By Brandon Moss March marks one of the most critical transition periods in the African agricultural calendar. Across the continent, this month signals a shift in seasons, market activity and farm decision-making that can shape food production outcomes for the rest of the year. From Southern Africa’s late-season crop development to East Africa’s long rains ...

Across East Africa, the integrity of seed and fertiliser supplies has moved from a technical concern to a central policy priority as governments confront the real economic and food‑security costs of counterfeit inputs. Fake seeds and illicit fertilisers reduce yields, undermine farmer confidence and waste scarce resilience investments, prompting a wave of policy responses that ...

By Brandon Moss A recent study by the Africa Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) has revealed a significant uptick in solar energy reporting across East Africa, with coverage rising by 79% between 2023 and 2024. The research, conducted in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, highlights growing media attention to solar energy’s role in agriculture and rural ...

As September unfolds, poultry farmers across sub-Saharan Africa are facing a volatile mix of weather conditions that are testing the resilience of their flocks and infrastructure. From Lusaka to Nairobi, the combination of patchy rainfall, cooler-than-average mornings, and rising midday humidity is creating a delicate balancing act for poultry producers.  Current Weather Snapshot: September 14–15, ...

Fibertex Nonwovens has reinforced its long-standing partnership with East Africa’s Terrain Plant Ltd, through a technical collaboration initiative, by recently hosting Terrain Plant’s Civil Engineer, Peter Kasumba, at its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Aalborg, Denmark. The visit to Denmark forms part of an ongoing commitment to developing regional expertise in geosynthetics and enhancing knowledge ...

Mobile phone-based extension programmes can be used to disseminate information about modern inputs and management practices to smallholder farmers in low-income countries who would be difficult to reach through in-person visits. This column reports on an evaluation of six different text message-based agricultural extension programmes that collectively reached over 128,000 farmers in Kenya and Rwanda. ...

The agricultural sector in Uganda remains a cornerstone of the economy, employing approximately 72% of the population and contributing about 24.1% to the GDP. The dairy sector alone is valued at US$3.8 billion, with exports bringing in US$106.2 million annually. Milk and dairy products play a crucial role in combating hunger and ensuring food security ...

In a groundbreaking move, Del Monte Kenya Ltd., a prominent fresh fruit producer, has set up a biofertiliser plant to convert pineapple residues into biofertilisers. This initiative not only marks a significant transformation in Kenya’s agricultural landscape but also underscores the company’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community development. Let’s delve into the details of ...

Nairobi, Kenya – May 23, 2024:  The Pamoja Founders Project, a collaborative regional leadership development program by IREX, the PepsiCo Foundation, PepsiCo and D-Prize, has revealed 12 exceptional young entrepreneurs leading ventures that strengthen sustainable food systems across six African nations: Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Following a rigorous 9-month training program, the ...

Crops in Kenya destroyed by floods. Photo: Tony Malesi The heavy rainfall and floods that have been battering East Africa since March have submerged thousands of acres of croplands and killed thousands of livestock, leaving the region vulnerable to an imminent food shortage, according to experts. Alongside the loss of life, the agricultural devastation is ...