In The Spotlight
Namibia’s Ministry of Agriculture is rolling out a US$34mn investment for the 2025/26 financial year to support rain-fed agronomic farming, targeting long-term food security, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods
The funding, announced under the Dry Land Crop Production Programme (DCPP) and supported by the Cereal Value Chain Development Programme (CVCDP) and Comprehensive Conservation Agriculture Programme (CCAP), will reach thousands of small-scale and subsistence farmers across the country.
The initiative will support farmers in 10 key crop-growing regions: Zambezi, Kunene, Omaheke, Otjozondjupa, Kavango East, Kavango West, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Oshana, and Omusati. The CCAP, meanwhile, will operate across all 14 regions, enhancing conservation practices and climate-smart agriculture techniques.
Each region will receive a tailored portion of the funding, with Zambezi set to receive over US$3.8mn, while Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshikoto will each receive US$2.9mn. Support will come in the form of subsidised seeds, fertilisers, and mechanised tillage services.
Farmers will also benefit from a 50% subsidy on pesticides and herbicides, and US$400 per hectare weeding support (up to five hectares per household). Additionally, the programme offers storage and post-harvest processing support, including up to US$10,000 for grain storage, US$30,000 for hammer millers, and US$30,000 for threshers.
Interested farmers are encouraged to register at the nearest Agriculture Development Centre to access these subsidies.
The overarching goal is to boost yields, food and nutrition security, and reduce poverty and income inequality. The programme also aims to create jobs and build resilient agricultural value chains by supporting inputs and capacity building.
Through these well-structured interventions, Namibia is stepping up its fight against hunger, climate shocks, and rural poverty empowering its farmers to feed the nation from the ground up.
Uganda’s coffee industry is stirring up strong momentum, with exports reaching 855,441 bags in August 2025, earning the country Shs722.58 bn, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)
While this marks a 2.45% rise in volume compared to August last year, total earnings dipped 8.19%, largely due to a softening in global prices.
Robusta coffee remained the dominant force, contributing 797,363 bags worth US$180.79mn (≈ Shs705 billion), while Arabica accounted for 58,078 bags, generating US$21.96mn (≈ Shs85.64 billion). Despite the overall drop in Robusta value, Arabica showed impressive gains up 11.88% in volume and nearly 64% in value year-on-year.
The average export price stood at US$3.95 per kilogram (≈ Shs15,405/kg), a decline from US$4.19 in July and US$4.41 last August, reflecting continued global price pressure. MAAIF attributed the lower prices to lingering effects from July’s global market dip, especially for Robusta.
In the 12-month period from September 2024 to August 2025, Uganda exported 7.93 million bags of coffee, up from 6.73 million bags the year prior. Earnings skyrocketed by 58.72%, reaching Shs7.94 trillion, thanks to stronger volume and Arabica’s price surge.
At the farm-gate, prices remained encouraging: Robusta Kiboko fetched Shs6,500/kg, Robusta FAQ Shs13,500/kg, Arabica parchment Shs14,500/kg, while Drugar held steady at Shs13,500/kg, despite a slight dip.
On the export front, Kyagalanyi Coffee Ltd led with an 8.73% share, followed closely by Export Trading Company (8.61%) and Olam Uganda Ltd (8.26%). Together, the top 10 exporters controlled 64% of Uganda’s coffee trade.
Globally, coffee production is expected to hit a record 178.7 million bags in 2025/26, fuelled by recoveries in Vietnam and Indonesia, and record output from Ethiopia, according to the USDA.
Locally, MAAIF credited favourable weather conditions for supporting coffee activities such as planting, pruning, and training. In August alone, over 145 farmer trainings were conducted across 11 regions, reaching 4,000+ farmers, with a focus on climate-smart practices, pest control, and agronomic skills.
Looking ahead, Uganda’s coffee exports for September 2025 are projected at 750,000 bags, as the main harvest season begins in Central and Eastern regions—positioning Uganda to remain a leading coffee exporter both regionally and globally.
Tanzania’s tea industry is steeping in new life, fuelled by the revival of long-dormant factories and fresh investment in modern processing facilities
With national output already up by over 5% to 22,000 tonnes in the 2024/25 season, projections suggest a harvest exceeding 30,000 tonnes of made tea by year-end — a significant leap for one of East Africa’s most promising but underleveraged agricultural sectors.
Beatrice Banzi, director general of the Tea Board of Tanzania (TBT), attributes this upward trend to both public-private partnerships and renewed government focus. Notably, Kilolo Tea Factory — once idle — has resumed operations under a joint venture with Chinese investors. Now producing high-grade orthodox tea for both domestic and export markets, Kilolo is a symbol of the sector’s new direction.
"The government is reviewing previously privatised but now non-operational tea factories with the aim of returning them to farmer ownership under the current legal framework," said Banzi, signalling a push toward empowering local producers while ensuring sustainable governance.
In Dar es Salaam, new processing machinery has been installed to improve capacity, while factories in Njombe and Iringa have secured financing through CRDB Bank. These Southern Highlands regions, home to over 70% of Tanzania’s tea are also seeing the rehabilitation of estates that have lain dormant for more than 30 years.
Victoria Tea (formerly Kagera Tea) is also back in business. Located in the Kagera Region, the factory's relaunch is expected to boost both smallholder incomes and Tanzania’s tea export volumes. TBT’s Marketing Manager, Suleyman Chillo, confirmed the factory’s return and outlined plans to work closely with farmers on improved cultivation, fertiliser use, and harvesting practices.
"These aren’t just factories restarting, they’re economic engines for rural communities," Chillo explained.
Tanzania now boasts over 32,000 smallholder tea farmers and seven large-scale producers, with tea grown across six regions: Tanga, Iringa, Njombe, Mbeya, Mara, and Kagera. In total, 23,805 hectares are under cultivation.
While drought impacted the previous season’s target of 25,000 tonnes, with only 22,000 achieved, optimism remains high. TBT’s acting director of regulatory services, Mbushunoti Mindoi, said the affected factories are preparing to restart operations. "Some closures were related to management challenges, but those issues are being resolved. The affected factories are now preparing to resume operations with renewed vigour."
With renewed investment, modern equipment, and an engaged farmer base, Tanzania's tea industry is once again proving that it can compete on both quality and scale brewing real promise for local growers and global markets alike.
The G20’s Agriculture Working Group has highlighted the urgent need for food security through sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and regional trade-aligning with Africa’s push towards food self-sufficiency
With growing food crises, disrupted supply chains, and climate volatility, Africa must adapt its agricultural future, making local production and resilience top priorities.
The African Agri Investment Indaba 2025, scheduled for November 23-26 in Cape Town, will tackle this challenge under the theme "The New World Order: A Self-Sufficient Africa." The event will focus on how investment, innovation, and policy reforms can create sustainable food systems. Climate change, such as the recent El Niño that impacted Southern Africa's maize production, underscores the need for drought-resistant crops and improved water management. In response, many South African farms and others across the continent are investing in irrigation and adopting climate-smart strategies.
Susan Payne, Board Member of the African Agri Council, said, "Funding will become more challenging as most food production in Africa is undertaken by smallholder farmers, who are financially excluded by funders." Agri-tech innovations are transforming the sector, with platforms like Hello Tractor connecting smallholder farmers to mechanisation services via IoT, while South Africa leads in AI-driven precision agriculture.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is vital for intra-African trade, boosting food security by reducing imports and enhancing market connectivity. However, challenges persist, including livestock disease outbreaks, which necessitate stronger biosecurity measures. Governments and private sectors are investing in disease control and resilient systems.
“Collectives and co-operatives are key to attracting financing for smallholder farmers,” Payne added. The Agri Investment Indaba 2025 will explore how collaboration between investors, policymakers, and agribusinesses can shape a self-sufficient Africa, highlighting opportunities, challenges, and solutions needed to accelerate progress.
Namibian beef is celebrated worldwide for its exceptional quality, known for being free-range, grass-fed, and sustainably raised across the country’s expansive natural farmlands
From this Saturday, Namibian rumpsteak will be featured as a monthly special at Block House steak restaurants, a well-known chain with 42 locations across Germany.
Namibia holds the unique position as the only African nation authorised to export beef to both the United States and Europe, highlighting the country’s high production standards and strong international reputation.
After two and a half years of preparation, premium Namibian beef has been introduced more widely in Germany through a new agreement with Eugen Block Holding GmbH, one of Germany’s leading owner-managed hospitality companies. This group currently runs 47 Block House steakhouses across the country, alongside several Jim Block burger outlets.
This partnership offers German diners an authentic farm-to-table experience, showcasing Namibia’s rich agricultural tradition and dedication to quality.
According to the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), the agreement marks the successful culmination of efforts to establish a reliable supply of Namibian beef in Germany. This collaboration involved Namibian beef producers, South Trade GmbH, and Eugen Block Holding GmbH, with NIPDB playing a key role as facilitator alongside important stakeholders.
The introduction of Namibian beef in Block House restaurants fits well with NIPDB’s goal to promote Namibian products globally, emphasising Namibia as a producer of trusted, safe, and premium-quality food.
By securing partnerships with major hospitality brands like Block House, Namibia continues to highlight its premium export products while supporting sustainable growth for local farmers, processors, and exporters.
“Namibian beef stands out not only for its quality, but for the values behind it – being free-range, grass-fed, high animal welfare factors and sustainably produced. We are proud to have helped bring this exceptional product to one of Europe’s most respected restaurant groups,” said Valentin Külbs, managing director of South Trade GmbH.
“We are always looking to offer our guests something special,” said Markus Gutendorff, CEO of Block House Restaurantbetriebe AG.
“Namibian beef brings both quality and a compelling story of origin. It’s a perfect fit for our brand and our customers,” he added.
Africa’s agricultural sector, long seen as an untapped resource, is emerging as one of the most critical levers for achieving global sustainable development
Since the United Nations launched its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, progress has been underwhelming. Only 12% of the 169 targets are on track, while more than a third have stalled or even regressed. Yet amidst this global slowdown, one truth stands out clearly: investing in African agriculture could change the game.
Farming is the backbone of life across the African continent. It provides livelihoods for nearly 70% of the population, most of whom are women, and contributes around 30% to the continent’s GDP. However, this vital sector remains deeply underfinanced and underutilised. Cereal production in sub-Saharan Africa has increased by 37% over the past decade, not due to rising efficiency, but through the simple expansion of farmland. Yields per hectare remain approximately 60% below the global average, and just 5% of African farmland is irrigated. Mechanisation and access to inputs are limited, leaving millions of smallholder farmers at a disadvantage.
The result is a growing reliance on imported food. From 2015 to 2017, African nations spent an average of US$27bn a year on imported cereals. That number could balloon to US$110 billion by 2030 if investment remains stagnant. The implications stretch far beyond the continent. As the global population climbs and supply chains grow more fragile, Africa’s ability to produce food locally will be essential for global food security and price stability.
And yet, investment levels remain dismal. In 2022, African agriculture received just $49 billion from all sources—public, private, and development finance combined. That’s only about US$140 per farmer annually, compared to a global average of US$1,300. Agriculture currently draws less than 4% of all investment on the continent, and only 3% of global development funding. By comparison, the Africa Food Systems Forum estimates that US$200bn is needed to build a sustainable agrifood system capable of closing the development gap.
With 250 million Africans working in agriculture, the sector offers one of the most direct and powerful routes to inclusive economic growth. Investment in agriculture has been shown to be two to four times more effective at increasing incomes than investment in any other sector. Moreover, climate-smart practices could make African farms more resilient to climate shocks, enhance food security, and help preserve forests by increasing yields without the need for deforestation. African land also holds significant potential for carbon sequestration, aligning agricultural development with climate action.
Despite these opportunities, public spending on agriculture across African governments is far below target. In 2022, only US$16bn about 3% of public expenditure—was directed toward farming, falling short of the African Union’s recommendation of 10%. Only Malawi and Ethiopia have consistently met that threshold since 2008. Private sector investment is similarly lacking, with just 3% of Africa’s private funding going into agriculture, far below the global average of 10%.
To reverse this, investment strategies must be sharper and more targeted. Development agencies have a pivotal role to play in unlocking further funding through catalytic capital, risk-sharing mechanisms, and blended finance models that draw in private investors. Governments need to focus on building the foundations—improving infrastructure, cutting red tape, and creating a business environment that welcomes agricultural investment. And the private sector must seize the commercial opportunity by scaling innovative financing models, investing in local supply chains, and supporting agri-tech and entrepreneurship.
Efforts are already underway. The Agricultural Transitions Lab for African Solutions (ATLAS), launched by the Paris Peace Forum, is tracking progress and aligning funders across sectors. Its “2x30 Challenge” aims to double the current investment in African agriculture to US$98bn by 2030. The potential pay-off is enormous: food security, stronger rural economies, greater climate resilience, and sustainable growth not only for Africa, but for the world.
African agriculture doesn’t just need more investment—it deserves it. With the right support, it can feed a growing population, lift millions out of poverty, reduce reliance on imports, and transform global food systems. The seeds of change are already in the soil. It’s time we helped them grow.
Hello Tractor, a leading agri-tech firm, has partnered with Heifer International to roll out an innovative Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) tractor financing model aimed at improving mechanised farming across Uganda
This partnership leverages smart technology to increase agricultural productivity, improve food supply, and generate employment along the farming value chain.
The latest phase of the partnership was officially launched on 12th September 2025 at Mascor Uganda, a well-known tractor dealership in Kampala. During the event, ten tractors were handed over to young entrepreneurs under the ‘Hello Tractor Booking Agents’ initiative.
Ronald Wabwire, Heifer International-Uganda’s Signature Programme Technical Lead, highlighted the collaboration’s purpose. “Our partnership with Hello Tractor furthers Heifer International’s mission of ending global poverty and hunger while caring for the earth through increased food production and on-farm productivity,” he said.
Wabwire noted that since the pilot of the Tractors for Africa project in June 2022, Heifer has facilitated access to 26 PAYG tractors, which Hello Tractor has matched, bringing the total active fleet on the platform in Uganda to 172. So far, the initiative has created 396 tractor operator jobs and supported 576 booking agents, enabling over 70,000 smallholder farmers to access mechanised services across 183,000 acres.
Hello Tractor provides tracking devices and software that allow farmers to book tractors via a mobile app. This system helps match the growing demand for mechanised services, especially in remote areas.
“The African continent has the least number of tractors per 1,000 hectares – fewer than two, compared to 10 in Asia,” Wabwire added, citing the limitations of hand tools and animal traction still used by over 95% of African farmers.
Farmers like Ogwang Moses Odongo and Joshua Waigolo shared how the PAYG model has helped them not only access tractors but also improve livelihoods and boost productivity in their communities.
Hello Tractor’s Credit Director, James Macharia, reported a 95% repayment rate under this model, thanks to flexible terms and strong after-sales support. Head of Operations Frank Muhumuza added, “We’re creating jobs and removing barriers to finance with tech-driven solutions that show real-time demand.”