Cow dung has long been used as a fuel booster when mixed with firewood.

In Kenya’s rural heartlands, a group of creative students is transforming everyday farm waste into an affordable and environmentally friendly fuel source

At Kilembwa Secondary School in Mwala Sub-County, Machakos County, students have successfully developed briquettes made from cow dung, offering rural farmers and households a sustainable alternative for clean cooking.

Across many farming communities, cow dung has long been used as a fuel booster when mixed with firewood. However, this traditional practice releases heavy smoke and harmful emissions, affecting both human health and the environment. The young innovators decided to explore a smarter use of this common farm by-product. Their method involves mixing cow dung with water to form a paste, adding sawdust or dry grass to improve air circulation, shaping the mixture into briquettes, and leaving them to dry in the sun for two to three days before use.

From an agricultural point of view, this simple yet effective idea gives new value to waste generated on farms. Instead of allowing dung to accumulate and create disposal challenges, it is now being converted into a useful resource. The innovation supports sustainable farming, helps cut down on the demand for firewood, and reduces the carbon footprint of rural households.

The students’ eco-briquettes burn cleaner than traditional charcoal, emitting much less smoke and carbon dioxide. As teacher Truphosa Mutua said, “The process of burning the charcoal also releases a lot of smoke and Carbon IV Oxide that damages the environment, and that is why we have come up with this idea to save our trees because we want to be a part of the solution but not the pollution.”

The project was presented during a science exhibition organised by Kenya Connect, where it gained recognition for combining agriculture, waste utilisation, and climate-smart energy practices. For local farmers, the benefits are practical and immediate - less dung to dispose of, lower household fuel expenses, and even the potential for extra income by producing and selling the briquettes.

Looking ahead, the main challenge is scaling production while maintaining quality and raising awareness about the briquettes’ advantages. If adopted widely, this agricultural waste-to-fuel innovation could reshape rural energy use across Kenya and Africa, promoting cleaner cooking, greener farms, and a more sustainable agricultural future.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault received over 21,000 new seed accessions.

Africa’s Vegetable Genebank, based at the World Vegetable Center in Arusha, Tanzania, has achieved a historic milestone by sending its largest-ever collection of traditional African vegetable seeds to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway’s Arctic region

This marks a major breakthrough in agricultural preservation and food security for the continent.

The recent shipment contained over 3,000 seed samples from 109 different vegetable and legume species, gathered from more than 30 African nations stretching from Senegal to Kenya, and from Mali to Madagascar. Among the seeds secured are nutrient-rich crops such as amaranth, jute mallow, Bambara groundnut, African eggplant and okra - varieties that play a vital role in boosting nutrition, improving livelihoods, and helping smallholder farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions.

With this latest deposit, the genebank has now protected over half of its 10,500 seed accessions in the Svalbard facility. This global backup ensures that Africa’s valuable vegetable diversity is shielded from risks like extreme weather, natural disasters or regional conflicts that could threaten seed collections.

The initiative has been made possible through strong partnerships with key organisations, including the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), the Global Crop Diversity Trust (Crop Trust), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

Sognigbe N’Danikou, head of the genebank and a senior scientist at WorldVeg, said the initiative represents more than just seed preservation. He emphasised that this deposit is “a demonstration of our commitment to preserving Africa’s vegetable heritage.” He added that each seed holds “farmer wisdom, local adaptation and cultural value,” and that securing them in Svalbard “lays a strong foundation for Africa’s food security and resilience.”

Beyond conservation, the genebank continues to share seeds with farmers, schools and researchers across Africa. Recent outreach has supported displaced farmers in Sudan and local agricultural projects in Uganda, Kenya, Benin and Somalia ensuring that the continent’s rich crop genetics remain part of daily farming life.

During the same period, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault received over 21,000 new seed accessions from around 20 genebanks globally, bringing its total collection to more than 1.37mn samples.

This record contribution highlights Africa’s growing leadership in biodiversity conservation and strengthens the continent’s path toward a more secure, sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural future.

The cannabis market evolving in South Africa.

The cannabis industry is expanding rapidly across South Africa and Zimbabwe, with the plant now used in everything from medicinal oils and pain-relief creams to health drinks and supplements

Globally, the legal cannabis market is valued at US$69.78bn and is forecast to reach US$216.76bn by 2033.

However, many are asking whether this boom truly benefits the small-scale farmers who have cultivated cannabis for generations in rural Africa. Long before colonial laws criminalised it, local communities grew the plant for medicine and income. Even during prohibition, it remained vital to rural livelihoods, paying for food, school fees, and family needs.

In 2018, South Africa’s Constitutional Court decriminalised private cannabis use, while Zimbabwe legalised its cultivation for medicinal and industrial purposes. Yet, despite these reforms, most smallholder farmers remain excluded from the legal market.

Researchers found that cannabis production has become “an exclusive business which only well off businesses can participate in.” High costs and strict regulations mean farmers who once sustained the industry now struggle to obtain licences or meet compliance standards.

In South Africa, the start-up cost for a medicinal cannabis farm can reach R3mn to R5mn, making it unattainable for rural growers. Similarly, in Zimbabwe, a five-year cultivation licence costs US$50,000, plus annual inspection fees and the expense of greenhouses often over US$220,000 for a five-hectare farm.

As a result, wealthy investors dominate the legal market, while traditional farmers continue to grow cannabis illicitly. Experts warn that this imbalance perpetuates rural inequality and undermines sustainable agricultural reform.

To make cannabis a true “green gold” for Africa, reforms must include affordable licensing, farmer cooperatives, and community–investor partnerships. Recognising the knowledge and resilience of traditional growers could ensure the crop benefits entire communities, not just corporations.

For farmers across Africa, this development could mean more predictable prices.

John Steenhuisen, South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, has applauded Zimbabwe’s decision to lift its long-standing ban on maize and grain imports, calling it a positive and timely step toward strengthening regional food security and agricultural growth

In a statement released on Wednesday, Steenhuisen described the move as “a vital step towards regional food security and economic stability,” highlighting that it marks a shift towards sound agricultural and trade policies that can benefit farmers and consumers across Southern Africa.

“This is an extremely welcome development that underscores the collective responsibility we share in ensuring food sufficiency. The agricultural sector thrives on predictability and efficiency, and restrictive trade measures though often aimed at protecting local producers can distort markets and harm consumers,” he said.

The minister further noted that reopening maize imports would help stabilise grain prices across the region and draw new investment into agribusiness. With many African farmers depending on maize both as a food crop and a source of income, this policy change could encourage cross-border collaboration and trade.

“By enabling the free flow of maize, especially white maize a staple across much of our continent Zimbabwe is sending a clear signal of confidence to agribusinesses and exporters. This will encourage investment and boost production to the benefit of all SADC member states,” Steenhuisen added.

The South African Department of Agriculture reaffirmed its commitment to work closely with neighbouring countries to foster open and fair agricultural trade. Officials emphasised that regional cooperation and market access are crucial for building sustainable growth, improving farmer livelihoods, and reducing rural poverty.

For farmers across Africa, this development could mean more predictable prices, better access to export markets, and renewed opportunities to diversify crops and expand production. As trade barriers fall, the region’s farming communities stand to gain through shared knowledge, improved logistics, and stronger ties among agricultural stakeholders.