Crops

Dr Stanford Blade highlighted ICRISAT's commitment to advancing research quality and services. (Image source: ICRISAT)

In an attempt to boost soil health technology and practices, ICRISAT is strengthening ties between Asia and Africa 

The eighth Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) meeting was held from 11-13 November at FAO Headquarters in Rome, during which Dr Pushpajeet Choudhari, soil scientist at ICRISAT and chair of the Asian Soil Laboratory Network (SEALNET), represented the organisation.

Building on its active membership in SEALNET, ICRISAT is set to align efforts with the African Soil Laboratory Network (AFRILAB) and NARS partners. Elh Moudi Moustapha Abdourahaman, GLOSOLAN chair, and Dr Choudhari discussed plans to bolster ICRISAT’s African soil laboratories, aligning them with the AFRILAB network to further strengthen regional soil health initiatives.

Registered in GLOSOLAN since 2019, ICRISAT’s Charles Renard Analytical Laboratory (CRAL) delivers high quality analytical service for farmers and other stakeholders. As a member of ​SEALNET, CRAL has been engaged in developing and harmonising analytical methods in compliance with FAO GLOSOLAN. 

During the meeting, Dr Choudhari updated GLOSOLAN delegates on SEALNET’s progress, highlighting key outcomes from the eighth SEALNET meeting with a focus on knowledge-sharing and harmonising soil testing methods across the region. 

"Our collaboration with FAO's Global Soil Laboratory Network marks a significant milestone in this effort. We are proud to contribute to this network, which is dedicated to strengthening regional and global soil laboratories in support of the global mission to improve soil health," said Dr Stanford Blade, Interim Director General and Deputy Director General-Research, ICRISAT, highlighting ICRISAT's commitment to advancing research quality and services.

The Myco'Kingdom platform gathers seven functionalities for identifying, assessing, preventing and managing mycotoxin risk. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Global livestock and crop farming solutions company, Olmix has recently launched its new platform MycoKingdom.net, dedicated to managing and understanding mycotoxin risk

The initiative aims to address a growing concern involving the presence of mycotoxins in a wide variety of crops such as corn and wheat. This can pose a major threat to animal nutrition since mycotoxins can have a detrimental impact on animal health if not appropriately controlled.

In order to minimise economic losses linked to contaminationhe, the Myco'Kingdom platform gathers seven functionalities for identifying, assessing, preventing and managing mycotoxin risk. Among the tools on offer is Myco’Essential, now available in a digital version, a real guide containing general information on the nature of mycotoxins (around 30 different molecules studied belonging to 9 families) and more specific information on their effects on animals and the level of toxicity of the most common mycotoxins. In addition, the Myco’Simulator provides an in-depth understanding of mycotoxins. It shows the structure of the six main mycotoxins to learn about their physico-chemical behavior, which gives them th eir toxicity.

It is important to keep in mind the need for correct sampling since it accounts for 80% of laboratory analytical errors. To avoid errors, the Myco'Kingdom platform comes with a sampling procedure outlining the best practices for collecting feed samples to ensure accurate mycotoxin studies. The Myco’Screen service offers different types of analysis, including rapid methods and full screenings (up to 44 mycotoxins per sample) using chromatography.

The following tools have been used to build the reputation of the platform in recent years:

1. Myco'Evaluator: A diagnostic tool.

2. Myco'Calculator: Optimises the use of the platform's solutions.

In the event of a proven risk, Olmix offers two solutions:

1. MT.X+: In powder form, this is suitable for feed mills and premix producers.

2. MMi.S: The microgranulated version of this is particularly suitable for direct use on farms.

“Thanks to this platform of interactive tools, designed for simple, intuitive navigation, Olmix is extending its range of services to support livestock professionals on a daily basis: nutritionists, formulators, technicians, veterinarians and breeders,” explained Marie Gallissot, head of the mycotoxin solutions range at Olmix.

Ripe and mature cashew nut inserted in the full-size, rose-coloured cashew apple. (Image source: Omex)

Dr Terry Mabbett speaks with Omex Agrifluids technical sales manager, Ben Odunlami and export sales manager, Oskar Winkler about the foliar application of their products to nut tree crops like cashew

Africa continues to achieve phenomenal growth in the production of cashew with recent rates reaching 7% per annum. The African cashew market was worth US$822.49mn in 2024 and is expected to reach US$984.91mn by 2029. The leading African producer is Cote d’Ivoire which now accounts for 40% of African production. Following on is Nigeria, Benin and Tanzania with Ghana, Guinea Bissau and Burkina Faso as other significant players. Africa as a whole produces 2.4 mn metric tonnes of cashew per annum and representing 60% of the global production.   

The Francophone country’s gross cashew production more than doubled from 460,000 metric tonnes in 2013 to 1.1 mn metric tonnes in 2021. During the same period shelled cashew nut production grew from 30,000 metric tonnes to 110,000 metric tonnes. In 2023, gross cashew production grew by a phenomenal 19% to reach 1.22 mn metric tonnes. 

"Foliar application of high quality soluble nutrient products is the way to feed the cashew tree," said Omex Agrifluids technical sales manager, Dr Ben Odunlami and export sales manager, Oskar Winkler. Omex Agrifluids is a research and development based company and a world leader in the design and manufacture of soluble nutrient products in both liquid and solid delivery systems and tailor-made for foliar application to a huge range of crops including tropical fruit and nut tree crops like cashew. This crop is virtually unique in this respect because it yields a commercially soft ‘pseudo-fruit’ called the cashew apple (which actually is the swollen receptacle); and the kidney-shaped and bean-like hard nut which as the true fruit is inserted into the cashew apple.

Seedlings in the nursery 

As with virtually all tropical tree crops, life for the cashew tree starts in the nursery as tiny seedling trees requiring rapid root establishment and fast foliar growth prior to transplanting into the field. Dr Mabbett asked Odunlami and Winkler what Omex has to offer cashew growers across Africa who want the fast, strong growth of seedling trees essential for successful establishment post-transplanting. “A pair of products called Omex Bio 20 and Omex 3X Emulsion”, said Odunlami and Winkler.

Ben Odunlami told African Farming how Omex Bio 20 is a highly concentrated liquid emulsion product providing growers with the full range of macronutrients, mesonutrients (magnesium) and micronutrients, with the latter in the chelated form, and with something special extra too. That is an organic extract derived from a specific marine alga (seaweed) and which delivers a biostimulation dimension to tree seedling growth and establishment. “Omex Bio 20 stimulates root growth and development and will mitigate the physiological stress experienced by young, tender seedlings whether from abiotic factors like temperature and moisture or biotic factors including pests and diseases,” Odunlami told African Farming.  

“But what about cashew growers in countries where Omex Bio 20 may not be available,” Dr Mabbett asked. “This is where Omex 3X Emulsion comes in as a sound and equivalent alternative”, said Winkler, highlighting that this fully water soluble fertiliser contains NPK macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium), magnesium and chelated trace elements (micronutrients). Recommendations are for foliar sprays to the young seedlings in the nursery and again when transplanted into the field. Omex Bio 20 is applied at 2.5 ml/l of water to seedlings in the nursery and transplanted seedlings. Omex 3X Emulsion is applied at 2.5 ml/l.

Juvenile plants in the field

Next plant growth and development stage to consider is juvenile plants having been transplanted into field and needing to be put on fast and robust vegetative growth. ”Omex Bio 20 or Omex 3X Emulsion is applied at 1 l/ha at monthly intervals for fast foliar growth and alongside Omex Zibo, one of Omex’s newest and most novel products, and specifically to deliver strong tree root systems through fast but disease resilient growth Ben and Oskar told African Farming. Omex Zibo is a highly concentrated liquid suspension product containing zinc (22.10% w/v) and twinned with boron (7.30% w/v).

“Zinc is pivotal in the formation and modulation of enzymes which are critical in the early stages of root and shoot development and is also important in the production of proteins from amino acids and therefore clearly important during periods of rapid plant tissue growth. Zinc also helps to maintain membrane permeability, thus enhancing stress tolerance,” said Odunlami. "Role of Boron is no less important and together with zinc is closely involved with the synthesis of cell wall material and the transport of sugars and therefore has crucially important tissue strengthening and growth consolidation roles,” said Winkler. Like Omex Bio 20, Zibo is applied as a foliar spray at monthly intervals and at a rate of 0.5 l/ha.

Mature plants

Cashew trees now mature and typically start to flower and bear fruit in the third or fourth year and reach maximum fruit yield by year 7, continuing to receive two spray applications of Omex Bio 20 or Omex 3X Emulsion one month apart and at an elevated rate of 3 l/ha, with the specific aim and purpose of providing complete, total nutrition with continued biostimulation to tree growth. 

Odunlami and Winkler said that high calcium products were critical at this flowering and fruiting stage. “Omex can offer cashew growers three products high in soluble calcium,” said Odunlami. Omex Calmax (22.50% CaO w/v); Omex Calmax Gold (24% CaO w/v) and Omex CalMaxB (22.50% CaO w/v plus 1.53% B w/v) and all sprayed twice at an interval of one month and at a rate of 2.0 l/ha. Key purpose of these Omex CalMax products is to strengthen cell walls, suppress disease and enhance the shelf life of harvested cashew.

Calcium plays a crucial and critical role in tissue strength as a component of calcium pectate which cements plant cells together. Last but not least is two more spray applications of Omex Zibo, four weeks apart and at a rate of 2.0 l/ha. The zinc and boron nutrients in Omex Zibo enhance flower fertility and minimise the abortion of flowers and newly-formed fruits.

Next is the fruit development stage with repeat applications of Omex CalMax, Omex CalMax Gold or Omex CalMaxB. Several (2 to 3) sprays are given one month apart and at a rate of 2 l/ha. This repeat application is to reinforce the cell wall strengthening, disease mitigation and shelf life improvement benefits of calcium. Also, one of two high potassium (K) products, Omex K41 (41.0% K2O w/v) or Omex Sequential 2 (40.0% K2O w/v) is applied at 2.0 l/ha to maximise the transport of soluble sugars to the fruit.

Cashew trees having started to flower and fruit in year 3 or 4 and having attained maximum production by year 7 must be kept in tip-top condition with regular applications of high maintenance Omex products. These are Omex Bio 20 or Omex 3X Emulsion at 2 l/ha once per month for total nutrition with the accompanying biostimulation of foliar growth and Omex Zynergy (Zn 4.72% w/v; Cu 2.66% w/v; SO3 9.10% w/v) with the express purpose of promoting and maintaining plant health.

“With this achieved, there is no reason why cashew growers cannot get between 30 and 50 years of good cropping,” Odunlami and Winkler told African Farming. 

The agricultural machinery market is growing in Southeast Asia and Africa, driven by population growth and demand for advanced farming technology. (Image source: EIMA)

The agricultural machinery market is shifting towards emerging regions like Southeast Asia and Africa, driven by population growth and increasing demand for advanced farming technologies in countries like Indonesia, Nigeria, and Ethiopia

In the coming years, while Europe and North America will remain dominant in the agricultural machinery sector, emerging markets in Southeast Asia and Africa are expected to play an increasingly important role. Countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand are already witnessing growth in machinery imports, driven by population expansion, which is also a key factor fueling demand in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Although Europe and North America will continue to see significant investments to maintain high standards, the focus of growth will shift to Southeast Asia and Africa. While India and China will maintain their mechanisation levels, having achieved significant progress in recent years, it is the emerging markets that will drive growth. This forecast was shared during the EIMA International conference in Bologna, where industry experts discussed the evolving agricultural machinery market, which will run from 6 to 10 November.

According to Mariateresa Maschio, president of FederUnacoma, the demand for agricultural machinery will grow substantially in regions with strong agricultural development, spurred by population growth and the need for more advanced equipment. A prominent example is Indonesia, which, with nearly 300 million people, is one of the most populous nations globally. Over the last 15 years, Indonesia's agricultural machinery imports have steadily increased from EUR 140 million (approx. US$160mn) in 2009 to nearly EUR 700 million (approx. US$770mn) in 2023, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 8.6%. This upward trend is expected to persist, with a projected annual growth rate of 6.7% from 2024 to 2027.

Other Southeast Asian countries are also experiencing rising machinery imports. In Vietnam, with a population of 100 million, imports are expected to grow by 6.2% annually over the next four years. The Philippines, with 110 million people, anticipates a 7.8% annual increase in imports, while Thailand, after a slow growth period of just 1% annually over the last 15 years, is forecasted to see a significant rise of 6.8% annually from 2024 to 2027.

In Africa, population growth is even more pronounced. Sub-Saharan Africa alone is projected to account for 50% of the world’s population increase by 2050. Nigeria, with 230 million people, is expected to become the third most populous country globally by mid-century, surpassing 400 million. Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, both with populations over 100 million, are also poised to experience rapid growth and join the ranks of the world’s top 10 most populous nations in the next two decades.

Currently, only 46% of Nigeria’s arable land is used for agriculture, while in the Democratic Republic of Congo, just 10% is utilised. Expanding agricultural land is a key priority for these countries, and as more land is cultivated, the demand for advanced agricultural technologies is expected to rise. In fact, machinery imports in Ethiopia are projected to grow by 7% annually until 2027, while Congo is forecasted to see an even higher increase of 12% per year, with continued growth over the next two decades.