The mixing share with wings and the double spiked roller ensure the desired working result up to a working depth of 40 cm. (Image credit: LEMKEN GmbH & Co.)

LEMKEN has introduced the Onyx subsoiler, an innovative tillage implement designed to offer farmers a robust and versatile solution for deep soil loosening

With working depths of up to 60 cm, the Onyx completes LEMKEN’s range of tillage tools and provides a professional option for those seeking efficient soil management. Available in two rigid versions, the Onyx MR/300 (3.0 metres working width) and Onyx MR/400 (4.0 metres working width), this subsoiler is built to meet the highest demands of modern farming.

The Onyx subsoiler is distinguished by its simple yet exceptionally durable design. Unlike many competitors, the frame is not assembled but is carefully welded together, ensuring maximum stability and longevity. It also features an impressive 90 cm underframe clearance, which provides ample space to the base frame even at maximum working depth. The design includes two beams spaced 84 cm apart, ensuring easy access for maintenance and inspection, further enhancing its user-friendly nature.

At the heart of the Onyx is its sophisticated share system, available in two variants designed for different tillage effects. The shares are positioned at a 42.5 cm line spacing and are hard-faced as standard, with an option for carbide coating to withstand the toughest working conditions. The OM (Onyx Mixing share) is designed for medium-depth loosening (25 to 40 cm), promoting soil structure improvement and effective levelling through intensive mixing. The OL (Onyx Loosening share), on the other hand, is meant for deep loosening (40 to 60 cm), breaking up compacted soil layers like plough pans. The OL share creates cracks in the soil, allowing for better water infiltration through micro-cracks that enhance soil structure.

Both share types can be equipped with wings, which improve soil loosening by ensuring more uniform mixing of the soil and better integration of organic matter. This makes the Onyx subsoiler an ideal tool for both conventional tillage and minimal tillage systems.

For levelling and reconsolidation of the loosened soil, LEMKEN offers two roller options: the DSW 580 double-spiked roller and the RSW 600 tube bar roller. The quick-change roller system allows farmers to easily switch between rollers, offering maximum flexibility to adapt to different soil conditions.

The Onyx will be available in limited numbers starting from 2026, providing farmers with an additional tool to enhance soil health and productivity. With this new addition, LEMKEN continues to offer a wide range of products suited for various tillage methods, from traditional ploughing to minimum tillage and strip till applications.

The growth of these agritech companies is a step towards transforming Nigeria's agricultural sector.

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Nigeria's economy, contributing 24.43% to its GDP, and employing millions of people

Despite this, Nigeria is only utilising less than half of its 73 million hectares of arable land. Challenges like poor infrastructure, limited funding, unreliable supply chains, and a lack of modern tools for smallholder farmers have prevented the sector from reaching its potential. However, a new wave of agritech startups is driving change by providing digital solutions, data, and smart tools to empower farmers, improve yields, and reduce waste.

As of 2024, Nigeria is home to 230 agritech startups, a significant increase from just 23 in 2022. Despite the sector's growth, agritech still lags in funding compared to fintech. In 2024, agritech startups across Africa raised US$65mn, with the majority directed toward marketplaces and fintech-related agritech. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s fintech sector has attracted substantial investments, highlighting the imbalance between agriculture’s importance to the economy and its investment levels.

Despite the hurdles in market penetration and funding, several agritech startups are making significant strides. One notable example is Thrive Agric, founded in 2017, which helps farmers access financing, inputs, and markets. Thrive Agric has assisted over 500,000 farmers and facilitated the production of more than 1.5 million metric tonnes of grains. Although it faced setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company raised US$56.4mn in 2022 to expand its reach, particularly in Northern Nigeria.

Another player, Releaf, focuses on the mechanisation of agriculture, starting with oil palm processing. By developing the Kraken, a machine that de-shells palm nuts faster and more efficiently, Releaf has helped smallholder farmers and food factories reduce waste and improve productivity. The startup raised US$4.2mn in seed funding in 2021.

ColdHubs addresses the issue of perishable food loss by providing solar-powered cold storage solutions. Founded in 2015, ColdHubs allows farmers and vendors to store fresh produce for up to 21 days, cutting down food waste and increasing income. Despite not having public records of funding, ColdHubs has earned global recognition, including a US$110,000 grant.

Crop2Cash, established in 2018, bridges the financial gap for smallholder farmers by providing a USSD-based platform for digital banking and financial services. With more than 500,000 farmers benefiting from the platform, Crop2Cash has raised funds from Google for Startups and Village Capital to expand its services.

Founded in 2017, AgroMall focuses on enhancing farmers’ access to digital financial services and agronomic advice. Its platform, AgroMall Digital Agriculture Platform (ADAP), helps farmers gain better access to markets, crop insurance, and input credits, improving transparency in the agricultural value chain.

Despite the progress these startups are making, insecurity remains a major challenge. Farmers in northern and central Nigeria are often displaced by violence, disrupting harvest cycles and increasing operational costs. These security risks can limit the potential of agritech, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach to tackling agricultural challenges.

The growth of these agritech companies is a step towards transforming Nigeria's agricultural sector. Innovations that empower farmers, improve food security, and reduce waste are increasingly vital, and the upcoming Lagos Startup Expo 2.0, scheduled for June 18-19, 2025, will offer a platform to showcase these solutions.

Cotton farmers are seeing their livelihoods transformed through the adoption of climate-smart farming techniques.

In rural Zambia, cotton farmers are seeing their livelihoods transformed through the adoption of climate-smart farming techniques.

Thanks to a partnership involving the European Union, African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states, and the International Trade Centre (ITC), farming communities in Magoye and Ngwezi have more than doubled their cotton yields and significantly improved their quality of life.

Prior to 2021, smallholder cotton farmers in these regions faced increasingly poor harvests, depleted soils, and little access to sustainable agricultural practices. Today, through the ITC-led EU/ACP-funded project, those same farmers are thriving. Many have reported increased cotton yields, from as few as six bales per season to as many as 30. This jump in productivity has enabled them to reinvest in livestock, education, and their future resilience.

At the heart of this transformation are two natural and environmentally sound soil enhancement methods: Biochar and Bokashi. These techniques have played a major role in regenerating soil fertility and improving crop health. Biochar enhances the soil’s ability to retain water and store carbon, while Bokashi allows farmers to convert organic waste into a nutrient-rich compost that feeds crops and reduces reliance on chemical inputs. Both approaches are sustainable, cost-effective, and well-suited to the local environment.

The project, running from 2021 to 2025, has so far trained over 130,000 farmers across three regions in Zambia. In the pilot plots, there has been 100% adoption of Biochar, Bokashi, and other climate-resilient methods. The results have been striking-not only in terms of agricultural yield but also in wider social and economic impact. Families are now investing in cows, goats, and plough animals. Household incomes have grown, and many families are now able to afford school fees and improve access to education for their children.

By adopting these climate-smart techniques, farmers have been able to secure their livelihoods and build long-term resilience in the face of climate change. The success of the project highlights the power of combining traditional knowledge with innovative, sustainable farming practices. It also underscores the importance of collaboration between international organisations and local communities.

This shift is more than just agricultural-it’s about empowerment, economic independence, and environmental responsibility. Through tools like Biochar and Bokashi, Zambian cotton farmers are not only rebuilding their soils but also their futures.

Crops are grown beneath or around the solar panels, making it possible to produce food and energy side by side.

The Federal Government has pledged its support for agrivoltaic farming as a way to increase both food and energy production across Nigeria.

This was announced by Uche Nnaji, the minister of innovation, science and technology, during the first International Agrivoltaics Workshop held in Abuja.

The event also featured the unveiling of a new book titled “Democratising the Sun: Agrivoltaics and the Future of Farming in Nigeria and Africa.” It was organised by the LIFEWS Foundation (Lichipu for Food, Energy and Water Sustainability) in collaboration with the University of Abuja and with support from researchers at Oregon State University in the United States.

Agrivoltaics, also called agrisolar, involves combining crop farming with solar panel installation on the same land. Crops are grown beneath or around the solar panels, making it possible to produce food and energy side by side.

 Nnaji described the workshop and book launch as examples of the kind of innovation-led, climate-smart, and community-focused strategies his ministry is encouraging. He said this method fits into the ministry’s broader vision of using science and technology to promote national development, improve competitiveness, and support environmental sustainability.

According to the Nnaji, agrivoltaic farming offers several practical benefits for farmers. It can improve crop yields by creating moderated microclimates, reduce water loss through evapotranspiration, and make irrigation more efficient.

He also praised the book’s authors and partners for their efforts in introducing agrivoltaic technology to Nigeria and noted that his ministry is promoting the local development and production of solar-powered agricultural technologies.

Nnaji reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting innovative, climate-resilient technologies like agrivoltaics, which can be scaled to reach more rural communities and help transform farming in the country.

Gabriel Ayayia, founder of the LIFEWS Foundation and author of the book, explained that agrivoltaics represents a shift in farming methods towards more sustainable and self-reliant food production.

“What we are promoting today is a new way of farming, which is climate-smart agriculture, climate-smart farming. So, instead of just farming in the traditional way, we are thinking of reimagining agricultural practices,” Ayayia said.

The workshop highlighted agrivoltaics as a promising solution to improve food sovereignty, boost energy access, and support climate adaptation efforts. Stakeholders agreed that wider adoption of this system could help Nigeria build a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector in the years ahead.