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In The Spotlight

Shoprite Group provided a profitable platform for growers. (Image source: Shoprite)

Agriculture

Community gardeners from Botswana came together to leverage one of the region's influential retail platform to sell their vegetable produce at Shoprite Gaborone and Checkers Airport Junction Centre in Market Day 

Working for the cause of food security in southern Africa, Shoprite Group provided a profitable platform for growers from more than 300 community gardens in the country. 

“This year Market Day provided almost 60 gardeners and co-operatives across South Africa, Namibia and Botswana with the opportunity to sell their fresh produce directly to the public, gain retail experience and strengthen the roots of small businesses that feed their communities,” said Sanjeev Raghubir, chief sustainability officer at the Group. “Customers stocked up on local peppers, spinach, parsley and many other vegetables and fruits, met the small-scale farmers and learned about their sustainable growing methods and in some instances, even purchased seedlings for their own home gardens.”

Adams Eden, which participated at the event, offers trees and seedlings at discounted prices to foster sustainability. Tree cultivation besides, the nursery is also actively tapping into crop production to address the local demand for fresh vegetables. Operating since 2021, its vision is to make Botswana green.

“Through our participation in Market Day, we gained confidence in sharing our story and explaining our growing techniques, while understanding what customers value most,” said Lerato Bwire, the founder and operator of Adams Eden.

The platform also advances skills transfer across customer relations, communication, pricing, product presentation and record-keeping, among other things.

“For each community gardener taking part in Market Day, there is a story both of individual circumstance and a pathway towards a more grounded and food secure life rooted in the soil,” said Raghubir. “The power of this day is in taking this a step further by facilitating market entry with skills training.”

Alongside Market Day, the Shoprite Group also drives the Act For Change programme to support local community gardens. “It’s exciting to see the seeds we help sow within our communities grow and flourish,” said Raghubir. “We are proud to champion the heroes of Southern African gardens and small farms, who nourish their communities and their future through their own dedication and hard work.” 

The seminar featured a comprehensive programme. (Image source: Aviagen)

Event News

Aviagen Anadolu successful hosted its ninth technical seminar in Belek, Antalya, Türkiye, from 28–29 April, bringing together poultry professionals, industry experts and customers from across Türkiye for 1.5 days of knowledge sharing, innovation and collaboration

The seminar featured a comprehensive programme focused on broiler and breeder management, flock performance, hatchery technologies, disease prevention, nutrition and emerging industry trends. Participants benefited from presentations delivered by Aviagen specialists and international guest speakers, who shared practical insights and the latest developments shaping the poultry sector.

Discussions throughout the event emphasized improving production efficiency, bird health, meat quality and sustainability across poultry operations. The Aviagen Anadolu team also highlighted the importance of continued education and collaboration in supporting customers and advancing poultry production standards throughout the region.

The seminar also provided an opportunity for attendees to strengthen professional relationships and exchange experiences during networking sessions, panel discussions and the gala dinner.

The closing session included an interactive panel discussion, giving customers the opportunity to engage directly with presenters and ask questions related to the topics covered throughout the seminar. The event concluded with a group photo and a special Club awards presentation recognizing outstanding customer performance with Ross flocks.

During the awards ceremony, the Aviagen Anadolu team honored the top three Club award winners with certificates and awards in recognition of their exceptional production results. The Clubs celebrate customers who demonstrate outstanding dedication, management excellence and performance achievements with their Ross flocks.

“The seminar was highly valuable in terms of covering technical topics and demonstrating the development and future direction of the Ross breed. It provided an excellent opportunity for our teams to further develop their knowledge. The event was also very enjoyable socially, especially with the recognition and celebration of successful performers during the closing session.”, said İsmail Ertonga, vice general manager, Beypiliç.

Sharing his perspective on the seminar, Güven Atlı, general manager, Keskinoğlu, commented, “The topics covered during the seminar and the expertise shared by the speakers were extremely valuable for our team. We sincerely appreciated the care, attention and support shown by the Aviagen Anadolu team throughout the event. Their hospitality and professionalism made the experience especially meaningful for all attendees.”

Reflecting on the success of the seminar, Yüksel Öztürk, Production Manager, Orallar, added, “The organisation of the seminar was excellent from start to finish. The presentations addressed current industry challenges with practical and result-oriented information delivered by highly experienced experts. We were extremely pleased with both the content and the overall event experience.”

Rıza Elmas, Senior Technical Manager, Aviagen Anadolu, added: “We dedicated significant preparation over the past year to ensure the success of this seminar. The programme was carefully designed to address key areas across the entire production chain, including hatchery operations, management practices, health, nutrition, data analysis, ventilation and processing. We also explored the future genetic potential of the Ross 308 and the opportunities it presents for our customers.

We were especially pleased to welcome more than 150 customers, including many key decision-makers from across the region. The seminar served as an important platform for industry professionals to connect, exchange ideas and discuss future opportunities for improving performance and achieving genetic potential.

I would like to sincerely thank our Technical Managers, especially Orhun Tikit, along with Ahmet Emrah Örtlek and Kifah Abutumeh, whose dedication and hard work played a major role in making this event a success. Together with the Aviagen Anadolu team and our global experts, we were proud to deliver a truly valuable and memorable seminar experience.”

Africa gets its first IoT-native precision agriculture model. (Image source: MyBitSecure)

Machinery & Equipment

Designed for emerging farmers, cooperatives and smart agricultural programmes across sub-Saharan Africa, the MBS SmartFarm Platform has been deployed following a three-month applied research pilot at the Sustainability Institute in Lynedoch, Stellenbosch

The platform reported marked improvements in soil health and water management, after close monitoring of soil moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, water consumption, and real-time climatic conditions across the SI’s community garden.

With this platform, Africa gets its first IoT-native precision agriculture model to embed enterprise-grade cybersecurity at its architectural foundation. Community food production initiatives, and institutions operating within sustainability-driven and development-finance supported programmes across Sub-Saharan Africa can leverage the application.

“The integration of smart agriculture technologies within our garden is not only about improving yields and resource management, but also about deepening experiential learning; transforming the garden into a living laboratory for innovation,” said Mulweli Nethengwe, research and strategy analyst, Sustainability Institute. 

“Soil health is the foundation of food security and for too long, the intelligence needed to protect it has remained out of reach for the farms and communities that need it most. The MBS SmartFarm Platform changes that. What we are bringing is a contribution to the long-term resilience of food systems across this continent, backed by evidence, built for African conditions, and designed to serve the people who feed us.” said Tandi Rouse, co-founder and director, MyBitSecure Technologies (Pty) Ltd. 

African Farming

Tractor of the Year awards ceremony at EIMA 2021

The 44th edition of EIMA International 2021 will host the Tractor of the Year awards ceremony, and feature a parade of the fourteen finalist models

The Bologna-based event focuses on new products and offers a wide-ranging showcase for Tractor of the Year, the competition promoted by Trattori magazine, that selects the best models among those produced during the year, and awards prizes to the winners from different categories.

During the exhibition, the awards ceremony will be held for four models - Tractor of the Year, Best Utility, Best of Specialised and Sustainable TOTY - that have been selected on the basis of votes cast by an international jury of 26 journalists from trade publications.

The Tractor of the Year event will be a major attraction throughout the five days of the event. It is expected to be one of the most interesting new features of this year's EIMA International.

The open-air arena within the exhibition complex, between halls 37 and 35, has been chosen to display the finalist tractors. The audience can expect to see the fourteen models that competed for the "Tractor of the Year" on display in the open-air arena, while a speaker will introduce the technical features of each of the models. 

TOTY is an important promotional and marketing platform for the manufacturers of the tractor sector, which is able to develop substantial technological innovations every year, improve vehicle performance, and capture new user segments.

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Grid List

Event News

The DLG Spotlight 'Organic Farming' will shed light on organic crop production. (Image source: DLG)

Event News

With a wide-ranging programme focused on organic arable farming, the DLG Feldtage 2026 is all set to return at the International DLG Crop Production Center, Bernburg, from 16-18 June, exploring the theme 'Crop Production out of the Box'

The event will explore the use of ridge cultivation systems in organic farming as a concept for resilient and economically viable arable production. There will be information on organic markets and insights for organic farmers, new entrants as well as conventional farmers entering the organic farming segment. Demonstration farms specialising in organic agriculture will present innovative operational models on-site.

The DLG Spotlight 'Organic Farming' at the 2026 Feldtage will shed light on organic crop production. Trial plots will feature regionally adapted crops, and field vegetables, demonstrating their role within viable regional value chains.

A complete crop rotation will illustrate the potential of stockless organic farming systems in dry regions. There will be demonstrations and exchanges on mechanical weed control in spring crops using a hoe with 45 cm row spacing.

Agroforestry is another key theme, with demonstration plots showcasing establishment methods and the benefits of agroforestry systems in arable farming.

Ridge cultivation offers new approaches for both organic and conventional farming. In addition to classical ridge crops, farmers can grow cereals, legumes, maize and other crops using ridge systems.

This approach is characterized by loose soil structure with stable crumb formation, improved root development and enhanced soil water management.

Beyond crop management, the DLG Spotlight “Organic Farming” also provides insight into technical innovations, using Vitatill technology as an example. Key focuses include:

precise shallow cultivation (flat or contour-based), deep strip loosening below plough or cultivator layers, partial seeding and advanced mechanical crop care.

The machinery demonstrations at the DLG Feldtage will feature seven thematic areas with a total of 66 machinery combinations.

Key topics include soil-friendly and efficient tractor operation, mechanical weed control using harrows in spring durum wheat and using hoes in maize; deep non-inversion tillage before drilling; direct seeding and strip-till systems in cover crops and stubble,

The FarmRobotix area will showcase field robots in practical use, providing an overview of the current state of development of autonomous agricultural systems. All demonstrations are led by expert commentary and will take place live once per day during the event.

 

The event covered sectors such as feed and grain technology. (Image source: VIV Europe)

The seminar featured a comprehensive programme. (Image source: Aviagen)

Livestock

Zimbabwe Agri venture targets rural growth (Image credit: African Agri Council)

Livestock

AAC IDS26 001 is a young agri input retail business in Zimbabwe that is steadily gaining attention for its practical approach to serving farmers

Based in the Pixie Combie area of Kadoma, the venture was launched in March 2026 and quickly showed signs of strong demand. Farmers in the area have been actively seeking reliable access to animal feed, day old chicks, veterinary medicines, and other essential supplies, highlighting a clear gap in the local market.

The business benefits from its location in a busy farming zone where poultry, livestock, and mixed farming activities are common. With no direct competition nearby, AAC IDS26 001 has been able to attract a steady stream of customers from surrounding communities. Its leadership also adds weight to its potential, with the CEO bringing 17 years of work experience and a strong commitment to supporting the country’s agricultural sector.

The company now aims to grow beyond a basic retail outlet and become a trusted one stop hub for farmers. Plans include expanding product lines, improving stock levels, introducing delivery services, and moving into road runner breeding. These steps are expected to reduce the need for farmers to travel long distances while strengthening the business’s position in the local market.

This opportunity has been featured within the Investment Discovery Sessions, an initiative by the African Agri Council that connects promising agricultural ventures with investors and financial partners. Designed to encourage real engagement and deal making, the platform helps businesses like AAC IDS26 001 move from early success to long term growth, while offering investors access to ventures with clear demand and expansion potential.

EuroTier 2026 is set to take place from 10 to 13 November in Hanover. (Image source: DLG)

Murat Yakar, General Manager of Aviagen Arabia. (Image source: Aviagen)

Crops

Shoprite Group provided a profitable platform for growers. (Image source: Shoprite)

Agriculture

Community gardeners from Botswana came together to leverage one of the region's influential retail platform to sell their vegetable produce at Shoprite Gaborone and Checkers Airport Junction Centre in Market Day 

Working for the cause of food security in southern Africa, Shoprite Group provided a profitable platform for growers from more than 300 community gardens in the country. 

“This year Market Day provided almost 60 gardeners and co-operatives across South Africa, Namibia and Botswana with the opportunity to sell their fresh produce directly to the public, gain retail experience and strengthen the roots of small businesses that feed their communities,” said Sanjeev Raghubir, chief sustainability officer at the Group. “Customers stocked up on local peppers, spinach, parsley and many other vegetables and fruits, met the small-scale farmers and learned about their sustainable growing methods and in some instances, even purchased seedlings for their own home gardens.”

Adams Eden, which participated at the event, offers trees and seedlings at discounted prices to foster sustainability. Tree cultivation besides, the nursery is also actively tapping into crop production to address the local demand for fresh vegetables. Operating since 2021, its vision is to make Botswana green.

“Through our participation in Market Day, we gained confidence in sharing our story and explaining our growing techniques, while understanding what customers value most,” said Lerato Bwire, the founder and operator of Adams Eden.

The platform also advances skills transfer across customer relations, communication, pricing, product presentation and record-keeping, among other things.

“For each community gardener taking part in Market Day, there is a story both of individual circumstance and a pathway towards a more grounded and food secure life rooted in the soil,” said Raghubir. “The power of this day is in taking this a step further by facilitating market entry with skills training.”

Alongside Market Day, the Shoprite Group also drives the Act For Change programme to support local community gardens. “It’s exciting to see the seeds we help sow within our communities grow and flourish,” said Raghubir. “We are proud to champion the heroes of Southern African gardens and small farms, who nourish their communities and their future through their own dedication and hard work.” 

The Kampala CAADP Declaration was signed in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Image source: African Union)

Ecobank Group and AGRA have signed a MoU. (Image source: Ecobank Group)

Technology

FederUnacoma has compiled a comprehensive data on new registrations of agricultural machinery.

Machinery & Equipment

Manufacturers’ association, FederUnacoma, has observed that public incentives and proactive support schemes are integral in the face of volatilities in the agricultural machinery market driven by geopolitical instability and economic uncertainties

After studying the latest figures provided by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the Italy-based association with an ever-expanding presence in Africa and Southeast Asia has compiled a comprehensive data on new registrations of agricultural machinery. It has found that while the first quarter of 2025 recorded an upward trend the market remains vulnerable in the near future due to crisis in the Middle East.

A 11.8% decline has been seen in the transporter sector, including tractors and flatbed trailers, since the largely prospective 1Q 2025. However, there has been a growth of 2.7% in new registrations for tractors, with over 3,633 units sold (3,537 in the first quarter of 2025), and a 65% increase for combine harvesters, with 33 machines registered (20 in the same period of 2025). Telescopic handlers also performed well, recording a 46% increase with 343 units (235 sold in 2025), whilst trailers remained in line with last year’s figures (1,659 registrations, down 1.5%).

Variables linked to the conflict in the Middle East and uncertainties regarding certain incentive measures (the 5.0 credit, for example) risk negatively affecting companies’ willingness to invest and their planning, slowing down purchases of agricultural machinery. In this context, the Federation of Manufacturers believes it is more important than ever to bring measures such as hyper-amortisation and the Transition 4.0 credit into full effect. The system of public incentives – notes FederUnacoma – can play a decisive role in stabilising the domestic market during a critical economic phase such as the current one.

Africa gets its first IoT-native precision agriculture model. (Image source: MyBitSecure)

AEROSEM has multiple hopper systems. (Image source: Pottinger)

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