Enhancing Liberia’s rubber sector with innovation.

As dawn breaks in Liberia’s countryside, Moses Dolo begins his daily routine, carefully cutting rubber trees to collect the latex that drips into cups

It’s painstaking work, but one he knows well. By May, Dolo had collected nearly three tons-enough to earn about US$1,500. “Rubber farming is labor-intensive,” he says. “If you want to earn a profit as a smallholder, you need to be involved in tapping, not just rely on workers.”

But just as he was ready to sell, he was hit with crushing news: Firestone, Liberia’s largest rubber buyer, had halted all purchases. The company called the government’s new pricing policy “unsustainable.”

“I had grown used to the uncertainties of the business, fluctuating prices and irregular buyers,” Dolo remembers. “But nothing prepared me for what happened in June.” He was left with unsold latex-three tons of wasted effort and dashed hope.

This experience has been common for smallholders, who for decades relied on Firestone’s unpredictable buying habits. That changed in August when Dolo heard about the Jeety Rubber Factory in Weala, Margibi County. Built at a cost of US$35mn, the facility now buys rubber directly from smallholders at the government’s set price of us$574.06 per ton.

“The factory is a blessing,” Dolo says. “We no longer worry about whether Firestone will buy or not… they pay cash immediately. It is direct.”

For many farmers, Jeety has brought a lifeline. The government’s pricing formula includes deductions for taxes and contributions to industry bodies, leaving smallholders with a net of $545.93 per ton. The rate is based on monthly averages from the Singapore Commodity Exchange and includes a modest profit margin for processors.

Experts see this as a long-overdue correction in a market that’s long disadvantaged smallholders. Unlike Firestone, Jeety depends almost entirely on these local producers and needs far more latex than its own 4,400-hectare plantation can provide. Daily demand is expected to rise to 400 tons.

Merey Napal explains, “If you or your workers are strong enough, and your trees aren’t too old, you can sell three tons weekly, that’s US$1,722 or more monthly.”

The Jeety model has sparked a revival in smallholder confidence and planning. “Recently, many farmers have begun replanting, which is excellent for long-term sustainability,” says Jerry Sumoward, weighing nearly 11 tons at the factory yard.

With Jeety spending around US$803,000 weekly on latex, and projecting annual purchases of US$40–50mn, optimism is growing. Backed by replanting loans repaid gradually from sales, smallholders like Hawa Singbeh now see a future in rubber.

“Now, with the company’s support, I am replanting and expanding my farm… My children can see that rubber farming has a future now.”

The ambitious plan also targets cross-border agricultural trade with neighboring Togo.

The Akatsi North District Assembly has unveiled a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing mechanized agriculture, creating jobs, and promoting sustainable economic development within the region

The District Chief Executive (DCE), Bless Kodjo Katamani, announced the ambitious plan, which also targets cross-border agricultural trade with neighboring Togo.

With vast arable land and a vibrant youth population—particularly women—the district is positioned to become a hub for large-scale farming. The initiative is being supported by key development partners including Action for Humanity, the African Centre for Strategic Innovation, and Opportunity International Ghana. These partners will provide tractors and essential farm inputs to enable farmers to commence operations in the current planting season.

“This marks the beginning of a new era of hope and jobs for Akatsi North,” said Katamani. “Our vision is to empower our farmers, especially the youth and women, while producing enough food to feed Ghana and beyond.”

In addition to agricultural development, the assembly is focusing on tourism as a complementary revenue stream. Plans are underway to enhance the Ave-Dakpa crocodile pond tourist site by constructing affordable guest houses and food outlets to attract both domestic and international tourists.

To support these initiatives, the Assembly has launched a district-wide sanitation campaign to ensure a clean and healthy environment. Residents have been cautioned against indiscriminate dumping of waste, with enforcement measures, including possible prosecutions, in place to maintain cleanliness.

The district, home to over 35,000 residents—nearly half of whom are women—is also investing in inclusive growth strategies aimed at improving livelihoods and retaining youth in productive ventures. Ave-Dakpa, located on the Ho–Denu road, is already a key commercial center known for producing vegetables, maize, and other staple crops.

Through this integrated approach to agriculture, tourism, and sanitation, Akatsi North aims to accelerate development, ensure food security, and position itself as a model district in sustainable rural transformation.

Building a digital infrastructure for sustainable growth.

As Namibia gears up for the rollout of its Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), digital transformation stands out as one of the country’s most ambitious goals.

Although much of the public focus has been on food security, agriculture, and manufacturing, NDP6 quietly lays out a detailed strategy aimed at turning Namibia into a digital economy by 2030.

This transformation will touch all sectors—from classrooms and government departments to rural communities. The plan, which spans from 2025/26 to 2029/30, recognises digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and inclusive education as vital foundations for sustainable national development.

According to the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (IMEP), internet penetration is set to rise dramatically—from 53% today to 90% by 2030. The goal is to create a digitally connected society where improved access to technology, currently at 28%, will jump to 70%.

“By 2030, Namibia will be a player in the global digital economy,” the NDP6 IMEP states.

One of the centrepieces of this shift is the establishment of a National Data Centre, which will securely manage and store government information. The plan describes it as a core piece of national infrastructure, “supporting government operations, public services and private sector innovation.” It’s also a step toward securing data sovereignty, as it ensures sensitive national data remains within Namibian borders.

Cybersecurity is another critical area of focus. Namibia currently scores just 37 in cybersecurity readiness, but NDP6 is aiming to raise that to 65 by 2030. “To achieve this, Namibia will enact national cybersecurity legislation and strengthen the capacity of the Namibia Cybersecurity Incident Response Team (Nam-CSIRT),” the document states. Nam-CSIRT will be responsible for detecting and managing cyber threats across both public and private sectors.

Another major step is introducing artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity education in schools and universities. “The programme aims to support the development of AI and cybersecurity curriculum for basic and higher education institutions,” the plan outlines. This includes digital literacy training to help students understand emerging technologies and navigate digital risks.

The government also plans to close the digital gap between urban and rural communities. Underserved areas will receive upgraded broadband infrastructure, ICT-ready schools, and community internet hubs. “Namibia’s digital transformation cannot succeed if it excludes rural communities,” the strategy notes. “Affordable access, local content and digital inclusion will be the foundation of an equitable digital economy.”

Currently, just 13 public institutions offer digital services. NDP6 aims for 100% digitalisation of government services by 2029/30, enabling citizens to access essential public functions online. The implementation of the Access to Information Act will further support this goal, promoting transparent, efficient and responsive governance.

AI to help smallholder farmers increase productivity and build resilience.

Young African agripreneurs are leading the way in using artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle food security issues and modernise agrifood systems across the continent.

In a recent X Spaces live event hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Regional Office for Africa, three tech-savvy innovators from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Kenya shared how they are applying AI to help smallholder farmers increase productivity and build resilience.

The one-hour digital conversation drew nearly 200 participants and shed light on the power of youth-driven innovation in agriculture. The event formed part of FAO’s “Youth on the Frontier of Agrifood Systems” series, which aims to amplify the voices and efforts of young leaders in shaping Africa’s food future.

Among the featured entrepreneurs was Tafadzwa Chikwereti from Zimbabwe, the founder of eAgro. His company developed CropFix, a mobile AI platform that diagnoses pests, diseases, and nutrient issues using photos taken by farmers. Speaking during the session, he stressed the importance of accessibility: “The biggest challenge is rural connectivity and digital literacy. Bundling AI tools with accessible platforms is crucial for improving harvests.” He added, “We deliver these insights using platforms including SMS text messages, which are crucial for smallholder farmers without internet or smartphones.”

From Nigeria, Femi Adekoya—known as the “Flying Farmer”—spoke about how he’s combining drones and AI at Integrated Aerial Precision to advance precision agriculture. He explained: “It means applying the right thing at the right time in the right place with the right intensity. That is sustainable agriculture.” Adekoya also trains young people through the Precision Field Academy and collaborates with universities across Nigeria. “We believe African youth can be equipped with the knowledge and skills to lead this work,” he said.

Kenyan agripreneur Lavender Birike, founder of Klima360, highlighted how her platform blends climate, soil, and market data using AI to forecast risks and help both farmers and insurers make better decisions. She called for improved access to open data: “We have a lot of research data sitting in different places. If we could pass policies that enable access and provide safety frameworks, it would open opportunities for young people to develop localised solutions.” She also spoke on gender inclusion in tech: “This is an opportunity for women to be involved from the beginning.”

FAO Digital Agriculture specialist Ken Lohento closed the event by stressing that collaboration between governments, academia, private sectors, and local communities is essential to scale these innovations. He pointed to FAO initiatives like the Fostering Digital Villages (FDiVi) project as examples of how rural areas can benefit from digital and AI technologies.