Liberia, China to mechanise agriculture. (Image source; Adobe Stock)

Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, Yin Chengwu, recently met with J Alexander Nuetah, Minister of Agriculture of Liberia

Chengwu emphasised the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators stand on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, and expressed that China is willing to strengthen agricultural cooperation between the two countries, deepening the bilateral relations.

Nuetah said that Liberia is grateful to China for its strong support for Liberia's development and looks forward to continuing to strengthen cooperation with China on agricultural mechanisation and modernisation.

Crop farmers use Atlas Copco’s U190 PACE portable air compressors. (Image credit)

Crop farmers in South Africa are improving equipment maintenance and reducing risks with the help of Atlas Copco’s U190 PACE portable air compressors

These compact and rugged units are supporting smart farming by cutting input costs and extending the life of agricultural machinery through effective and regular cleaning.

Used on farms in the Bethlehem district of the Free State province, the U190 PACE has been praised for its manoeuvrability and ease of use. Its lightweight design allows it to be easily transported across rough terrain using a trailer, light delivery vehicle or forklift, making it ideal for field use.

Farmlands often present challenging environments, with dust, mud, plant debris and stones threatening the functionality of machinery. Equipment like diesel engines and coolers can become clogged, increasing the risk of overheating and fire. Daily cleaning using compressed air significantly reduces this risk and helps ensure equipment remains in peak condition. It also protects farmers from potential insurance claim rejections due to poor maintenance.

For crops like maize and sunflower, where dust is highly flammable, cleaning sometimes takes place twice a day. With farms often covering over 5,000 hectares, bringing machinery back to workshops for cleaning is inefficient. Instead, taking the U190 PACE compressor to the field is both practical and cost-effective.

The compressor is used with a 30-meter hose and blower pipe to remove built-up dust and debris from machines such as harvesters, balers, and tractors. This not only extends machinery life but also improves safety and reduces total operational costs.

Equipped with PACE (Pressure Adjusted through Cognitive Electronics) technology, the U190 PACE allows farmers to adjust pressure settings based on the task at hand. Beyond cleaning, the compressor can be used for inflating tires, sandblasting and operating pneumatic tools.

Chantal Jonker, operational manager at JR Compressors & Industrial Supplies (Pty) Ltd, noted that the compressor’s portability and performance have added immense value for South African farmers.

“It’s not just about cleaning, it’s about protecting investments, improving safety, and keeping operations running efficiently no matter how remote the location,” said Jonker.

The U190 PACE is proving to be a vital tool, supporting more efficient and safer farming practices across the country.

Egypt is actively working to boost its position in the international agriculture market. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Citrus fruits and potatoes led Egypt’s export crops as the country recorded 5.2 million tonnes in agriculture exports during the first half of the year

Alaa Farouk, the Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, noted that their distinguished quality drove the export of approximately 1.8 million tonnes of citrus fruits, followed by potatoes at 1.2 million tonnes. 

Other major exports included 168,000 tonnes of fresh onions, 136,000 tonnes of fresh and dry beans, and 103,000 tonnes of sweet potatoes, which ranked fifth. More items in the export list included grapes, strawberries, garlic, tomatoes, guavas and pomegranates.

Egypt is actively working to boost its position in the international agriculture market, and is fostering collaboration between farmers, producers, and exporters to make it effective. The Ministry is focusing on achieveing the highest standards of quality and food safety to unlock new markets at a global scale. 

South Africa is keen to diversify export markets

The tense geopolitical situation in parts of the world has unsettled confidence across the industry in South Africa and underlined the need to diversify markets, according to the latest Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI)

After a notable uptick in Q1 2025, the ACI fell by 5 points in Q2 2025 to 65.

Most respondents pointed to the uncertain global trade environment, lingering geopolitical tensions and the domestic animal disease challenge as some of the key factors constraining the sector.

"The dominance of geopolitical concerns amongst respondents’ views illustrates South Africa’s agricultural sector’s strong dependence on export markets and the need to work to diversify markets,” said Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of SA (Agbiz).

“China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are among the key markets we should expand into,” Sihlobo added.

“Still, as we drive the diversification, we must work vigorously to retain the access we have in various markets in the EU, UK, Africa, Asia, Middle East and Americas, amongst others."

Despite the slight decline, the current level of the ACI implies that South African agribusinesses still remain optimistic about business conditions in the country.

The better summer rains and improvements at the ports which have enabled exports with minimal interruptions, are some of the positives.

The latest survey was conducted in the second week of June, covering various agribusinesses operating in all agricultural sub-sectors across South Africa.

In essence, Sihlobo noted, the ACI results for Q2 2025 illustrate that the mood in the sector remains upbeat about the recovery this year, though this will likely be uneven as some key sub-sectors struggle with animal disease.

As well as expanding and diversifying export markets, Sihlobo also said there was more work to be done in terms of collaboration between industry participants, including businesses and the government.

"Also important is the collaborative efforts between business and government on addressing the biosecurity issues in South Africa's agriculture, along with pushing for more efficient network industries, better management of the municipalities, and the implementation of the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan, which is key for the long term growth of the sector.”