AGP Executive Report

Dairy Boost in Zambia: Jersey cows and training are helping smallholders raise milk output and incomes ahead of the African Jersey Forum (Sept 13–16), as Jersey and Zambia plan to renew their dairy partnership. Drylands Push: Dryland Congress 2026 in New Delhi ended with the Delhi Declaration on Drylands (3D), urging South-South and triangular cooperation, better data, and “living laboratories” to speed dryland farming solutions. BRICS Food Security Moves: BRICS leaders backed work on a BRICS grain exchange and discussed expanding it to other farm commodities, aiming to cut price shocks and supply disruptions, including fertilizer shortages. Kenya–Zambia Maize Link: Kenya is set to import non-GMO maize from Zambia after production fell, with a major private player behind the deal drawing attention to how food supply decisions ripple into ugali prices. Benin Cotton Value Addition: Benin’s cotton sector is leaning into “Made in Benin” finished goods to keep more value at home, backing women-led garment production rather than exporting raw fibre. Namibia Livestock Fence Row: Namibia’s procurement board is facing scrutiny after cancelling a competitive tender for a N$122m veterinary cordon fence meant to protect livestock exports from foot-and-mouth disease.

BRICS Food Security Push: BRICS leaders in New Delhi backed work on a common grain exchange, saying it should help cut food price swings and support fertiliser availability, with plans to expand into other farm commodities. Egypt–BRICS Trade: Egypt reported $6.6bn in exports to BRICS in the first half of 2026, while overall Egypt–BRICS trade rose 25.2% to $36.7bn, with vegetables, fruit, and fertilisers among key items. Climate Risk for Farmers: Scientists warn Africa is bracing for a strong El Niño, with Southern Africa facing drought and heat and East Africa at risk of flooding, threatening crops, water, and livestock. Ghana Horticulture Logistics: Ghana’s 24-hour economy plan aims to link greenhouses to cold storage, aggregation, and air cargo, including a cut-flower corridor to the Tamale Air Cargo Hub. Skills for Mechanisation (Nigeria): AGCOMS launched an academy to train tractor operators and technicians, arguing machines fail without the right people and business skills.

BRICS Summit Focus: India hosts the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi (Sept 12–13) under “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” with leaders including South Africa’s Ramaphosa and Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed—talks also highlight food and energy security as conflicts strain supply chains. Ethiopia–India Trade Push: On the sidelines, PM Modi met Abiy Ahmed, with Ethiopia’s BRICS entry seen as a boost for exports of coffee, flowers and other farm products, plus new investment interest. Livestock Health Shock: South Africa’s Fish River Canoe Marathon was cancelled for 2026 due to Foot and Mouth Disease concerns in the Eastern Cape, with full refunds for entrants. Fish Value Addition: Kenya’s fish sector is shifting toward processing and value addition as production rises but supply still lags demand, keeping a large market gap open. Climate Risk to Farmers: Uganda’s Karamoja faces worsening El Niño-linked food insecurity, with acute child malnutrition projected to jump by 25% in October. Agri-Policy and Sovereignty: Twenty African governments backed a charter asserting sovereignty over family policy, including positions that directly affect agriculture and social policy frameworks. Weather Alert: South Africa’s Western Cape issued a Yellow Level 1 warning for strong winds and rough seas, urging caution for small stock farmers.

El Niño and food security: A new study warns that weakening Atlantic currents could trigger a major, long-lasting dip in global food production, raising commodity prices and hitting breadbaskets hard. Climate risk for farmers: Fairtrade flags strong El Niño conditions for July–December that could disrupt cocoa farming and wider West African supply chains. Animal health shocks: Namibia’s Omusati Region reports 488 dead pigs in Okalongo, with African swine fever suspected; in South Africa’s poultry sector, leaders urge building a “missing middle” of medium-scale enterprises to broaden jobs and ownership. Trade and agribusiness: Nigeria’s signed Nigeria–China aquatic products protocol offers tariff-free access for eligible exports, aiming to turn fragmented fish production into an export-oriented blue economy. Policy and governance: Kenya says it has not imposed a blanket ban on foreign small-scale traders, stressing compliance with laws and registration. Regional resilience funding: The World Bank plans about US$400m emergency aid for Kenya to cushion shocks including El Niño impacts and health risks. Weather watch: South Africa’s Western Cape faces damaging winds and rough seas, with fire danger in parts of the Northern Cape. BRICS and agriculture: Nigeria seeks deeper BRICS cooperation in agriculture, tech and AI as leaders meet in New Delhi.

El Niño and food risk: WFP warns that a potentially record-breaking El Niño could bring drought, storms and flooding, with early action needed to protect crops and prevent hunger spikes across vulnerable communities. Avocado export push: Tanzania’s avocado value-chain stakeholders say better farm practices, reliable irrigation and stronger food-safety compliance could lift export quality, noting only about 40% of fruit currently meets export standards. Trade facilitation for farmers: At the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi, India’s Piyush Goyal urged deeper market opening, simpler rules and faster customs clearance, including support for agri-tech that helps farmers and boosts food security. China opens cherry market: South Africa’s agriculture minister signed protocols in Beijing to open China’s market to South African cherries, backed by China’s zero-tariff access for qualifying exporters. Climate finance equity: Ghanaian youth demand at least 40% of national climate adaptation funds go to the northern regions, plus public scorecards to track spending and ensure funds reach farmers. Land and heritage pressure: South Africa’s Gauteng heritage sites face neglect, with a historic railway museum deteriorating and becoming a rubbish-strewn space.

AfCFTA Trade Bottlenecks: Kenya’s push to export under AfCFTA is being slowed by fragmented product standards, testing and certification rules across countries, with TradeMark Africa warning that “binary gatekeeper” compliance delays could keep local farms and factories locked out of regional markets. Climate Risk for Farmers: Zambia is bracing for a projected “super El Niño” with a high chance of drought and wider impacts on water, food security and livelihoods, urging early preparations ahead of the farming season. Food and Energy Shock Buffer: Kenya is expected to receive Ksh51 billion in World Bank emergency financing to help it respond to Ebola risks and cushion agriculture and the environment from El Niño and high fuel prices. BRICS and Food/Energy Security: India’s BRICS summit is positioning the bloc around Global South priorities—especially food, energy and supply-chain resilience—amid escalating trade tensions and conflict-driven disruptions. Digital Transformation for Agriculture: South Africa’s GovTech 2026 (marking 20 years) is spotlighting how digital tools can modernise services and create opportunities across sectors, including agriculture-linked livelihoods. Aquaculture Market Link: Malaysia’s Sejati MADANI catfish project has reached four supermarkets in Besut and earned MyGAP certification, with plans to expand pond capacity to meet demand. Land Data Gap: South Africa’s land reform debate is reignited as officials say they lack updated figures on foreign land ownership, citing the last 2017 audit.

Market Access for Farmers: South Africa’s cherry exports have officially gained China market access after a signed sanitary and phytosanitary protocol, with blueberry access negotiations nearing finalisation—an important boost for Western Cape growers still recovering from foot-and-mouth impacts. Value Addition Push: Malawi is being urged to move beyond exporting mostly tobacco and other commodities by processing, packaging and branding to create jobs and earn more foreign exchange amid forex shortages. Finance for Agribusiness: Liberia’s central bank opened a national drive to tackle non-performing loans and expand credit for entrepreneurs and farmers, aiming to unlock private-sector growth and jobs. Dryland Solutions: India’s Global Dryland Congress 2026 begins in New Delhi, bringing together scientists and farmer reps to tackle breeding, seed systems, climate resilience and market access for dryland agriculture. Food Systems Jobs Debate: At Rwanda’s Africa Food Systems Forum, youth entrepreneurs pressed for policies that de-risk agrifood financing to make farming and food businesses a real jobs engine. Land Restoration: Kenya is accelerating a tree restoration programme targeting 15 billion trees to restore degraded land, strengthen water towers and improve food security. Trade and Policy: A UN report says “just transition” is increasingly being embedded into environmental rule-of-law across sectors including agriculture, shaping how climate action protects people and ecosystems.

Climate Risk Watch: El Niño is strengthening and expected to intensify toward late 2026, with East Africa facing wetter conditions while Southern Africa braces for higher drought risk—raising alarms for harvests, water and livelihoods. Food & Input Security: Malawi is seeking urgent support as an AfDB package of $20.5m in direct budget support is approved to help secure fuel and fertiliser ahead of the farming season, with more funding being pushed under the AfDB energy and fertiliser crisis response framework. Livestock Health: Russia’s Moscow region has imposed a quarantine after lumpy skin disease was detected in cattle, banning movement of cattle, milk and feed from affected areas. Market Pressure on Farmers: Kenya’s dairy belt is feeling the squeeze as drought cuts pasture, forcing farmers to buy costly feed and driving up production costs while milk output falls. Trade & Agribusiness Deals: South Africa’s cherries have gained access to China after a protocol opening the market, while Morocco and Australia are preparing a conservation agriculture and soil health project to support more resilient farming. Policy & Inclusion: African CSOs warn Kenya’s crackdown on foreign informal traders could fuel discrimination and xenophobic tensions, even as governments argue for regulation.

Energy & Fertiliser Shock Response: The AfDB approved a new Global Energy and Fertilizer Crisis Response Framework, backed by an extra $4.1bn in lending plus up to $960m from the African Development Fund, to protect farmers and food systems from price and supply shocks. Climate Risk for Farming: El Niño is already showing unusually strong early signs, with scientists warning of hotter, drier conditions and knock-on effects for crops and livestock across southern and eastern Africa. Food Systems Investment: Nigeria’s Benue is set to launch a $250m National Food City Complex across 30,000 hectares, linking production, processing, storage and cold-chain, with plans to integrate 40,000 smallholders and create thousands of jobs. Regional Dairy Pressure: Kenya is importing milk from Uganda as a prolonged dry season cuts local supply, raising concerns for Uganda’s own processors and consumers. Livestock Disease & Policy: South Africa’s agriculture faces mounting strain from disease and weak execution, while the economy contracted 0.2% in Q2—job losses included agriculture shedding 15,000 roles. Export Moves: South Africa secured access to China’s cherry market via a signed protocol, opening a new route for fruit exporters.

Climate & Food Security: Namibia warns the 2026/27 rainy season could be harsher than expected, with El Niño likely driving widespread below-normal rainfall and hotter conditions that threaten farming, livestock and water supplies. Energy/Fertiliser Shock Response: The AfDB unveiled a $5.1bn response plan to cushion Africa’s energy and fertiliser crisis, targeting countries hit by higher prices and disrupted trade routes. Smallholder Climate Finance: IFAD and Equity Group launched ARCAFIM, a $200m East Africa mechanism to help 260,000 smallholders and 500 MSMEs adapt to climate impacts through revolving lending plus technical support. Kenya Food Loss Push: Kenya is losing nearly 9m tonnes of food annually, with TechnoServe’s NutriSave programme urging better storage and stronger market links to cut waste and improve access to nutritious produce. Ghana Logistics Upgrade: Ghana plans a new Volta Lake port at Mpakadan to move containers by rail and barges, easing pressure on Tema Port and lowering freight costs. Nigeria Credit for Growth: President Tinubu urged banks to turn recapitalisation into affordable credit for businesses and MSMEs, warning that bigger balance sheets won’t help without real investment and jobs. South Africa Agriculture Signal: South Africa’s economy contracted 0.2% in Q2, but agriculture continued its run of growth while mining and manufacturing dragged overall performance. Trade & Markets: South Africa’s cherries win China export access, adding momentum for high-value fruit trade. Policy Debate: A new critique argues “legal certainty” in critical minerals must also protect communities living with mining impacts, not just investors.

Deforestation & Cocoa Trade: Global Witness says Mondelez (Toblerone/Cadbury) has been lobbying in Brussels to weaken the EU’s deforestation rules that would tighten due diligence for cocoa imports, with the firm also flagged for not disclosing how much cocoa is deforestation-free. El Niño Food Risk: Africa is bracing for a potentially very strong El Niño, with NOAA warning of higher odds of extreme conditions; Southern Africa faces drought and heat, while parts of East Africa could see heavier rain and flooding—raising alarms for food, water, health and power. South Africa Farm Outlook: Agbiz/IDC confidence in agriculture is up to 53, but farmers and agribusinesses still fear El Niño-linked drought and next-season price pressure. FMD Vaccine Pricing Probe: South Africa’s agriculture ministry suspended OBP’s acting CEO over alleged inflated FMD vaccine costs, while farmers welcomed the investigation and temporary halt. Livestock Vaccines in Tanzania: Tanzania’s veterinary agency plans to expand livestock vaccine production and improve delivery, including demand for Newcastle disease vaccines administered via drinking water. Kenya Coffee Research: Kenya’s coffee researchers are screening new varieties combining Arabica and Robusta traits to better resist pests and diseases as coffee spreads into new areas. Uganda Investment Push: Uganda’s PM Nabbanja urged global investors at Dubai’s AIM to back agriculture and value addition, citing long-running peace and incentives. South Africa Pork Resilience: The pork industry reports it is adapting to ongoing animal health shocks, including managing repeated FMD incidents and strengthening control systems.

Climate Finance Gap: At the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Heifer International said climate finance is still out of reach for many farmers because solutions exist, but financing models don’t fit how farmers and lenders manage weather, production and market risk. El Niño Food Threat: South Africa and the wider SADC region are bracing for a strengthening El Niño, with forecasts pointing to below-normal rains and hotter conditions that could worsen farm losses and food insecurity. Agriculture Insurance Push: Nigeria’s insurers launched specialised agricultural and reinsurance technical committees to improve underwriting and claims for climate-linked risks, aiming to unlock lending for farming. Dangote IPO for Farmers and Everyday Investors: Aliko Dangote’s refinery has kicked off an IPO targeting up to 10 million shareholders across Africa, with shares priced at N525, framed as “IPO for the people.” Fisheries Value Addition: Namibia’s fisheries leaders urged moving beyond exports to expand local processing and jobs, while Ghana and Türkiye are also preparing a fisheries and aquaculture cooperation framework. Coffee Exports Dip: Uganda’s coffee shipments fell 15.1% in July year-on-year, with drought cited as a likely driver.

FMD Vaccine Probe in South Africa: The agriculture minister has suspended Onderstepoort Biological Products’ acting CEO over allegations of inflated foot-and-mouth vaccine pricing, after complaints from farmers’ groups about how the state handles imports and distribution. El Niño and Food Security: The UN warns the world is entering a “danger zone” as a potentially record-strong El Niño threatens weather and farming; Zimbabwe is pushing green industrialisation to stay resilient as production and energy face shocks. Malawi Mining Boom: Rare earth and critical minerals could reshape Malawi’s economy, but experts warn of the familiar risk of exporting raw value without strong local processing and institutions. Liberia Rubber and Women’s Finance: Liberia is rolling out budwood rubber nurseries in underserved counties, while UN Women begins cash disbursements to women’s savings groups to strengthen livelihoods and farm-linked cooperatives. Clean Cooking via Carbon Finance (Kenya): A Nairobi entrepreneur shows how carbon-credit-backed clean cookstoves can cut smoke and costs, as Africa scales up cleaner household energy. Pesticide Poisoning Scale: A new study estimates 402–433 million acute pesticide poisoning cases among farmers and agricultural workers each year. Food Prices and Competition Concerns (South Africa): The Competition Commission says fuel and transport costs are feeding into higher food prices, with worries about “rocket and feather” pricing even if input costs ease. Trade and Investment Push (Kenya): Kenya’s business lobby says investor confidence hinges on predictable tax and regulation as the country courts US-linked capital for agriculture and infrastructure. Malawi Goods Seized in US: US customs intercepted dried rodents and raw beef from a Malawi passenger at Chicago O’Hare, destroying the items under biosecurity rules.

Kenya’s Value-Add Push: President William Ruto says Kenya will stop exporting raw materials and instead process and add value locally, including soda ash from Lake Magadi, aiming to break from an extractive model. Ethiopia’s Agri Output Surge: Ethiopia reports 33.5m hectares cultivated in 2025/26 and 1.85bn quintals produced, with livestock exports rising to $128.3m, as it doubles down on exports and economic transformation. Food Security Through Innovation: Nigeria’s Plant Breeders Association is urging more investment in research and plant breeding ahead of its 2026 conference, warning climate stress, pests, and declining soil are squeezing yields. Climate Risk for Farmers: El Niño is expected to intensify into early 2027, shifting rainfall and temperatures—raising alarms for drought, heat and food production planning across the region. Land Restoration Momentum: After UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia, Africa is urged to turn pledges into projects, with new land restoration and rangelands funding announced for multiple countries. Agri-Trade and Markets: A COP17-linked call for implementation meets Kenya’s push for local processing, while China’s zero-tariff expansion is boosting imports of African fresh produce like avocados and oranges. Conservation Spotlight: Nigeria’s Okomu National Park team rescued and rehabilitated an orphaned forest elephant calf, “Agbaibor,” after poaching-related separation.

Youth Skills for Agriculture: Uganda is drafting a practical curriculum with ILO support to train young people in mechanisation, irrigation, farm structures and soil testing, aiming to cut the skills gap that slows agriculture commercialisation. AI for Farm Productivity: Google DeepMind launched an AI project in India using satellite-based models to map fields and detect farm activity, targeting more precise, climate-smart guidance for farmers. El Niño Food Risk: Southern Africa is bracing for a potentially very strong El Niño, with warnings of below-normal rains and hotter conditions; WFP flags sharp rises in acute food insecurity. Farm Adaptation: Farmers are turning to perennial grains to handle extreme weather, though adoption is limited by lower yields and market gaps. Trade and Market Signals: AGOA was extended by the US for two years, boosting export confidence for beneficiaries including Nigeria. Prices on the Ground: In South Africa’s fresh produce markets, onions jumped while potatoes eased, a reminder that climate and supply shifts quickly hit household food costs. Fertiliser Support: Morocco donated 1,000 tonnes of DAP fertilizer to support Malian farmers.

Climate & Food Security: A powerful El Niño could drive another 49 million people into hunger, with Africa facing a mix of heavy rains and drought while aid budgets are squeezed. Agri-Finance: IFAD and Equity Group launched a $200m East Africa climate adaptation finance mechanism in Kigali (ARCAFIM), targeting about 260,000 smallholders and 500 rural MSMEs across Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Fertiliser Support: Morocco donated 1,000 tonnes of DAP fertilizer to Mali to boost yields and strengthen food security amid climate stress. Livestock & Biosecurity: South Africa’s OBP acting CEO was placed on precautionary suspension over allegations tied to foot-and-mouth disease vaccine pricing, as the country battles its biggest FMD outbreak. Water & Irrigation Infrastructure: Morocco is pushing its “water motorway” plan to transfer water between river basins, aiming to ease scarcity and irrigate large areas. Regional Trade for Farmers: Nigeria rolled out ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) sensitisation to help businesses, including agricultural players, access intra-regional markets. East Africa Production Pressure: Kenya’s grain belt is reeling from dry spells that cut maize and wheat output, pushing up prices and raising import plans.