A three-day regional workshop in Johannesburg is helping African countries strengthen the management and protection of agricultural heritage systems while promoting sustainable farming practices and knowledge sharing. The capacity-building programme on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) brings together government officials, national focal points, site representatives, researchers, civil society organisations and agricultural experts from English-speaking ...

Somalia is set to begin exporting fish to China under a tariff-free trade agreement, opening a major new market for the country’s fisheries industry. The agreement, concluded between Somalia and China in July, is expected to boost seafood exports and create opportunities across the fisheries value chain, from fishing and processing to storage and transportation. ...

China-backed agricultural technology is helping Nigerian rice farmers increase yields and improve profitability, with improved seed varieties offering a potential pathway towards greater food production and stronger rural livelihoods. In communities around Abuja, Green Agriculture West Africa Limited (GAWAL) has gained attention for its R1 rice variety, a Chinese-developed strain that farmers have embraced for ...

South Africa is preparing to expand its soybean exports after forecasting its largest harvest on record, with China emerging as a promising new market following improved trade access for African agricultural products. According to Wandile Sihlobo, Chief Economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), the country’s growing soybean surplus could support exports ...

Zimbabwe has achieved a major milestone for its horticultural industry after exporting its first-ever shipment of blueberries to China, marking the opening of a lucrative new market following a bilateral trade agreement signed in 2025. The inaugural export follows the implementation of a phytosanitary protocol agreed between Zimbabwe and China, giving local blueberry producers access ...

South Africa has taken a significant step in expanding its agricultural exports with the departure of its first commercial shipment of locally produced plums to China, creating new opportunities for the country’s deciduous fruit industry. The inaugural consignment was officially launched at the Freshness First Packhouse in Franschhoek, where Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen and ...

China has introduced a zero-tariff program covering imports from 53 African countries and approved amendments to South Africa’s citrus cold-treatment protocol, moves expected to strengthen export opportunities for one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest citrus industries. The measures mark another step in deepening trade relations between China and Africa, particularly as South Africa seeks to ...

South Africa has secured a major boost for its citrus exports after signing a revised phytosanitary agreement with the People’s Republic of China, aimed at easing cold treatment requirements and improving market access. The agreement, signed in Pretoria by Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and Chinese Ambassador Wu Peng, is expected to enhance export efficiency, lower ...

As part of the effort, Nigerian lawmakers are engaging with major agricultural economies and development partners, including Malaysia, the European Union, Brazil, China, Germany, India, and the United Kingdom. According to Sharafadeen Alli, chairman of the committee, these partnerships are designed to leverage global expertise in areas such as mechanisation, research collaboration, and modern farming ...

South Africa has officially launched its first duty-free stone fruit exports to China, marking a significant milestone in bilateral agricultural trade and opening new growth prospects for local growers seeking access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets. The breakthrough follows the signing of a bilateral trade agreement granting South African stone fruit duty-free ...