In The Spotlight
Bananas remain central to the Roselands community, forming both a cultural identity and a core source of income.
Banana growers along KwaZulu-Natal’s coast are facing a devastating crisis as Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) tears through plantations, wiping out crops and threatening the livelihoods of rural communities.
The KwaNyuswa Agricultural Farm in Ramsgate has been hit especially hard, losing 3,000 banana plants since February 2025. The farm, which is community-owned, estimates its financial losses at around R500,000 – a blow that places 103 indirect beneficiaries at risk.
KwaZulu-Natal has long been fondly regarded as “kwelikabhanana”, a reflection of the province’s long-standing relationship with banana production. Bananas remain central to the Roselands community, forming both a cultural identity and a core source of income. At KwaNyuswa Agricultural Farm, a 25-hectare operation reclaimed in 2008, bananas have consistently been the flagship crop and the main revenue driver for the Roselands community trust.
That success, however, is now under severe threat. The highly destructive BBTV, which affects both banana and plantain plants, has rapidly spread across the region. The virus causes stunting and a characteristic “bunched” arrangement of newer leaves, which appear narrower and more upright than normal. Infected plants seldom produce fruit, making the disease catastrophic for farmers. Spread by the banana aphid or contaminated planting material, BBTV demands intensive labour for scouting and control—driving production costs sharply upward.
The severity of the outbreak prompted the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Nokuzola Capa, to meet banana growers from the Ugu District Municipality on 26 September 2025. On 12 November, she delivered agrochemicals to commercial, smallholder, and subsistence farmers battling the virus. Capa stressed that “the threat of BBTV in the Ugu District Municipality of KZN has been a persistent issue since 2015” and noted that the department had invested substantial resources in chemical support, adviser training, and community awareness.
These interventions have been welcomed by growers, but many say chemicals alone will not be enough. Sphephelo Ngubane, KwaNyuswa’s manager of farm operations and technical support, told Daily Maverick that replanting is essential for recovery. “We need items that are essential for the recovery of lost yields. This includes banana seedlings, MAP planting fertiliser, top dressing fertiliser, and irrigation input… [and a] packhouse revamp,” he said.
Ngubane emphasised that while the chemicals will help control aphids especially for small-scale farmers ongoing training, scouting, and record-keeping remain critical. “We continuously scout for new or primary symptoms… The most essential thing is to ensure field monitoring through scouting and record keeping… and to follow treatment protocols and recommendations by the research institutions such as ARC,” he said.
He added that more research is desperately needed, noting a lack of accessible information for farmers facing economically damaging diseases. Support from regional organisations such as the South Natal Banana Association has been invaluable, he said.
Ngubane concluded with a reminder of what is at stake for the South Coast: “Bananas are our community’s backbone. If we control BBTV now, we not only save a crop, but a whole rural community.”
South Africa is stepping up efforts to strengthen its beekeeping sector, with Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen reaffirming government’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s honeybee populations and the livelihoods that depend on them.
Speaking at the Beekeeping Awareness Field Day at Oude Raapkraal in Westlake, Cape Town, he described honeybees as “the farmers of the sky,” emphasising their essential yet often overlooked contribution to food security, biodiversity, and rural economies.
Addressing attendees, Steenhuisen highlighted that bees play a far greater role than simply producing honey. “They do not use tractors or ploughs, yet their work ensures that nearly 75% of our food crops bear fruit. In South Africa, bee pollination contributes more than R10 billion every year to agriculture,” he said. This pollination service directly supports the country’s food production system and indirectly fuels job creation across numerous agricultural industries.
Beekeeping, recognised under the Animal Improvement Act (Act No. 62 of 1998) as part of agricultural activity, is closely aligned with several national priorities. These include increased agricultural output, improved food and nutrition security, strengthened biosecurity measures, and improved market access for local producers. However, Steenhuisen warned that multiple threats including habitat loss, prolonged drought, and irresponsible pesticide use are putting bee populations at risk. “When the land stops flowering, bees go hungry, colonies weaken, and honey yields decline,” he cautioned.
He encouraged citizens and farmers to play a role in restoring bee forage. “Imagine if every farm, school, and roadside in South Africa became a bee garden – filled with indigenous plants, fruit trees, and wildflowers,” Steenhuisen said. He also stressed the importance of responsible pesticide management, warning that “spraying at the wrong time, during bloom, can kill thousands of bees overnight.” To mitigate this, the department is promoting integrated pest management and improved communication between farmers and beekeepers.
Beyond pollination, the Minister drew attention to the honey value chain, which holds significant economic potential. South Africa produces up to 2,500 tons of honey per year but consumes nearly twice that amount. As a result, domestic markets rely heavily on imports, with a large portion sourced from China. “We rely heavily on the imports of natural honey, with more than 80% of our imported honey coming from China… Since there is such a high demand for this product, we have seen an increase of very poor quality and sometimes adulterated honey,” Steenhuisen said.
To protect consumers and support local producers, the Department of Agriculture’s Inspection Services will conduct an operation in December to remove mislabelled or counterfeit honey products from shop shelves. Steenhuisen said these efforts form part of a broader initiative to build a trustworthy, competitive, and locally driven honey sector.
Progress is also being made in research and biosecurity. Key priorities include the development of a National Beekeeping/Apiculture Strategy, an American foulbrood (AFB) Management and Response Strategy, a national Bee Forage Strategy, and the finalisation of the Residue Monitoring Plan required for honey exports to the EU. The department has also revived the Honey Value Chain Round-Table Forum and re-established cooperation with the South African Bee Industry Organisation (SABIO). In addition, the Agricultural Research Council has been commissioned to conduct a national survey on AFB as part of its mandate to protect beekeeping and pollination services.
“Our task is clear - to protect these pollinators, nurture our beekeepers, and grow South Africa's honey industry into a model of sustainability and pride. Together, we can make sure that the hum of the honeybee continues to be the sound of life, abundance, and hope for generations to come.”
VIV MEA 2025 is set to return to Abu Dhabi from 25–27 November, bringing together an impressive showcase of international agricultural innovation.
Held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), this year’s event will feature dedicated pavilions from the United States, France, and Korea—each presenting technologies designed to strengthen the Middle East’s food security, boost sustainability, and improve efficiency across the animal protein supply chain.
American Pavilion: Advancing Regional Food Security
With the support of the U.S. Commercial Service, the American Pavilion will unite 20 leading suppliers offering solutions across the full animal production spectrum. Exhibitors will present innovations in feed ingredients, livestock genetics, poultry production technology, feed processing systems, grain storage, and more.
Madison Martin, VIV North American Representative at IMEX Management, emphasises that the USA Pavilion highlights technologies that enhance sustainability, productivity, and biosecurity. Both long-standing suppliers and first-time participants will introduce advancements in animal health, feed efficiency, and production technology responding directly to the region’s rising need for reliable and efficient food production systems.
French Pavilion: Leading Innovation Across the Value Chain
The French Pavilion will host 28 companies, including five exhibitors making their debut at VIV MEA. Covering farm equipment, breeding, feed solutions, processing technology, and veterinary care, the pavilion underscores France’s strong reputation in high-quality agricultural systems.
Anne-Marie Brault, Operational Activities Project Manager at Business France, notes that French exhibitors offer solutions rooted in quality, durability, and innovation. A key trend this year is the use of plant-based and natural products, including probiotics and phytotherapy, to enhance animal health.
Highlights include Agri Réseaux International’s ARIonline market intelligence platform; Difagri’s DIFATOX, which blends yeast and plants to combat mycotoxins; Laboratoires ACI’s AGRICHOC TOTAL; SIPENA’s protected potassium carbonate for supporting cows under heat stress; STI Biotechnologies’ METALAC Postbiotic; and Technivet Equine’s phytogenic and bioresonance-based animal health products.
Korean Pavilion: Advanced Veterinary and Diagnostic Solutions
Organised by the Korea Animal Health Products Association (KAHPA), the Korean Pavilion will feature 11 companies specialising in vaccines, diagnostics, and veterinary pharmaceuticals. Gee-Myung Kim, Team Leader of KAHPA’s Planning Department, explains that Korean exhibitors aim to deepen partnerships in the Middle East and Africa by offering “proven quality veterinary medicine.” Korean companies will present poultry vaccines including those targeting Newcastle Disease—advanced diagnostic systems, and functional formulations that strengthen immunity and energy metabolism to boost livestock productivity.
Recognising the region’s diverse species, Korean exhibitors will also showcase specialised products for camels, racehorses, and companion animals.
A Hub for Global Collaboration
Together, the American, French, and Korean pavilions will provide a comprehensive platform for industry professionals to explore new technologies, connect with global manufacturers, and build long-term partnerships that support the region’s agricultural advancement.
The Africa Agri Expo (AAE) 2026 marks the ninth edition of one of the continent’s most significant agricultural gatherings, proudly hosted in Kenya
More than just an exhibition, this event acts as a bridge connecting Africa’s thriving agribusiness sector with the global market. It brings together the best of agritech, innovation, and sustainable farming solutions, at a time when Africa’s agriculture industry is projected to grow to an impressive US$1 trillion by 2030.
Organised under the endorsement of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Kenya, AAE has become a trusted platform for farmers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and industry experts. The event fosters collaboration and learning, encouraging meaningful dialogue that drives innovation, trade, and growth across the African agricultural value chain.
What makes AAE 2026 stand out from other agritech expos is its strong focus on practical partnerships and real business growth. It’s not just a showcase - it’s a movement pushing the continent toward a smarter, more sustainable agricultural future. Visitors will explore a wide range of innovations, from intelligent irrigation systems and modern machinery to precision farming technologies designed for African soils and climates.
The upcoming expo will feature an impressive mix of exhibitions, strategic conferences, networking lounges, and panel discussions, all aimed at empowering stakeholders with new knowledge and market opportunities. Attendees can expect to see the latest breakthroughs including AI-driven predictive analytics for crop management, drones capable of early pest and disease detection, and blockchain systems ensuring transparency from farm to fork.
There will also be demonstrations of autonomous robots for weeding and harvesting, advancements in gene-edited seeds, and integrated farm management software that uses IoT data to guide farmers’ decisions in real-time. AAE 2026 will serve as a hub for innovation, where technology meets tradition to create a resilient and profitable farming future.
For more information visit: https://africa-agriexpo.com/
Nigeria is stepping up its fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) with an innovative agricultural research project aimed at finding safer, home-grown replacements for antibiotics commonly used in livestock and fish farming
A team of scientists from Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and Spain are joining forces at the University of Ilorin to develop a locally produced and affordable solution that supports farmers while protecting animal health.
The project, named BAC4RumA, is funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the UK’s Global AMR Innovation Fund (GAMRIF). Its goal is to create bacteriocin-rich extracts from specially engineered lactic acid bacteria - natural substances that can effectively replace antibiotics in treating diseases in cattle and fish.
Project leader in Nigeria, Dr. Ismail Odetokun, explained that early laboratory results are encouraging. The new extracts have shown stronger results than traditional antibiotics in tackling infections such as mastitis in cattle and bacterial diseases in fish. According to him, the research team is now preparing for field trials, with many farmers already showing interest in adopting these safer and more sustainable solutions.
Highlighting the growing danger of AMR, Najete Safini of IDRC described it as a “silent pandemic” that threatens both food production and public health. She emphasised the need to build Nigeria’s own capacity to respond, saying that home-grown solutions would offer stronger, long-term protection for the nation’s food systems.
Mahmoud Eltholth of Royal Holloway University of London added that the partnership focuses on sustainability by empowering Nigerian scientists and research institutions to develop animal health innovations locally, reducing dependence on imported drugs.
With livestock and aquaculture contributing over US$33 trillion to Nigeria’s economy annually, experts believe this research could transform the agricultural sector. By providing farmers with safer alternatives to antibiotics, the project has the potential to boost productivity, protect animal welfare, and safeguard millions of livelihoods.
If successful, the BAC4RumA initiative could position Nigeria as a leading example for other African countries seeking to reduce antibiotic use in agriculture while strengthening their food security and export potential.
Bananas remain central to the Roselands community, forming both a cultural identity and a core source of income.
Banana growers along KwaZulu-Natal’s coast are facing a devastating crisis as Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) tears through plantations, wiping out crops and threatening the livelihoods of rural communities.
The KwaNyuswa Agricultural Farm in Ramsgate has been hit especially hard, losing 3,000 banana plants since February 2025. The farm, which is community-owned, estimates its financial losses at around R500,000 – a blow that places 103 indirect beneficiaries at risk.
KwaZulu-Natal has long been fondly regarded as “kwelikabhanana”, a reflection of the province’s long-standing relationship with banana production. Bananas remain central to the Roselands community, forming both a cultural identity and a core source of income. At KwaNyuswa Agricultural Farm, a 25-hectare operation reclaimed in 2008, bananas have consistently been the flagship crop and the main revenue driver for the Roselands community trust.
That success, however, is now under severe threat. The highly destructive BBTV, which affects both banana and plantain plants, has rapidly spread across the region. The virus causes stunting and a characteristic “bunched” arrangement of newer leaves, which appear narrower and more upright than normal. Infected plants seldom produce fruit, making the disease catastrophic for farmers. Spread by the banana aphid or contaminated planting material, BBTV demands intensive labour for scouting and control—driving production costs sharply upward.
The severity of the outbreak prompted the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Nokuzola Capa, to meet banana growers from the Ugu District Municipality on 26 September 2025. On 12 November, she delivered agrochemicals to commercial, smallholder, and subsistence farmers battling the virus. Capa stressed that “the threat of BBTV in the Ugu District Municipality of KZN has been a persistent issue since 2015” and noted that the department had invested substantial resources in chemical support, adviser training, and community awareness.
These interventions have been welcomed by growers, but many say chemicals alone will not be enough. Sphephelo Ngubane, KwaNyuswa’s manager of farm operations and technical support, told Daily Maverick that replanting is essential for recovery. “We need items that are essential for the recovery of lost yields. This includes banana seedlings, MAP planting fertiliser, top dressing fertiliser, and irrigation input… [and a] packhouse revamp,” he said.
Ngubane emphasised that while the chemicals will help control aphids especially for small-scale farmers ongoing training, scouting, and record-keeping remain critical. “We continuously scout for new or primary symptoms… The most essential thing is to ensure field monitoring through scouting and record keeping… and to follow treatment protocols and recommendations by the research institutions such as ARC,” he said.
He added that more research is desperately needed, noting a lack of accessible information for farmers facing economically damaging diseases. Support from regional organisations such as the South Natal Banana Association has been invaluable, he said.
Ngubane concluded with a reminder of what is at stake for the South Coast: “Bananas are our community’s backbone. If we control BBTV now, we not only save a crop, but a whole rural community.”
Angonabeiro continues to support national farmers while promoting innovation, quality, and sustainability in the country’s coffee sector.
Twelve Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora) producers from Amboim, in Angola’s Cuanza-Sul Province, recently received a payment of US$23mn thanks to sales of their coffee and a partnership with Portuguese coffee company Angonabeiro
The ceremonial handover, held in Luanda, was attended by the Portuguese Ambassador Francisco Duarte, Angonabeiro executives João and Rui Nabeiro, and Lucinda Mário de Castro Cunha, coordinator of the Amboim Women Farmers' Association.
Of the total amount, US$15mn were delivered immediately, with the remainder set to follow in a phased support process until December. The funds are earmarked for purchasing equipment to enhance coffee production, boosting productivity, sustainability, and autonomy among local women farmers. This partnership is designed to strengthen the coffee supply chain in Amboim while promoting innovation and long-term growth.
Rui Nabeiro highlighted Angola’s growing role in the company’s international revenue, now accounting for 15% of total earnings, with projections showing a 12% increase this year. Delta, part of the Nabeiro Group, is Angola’s largest buyer, processor, and exporter of green coffee, handling 1,200 tons last year and estimating around 1,000 tons this year. This trade directly supports 20,000 to 40,000 producing families per harvest, reflecting the sector’s vital socio-economic impact.
The initiative also aims to revitalize Angola’s green coffee supply chain by providing technical training, improving farming conditions, and mitigating logistical challenges, ensuring farmers continue producing high-quality coffee and maintain ownership of their land.
Portuguese Ambassador Francisco Duarte praised the strong Angola-Portugal economic relations, noting that over 5,000 Portuguese companies export to Angola, with Portugal being the country’s second-largest supplier after China. Many of these companies employ local staff, contribute taxes, and build human capital, creating thousands of jobs.
Lucinda Cunha of the Amboim Women Farmers’ Association emphasized the significance of the Angonabeiro partnership. Despite challenges such as vandalism and illegal purchasing of coffee, farmers managed to harvest up to 800,000 kilos, and the financial support will help maintain and expand coffee production, from cleaning plantations to preparing new planting sites.
Operating in Angola for almost 27 years, Angonabeiro continues to support national farmers while promoting innovation, quality, and sustainability in the country’s coffee sector.
