Fisheries Development Surges Under PROFISHBLUE.

A major African Development Bank Group–funded programme is transforming fisheries management and boosting regional trade, improving the lives of nearly three million people across Southern Africa.

The Program for Improving Fisheries Governance and Blue Economy Trade Corridors (PROFISHBLUE) has revitalised aquatic resource management and expanded cross-border fish commerce, with trade volumes now exceeding 500,000 tonnes over the past four years. This progress is driving job creation, strengthening food security, and enhancing climate resilience across 16 Southern African Development Community (SADC) nations.

Backed by a $9.2 million ADF 15 grant, the initiative has delivered training, equipment, and technical support to more than 250,000 beneficiaries across seven African Development Fund countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Capacity-building programmes have covered a wide range of areas, including fish value chain development, post-harvest utilisation, SME growth, genetic improvement of indigenous tilapia species, policy harmonisation, and nutrition-focused fish product development. Support has also extended to fish stock assessments in shared water bodies, vessel monitoring systems, and improved collection of catch statistics.

During World Fisheries Day on 21 November, SADC, the African Development Bank Group, and partner organisations gathered in Gaborone to highlight the programme’s achievements since its 2022 launch. The celebration showcased tangible improvements in regional fish value chains and stronger consumer markets linked to enhanced governance and blue economy investment.

Domingos Gove,Director speaking for SADC Deputy Secretary for Regional Integration Angele Makombo Ntumba, said: "We are indebted to the African Development Bank Group for providing funding to implement this project within the Blue Economy space. This support has demonstrated our capacity to improve aquatic food systems for the benefit of over 380 million people in the region."

 Neeraj Vij,The African Development Bank’s Regional Sector Manager for Feed Africa Operations for Southern Africa,added: "The PROFISHBLUE project has shown best practices in regional integration of blue economy trade corridors and cross-border fish trade… This project demonstrates how strategic investment in fisheries governance can create competitive value chains that provide jobs and livelihoods while eradicating extreme poverty, especially in rural areas."

Key partners including FAO, UNIDO, WWF, WorldFish and ARSO have contributed crucial expertise. Regional leaders praised the programme’s role in providing a platform for shared learning, with testimonials from women in fisheries underscoring its inclusivity. One participant from Tanzania reflected: "We embarked on an investment journey that few smallholder entrepreneurs would consider piloting technology in seaweed farming. We appreciate the opportunity..."

SwiftVEE specialises in digital livestock auctions, connecting buyers and sellers of cattle, sheep, goats, and game through online and live-streamed events.

South African agritech pioneer SwiftVEE has successfully raised approximately US$10.1mn in a Series A funding round, marking a significant milestone in its mission to modernise livestock trading through technology.

The investment round was spearheaded by African venture capital firm HAVAÍC and private equity firm Exeo Capital. Notably, former Old Mutual CEO Iain Williamson also participated, bringing a wealth of financial services experience. Existing investors, including fund managers Mike Kirsten and Carlo Dickson, along with private investment vehicle Zire Africa, joined the round, signalling strong confidence in SwiftVEE’s growth potential.

Founded in 2019, SwiftVEE specialises in digital livestock auctions, connecting buyers and sellers of cattle, sheep, goats, and game through online and live-streamed events. To date, the platform has facilitated over US$100mn in annual livestock and game sales through hundreds of auctions, proving the scalability and efficiency of its model.

With this new funding, SwiftVEE plans to expand across Southern Africa, targeting markets in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, while also aiming to grow its international reach via buyer syndicates in North America, Europe, the UAE, Asia, and Australia.

Beyond livestock trading, the startup intends to integrate fintech, insurance technology, and data-driven solutions into its platform. SwiftVEE aims to create a comprehensive ecosystem for farmers — providing access to digital finance, insurance services, data analytics, and other tools that simplify and secure agricultural value chains.

The company already operates PrysWys, an online marketplace for agricultural inputs where farmers can purchase essentials like fertiliser, feed, seed, and fuel. Earlier this year, SwiftVEE partnered with Nedbank Agribusiness to embed financing into the agriculture value chain, allowing farmers to purchase inputs through the platform with integrated credit solutions.

This approach reflects a broader trend across Africa’s agritech sector, where digital services and finance are increasingly embedded into agricultural platforms to enhance efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability.

According to CEO Russel Luck, connecting fragmented value chains has revealed opportunities beyond livestock: “The success of connecting fragmented value chains through the platform has revealed opportunities beyond livestock in other industries where similar inefficiencies exist.”

SwiftVEE’s journey from a simple livestock auction platform to a fully integrated agritech-fintech ecosystem demonstrates the growing convergence of agriculture, technology, and finance across Africa. With rising input costs and pressure on traditional value chains, platforms like SwiftVEE are positioning themselves as key drivers of a more inclusive, efficient, and digitally-enabled agricultural economy.

An AGRA-led matchmaking platform designed to connect agribusinesses with investors and financiers. (Image credit: AGRA)

The Poultry Futures Forum 2025 has officially opened in Lusaka, marking a pivotal moment for Southern Africa’s ambition to build stronger, more resilient poultry value chains.

Led by AGRA under the Southern Africa Poultry Initiative (SAPI), the Forum calls for a decisive shift from fragmented national interventions to a unified regional strategy. AGRA stressed that coordinated action is essential to boost production, reduce feed costs, enhance climate resilience and unlock deeper private sector investment while championing innovation and the leadership of young entrepreneurs.

The event has drawn an influential mix of stakeholders, including SADC government representatives, commercial poultry businesses, grain processors, researchers, financiers and agri-preneurs. Their shared goal is to accelerate practical, cross-country collaboration to resolve the structural challenges that continue to hold back the growth of the poultry industry.

This year’s Forum builds on the outcomes of the inaugural meeting held in Dar es Salaam in 2024, where delegates agreed on the need for a shared regional roadmap. Over the past year, several countries have made meaningful progress by aligning national action plans with the overarching regional poultry agenda, showing growing commitment to collective development.

In his opening message, AGRA Board Chair, H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, highlighted the momentum already taking shape, stating: “Over the past year, we have seen encouraging momentum. Several countries have developed national poultry action plans. Youth entrepreneurs are bringing new digital solutions to production and marketing. Most notably, we have launched the Poultry Feed Accelerator Grand Challenge – a direct response to the number one constraint identified by producers across our region: the high and volatile cost of feed. This initiative invites innovators, researchers and investors to present breakthrough ideas that can lower feed costs while improving quality and sustainability.”

True to its mission of inclusive growth, the Forum places young people and women at the centre of its agenda. A dedicated Youth Poultry Forum and Innovation Pitch provides a platform to showcase emerging entrepreneurs whose innovations are addressing key industry challenges from feed technology and disease control to climate resilience and market access. AGRA aims to spotlight these rising leaders who are shaping a more dynamic and competitive poultry sector across the continent.

Peter Kapala, Zambia’s Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, said, “The government of Zambia has prioritized poultry development under the eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) and the Comprehensive Agriculture Transformation Support Programme (CATSP), in alignment with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). Zambia takes pride in its position as a regional leader, particularly in the export of day-old chicks and specialty birds such as quails. The government is committed to creating an enabling environment to strengthen the domestic and regional poultry market, safeguard local producers, and promote value addition. This commitment includes: inclusive policies that empower smallholder farmers, women, and youth, improved access to quality feed, veterinary services, and climate-smart practices, promotion of affordable technology and digital advisory services.”

Throughout the Forum, discussions will explore opportunities for greater private sector collaboration, particularly in expanding regional feed manufacturing capacity and reinforcing input supply chains. Delegates will also examine how climate-resilient production systems and improved disease management strategies can support long-term sector sustainability. These include new genetics and animal health solutions designed to strengthen productivity even under climate stress.

SAPI Technical Lead Alexander Stewart, said, “The Poultry Futures Forum high-level discussions and working sessions are focused on aligning policy and regulatory frameworks to improve cross-border trade and market integration across SADC. Through this coordination, the partners aim to help countries draft and refine national poultry action plans that align with regional goals for food security and economic growth.”

A major highlight of the event is the Deal Rooms, an AGRA-led matchmaking platform designed to connect agribusinesses with investors and financiers. These sessions aim to accelerate enterprise growth across the value chain from feed production and processing to cold chain logistics and packaging ultimately supporting a more competitive and sustainable poultry sector for the region.

PRISMA project outcomes in relation to agricultural priorities across West Africa and the Sahel.

Nigeria is grappling with a severe livestock feed crisis, with more than 50 million cattle inadequately nourished, according to Idi Mukhtar Maiha, the Minister of Livestock Development.

Describing the situation as a critical threat to rural livelihoods and national stability, the minister called for urgent action at both national and regional levels.

Maiha delivered the warning during the opening of a two-day Policy Dialogue Workshop convened to assess PRISMA project outcomes in relation to agricultural priorities across West Africa and the Sahel. Organised by the Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food under ECOWAS, the event gathered policymakers, technical experts and development partners working to strengthen agricultural systems in the region.

Peter Alike, Director of the Technical Office of the Permanent Secretary, said, “In Nigeria, we have over 50mn cattle in the hands of rural dwellers, and these are animals that must be fed. So, for us, feeding and indeed, food is a national imperative that we cannot even leave for tomorrow. He further emphasised the wider implications of feed shortages, noting that inadequate nutrition for animals threatens incomes, food security and community stability.

Maiha reinforced the urgency, stating: “It is an emergency because the tangential effect of not being able to provide the necessary feed for our animals has a direct effect on our very existence, rural livelihood and human peace.”

During the workshop, Alike outlined the ministry’s long-term strategy for the livestock sector, referencing a 2025–2030 plan aimed at boosting productivity and resilience. He noted that livestock currently contributes around US$32bn to Nigeria’s GDP, but with effective development, the sector could generate more than US$94bn within the next decade.

Maiha also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development, stressing its importance for regional cooperation. He remarked: “If you have a project of this magnitude and you exclude Nigeria, then you are not likely to succeed because I don’t know of any other country in West Africa and the Sahel that has a dedicated Ministry of Livestock Development.” His comments underscored Nigeria’s pivotal role in advancing livestock initiatives across ECOWAS and the Sahel.

The workshop, part of PRISMA’s efforts to link research and innovation to regional needs, is focused on improving feed quality, enhancing productivity and building resilience in agro-pastoral systems. Maiha’s intervention made clear that securing adequate livestock feed must become a top policy priority, backed by coordinated national planning and strengthened regional collaboration.