The event saw representatives from FAO. (Image source: FAO)

FAO South Sudan recently convened a peer review meeting to validate findings on the effectiveness of its seed system investments across five states in the country

The event was geared to assess and strengthen the draft report “Assessing the Effectiveness of Resilience Interventions Through Investments in Seed Systems.” 

The event saw representatives from FAO, relevant partners, and technical experts from the United Nations, non-governmental organisations, research institutions, and civil society organisations. Participants provided feedback on a report assessing FAO’s investments in community-based seed production, seed fairs, and direct seed distribution. The evaluation used the Resilience Index Measurement and Analysis II (RIMA-II) methodology to address the 'what' of the outcomes and was complemented by a qualitative tool to explore the 'why' behind the observed results.

“Strengthening local seed systems – including traditional varieties – alongside promoting commercial seed production is essential to support agriculture in South Sudan,” said Felix Dzvurumi, Head of Programme, FAO South Sudan.

“I found this peer review to be both informative and engaging, exceeding my expectations. I appreciate the opportunity to participate in this meeting and learn from FAO's resilience interventions in seed systems,” said Isaac Jebaseelan, Roving Coordinator, South Sudan FSLC.

“The peer review on how seed systems contribute to resilience aligns with the Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster's efforts to promote the sustainability of local seed production and ensure its timely availability to local farmers, thereby supporting collective initiatives aimed at enhancing food security in South Sudan,” said Mat Gai, Cluster Coordinator, South Sudan FSLC.

US$10.12mn grant to boost resilient agriculture and livelihoods for rural communities in Zimbabwe. (Image source:

The board of directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a US$10.12mn grant from the African Development Fund, the Bank’s concessional lending arm, to enhance sustainable agriculture and build climate resilience in Zimbabwe’s drought-prone regions

The funding will support the Zimbabwe Agricultural Value Chain and Livelihoods Enhancement Project (AVCLEP), expected to directly benefit 7,000 livestock-keeping farmers and 42,000 smallholder and crop farmers.

The project aims to increase sustainable crop and livestock productivity, improve access to markets, and promote value chain integration for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the agricultural sector. It will be implemented across Matabeleland South, Masvingo, and Bulawayo Metropolitan Province—areas with high livestock populations that are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events.

Zimbabwe continues to face challenges such as macroeconomic instability and the impacts of climate change, including floods, droughts, and storms, which disproportionately affect rural communities.

"This investment represents a critical intervention to build climate resilience and improve food security in Zimbabwe's most vulnerable agricultural communities," said Moono Mupotola, African Development Bank's deputy director general for Southern Africa and country manager for Zimbabwe. "By rehabilitating existing infrastructure and introducing climate-smart agricultural practices, the project will transform livelihoods in areas that have historically suffered from drought and limited access to water resources."

AVCLEP will focus on promoting climate-smart agricultural productivity and enhancing agricultural value chains. Planned initiatives include the rehabilitation of dip tanks, development of solar-powered boreholes, and strengthening of crop-livestock value chains. These measures aim to improve food and nutrition security and enhance climate resilience. Additionally, the project will support integrated land use planning, landscape restoration, and catchment management to improve water availability.

Further components include capacity building, social inclusion, and knowledge management—fostering technical training, gender equality, and youth empowerment. Strong project management mechanisms will ensure implementation aligns with the Bank’s procedures.

The project prioritises the inclusion of women (50%) and youth (20%), while an estimated 90,000 community members are expected to benefit indirectly from improved access to water, veterinary services, and livelihoods support.

Employment generation is also a major goal, with the project set to create 200 full-time and 2,800 seasonal jobs in the crop and livestock value chains. Average monthly household incomes in the target areas are projected to increase from US$85 to US$120.

Implementation is scheduled to begin in June 2025 and conclude by December 2029.

The African Development Bank continues to play a vital role in supporting Zimbabwe’s rural transformation, with this latest initiative contributing to efforts that have already helped to reduce food insecurity and poverty.

“This Project will enhance adaptive capacity, promote sustainable economic opportunities, and strengthen the resilience of rural communities to climate change within the target areas,” commented Martin Fregene, director of the African Development Bank’s Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department. “We look forward to working with all key stakeholders during the project implementation, to drive impactful solutions in the target areas which have been negatively affected by climate change.”

AVCLEP reflects the Zimbabwean government's dedication to boosting agricultural productivity and mitigating climate change impacts. By combining infrastructure rehabilitation with climate-smart practices, the initiative is expected to deliver measurable improvements in food security and household incomes.

Angata specialises in customised fertiliser blending. (Image source: Invictus Investment)

Invictus Investment Company Plc, a prominent agro-food enterprise in the Middle East and Africa, has agreed to acquire a 65% stake in Angata, a leading fertiliser blending company based in Lobito, Angola.

The deal, executed through Mauritius-based Dagro Chemical Limited, awaits regulatory approvals and is the company’s third major acquisition in Africa, following purchases of Merec Industries in Mozambique and a 60% stake in Morocco’s Graderco.

Angata specialises in customised fertiliser blending, tailoring products to Angola’s diverse soil and crop needs, with a production capacity of 100,000 metric tonnes annually and plans to expand by the end of 2025.

Its offerings include urea, phosphates like di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), potassium, trace elements, and boron, alongside imported pesticides and other farming essentials.

Located in the strategic Lobito corridor, Angata benefits from rail connections to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mineral-rich regions, positioning it to serve farmers in Angola and neighboring markets.

“Our acquisition of Angata marks another major milestone in our continued expansion in Africa following our earlier transactions in Mozambique and Morocco,” said Amir Daoud Abdellatif, CEO of Invictus Investment.

“It also signals a strategic shift – broadening our capabilities beyond trading into the agro-input segment where we can directly support farmers and strengthen the ecosystems that feed regional and global supply chains. Angata’s fertiliser blending expertise addresses a critical gap in farm productivity and gives us a direct connection to farmers. We see it as a strategic base for us to source and process more commodities in Angola and cater to both local consumption and export markets.”

“We are pleased to be working with Invictus Investment and view this partnership as a catalyst for long term growth,” said Christian Louvet, director general, Angata.

“Invictus Investment brings the reach and operational capabilities needed to scale the business and broaden our impact in the region. The focus now is on expanding what we do well, helping farmers grow their productivity and playing a stronger role in Angola’s agricultural economy.”

This acquisition marks Invictus Investment’s entry into Angola’s agro-input sector, a market with significant growth potential. The company aims to continue its expansion across Africa, targeting majority stakes in leading ventures to build a fully integrated agro-food enterprise.

As financial advisor, Afreximbank’s Advisory and Capital Markets (ACMA) role will involve leveraging its network to mobilise the US$1.7bn capital needed for the project’s execution. (Image Source: Canva Pro)

As financial advisor, Afreximbank’s Advisory and Capital Markets (ACMA) role will involve leveraging its network to mobilise the US$1.7bn capital needed for the project’s execution

The project, a transformative coal-to-fertiliser facility to be built in Kriel, South Africa, aims to promote sustainable agriculture. Cutting-edge fertiliser technologies will be used, including air products gasification, with the expectation on enhancing food security within the region.

Supported by a consortium of leading energy and industrial companies, the project represents a significant investment in South Africa’s industrial agriculture future with the aim of reducing dependency on imported fertilisers.

Suiso was recently formed to focus on the manufacture of ammonia and fertiliser using a fossil-fuel gasification process. The intention is to build a more resilient and sustainable agricultural market across Sub-Saharan Africa with more efficient fertiliser application rates and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.