In The Spotlight
The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has raised serious concerns regarding the disruptive activities of foreign middlemen within the country's cashew sector
Ademola Adesokan, NCAN's National President, criticised foreign traders for bypassing standard protocols and directly purchasing cashews from local farmers at inflated prices. These actions, Adesokan argues, are exploiting farmers and damaging the integrity of the industry.
Foreign buyers are taking advantage of local farmers by purchasing cashews at the farm gate without adhering to established international trade standards. Adesokan highlighted that these middlemen often export the produce without regard for proper regulatory oversight, further exacerbating the challenges facing Nigeria's cashew industry. “Our farmers are being exploited at the farm gate,” Adesokan said “The industry is in urgent need of structure to protect the integrity of the supply chain.”
The influx of unregulated foreign traders has led to severe economic hardship for farmers, many of whom are unable to secure fair prices for their crops. Adesokan emphasised that the absence of effective regulation is leaving farmers vulnerable and driving them into debt due to unstable market conditions.
Olarotimi Ayeka, NCAN’s National General Secretary, echoed these concerns, highlighting the significant financial losses suffered by the industry. Foreign traders, Ayeka explained, often bypass local processors and engage directly with farmers, disrupting the established cashew value chain. This practice not only damages local markets but also leads to the export of immature cashews, worsening the oversupply situation.
“These traders only operate during the peak season, buying massively in February and March, and then disappearing by April,” Ayeka explained. “When they leave, they often take the cashews with them, leaving local markets flooded with unsold stock.”
The crisis is compounded by internal divisions within NCAN itself, with some members reportedly colluding with foreign buyers for personal gain. This has hindered efforts to address the ongoing issues and stabilise the sector.
The disruption to the cashew industry has raised alarms about Nigeria’s future in the global market. Adesokan warned that if the government does not intervene soon, Nigeria risks losing its position as one of Africa's leading cashew exporters. “If the government does not take action to address these challenges, Nigeria risks losing its position as a leading cashew producer, and the entire industry will continue to suffer,” he concluded.
The TopCut system by Züern Harvesting is an innovative solution designed to improve the efficiency and precision of harvesting tall, deep-rooted crops such as cereal grains and grass-based crops
Aimed at conventional farming, this system uses advanced cutting technology to streamline the harvesting process, benefiting both farmers and the environment.
A standout feature of the TopCut system is its cutting mechanism, which harvests crops at an optimal height, generally above the root zone. This method reduces soil disturbance, preventing unnecessary damage to plants and improving the overall quality of the harvested crop. By cutting at this higher level, it also protects the root system, especially in crops that grow in deeper soils, ensuring minimal disruption and stress to the plant.
The TopCut system is designed to be compatible with a variety of harvester types, making it easy for farmers to integrate with their existing machinery. This versatility is particularly valuable for large-scale, high-output farming operations, where efficiency is key. Additionally, the system includes a cleaning mechanism that removes contaminants from the crops during harvest, reducing the need for extensive post-harvest processing.
From an environmental perspective, the TopCut system plays a role in promoting sustainability. By cutting crops at the right height, it helps minimise the need for excessive tillage, which in turn reduces soil erosion and preserves the soil’s natural structure. Maintaining the integrity of the root zone also supports healthier crop growth in the following seasons, contributing to a more sustainable farming cycle.
In essence, the TopCut system offers a forward-thinking approach to crop harvesting, balancing efficiency, quality, and environmental sustainability. Its precision cutting technology, ease of integration with existing equipment, and focus on long-term agricultural productivity make it a valuable tool for modern farming.
Côte d’Ivoire has reported that it successfully traced 40 percent of its cocoa production during the 2024/25 season, running from October to September, according to the most recent Cocoa Barometer report.
The 200‑page examination of the global chocolate industry touches on critical issues such as poverty, deforestation and human rights, and underscores that weak traceability persists as a central flaw in Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa value chain. Much of the nation’s cocoa production is still channelled through fragmented systems. The study highlights that sourcing often passes through multiple intermediaries, rather than linking farmers directly to processors. This opacity hinders efforts to monitor environmental impact or hold parties accountable for deforestation and unsustainable practices.
Indeed, the report estimates that 60 percent of Ivorian cocoa remains untraced a figure broadly in line with prior research. A 2023 study by Trase and UCLouvain found that 55 percent of cocoa exported in 2019 lacked traceability. Researcher Cécile Rénier points out that weak institutional ties between cooperatives and smallholders aggravate the problem: farmers may sell to multiple buyers or even informal agents, while cooperatives sometimes buy from non‑members to meet volume goals. This weakens accountability and complicates efforts to verify that the cocoa declared actually originates from the claimed plots.
At the policy level, this report emerges amid debates over the European Union’s deforestation regulation set to ban imports linked to forest loss. Though its implementation has been delayed to 2026, traceability is now more urgent than ever, since the EU receives 55 percent of Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa and cocoa product exports. In response, Côte d’Ivoire has introduced a National Coffee‑Cocoa Traceability System, launched in September 2023, to record commercial transactions and enable tracking of individual sacks. Between 2019 and 2020, the Coffee and Cocoa Board (CCC) conducted a detailed census of farmers and their plots, and in 2022 began issuing identity cards to farmers that include plot sizes and ownership details. To date, approximately 855,000 of the 993,000 registered farmers have received these cards, covering more than 3.2 million hectares of cocoa and coffee land.
While achieving 40 percent traceability marks progress, wide gaps remain. Strengthening transparency across the supply chain, deepening integration of trace systems, and forging more dependable connections between farmers and buyers are vital for enhancing sustainability. Only then can Côte d’Ivoire hope to align with export standards and shield its cocoa sector from deforestation, environmental harm and human rights abuses.
Following the success of its 2025 edition, HortiFlora is transitioning from a biennial to an annual event
The decision reflects the growing international interest and expanding role of Ethiopia in the global horticultural industry. According to Dick Van Raamsdonk of HPP Worldwide, “Given the increasing international interest and significance of the event, HortiFlora will now have a transition from a biennial trade show to an annual one.”
This year’s trade show, held in Addis Ababa from April 1st to 3rd, saw a record turnout and a noticeable international presence, especially from the Middle East. Van Raamsdonk expressed his satisfaction, saying, “It was a highly successful event, featuring a record-breaking 140 exhibitors, stunning stands, and a consistent flow of visitors, including a strong international presence, particularly from the Middle East.”
For the first time, the event showcased not just flowers but also fruits and vegetables, which marked a significant development for the show. “The inclusion of fruit and vegetable growers alongside the traditional floral exhibitors significantly expanded the event’s scope.” This broader focus reflects the growing importance of Ethiopia’s horticultural sector, which now includes a wide variety of fresh produce.
The move to an annual schedule is expected to benefit the industry in several ways. As Van Raamsdonk said, “With Ethiopia’s rising production of fresh flowers, fruits, and vegetables, an annual event will further strengthen the country’s export potential, stimulate its economy, and foster continued growth in the horticultural sector’s employment.”
Organised in close cooperation with the Ethiopian Horticulture Producers Exporters Association (EHPEA), HortiFlora has seen steady growth over the past 20 years. The next edition is already set for March 24-26, 2026, again in Addis Ababa, and is expected to attract even more participants as the show continues to gain traction globally.
By becoming an annual event, HortiFlora is positioning itself as a key platform for international trade, innovation, and collaboration in one of Africa’s fastest-growing agricultural sectors.
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.
The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has raised serious concerns regarding the disruptive activities of foreign middlemen within the country's cashew sector
Ademola Adesokan, NCAN's National President, criticised foreign traders for bypassing standard protocols and directly purchasing cashews from local farmers at inflated prices. These actions, Adesokan argues, are exploiting farmers and damaging the integrity of the industry.
Foreign buyers are taking advantage of local farmers by purchasing cashews at the farm gate without adhering to established international trade standards. Adesokan highlighted that these middlemen often export the produce without regard for proper regulatory oversight, further exacerbating the challenges facing Nigeria's cashew industry. “Our farmers are being exploited at the farm gate,” Adesokan said “The industry is in urgent need of structure to protect the integrity of the supply chain.”
The influx of unregulated foreign traders has led to severe economic hardship for farmers, many of whom are unable to secure fair prices for their crops. Adesokan emphasised that the absence of effective regulation is leaving farmers vulnerable and driving them into debt due to unstable market conditions.
Olarotimi Ayeka, NCAN’s National General Secretary, echoed these concerns, highlighting the significant financial losses suffered by the industry. Foreign traders, Ayeka explained, often bypass local processors and engage directly with farmers, disrupting the established cashew value chain. This practice not only damages local markets but also leads to the export of immature cashews, worsening the oversupply situation.
“These traders only operate during the peak season, buying massively in February and March, and then disappearing by April,” Ayeka explained. “When they leave, they often take the cashews with them, leaving local markets flooded with unsold stock.”
The crisis is compounded by internal divisions within NCAN itself, with some members reportedly colluding with foreign buyers for personal gain. This has hindered efforts to address the ongoing issues and stabilise the sector.
The disruption to the cashew industry has raised alarms about Nigeria’s future in the global market. Adesokan warned that if the government does not intervene soon, Nigeria risks losing its position as one of Africa's leading cashew exporters. “If the government does not take action to address these challenges, Nigeria risks losing its position as a leading cashew producer, and the entire industry will continue to suffer,” he concluded.
The TopCut system by Züern Harvesting is an innovative solution designed to improve the efficiency and precision of harvesting tall, deep-rooted crops such as cereal grains and grass-based crops
Aimed at conventional farming, this system uses advanced cutting technology to streamline the harvesting process, benefiting both farmers and the environment.
A standout feature of the TopCut system is its cutting mechanism, which harvests crops at an optimal height, generally above the root zone. This method reduces soil disturbance, preventing unnecessary damage to plants and improving the overall quality of the harvested crop. By cutting at this higher level, it also protects the root system, especially in crops that grow in deeper soils, ensuring minimal disruption and stress to the plant.
The TopCut system is designed to be compatible with a variety of harvester types, making it easy for farmers to integrate with their existing machinery. This versatility is particularly valuable for large-scale, high-output farming operations, where efficiency is key. Additionally, the system includes a cleaning mechanism that removes contaminants from the crops during harvest, reducing the need for extensive post-harvest processing.
From an environmental perspective, the TopCut system plays a role in promoting sustainability. By cutting crops at the right height, it helps minimise the need for excessive tillage, which in turn reduces soil erosion and preserves the soil’s natural structure. Maintaining the integrity of the root zone also supports healthier crop growth in the following seasons, contributing to a more sustainable farming cycle.
In essence, the TopCut system offers a forward-thinking approach to crop harvesting, balancing efficiency, quality, and environmental sustainability. Its precision cutting technology, ease of integration with existing equipment, and focus on long-term agricultural productivity make it a valuable tool for modern farming.