What is the role of women in agriculture and how can agroecology help them? Women make up over half of sub-Saharan Africa’s 33 million smallholder farmers. They don’t just grow crops — they also work in agroprocessing (making crops into...

What happens when a young entrepreneur applies business logic to traditional farming? Sinqobile Mtshali found out by launching Mtshali Livestock Butchery. Despite early struggles with feed management and infrastructure, his commitment to learning has turned a small piggery into a growing business with big dreams for agroprocessing.

Agroprocessing is a powerful pathway for farmers to move beyond the farm gate and into real economic participation. At the

Agroprocessing drives growth in agriculture, and a new wave of agripreneurs is exploring diverse products, with cosmetics gaining traction. Rooibos,

Discover how farmer Kate Sithole transformed her rose geranium farm by moving beyond oil production into agroprocessing and value addition. Learn practical tips for farm diversification and building a sustainable agricultural enterprise.

Farmers are moving beyond production to become major players in the food economy. Agripreneurs highlight how diverse industries – including wine, indigenous foods, and micro-livestock such as snails – offer fresh pathways to success.

After a long career in education, Victoria Setwaba found her true calling: farming. She and her husband now run their family's farm in Limpopo, growing crops and rearing goats. She overcame initial setbacks by embracing agroprocessing and sharing knowledge with her community.

From award-winning olive oil to butternut coffee and preservative-free jams, SA’s agroprocessing pioneers are taking centre stage at the 2025 Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba. Early-bird tickets are selling fast – don’t miss out!

Punjab Agricultural University wins the "Best Centre of the Year 2024-25" award for its groundbreaking work in post-harvest engineering and technology at AICRP's annual workshop.

Located on the Kenyan coast, the VSEZ is developed by ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms in partnership with Centum Investment Company. The project is part of Kenya’s broader strategy to move up th...

ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR Minister of State – President’s Office (Labour, Economy and Investments), Mr Sharif Ali Sharif has appealed to Italian business leaders and investors to explore investment opportunities in the Isles. He noted the Isles’ strategic location, investor-friendly policies and growing economic opportunities as some of the reason why investors should opt for Zanzibar. Speaking at the Zanzibar-Italy Bilateral Business Meeting (B2B) held under the theme “Promoting Private Partnerships and Enhancing Trade and Investment,” Mr Sharif underlined the government’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment by improving ease of doing business, enhancing infrastructure and implementing policies to attract investors. He acknowledged Italy’s long-standing role as a key partner in Zanzibar’s development, particularly in sectors such as tourism, infrastructure, the blue economy and agroprocessing. “I appreciate Italy’s dedication to strengthening our bilateral relations. This meeting provides an excellent opportunity to deepen these ties by fostering direct business-tobusiness (B2B) engagements, encouraging investment and enhancing collaboration between the private sectors of both regions,” Mr Sharif said. He urged participants to actively engage, exchange ideas and explore areas of mutual benefit, stressing that such collaborations would drive economic growth, create jobs and enhance prosperity for both Zanzibar and Italy. The Executive Director of the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA), Mr Saleh Saad Mohamed, welcomed the Italian delegation at a crucial moment when Zanzibar is implementing transformative initiatives as part of its Zanzibar Development Vision 2050. ALSO READ: Why stakeholders call for ban on ‘Japan’ fishing nets to save L. Victoria’s blue economy “As part of this vision, we aim to diversify our economy, enhance our global competitiveness and position Zanzibar as a hub for sustainable and innovative investments,” Mr Mohamed explained. He noted the strong historical ties between Zanzibar and Italy and the importance of building on this relationship to explore new investment opportunities. “The presence of the Italian delegation demonstrates strong interest in Zanzibar’s investment potential across key sectors, including tourism, the blue economy, infrastructure, agriculture, renewable energy and technology,” Mr Mohamed said. He assured that ZIPA remains committed to facilitating foreign investments by providing a one-stop centre for business registration, investment guidance and continuous support for investors. So far, ZIPA has registered 102 investment projects from Italy, valued at over 1.1 billion US dollars (about 2.8tri/-), which have created 6,397 direct jobs for local people. Mr Mohamed encouraged Italian investors to use this visit as an opportunity to engage with local stakeholders, explore Zanzibar’s unique investment opportunities and experience firsthand the entrepreneurial spirit of its people. “I assure you of our unwavering commitment to supporting your business ventures and fostering a partnership built on trust, innovation and shared prosperity,” he affirmed. The event was also attended by Italy’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Giuseppe Coppola and the Italian Trade Agency’s Trade Commissioner, Mr Claudio Pasqualucci, further emphasising Italy’s strong interest in deepening economic ties with Zanzibar. The post Zanzibar seeks to boost trade, investments with Italy appeared first on Daily News.

Sieromenie Parta heeft donderdag de bacheloropleiding Agrarische Productie, met als oriëntatie Agroprocessing, aan de Faculteit der Technologische We...

Justicia Shipena The government has approved the second phase of youth-led projects under the National Youth Development Fund (NYDF), allocating N$37.7 million to 66 initiatives across all regions.  The Ministry of Finance says the funding will create 404 jobs in sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, horticulture, waste management, agroprocessing, green transportation and value-added services. The approved projects cover all regions and include poultry production, livestock rearing, crop farming, biomass processing, aquaponics, innovative technology services, recycling operations, and renewable energy installations.  Finance Ministry spokesperson Wilson Shikoto said the loan amounts range between N$88,000 and N$1 million, assessed through the Agricultural Bank of Namibia (Agribank) and the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF).  Shikoto said the new approvals reflect the government’s goal to support youth-led enterprises.  “This is the second phase of approved youth projects, and we are pleased to support young Namibians who are taking the lead in building sustainable enterprises,” he said.  “We encourage those who were not selected to continue engaging with our regional offices and to prepare for the next rounds of applications,” he added.  Shikoto stated that a new call for applications is now open, with submissions handled through governors’ offices.  He said applicants are expected to receive confirmation of their status in the first week of December.  Furthermore, Shikoto said the government remains focused on expanding employment opportunities for young people.  “The government remains committed to strengthening job creation across the country,” he said. The announcement follows the first phase of the fund after it was launched in September by Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare.  During that time 42 projects were approved out of 11 475 applications.  With the new projects approved, the total number of projects under the fund now stands at 108.  Ngurare had said youth-owned businesses financed under the NYDF will receive up to 12 months before repayment begins. The fund offers start-ups between N$60 000 and N$200 000 at 2% interest, growth-phase enterprises between N$200 000 and N$1 million at 3% interest, and expansion enterprises above N$1 million at 4% interest. Cabinet approved N$257 million for the NYDF in August. The fund is capitalised at N$500 million, with N$257 million already allocated for 2025/26.  It is implemented through the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN), Agribank and EIF, with NamPost expected to join. It targets youth-driven, scalable projects that support job creation, cooperative business models and local supply chains, and includes a grant option for projects under N$60 000.