These initiatives form part of a broader economic strategy to boost food production, create job opportunities, and address food insecurity not just in Ghana. (Image credit: MOFA)

Ghana is set to establish itself as Africa’s premier "food nation," fuelled by substantial government investments in agriculture. This transformation is being driven by ambitious infrastructure developments such as irrigation systems, state-of-the-art warehouses, and advanced processing facilities.

These initiatives form part of a broader economic strategy to boost food production, create job opportunities, and address food insecurity not just in Ghana, but across the entire African continent.

In a recent address, President Nana Akufo-Addo expressed confidence in the country’s agricultural future, stating, “We are on track to make Ghana the food hub of Africa, able to feed the rest of the continent.” This statement reflects Ghana's commitment to enhancing the entire agricultural value chain, from cultivation through to food processing and export. Akufo-Addo also highlighted the long-term benefits of this strategy, noting that it would enhance food security, industrialisation, and economic growth across the nation.

Central to Ghana’s agricultural revolution is the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme. This flagship initiative has delivered critical support to farmers by providing fertilisers, seeds, and technical expertise, resulting in significant increases in crop production. The president praised the programme, saying, “Our policies have transformed agriculture, with production levels increasing significantly across various crops.” The PFJ is not only improving yields but also fostering an environment where sustainable agriculture can thrive.

The surge in food production has opened new doors for employment, especially among the youth. Traditionally, agriculture in Ghana was perceived as a sector for older generations. However, thanks to modern, technology-driven farming practices, young people are increasingly seeing agriculture as a promising and profitable career path. Akufo-Addo noted, “The youth of Ghana are increasingly turning to agriculture as a viable and lucrative career,” adding that the government’s backing has made this shift possible, reducing youth unemployment in the process.

To reinforce its position as a leading food producer, Ghana is also investing in infrastructure to streamline food distribution. The focus is on enhancing transportation, storage, and processing systems to optimise the food supply chain and minimise post-harvest losses. Moreover, the government is strengthening the link between farmers and markets, ensuring that food production aligns with consumer demand and national requirements.

Beyond securing food for its citizens, Ghana aims to leverage its agricultural success for regional economic growth. By increasing food production, the country plans to become a key supplier to other African nations, boosting regional trade and integration. “Our goal is to ensure that Ghana becomes a leading food supplier for Africa,” the president concluded, solidifying Ghana’s aspirations as a major player in Africa’s food economy.

In summary, Ghana’s future as Africa’s food hub looks increasingly certain. Through strategic investments, innovative policies, and a deep commitment to agricultural growth, Ghana is preparing to lead the continent in food production, not only meeting its own needs but also supporting its neighbours.

Africa Processing’s new Ngolambélé plant represents more than just an expansion of industrial capacity.

Africa Processing has marked a major milestone in Cameroon’s fast-growing cocoa processing sector with the inauguration of its second industrial cocoa-grinding plant, located in Ngolambélé in the Dimako district of the East Region.

This strategic expansion builds on the success of its first facility in Mbankomo, situated in the Centre Region, and strongly reinforces Cameroon’s push toward local value addition, industrial growth, and enhanced competitiveness in the global cocoa market.

Lisette Claudia Tame Djame, CEO highlighted the uniqueness and impact of the new plant. She stated, “this is the only processing unit for Cameroonian cocoa beans that simultaneously offers products for industry and products for direct consumption. We want to transform raw material where it is produced.” She also emphasised the untapped potential of the East Region, noting that the area can support up to 12,000 tonnes of annual cocoa production making it an ideal location for industrial investment as well as an important hub for distribution toward northern markets.

Africa Processing entered the cocoa-processing landscape during the 2022–2023 season. Its pioneering Mbankomo site has already become a significant contributor, generating CFA 500 million in annual turnover and producing an estimated 8,000 tonnes of cocoa derivatives each year. The launch of its Ngolambélé facility is expected to not only strengthen production capacity but also accelerate the company’s financial performance while supporting Cameroon’s broader vision of transforming more of its cocoa domestically.

With this new addition, Africa Processing joins an elite group of major cocoa-grinding players in the country, including SIC Cacaos (Barry Callebaut), Chococam (Tiger Brands), Atlantic Cocoa, and Neo Industry. This positions the company firmly within Cameroon’s expanding industrial base and adds healthy competition to a sector that continues to experience strong demand and rising global visibility.

The country’s cocoa-processing momentum has reached an impressive milestone. During the 2024–2025 season, Cameroon surpassed the 100,000-tonne threshold for domestic cocoa grinding for the very first time. This growth has intensified competition among processors for raw beans, contributing directly to improved farm-gate prices—peaking at a record CFA 6,300 per kilogram in the 2023–2024 season. Such gains have had a meaningful positive impact on farmers’ incomes and overall industry resilience.

Africa Processing’s new Ngolambélé plant represents more than just an expansion of industrial capacity; it reflects a shift toward sustainable agricultural transformation, enhanced export potential, and the rise of Cameroon as a key cocoa-processing hub in Africa. By focusing on localised value addition and processing at the source, the company is supporting national economic diversification while helping reposition Cameroon within the global cocoa value chain.

Kakuzi Takes Lead in 2025 Kenya Avocado Excellence Awards.

Kakuzi Plc (NSE: KUKZ), one of Kenya’s most prominent agribusiness and superfoods producers, has secured a leading position in the upcoming 2025 Kenya Avocado Excellence Awards (KAEA).

The company, widely recognised for its premium-quality avocados supplied to both local and international markets, has received four nominations further reinforcing its reputation as a well-structured, diversified, and vertically integrated agricultural enterprise.

The Kenya Avocado Excellence Awards, hosted annually by the Avocado Society of Kenya, celebrate excellence across the avocado value chain. The sixth edition of this prestigious event is set to take place on 5 December 2025 at the Argyle Grand Hotel in Nairobi, where top performers in the industry will be acknowledged for their contribution to Kenya’s growing avocado sector.

Kakuzi’s four nominations cover significant categories that reflect its scale and expertise. These include the Large-Scale Orchards category, recognising its expansive Murang’a estates covering more than 100 acres; the Nursery and Seedlings Growers category; a nomination for Large-Scale Exporter, awarded to producers with over 200 containers shipped; and Auxiliary Services, highlighting its advanced and efficient packhouse operations. These nominations underscore the company’s influence across multiple stages of the avocado supply chain.

Speaking about the recognition, Kakuzi Managing Director Mr Chris Flowers said: “This recognition belongs to our exceptional teams for their collective efforts to position Kenya as a globally competitive producer of avocados.” He also praised the dedication of Kakuzi staff both in the field and at the packhouse, emphasising that the nominations “reflect the continuous commitment to producing quality avocados.”

Mr Flowers reaffirmed the company’s plans to strengthen its collaboration with smallholder growers, adding: “We will continue collaborating and empowering smallholder avocado farmers through technical training and capacity building to enable market access.”

Kakuzi currently operates 963 hectares of certified avocado production, making it one of the region’s largest producers. The company also runs an extensive outgrower scheme, helping hundreds of small-scale farmers improve production standards and access export markets. Additionally, Kakuzi provides free avocado maturity-testing services, ensuring that fruit meets the strict quality requirements demanded by export destinations.

These award nominations come shortly before the release of Kakuzi’s 2024 sustainability report, reaffirming the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship, ethical production, and social responsibility under its ESG framework. As sustainability and global market competitiveness become increasingly important for Kenya’s horticultural sector, Kakuzi’s recognition highlights its leadership in responsible agricultural practices.

The 2025 Kenya Avocado Excellence Awards will celebrate not only Kakuzi’s achievements but also the wider industry’s strides towards innovation, sustainability, and world-class production standards.

Africa’s future lies not in isolated interventions but in a cohesive, interlinked agricultural framework. (Image credit: AAII)

The African Agri Investment Indaba, held last week, shifted the continent’s agricultural conversation from individual innovations to a far more ambitious and unified vision.

Rather than celebrating isolated breakthroughs, the event framed African food security as dependent on an integrated technological ecosystem one where drones, circular bio-economies and intelligent infrastructure operate as interconnected components of a resilient agricultural system.

The dialogue quickly moved beyond the familiar question of what each technology could achieve. Instead, speakers explored the transformative potential unlocked when these tools work in concert. Gerrit van Rensburg of SkyFarmers opened the discussion by demonstrating how modern agricultural drones had evolved far beyond aerial spraying. These machines now collect granular, real-time data that identifies precisely where interventions are needed. He argued that such information forms the essential “foundational layer” of every smart and responsive farm.

Building on this, Gerald Nel of Grüner and FARA presented how that data could power the Integrated Bio-Circular Networks Africa (IBNA). Within this model, predicted crop residues and agricultural waste cease to be by-products. Instead, they become vital resources converted into renewable energy and organic fertiliser that feed back into farms and processing centres. This closed-loop system illustrated how data-driven production and circular resource use reinforce one another.

The system’s environmental benefits were then linked directly to financial opportunity. Sabrina Basson of EmitiQ explained how regenerative practices, supported by precision insights and circular processes, contribute to measurable carbon sequestration. She showed that these gains allow farmers to access carbon markets, effectively turning improved soil health into a new revenue stream. This, she noted, creates a powerful economic rationale for adopting sustainable farming practices.

Yet improved production meant little without safeguarding harvests. Bühler’s Marco Sutter highlighted the next critical step: smart storage solutions capable of drastically reducing post-harvest losses. With nearly 30% of Africa’s grain historically wasted after harvest, his presentation underscored how intelligent silos able to detect spoilage, pests and mycotoxins protect the value created throughout the farming cycle.

Finally, Roble Sabrie of the FAO brought the conversation full circle by linking technological progress to trade and food access. He emphasised that even the most advanced farming systems depend on reliable transport routes. Efficient pathways such as the Lobito Corridor, he explained, are essential: “Corridors are the circulatory system,” he said, “moving healthy produce from robust agricultural hearts to hungry markets.” Cutting logistics costs by nearly half, these corridors ensure that the gains made on farms reach regional consumers and global markets.

By the close of the Indaba, one message was unmistakable: Africa’s future lies not in isolated interventions but in a cohesive, interlinked agricultural framework. This vision where precision data enables circular economies, environmental gains are monetised, production is protected by intelligent storage, and goods travel efficiently to market offers investors a compelling, systemic opportunity. It promises an agricultural transformation that is resilient, competitive and genuinely future-ready.