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7th International Agrofood Ghana 2025. (Image credit: Agrofood Ghana)

Event News

Agrofood Ghana is set to host its 7th International Trade Show in Accra from 28‑30 October 2025 at the AICC – Grand Arena

It is a major event in Ghana and West Africa’s agro‑food sector, bringing together exhibitors, buyers, trade visitors, and institutional partners to explore business, innovation, and investment opportunities. The theme centres on boosting trade within Ghana and the broader West African region.

The event covers the full food/agriculture value chain—from “field to fork.” Exhibitors are displaying everything: agricultural machinery, tractors, harvesting and feeding equipment, grain storage, irrigation, livestock and poultry breeding, milk processing, milling, food & beverage processing, packaging, refrigeration, waste & water treatment, food safety tech, and more. Technologies for snacks, dairy, and bakery are also included.

Support for Agrofood Ghana comes from both national and international bodies. Locally, government ministries such as the Ministry of Food & Agriculture, Trade & Industry, Environment, Science & Innovation, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Food & Beverage Association of Ghana (FABAG), and others are involved. International partners and delegates include European associations, foreign embassies, trade agencies, and business councils.

The trade show also features a conference programme, roundtables, special themes, and the Africa Agribusiness Excellence and Leadership Awards. These sessions aim to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and highlight innovations and trends in the agro‑food sector.

Agrofood Ghana also offers serious networking opportunities. Attendees will meet buyers from across Ghana and West Africa, explore new products, discover technologies, and form partnerships that can boost trade and investment in agriculture and food technology.

South Africa’s poultry master plan needs urgent action.

Poultry

In 2019, South Africa’s Poultry Sector Master Plan (PSMP) was launched with bold ambitions: to protect the industry from dumped imports, boost local production, grow exports, create jobs, and expand black ownership.

Six years later, while the vision still resonates, the momentum behind it is fading.

The PSMP was designed as a joint public–private effort to rebuild the country’s broiler value chain, which had suffered years of damage from unfair trade. It focused on five key pillars: enforcing trade remedies, stimulating local demand and production, expanding exports, supporting transformation, and improving governance through a dedicated oversight council.

In its early phase, the plan showed real promise. The poultry industry responded quickly, committing over R2.2 billion in new investments — surpassing the initial R1.5 billion target. Trade measures, supported by bird flu outbreaks abroad, began to reduce dumped imports, offering local producers some relief.

Major producers expanded operations, onboarded contract growers, and created jobs. Emerging farmers were integrated into formal value chains through offtake agreements, marking visible progress in transformation. These developments proved that when government and industry worked in sync, results followed.

But since the last election, progress has stalled. Responsibility for the PSMP was shifted to deputy ministers, and political attention drifted. While government leaders, including Gauteng MEC Ramokgopa and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, have reaffirmed their commitment — citing new financial packages, bird flu vaccination plans, and improved cold chains — much of it remains on paper.

Exports, a cornerstone of the plan, are still blocked by red tape. Negotiations with key markets like the EU, UAE, and Saudi Arabia have made little headway. Veterinary labs remain underfunded and understaffed, delaying health certification. As one insider put it, “Exports die in the lab. Producers are ready, but the paperwork isn’t.”

The plan also promised blended finance to help small and black-owned producers scale up. Yet funding access remains limited, and government-imposed conditions on vaccine rollouts have made key health programmes unaffordable and impractical for producers.

Ultimately, the Master Plan was never meant to be carried by the private sector alone. It’s a shared compact — one that depends on both sides delivering. The poultry industry has largely honoured its commitments. Now, government must match that effort with urgent, transparent and time-bound action.

South Africa’s poultry sector still holds massive potential — for rural jobs, food security, black empowerment and export growth. But unless government moves beyond promises to delivery, the PSMP risks becoming a cautionary tale of plans made, but not kept.

Empower farmers in Mozambique's rice sector.

Agriculture

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a pivotal US$22.8mn grant to elevate rice production in Mozambique, reinforcing the country’s agricultural resilience against climate change

This funding is central to the Mozambique Rice and Climate Resilience Development Project, an initiative aimed at tackling critical issues within Mozambique’s rice farming sector while ensuring sustainable food security.

Rice holds a vital place in Mozambique’s agricultural landscape, yet challenges such as low productivity, insufficient irrigation infrastructure, and heightened climate vulnerability remain significant obstacles. The AfDB grant will directly address these concerns by funding essential irrigation development, distributing climate-resilient rice varieties, and promoting sustainable farming methods. A key focus will also be on empowering farmers through training programmes, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices that will drive long-term growth and sustainability.

The impact of this project will be most felt in the key rice-producing regions of Zambézia and Nampula, where enhanced rice yields will not only meet local demand but also stimulate rural economies. In a country where agriculture is a lifeline for many, the project’s success will be crucial in boosting food availability and improving income generation for thousands of farmers.

Given Mozambique's vulnerability to climate change, the project’s focus on climate resilience is timely. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events threaten agricultural productivity and food security. By developing rice farming that can withstand these challenges, the project will reduce Mozambique’s dependence on rice imports, which currently account for a significant portion of national consumption.

This initiative aligns with Mozambique’s broader goals of economic diversification, poverty reduction, and sustainable development. As the project unfolds, it is poised to serve as a model for other African nations grappling with similar agricultural and climate issues, delivering lasting benefits for both the economy and the resilience of Mozambique’s farming communities.

Condor, Tornado, and Dragon sprayers offer tailored solutions for farms of all sizes, backed by cutting-edge technology and smart usability.(Image credit: Agrifac)

Machinery & Equipment

 AgriFac has pulled the wraps off three brand-new sprayers that promise to change the way African farmers protect and feed their crops

Designed with precision, sustainability, and scale in mind, the Condor, Tornado, and Dragon sprayers offer tailored solutions for farms of all sizes, backed by cutting-edge technology and smart usability.

The launch marks a bold step forward in crop protection and fertilisation across Africa, where efficiency, resource management, and environmental care are increasingly critical to farm profitability. AgriFac’s focus is clear: help farmers do more with less—less waste, less cost, and less environmental impact.

At the top of the range, the Condor is built for large-scale operations. It’s robust, capable, and engineered to deliver maximum performance even under tough climate conditions. Its wide coverage and tech-driven controls make it ideal for commercial farms looking to scale up without compromising accuracy.

Next is the Tornado- a versatile, mid-sized sprayer that balances power and precision. Compact yet tough, it’s designed for farms that need flexibility, particularly where terrain or field layout demand nimble, accurate spraying.

For smallholders, AgriFac introduces the Dragon - a user-friendly, low-maintenance sprayer that doesn’t skimp on performance. It’s light, affordable, and built to last, giving smaller farms access to the same innovations transforming larger operations.

What truly sets these machines apart is their smart tech integration. Each model can sync with a mobile app, giving farmers real-time feedback on spray coverage, application rates, and performance data. This enables smarter decision-making and helps reduce over-application and input waste.

Environmentally, AgriFac’s new line leads the way. With low-pressure nozzles and adjustable booms, the sprayers deliver targeted application with minimal drift protecting neighbouring crops, water sources, and biodiversity.

In a farming landscape where every drop and decision counts, AgriFac’s latest sprayers deliver a timely boost. For African growers facing rising input costs and climate pressures, these machines offer a practical, forward-thinking solution to modern farming challenges.