In The Spotlight
Dr Terry Mabbett speaks with Omex Agrifluids technical sales manager, Ben Odunlami and export sales manager, Oskar Winkler about the foliar application of their products to nut tree crops like cashew
Africa continues to achieve phenomenal growth in the production of cashew with recent rates reaching 7% per annum. The African cashew market was worth US$822.49mn in 2024 and is expected to reach US$984.91mn by 2029. The leading African producer is Cote d’Ivoire which now accounts for 40% of African production. Following on is Nigeria, Benin and Tanzania with Ghana, Guinea Bissau and Burkina Faso as other significant players. Africa as a whole produces 2.4 mn metric tonnes of cashew per annum and representing 60% of the global production.
The Francophone country’s gross cashew production more than doubled from 460,000 metric tonnes in 2013 to 1.1 mn metric tonnes in 2021. During the same period shelled cashew nut production grew from 30,000 metric tonnes to 110,000 metric tonnes. In 2023, gross cashew production grew by a phenomenal 19% to reach 1.22 mn metric tonnes.
"Foliar application of high quality soluble nutrient products is the way to feed the cashew tree," said Omex Agrifluids technical sales manager, Dr Ben Odunlami and export sales manager, Oskar Winkler. Omex Agrifluids is a research and development based company and a world leader in the design and manufacture of soluble nutrient products in both liquid and solid delivery systems and tailor-made for foliar application to a huge range of crops including tropical fruit and nut tree crops like cashew. This crop is virtually unique in this respect because it yields a commercially soft ‘pseudo-fruit’ called the cashew apple (which actually is the swollen receptacle); and the kidney-shaped and bean-like hard nut which as the true fruit is inserted into the cashew apple.
Seedlings in the nursery
As with virtually all tropical tree crops, life for the cashew tree starts in the nursery as tiny seedling trees requiring rapid root establishment and fast foliar growth prior to transplanting into the field. Dr Mabbett asked Odunlami and Winkler what Omex has to offer cashew growers across Africa who want the fast, strong growth of seedling trees essential for successful establishment post-transplanting. “A pair of products called Omex Bio 20 and Omex 3X Emulsion”, said Odunlami and Winkler.
Ben Odunlami told African Farming how Omex Bio 20 is a highly concentrated liquid emulsion product providing growers with the full range of macronutrients, mesonutrients (magnesium) and micronutrients, with the latter in the chelated form, and with something special extra too. That is an organic extract derived from a specific marine alga (seaweed) and which delivers a biostimulation dimension to tree seedling growth and establishment. “Omex Bio 20 stimulates root growth and development and will mitigate the physiological stress experienced by young, tender seedlings whether from abiotic factors like temperature and moisture or biotic factors including pests and diseases,” Odunlami told African Farming.
“But what about cashew growers in countries where Omex Bio 20 may not be available,” Dr Mabbett asked. “This is where Omex 3X Emulsion comes in as a sound and equivalent alternative”, said Winkler, highlighting that this fully water soluble fertiliser contains NPK macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium), magnesium and chelated trace elements (micronutrients). Recommendations are for foliar sprays to the young seedlings in the nursery and again when transplanted into the field. Omex Bio 20 is applied at 2.5 ml/l of water to seedlings in the nursery and transplanted seedlings. Omex 3X Emulsion is applied at 2.5 ml/l.
Juvenile plants in the field
Next plant growth and development stage to consider is juvenile plants having been transplanted into field and needing to be put on fast and robust vegetative growth. ”Omex Bio 20 or Omex 3X Emulsion is applied at 1 l/ha at monthly intervals for fast foliar growth and alongside Omex Zibo, one of Omex’s newest and most novel products, and specifically to deliver strong tree root systems through fast but disease resilient growth Ben and Oskar told African Farming. Omex Zibo is a highly concentrated liquid suspension product containing zinc (22.10% w/v) and twinned with boron (7.30% w/v).
“Zinc is pivotal in the formation and modulation of enzymes which are critical in the early stages of root and shoot development and is also important in the production of proteins from amino acids and therefore clearly important during periods of rapid plant tissue growth. Zinc also helps to maintain membrane permeability, thus enhancing stress tolerance,” said Odunlami. "Role of Boron is no less important and together with zinc is closely involved with the synthesis of cell wall material and the transport of sugars and therefore has crucially important tissue strengthening and growth consolidation roles,” said Winkler. Like Omex Bio 20, Zibo is applied as a foliar spray at monthly intervals and at a rate of 0.5 l/ha.
Mature plants
Cashew trees now mature and typically start to flower and bear fruit in the third or fourth year and reach maximum fruit yield by year 7, continuing to receive two spray applications of Omex Bio 20 or Omex 3X Emulsion one month apart and at an elevated rate of 3 l/ha, with the specific aim and purpose of providing complete, total nutrition with continued biostimulation to tree growth.
Odunlami and Winkler said that high calcium products were critical at this flowering and fruiting stage. “Omex can offer cashew growers three products high in soluble calcium,” said Odunlami. Omex Calmax (22.50% CaO w/v); Omex Calmax Gold (24% CaO w/v) and Omex CalMaxB (22.50% CaO w/v plus 1.53% B w/v) and all sprayed twice at an interval of one month and at a rate of 2.0 l/ha. Key purpose of these Omex CalMax products is to strengthen cell walls, suppress disease and enhance the shelf life of harvested cashew.
Calcium plays a crucial and critical role in tissue strength as a component of calcium pectate which cements plant cells together. Last but not least is two more spray applications of Omex Zibo, four weeks apart and at a rate of 2.0 l/ha. The zinc and boron nutrients in Omex Zibo enhance flower fertility and minimise the abortion of flowers and newly-formed fruits.
Next is the fruit development stage with repeat applications of Omex CalMax, Omex CalMax Gold or Omex CalMaxB. Several (2 to 3) sprays are given one month apart and at a rate of 2 l/ha. This repeat application is to reinforce the cell wall strengthening, disease mitigation and shelf life improvement benefits of calcium. Also, one of two high potassium (K) products, Omex K41 (41.0% K2O w/v) or Omex Sequential 2 (40.0% K2O w/v) is applied at 2.0 l/ha to maximise the transport of soluble sugars to the fruit.
Cashew trees having started to flower and fruit in year 3 or 4 and having attained maximum production by year 7 must be kept in tip-top condition with regular applications of high maintenance Omex products. These are Omex Bio 20 or Omex 3X Emulsion at 2 l/ha once per month for total nutrition with the accompanying biostimulation of foliar growth and Omex Zynergy (Zn 4.72% w/v; Cu 2.66% w/v; SO3 9.10% w/v) with the express purpose of promoting and maintaining plant health.
“With this achieved, there is no reason why cashew growers cannot get between 30 and 50 years of good cropping,” Odunlami and Winkler told African Farming.
Aviagen East Africa has welcomed poultry professionals from countries across East Africa to the ‘Aviagen East Africa Training Module’ in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Here attendees from Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia and Tanzania, were invited to explore aspects of best practice breeder, broiler and hatchery management and learn how to devise strategies for increased biological output at optimum unit cost.
The platform provided participants with a chance to connect with like-minded poultry professionals and interact with experienced Aviagen trainers who shared insights on topics including data handling, uniformity, grading, broiler management, broiler nutrition, egg handlings, and floor egg management.
Teamwork exercises built around case studies were pursued in order to facilitate in-depth discussions, knowledge, idea generation and problem-solving, with certificates awarded for outstanding performance and gifts for impressive contributions.
Expert training
Attendees were also treated to practical sessions led by industry experts. David Bailey, hatchery & general administration manager at Aviagen East Africa, led one such session and labelled the entire week a huge success. He commented, “We had a total of 27 attendees from countries all across the region including Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa and Zambia. This Training Module is of great importance to the East Africa region as it enables us to support local farmers by equipping them with the knowledge to produce well-performing flocks, and achieve the best return on investment. We look forward to our future Training Modules, which we plan to do annually.”
Enthusiasm for the week was matched by participants. “The training provided practical insights into breeder and broiler management, hatchery practices and nutrition, deepening my understanding of production,” said Loveness Kimario, assistant rearing manager, Silverlands. “The interactive sessions allowed for real-world application of the concepts learned throughout the training. This module offered valuable insights and practical skills beneficial to my role, and I look forward to implementing what I have learned.”
The agricultural machinery market is shifting towards emerging regions like Southeast Asia and Africa, driven by population growth and increasing demand for advanced farming technologies in countries like Indonesia, Nigeria, and Ethiopia
In the coming years, while Europe and North America will remain dominant in the agricultural machinery sector, emerging markets in Southeast Asia and Africa are expected to play an increasingly important role. Countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand are already witnessing growth in machinery imports, driven by population expansion, which is also a key factor fueling demand in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Although Europe and North America will continue to see significant investments to maintain high standards, the focus of growth will shift to Southeast Asia and Africa. While India and China will maintain their mechanisation levels, having achieved significant progress in recent years, it is the emerging markets that will drive growth. This forecast was shared during the EIMA International conference in Bologna, where industry experts discussed the evolving agricultural machinery market, which will run from 6 to 10 November.
According to Mariateresa Maschio, president of FederUnacoma, the demand for agricultural machinery will grow substantially in regions with strong agricultural development, spurred by population growth and the need for more advanced equipment. A prominent example is Indonesia, which, with nearly 300 million people, is one of the most populous nations globally. Over the last 15 years, Indonesia's agricultural machinery imports have steadily increased from EUR 140 million (approx. US$160mn) in 2009 to nearly EUR 700 million (approx. US$770mn) in 2023, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 8.6%. This upward trend is expected to persist, with a projected annual growth rate of 6.7% from 2024 to 2027.
Other Southeast Asian countries are also experiencing rising machinery imports. In Vietnam, with a population of 100 million, imports are expected to grow by 6.2% annually over the next four years. The Philippines, with 110 million people, anticipates a 7.8% annual increase in imports, while Thailand, after a slow growth period of just 1% annually over the last 15 years, is forecasted to see a significant rise of 6.8% annually from 2024 to 2027.
In Africa, population growth is even more pronounced. Sub-Saharan Africa alone is projected to account for 50% of the world’s population increase by 2050. Nigeria, with 230 million people, is expected to become the third most populous country globally by mid-century, surpassing 400 million. Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, both with populations over 100 million, are also poised to experience rapid growth and join the ranks of the world’s top 10 most populous nations in the next two decades.
Currently, only 46% of Nigeria’s arable land is used for agriculture, while in the Democratic Republic of Congo, just 10% is utilised. Expanding agricultural land is a key priority for these countries, and as more land is cultivated, the demand for advanced agricultural technologies is expected to rise. In fact, machinery imports in Ethiopia are projected to grow by 7% annually until 2027, while Congo is forecasted to see an even higher increase of 12% per year, with continued growth over the next two decades.
Senegal has been chosen as the host country for the world-class Africa Food Systems (AFS) Forum 2025 Summit
After a robust three-month rigorous process, Senegal was chosen among other strong candidate for its forward-looking agri food systems, ambitious 2050 Vision led by the new young leadership, commitment to sustainable food systems transformation that align with the Forum’s mission, the countryworld class event infrastructures, stability and security.
The country's ambitious 2050 Vision, highlightsits leadership capacity and political will to spearhead agri-food systems transformation not only in Senegal but across Africa. The 2025 Summit is expected to further Senegal’s influence in shaping the future of Africa’s food systems and to inspire new partnerships and investment initiatives across the continent.
Dr Mabouba Diagne, Minister for Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Livestock of the Republic of Senegal said that hosting the AFS Forum 2025 Summit is an honour and a powerful endorsement of the nation’s commitment to sustainable agri-food systems. Amath Pathé Sene, managing director of AFSF, emphasised the importance of the annual summit for accelerating progress and driving impactful changes. Dr Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA and Co-Chair AFSF Partners Group congratulated Senegal on the selection.
“Our 2050 Vision is centred on building productive, resilient and competitive agrifood systems that not only ensure food and nutrition security for our people but also position Senegal as a leader in agri- food systems innovation on the continent," said Dr Diagne. "Through this vision, we aim to empower smallholder farmers, enhance value chains, and drive sustainable practices that address climate challenges and drive economic growth and markets development through the African Continental Free Trade Area."
The 2025 summit in Senegal is expected to address pressing issues in African agriculture and food systems, with a focus on enabling country Legacy Programmes, supporting MSME growth in the food sector, and promoting strategic partnerships that drive investments, forging the continent agenda.
"We are confident that this platform and year-round activities will help us in delivering our new flagships program such our Municipal Agricultural Cooperatives, drive investments in ouragri food systems policies, insights and collaborations formed in Dakar will leave a lasting impact on food security and sustainability across the continent, paving the way for a prosperous and food-secure Africa,” Dr Diagne added.
Although all estrus cycles are not the same for individual females within a herd, it is one of the most important indicators of whether a cow or heifer will be successfully bred
Animal reproduction professor at the University of British Columbia in Canada, Ronaldo Cerri, PhD is carrying out research work to improve cattle fertility by identifying which cows and heifers are the best candidates to breed using tactics like artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer (ET), with estrus intensity as the deciding factor.
Cattle have typical baseline activity when they aren’t in estrus. When they start to enter estrus, their activity rises as the intensity of the estrus increases. Pinpointing when estrus is about to peak is crucial to a successful pregnancy.
After analysing extensive data from estrus detection sensors, Cerri and other researchers have pinpointed patterns based on what’s occurring during estrus. Cows exhibiting low estrus intensity tend to have lower concentrations of progesterone during the growth of the ovulatory follicle and fail to ovulate more often than those with high estrus intensity. Similarly, ET recipients that show high estrus intensity have more consistent pregnancy results.
“The patterns are very consistent in many of the studies we do,” said Cerri. “Cows with lower estrus intensity always display less physical activity, but they also have lower pregnancy rates. On the flip side, cows with high estrus intensity display more activity and have higher pregnancy rates.”
Evaluating estrus intensity
Using heat detection tools to evaluate estrus intensity can help to pick and choose which cows are the best candidates to breed at a particular time. While implementing a mass breeding protocol, offers the option to use estrus intensity to direct choices on what type of genetics to use.
Global livestock and crop farming solutions company, Olmix has recently launched its new platform MycoKingdom.net, dedicated to managing and understanding mycotoxin risk
The initiative aims to address a growing concern involving the presence of mycotoxins in a wide variety of crops such as corn and wheat. This can pose a major threat to animal nutrition since mycotoxins can have a detrimental impact on animal health if not appropriately controlled.
In order to minimise economic losses linked to contaminationhe, the Myco'Kingdom platform gathers seven functionalities for identifying, assessing, preventing and managing mycotoxin risk. Among the tools on offer is Myco’Essential, now available in a digital version, a real guide containing general information on the nature of mycotoxins (around 30 different molecules studied belonging to 9 families) and more specific information on their effects on animals and the level of toxicity of the most common mycotoxins. In addition, the Myco’Simulator provides an in-depth understanding of mycotoxins. It shows the structure of the six main mycotoxins to learn about their physico-chemical behavior, which gives them th eir toxicity.
It is important to keep in mind the need for correct sampling since it accounts for 80% of laboratory analytical errors. To avoid errors, the Myco'Kingdom platform comes with a sampling procedure outlining the best practices for collecting feed samples to ensure accurate mycotoxin studies. The Myco’Screen service offers different types of analysis, including rapid methods and full screenings (up to 44 mycotoxins per sample) using chromatography.
The following tools have been used to build the reputation of the platform in recent years:
1. Myco'Evaluator: A diagnostic tool.
2. Myco'Calculator: Optimises the use of the platform's solutions.
In the event of a proven risk, Olmix offers two solutions:
1. MT.X+: In powder form, this is suitable for feed mills and premix producers.
2. MMi.S: The microgranulated version of this is particularly suitable for direct use on farms.
“Thanks to this platform of interactive tools, designed for simple, intuitive navigation, Olmix is extending its range of services to support livestock professionals on a daily basis: nutritionists, formulators, technicians, veterinarians and breeders,” explained Marie Gallissot, head of the mycotoxin solutions range at Olmix.
Orbia’s Precision Agriculture business Netafim, along with Bayer recently began their expansion, starting with new digital farming solutions for fruit and vegetable growers
The new solutions aim to help growers maximise crop production and optimise their use of resources, thus minimising the impact on the environment. Although the adoption of digital tools has increased in recent years, those currently available in horticulture are not addressing growers' needs holistically. For instance, switching between multiple software applications has proved challenging and the siloed nature of today's solutions is making daily activities more complex.
Therefore, in order to simplify primary data collection and sharing for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, Bayer, as part of its collaboration has developed a new digital platform called HortiView that enables growers to benefit from an ecosystem of connected agronomic services that support data-driven decisions and market access.
Orbita Netafim has simultaneously developed irrigation insights that will be available through HortView's platform. These irrigation recommendations with be generated to uniquely cater to each grower based on the primary data provided by them in HortiView. Orbia Netafim's all-in-one irrigation operating system called GrowSphere features optimised irrigation, crop protection, and fertigation applications. The collaboration will also expand to include this operating system. These new solutions are already in use by some grower advisors, who are providing feedback to ensure broader availability in the future.
Ofer Oveed, SVP Technology and Crops at Orbia Precision Agriculture (Netafim) expressed his delight to be collaborating with Bayer on combining their agronomic and technological expertise. "By leading the digital farming revolution together, we can deliver food security through sustainable agriculture,” said Oveed.