Agriculture

India and Ghana partner on tomato research and agricultural technology.

India and Ghana have formalised a partnership to advance agricultural research, education and technology transfer through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, and Ghana’s Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), Accra

The agreement reinforces India’s commitment to South-South cooperation and collaboration with African countries.

The five-year agreement establishes a framework for joint agricultural research, scientific and technological exchanges, capacity building, and the application and commercialisation of agricultural technologies. Arima Farms Ltd., Ghana, facilitated the collaboration and has been recognised as CSIR-CRI’s commercial partner for specific research and commercialisation activities under the framework.

The initial phase will prioritise vegetable crop research, particularly tomato research and development. ICAR will support the wider application of proven agricultural technologies and the introduction of suitable, high-yielding tomato lines and varieties to help strengthen domestic tomato production in Ghana.

The partnership will also address the processing and value addition of cassava, yam and other tuber crops, with the aim of strengthening agricultural value chains. Additional areas of cooperation include post-harvest management, with technical assistance and capacity building in cold storage, refrigerated transport, sorting, grading and processing technologies to help reduce post-harvest losses.

Under the MoU, the two institutions will facilitate exchanges of scientists and technologists, germplasm and breeding materials, scientific information, methodologies and technical expertise. The agreement also provides for the development and implementation of collaborative research projects and the establishment of institutional links between relevant research institutes and centres in both countries to support long-term scientific cooperation.

Implementation will be overseen by a Joint Working Group comprising representatives of ICAR and CSIR-CRI. The group will assess progress, guide activities under the agreement and meet periodically in New Delhi and Accra.

By connecting agricultural research with technology development, skills development and commercial application, the partnership aims to facilitate the adoption of relevant agricultural technologies, support sustainable agricultural development and improve livelihoods in Ghana.

Oikocredit backs Tanzanian agritech firm East Africa Foods to reduce food loss and improve smallholder farmers’ incomes. (Image source: Oikocredit)

Social impact investor Oikocredit has invested in Tanzanian agritech company East Africa Foods (EAF) as part of a funding round worth approximately US$40mn to strengthen climate-resilient food supply chains across East Africa

The investment will support EAF’s expansion, reduce food loss and improve market access and incomes for up to 100,000 smallholder farmers over the coming years.

The funding will help expand EAF’s processing, storage and logistics infrastructure, alongside its digital platform. It will also enable the company to enter new markets and develop more efficient and sustainable connections between farmers and urban retailers.

Oikocredit participated in EAF’s US$26mn Series B equity round, led by the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) through its equity investment solution, InfraCo, alongside FMO, the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank. Existing shareholders ARAF, Goodwell, Africa Eats and FINCA also reinvested.

The equity round forms part of a broader capital raise of approximately US$40mn, which includes investment from existing shareholders and debt funding from the Schmidt Family Foundation.

EKTA Partners acted as the exclusive financial advisor for the transaction.

Building more resilient food supply chains

In Kenya and Tanzania, up to 40% of food produced is lost before reaching consumers. Much of this loss occurs after harvest because of inadequate aggregation, grading, storage and reliable transport infrastructure. These gaps affect the prices smallholder farmers receive for their produce and the prices urban families pay for food.

East Africa Foods was established to address these challenges by connecting farmers directly with urban retailers through an integrated supply chain. The company currently sources produce from more than 28,000 registered smallholder farmers and provides aggregation, grading, storage, processing and distribution services to more than 10,000 urban retailers.

EAF has reduced food loss by a third across its own network. Its produce reaches consumers under the group’s brands, including Onja and Golden Banana.

With the new investment, EAF plans to strengthen its presence across East Africa while exploring opportunities to enter additional markets. Its long-term ambition is to develop African-owned and African-operated food supply chain infrastructure that can withstand the growing challenges posed by climate change.

Investing in sustainable growth and lasting impact

“At Oikocredit, we believe that building climate-resilient food systems requires investment in the infrastructure that connects farmers to markets efficiently and sustainably. EAF’s integrated aggregation, storage, processing, and distribution platform helps reduce food loss across the value chain, strengthen food security for growing urban populations, and improve the resilience and incomes of smallholder farmers, commented Samuel Kibiri, senior equity officer at Oikocredit.

"By improving supply chain efficiency and creating value across the food system, EAF is well positioned to deliver lasting impact, sustainable growth, and attractive financial returns as it scales across East Africa. We are proud to support EAF on this journey and to invest alongside like-minded partners.”

Elia Timotheo, founder and CEO of East Africa Foods, said, “A third of what our farmers grow never reaches anyone’s table. That is not a farming problem: it is an infrastructure problem, and it is solvable. For the past three years we have been building the layer this market is missing: the sourcing network, the fleet, the storage, and the technology that sit between a smallholder farm and an urban shelf. This investment enables us to further improve and scale this physical and digital infrastructure. We would like to thank our investors for their support in scaling this vital infrastructure.”

Claire Jarratt, PIDG head of investment management for InfraCo, stated, “EAF’s offering aligns well with PIDG’s mandate to deliver inclusive, climate-resilient growth across the countries in which we operate. Strengthening EAF’s presence in Tanzania, and expanding its efficient, data-driven business into Kenya, will enable the company to mobilise future finance into this vital sector, underpinning improved food security across the region.”

Alongside expanding its physical infrastructure, EAF will extend training for smallholder farmers in climate-smart production methods and further develop the digital systems connecting farmers, branches and retailers. Developed in Tanzania, these systems are designed for deployment in new markets as the company expands.

Up to 100,000 smallholder farmers, 45% of them women, are expected to benefit from higher and more predictable incomes and improved climate resilience. Urban retailers are also expected to benefit from improved quality control, product traceability and more reliable access to fresh produce through EAF’s formalised supply chains.

Peter Byrde, director private equity at FMO, said, “Through our partnership with East Africa Foods, we have seen how investments in logistics, storage, processing, and digital solutions can reduce food loss, improve market access, and increase income opportunities for smallholder farmers. That’s why FMO is pleased to support EAF’s next phase of growth as it expands critical supply chain infrastructure across the region, helping to build a more efficient, resilient, and inclusive food system. By demonstrating a scalable and commercially viable model for agri-logistics, we believe EAF can help catalyse greater private sector investment into the sector and pave the way for increased commercial funding in the years ahead.”

Africa has taken a major step towards closing its long standing agricultural mechanization gap as leaders, experts and development partners gathered in Dar es Salaam for the Africa Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization

The event opened with the launch of Tanzania’s National Agricultural Mechanization Strategy 2026 to 2036, signalling a renewed continent wide push to modernise farming systems.

The strategy was unveiled by the Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mwigulu L. Nchemba, alongside FAO Deputy Director General Beth Bechdol. The conference is organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and hosted by the Tanzanian government, bringing together governments, private sector players, researchers, youth groups and farmers to share ideas and scale up solutions that work for Africa.

Opening the conference, Prime Minister Nchemba stressed that mechanization is no longer optional for the continent. “Through action, we can change Africa’s agriculture to be a mechanized sector that is sustainable, for this generation and future generations.” He noted that the new ten year plan aligns with the FAO African Union Framework for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa and places women and young people at the centre of transformation.

FAO Deputy Director General Beth Bechdol said past approaches had failed because they focused on importing machinery without building the systems needed to support it. “Mechanization today cannot look like mechanization of the past. Shipping in large machines without financing, training, repair services, or local adaptation has not delivered lasting results. Africa does not need more equipment sitting idle. It needs systems that work,” she said. She added, “At FAO we see sustainable mechanization as a catalyst for transformation not as machines replacing people, but tools empowering people, reducing back breaking labour and creating space for women to farm more productively.”

African Union Commissioner Moses Vilakati highlighted the human dimension of the agenda, saying, “Our mechanization agenda is also a dignity agenda.”

Africa still relies heavily on manual and animal labour despite holding around half of the world’s uncultivated arable land. Crop yields remain well below global averages, even though agriculture supports the majority of livelihoods. Sustainable mechanization is seen as key to boosting productivity, creating skilled jobs and supporting climate smart farming.

FAO Regional Representative Abebe Haile Gabriel said, “Choosing a new direction that embraces mechanization, digitalization, scientific innovation and inclusive policies can fundamentally transform Africa’s agrifood landscape.”

The conference will also spotlight youth employment, digital tools such as machinery hire platforms and drones, and innovative financing, as FAO reaffirms its commitment to support African countries in building a modern and resilient agricultural future.

The Ekiti State Government has launched a targeted technical training and agricultural interventions across the state to enhance livestock productivity, advance sustainable agribusiness, and boost rural livelihoods

This comes as part of the government's larger initiative to empower livestock producers and agricultural entrepreneurs via deliberate investments and capacity-building, said Ebenezer Boluwade, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, while speaking in Ado Ekiti at the Mass Artificial Insemination, Training and Induction of Inseminators programme organised by the state’s Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES).

The programme leverages modern breeding technologies to multiply breeds at a greater pace while refining animal genetics. This shift from traditional breeding concerns will address root challenges such as low yield and restricted access to superior genetic stock.

“The artificial insemination programme was designed by the state L-PRES for breed/genetic improvement and multiplication of livestock for better production,” said Boluwade.

Beyond upgrading animal stock, the programme prioritises hands-on skill development. Local farmers and newly inducted inseminators are receiving practical training to effectively execute advanced breeding techniques in the field.

By modernising farming practices, building a skilled cadre of agricultural service providers, and optimising the broader livestock value chain, the Ekiti State Government intends to foster a resilient, highly productive livestock sector that strengthens regional food security and expands commercial agribusiness opportunities.