AfCFTA Secretariat and AGRA collaborated to drive agricultural trade.

The African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat and AGRA have strengthened their collaboration in a renewed effort to boost trade within Africa, placing agriculture at the heart of economic growth and food security.

The announcement was made on 14 February during a high level gathering held alongside the 39th African Union Summit, signalling a clear intent to move from policy ambition to practical delivery.

H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, and Alice Ruhweza, President of AGRA, formalised the partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement ushers in a new chapter of cooperation focused on ensuring that the AfCFTA framework translates into real improvements for agricultural markets across the continent.

With 50 countries now having ratified the AfCFTA Agreement, the focus is turning firmly towards implementation. Agriculture has emerged as a priority sector, given its central role in livelihoods, employment and food systems. Leaders see enormous potential for the sector to shift Africa’s position in global trade by encouraging value addition and strengthening regional supply chains.

H.E. Wamkele Mene, said, “The AfCFTA offers Africa a historic opportunity to shift from exporting raw commodities to building regional value chains that create jobs, raise farmer incomes and strengthen food security. Our partnership with AGRA is about moving from ambition to execution, ensuring that agricultural trade delivers tangible benefits for producers, processors and consumers across the continent.”

At the core of this renewed partnership is the AfCFTA Agri Trade Action Plan. The plan outlines practical measures aimed at reducing non tariff barriers, improving trade facilitation, encouraging value addition and attracting investment into regional agricultural value chains. These efforts are expected to create a more enabling environment for farmers and agribusinesses to trade more efficiently across borders.

Alice Ruhweza, said, “Trade will not transform Africa’s food systems unless farmers and agri enterprises are able to produce competitively, meet international quality standards, and connect to reliable markets.This partnership is about making intra African food trade work in practice—linking policy to delivery so that agriculture becomes a driver of inclusive growth, resilience and shared prosperity.”

By combining policy leadership with practical agricultural expertise, the AfCFTA Secretariat and AGRA aim to ensure that farmers, processors and consumers all benefit from a more integrated African market. Their shared vision is simple yet powerful: to enable agriculture to unlock opportunity, strengthen resilience and create shared prosperity throughout the continent.

The launch marks a significant step in improving access to modern farm equipment for growers across the coastal region and nearby counties. (Image credit: Capital Business)

CFAO Kenya has expanded its presence in the country’s agricultural sector with the opening of a new Case IH machinery showroom at Mnazi Mmoja in Mombasa.

The launch marks a significant step in improving access to modern farm equipment for growers across the coastal region and nearby counties.

The facility was officially opened during a ceremony attended by senior representatives from CNH Industrial, CFAO Kenya and officials from Mombasa County. The investment reflects growing confidence in Kenya’s farming potential and the rising demand for reliable mechanisation.

Vincent DeLassange, Vice President of CNH Middle East and Africa, said, “We are keen to build partnerships with Kenyan farmers and support the country’s agricultural transformation. We do this through world-class technology, and continuous technical support,” he said.

CFAO Group Chairman and Country Delegate Ambassador Dennis Awori said,“CFAO Group’s investment in this world-class facility demonstrates our long-term commitment to supporting Kenya’s farmers with the technology and services they need to compete globally. We believe that agricultural mechanisation is fundamental to achieving food security, creating employment, and driving rural prosperity across this nation.”

Mombasa Deputy Governor Francis Thoya welcomed the development, noting its potential to create employment and strengthen food production in the county. “This is a testament of our unwavering resolve to ensure that key partnerships prioritise our local farmers. The county’s commitment to backing private investments that boost farm productivity and create jobs in adequate food security, as well as yield improvement is on the rise. We thank CFAO Kenya for their solid investment in the sector,” he said.

The new showroom offers a broad selection of Case IH tractors ranging from 55 to 700 horsepower. Smaller scale farmers can access the compact JXT series designed for orchards, greenhouses and modest plots. Row crop growers are catered for through the FARMALL JXM and JX Straddle models, which feature improved transmission and hydraulic performance.

Larger commercial operations are supported by the Maxxum and Puma ranges, built for demanding field work and heavier lifting requirements. All models are fitted with fuel efficient engines, safety features and backed by trained technicians. Fuel tank capacity varies by model, ranging from 60 to 395 litres.

Beyond tractors, the outlet also supplies ploughs, disc harrows, boom sprayers and planters compatible with Case IH equipment. The new centre is expected to make it easier for farmers in the coastal belt to access machinery, spare parts and maintenance services, strengthening agricultural productivity in the region.

Ghana's cocoa crisis is a strain on farmers economy.

The Centre for Democratic Movement, a civil society organisation in Ghana, has strongly criticised the government’s decision to reduce the cocoa producer price to GH¢2,587 per 64 kilogram bag.

The group believes the move will cause serious hardship for cocoa farmers and weaken rural communities that depend heavily on the crop for survival.

In a statement released on 12 February 2026, the CDM described the reduction as a “heartless assault on rural survival”. According to the group, the new price fails to reflect the realities farmers face, including rising production costs, inflation and the general economic strain across the country. Many growers are already struggling to stay afloat, and the CDM argues that this decision only deepens their burden.

The organisation further labelled the policy shift a “monumental betrayal” of public trust. It pointed to promises made during the 2024 election campaign, when government figures including President John Dramani Mahama and Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson assured farmers of better returns. The CDM recalled commitments that producers would receive at least GH¢6,000 per bag under the current administration. Instead, farmers have been confronted with a significant reduction, a development that has left many shocked and disappointed.

Beyond the financial impact, the CDM warned of possible social and environmental consequences. It suggested that if cocoa farming becomes less rewarding, some farmers may abandon their farms in search of other sources of income. In particular, it raised concerns about galamsey, or illegal mining, which has been linked to deforestation, soil damage and polluted water bodies.

The criticism from the CDM reflects broader unease across the country. The Minority in Parliament has also spoken against the price cut, describing it as damaging and without precedent. While some argue that falling global cocoa prices influenced the adjustment, others insist that farmers, many of whom are still waiting for payments for previous deliveries, should not bear the cost of wider market challenges.

FAO experts warn food waste could fuel the spread of antimicrobial resistance.(Image credit: FAO)

Food loss and waste may be playing a larger role in the spread of antimicrobial resistance than previously recognised, according to experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Specialists at the agency say discarded food can act as a breeding ground for resistant microbes and genes, and should be included in national and global strategies that monitor and manage antimicrobial resistance.

Their findings are outlined in a new scientific review titled “Risk of antimicrobial resistance spreading via food loss and waste,” published in Infectious Diseases of Poverty. The study was led by four FAO experts, including Junxia Song, a senior animal health officer who now serves as Chief of the One Health and Disease Control Branch at FAO.

“Linking food loss and waste to AMR is both timely and strategic, as it creates an opportunity for coordinated action that reduces waste while strengthening global efforts to contain AMR,” said Junxia.

Antimicrobial resistance is already a growing global threat. The agricultural sector plays a significant part, with animal production responsible for nearly three quarters of antibiotic sales worldwide. Traces of drug residues and resistant genes have been detected in food sold at retail level and during consumption, particularly in meat, but also in vegetables such as carrots, lettuce and tomatoes. As resistance grows, medicines become less effective, contributing to millions of deaths each year.

The review highlights that food waste offers ideal conditions for bacteria to thrive. Research on kitchen waste and refuse from schools and hospitals has revealed high levels of genes resistant to a wide range of antibiotics, sometimes including newer treatments. In some cases, food waste has shown even greater concentrations of resistant genes than sewage sludge or swine manure, both long known to drive the environmental spread of resistance.

Animal based food waste appears to pose the greatest concern, especially fish waste. The authors stress the importance of prompt collection and proper control of discarded food. While composting can be beneficial, it may sometimes increase resistant genes unless carefully managed with full cycle processes and high temperatures. Anaerobic digestion, widely used to produce biogas, may help reduce antimicrobial resistance if the right techniques are applied.

Landfills remain a major destination for food waste. These sites can intensify risks, particularly when mixed with industrial, agricultural and medical waste, or when exposed to animals and water sources.

Thanawat Tiensin,FAO Assistant Director General and Chief Veterinarian, said,“Food is everyone’s business, and safeguarding its safety is a shared responsibility. Reducing the spread of AMR through food loss and waste demands coordinated action across every sector.”

The report calls for more research, especially in low and middle income countries where antimicrobial use is rising. It also highlights FAO initiatives such as InFARM and RENOFARM, which support countries in strengthening surveillance and reducing reliance on antimicrobials through a One Health approach.