South African News
La Niña to Bring Heavy Early-Summer Rain Before Possible Dry Shift
Strengthening La Niña conditions are forecast to bring above-normal rainfall across South Africa’s summer rainfall regions in November and December 2025, according to agricultural meteorologist Johan van den Berg. While this may benefit maize farmers, it heightens flood risks along the Orange River where dams and soils are already saturated. Van den Berg expects the pattern to weaken by January, potentially shifting towards El Niño and drier conditions. He cautioned that climate cycles are intensifying, with rainfall becoming more erratic, increasing both flood and heatwave risks.
Read full story: Farmer’s Weekly
Date Published: November 4, 2025
Women Farmers Lead Quiet Agroecological Revolution in South Africa
Across South Africa’s rural regions, women farmworkers are cultivating a quiet form of resistance through agroecology, challenging export-driven agriculture and reclaiming control over their land and livelihoods. Supported by the Women on Farms Project, these women are creating community food gardens that provide both nourishment and empowerment amid exploitative labour conditions and pesticide exposure. Some key community figures are using traditional knowledge to build resilience, independence, and dignity - transforming small plots of soil into powerful symbols of social and environmental change.
Read full story: Counter Currents
Date Published: November 5, 2025
African News
ActionAid Urges Gambia to Redirect 30% of Fertiliser Budget to Organic Alternatives
ActionAid International has called on the Gambian government to invest 30% of its fertiliser budget in local organic solutions to strengthen food security, soil health, and climate resilience. At a national forum themed “Transforming Agriculture, Building Resilience, and Restoring Ecosystems,” officials and civil society leaders highlighted the risks of relying on imported chemical fertilisers, which cost the country nearly D937 million in 2025. Agriculture Minister Dr Demba Sabally pledged support for the transition, citing plans to distribute 5,000 tonnes of organic fertiliser next season as part of a broader shift towards agroecology and regenerative farming.
Read full story: All Africa
Date Published: November 4, 2025
Global News
India Launches Frontier Tech Roadmap to Revolutionise Agriculture
India’s NITI Aayog has unveiled “Reimagining Agriculture: A Roadmap for Frontier Technology Led Transformation,” a strategic plan to harness advanced technologies such as AI, precision agriculture, digital twins and climate-resilient seeds. The roadmap outlines a three-pillar framework focusing on digital infrastructure, innovation ecosystems, and policy alignment to enhance productivity, sustainability and rural incomes. By categorising farmers into Aspiring, Transitioning and Advanced segments, it proposes tailored interventions to ensure inclusive growth. Officials emphasised that technology-driven solutions will make Indian agriculture more resilient, data-driven and globally competitive, supporting the nation’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
Read full story: Open Gov Asia
Date Published: November 5, 2025
Singapore Abandons 30-by-30 Food Self-Sufficiency Target Amid Rising Costs
Singapore has scrapped its goal of producing 30% of its food locally by 2030, citing high labour and energy costs alongside limited land availability. Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu said the city-state’s agri-food ambitions had proved difficult despite progress in specific areas - self-sufficiency for hen eggs and beansprouts reached 30% and 50% respectively. Instead, Singapore will focus on improving food resilience through imports, diversified supply chains, and international partnerships. The revised approach aims to ensure stability without overburdening its small and costly agricultural sector.
Read full story: The Poultry Site
Date Published: November 5, 2025
Malaysian Indigenous Communities Blend Tradition and Innovation Through Social Enterprise
Indigenous communities in Malaysian Borneo are combining traditional knowledge with innovative social enterprises to secure sustainable livelihoods. At the Rural Social Enterprise Gathering 2025, initiatives such as Kokoriu’s aquaponics farm, Dunowongi’s herbs and edible flowers enterprise, and stingless bee farming showcased how rural people can generate income while preserving culture and biodiversity. Led largely by women, these ventures promote eco-tourism, environmental stewardship and empowerment through skills training and entrepreneurship. Delegates from 11 countries praised the approach as a model of rural resilience rooted in cultural identity and community-driven innovation.
Read full story: Pioneers Post
Date Published: November 4, 2025
One in Three British Farmers Failing to Make a Profit, Farmdex Report Reveals
A third of British farmers made no profit or operated at a loss over the past year, according to McCain Foods’ first Farmdex report. Only 14% achieved profit margins of 10% or more, with even high-value farms struggling. The findings highlight mounting pressures since Brexit, including cuts to subsidies, delays in England’s environmental land management scheme, and proposed inheritance tax changes. Financial strain has driven over half of farmers to consider leaving the industry, with many reporting mental health impacts and extreme workloads. McCain and farming groups are urging urgent government support to safeguard the sector’s future.
Read full story: The Guardian
Date Published: November 4, 2025
