This Week, on African Farms

The Bill Gates Foundation has pledged at least $1.4 billion to support farmers across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia by 2029. The funds will go toward proven, climate-resilient innovations, from digital crop-planning tools to microorganism-based biofertilizers, to help farmers protect harvests threatened by climate change.

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) projects the continent’s rice market will expand from an estimated $24 billion in 2024 to $29.2 billion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4%. Despite local production reaching approximately 39.8 million tonnes in 2022, Africa continues to rely heavily on imports for about 40% of its consumption.

Ghanaian farmers are facing a major crisis after an estimated one million metric tonnes of paddy rice remains unsold, valued at approximately $455.6 million. The massive stock is threatening the livelihoods of over one million workers. Farmers are urgently petitioning the government for a six-month moratorium on imports to clear warehoused local stocks. The farmers described themselves as facing an escalating crisis of lacking markets for their produce, namely rice, maize, and soya, which form the backbone of Ghana’s food security basket.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed successful state visits to Southeast Asia focused on expanding agricultural exports. The countries discussed increasing trade in goods ranging from beef to soybeans to fruit, and agreed to reassess regulatory barriers to market access. This strategic move is part of South Africa’s push to diversify trade following recent U.S. tariffs.

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.

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to strengthening the beekeeping industry. He described honeybees as “the farmers of the sky” whose silent labor underpins food security, rural livelihoods, and biodiversity. The focus aims to boost incomes and help rural families who often struggle with job shortages.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) announced that 26,000 Nigerians have benefited from the $30 million first phase of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises - Niger Delta Project. The program covered six states, supporting young agro-entrepreneurs, youths, women, and persons with disabilities.

Algeria has allocated $5.84 billion to its agriculture sector under the 2026 Finance Bill, which is a 4% increase from the previous year. That’s good news as it shows the government’s determination to strengthen domestic production and reduce reliance on food imports, which hit almost $11 billion last year.

There will be another edition of the Africa Food Show in Morocco from November 19 - November 21, 2025. This is an exhibition dedicated to transforming the agri-food industry in Africa.

Global Agriculture Investment Summit will be held from November 23–25, 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The summit focuses on revolutionizing investment strategies for farmers, small businesses, and women-led ventures across the agri, energy, and telecom sectors.