🌍 Agro World Report

Weekly Insights for Farmers, Traders & Agri-Investors Date: June 2–9, 2025

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Weekly Insights for Farmers, Traders & Agri-Investors
Date: June 2–9, 2025

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🔥 Climate Is Reshaping Crops Across Africa

West Africa’s Cocoa Under Threat:
Erratic weather and dry spells, worsened by El Niño, are stressing cocoa crops in Ghana and Ivory Coast. Even with a 10% drop in prices, disease outbreaks like Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus are keeping supply risks high.

Southern Africa’s Maize Trouble:
Flooding in South Africa is delaying maize harvests, while Zambia and Zimbabwe face moisture deficits as dry conditions return.

Horn of Africa Sees Hope — and Risk:
Above-normal rains in Ethiopia and Sudan may boost teff and sorghum harvests. But in Somalia, flooding is damaging infrastructure and livestock.

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📈 Weekly Commodity Market Pulse

• 🌱 Soybeans: Up 1.5% to $1,060.25/bushel
  Fueled by strong U.S. planting and Vietnam’s $2B import agreements.

• 🌽 Corn: Up 2.68% to $459.50/bushel
  Drought in Argentina and lower forecasts from Brazil spark demand.

• 🌾 Wheat: Hovering at $542.50/bushel
  Global production up, but Ukraine’s decline keeps prices unstable.

• 🍫 Cocoa: Down 10% to $9,815/ton
  Traders profit-taking, but disease issues limit further drops.

• 🧈 Shea Butter: Steady at ₦15,000/kg ($32.50)
  Strong cosmetic and food demand holds price firm in Nigeria.

• 🌿 Sesame Seeds: Stable at $10,130–$10,340/ton
  Burkina Faso and Sudan exports remain consistent.

• 🍠 Yam Flour: ₦3,500–₦42,000/bag ($7.60–$91.30)
  Prices driven up by scarcity and export interest from Uganda.

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🌐 Trade & Policy Watch

• USDA EMP Grants:
  $15M earmarked to boost agri-exports to Africa. Nigeria & Kenya prioritized. Apps closed June 9.

• EU Funding TAAT:
  €200M pledged to scale up climate-smart seeds to reach 18M farmers by 2026.

• Brazil’s Bird Flu Fallout:
  Over 30 countries suspend poultry imports. U.S. and Thailand likely to benefit from redirection.

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🧠 Innovation Spotlight

• Nigeria:
  Farmonaut’s AI soil sensors slash water use by 40%, help predict pest outbreaks for 12,000+ smallholder farmers.

• Kenya:
  500,000 heat-tolerant beans distributed via TAAT—yields up 25%.

• Ghana:
  Blockchain now traces cocoa supply, guaranteeing farmer payments and cutting illegal trade.

• Southern Africa:
  Solar-cooled poultry systems reduce bird deaths by 30%, now expanding across Nigeria and Senegal.

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🌍 Regional Focus: Emerging Market Shifts

• Nigeria:
  Yam flour prices spike 18% amid cross-border demand from Benin and Cameroon.

• Zimbabwe:
  Imports maize from Zambia (+45%) to offset domestic shortages.

• Rwanda:
  Coffee co-ops adopt drip irrigation—60% water saved, double yields.

• Ghana:
  Shea + millet agroforestry boosts women’s income by 20%.

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✅ Takeaways for Stakeholders

• Scale climate-smart tech: Expand access to AI tools and resilient seeds.

• Secure trade routes: Build Africa’s grain corridors to reduce price shocks.

• Align policies with funding: Leverage EMP, TAAT, and EU grants to strengthen market positioning.

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🔮 What to Watch Next Week

• Progress on maize harvests across Southern Africa

• Cocoa mid-crop updates from Ivory Coast

• EMP grant impact announcements

• New digital tools debuting at AgTech Africa Expo

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📩 Stay tuned for next week’s digest — where climate, trade, and tech continue to shape the future of food.

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