designed to equip young Africans with the policy analysis skills needed to tackle food systems, climate, and development challenges on the ground.

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.