South African News
FMD Vaccination Drive Reaches South Africa–Botswana Border as Farmers Demand Better Protection
South Africa’s fifth national foot-and-mouth disease vaccination campaign has reached the Botswana border, where more than 650 communal cattle were inoculated in Swartkopfontein as part of efforts to contain the outbreak. Farmers in the Ramotshere Moiloa municipality welcomed the intervention but voiced growing concern over livestock losses caused by broken border fencing, cross-border cattle movement and stock theft. Officials from South Africa and Botswana pledged closer cooperation, including plans for a joint buffer zone and coordinated vaccinations, while authorities reported that 86% of North West province’s allocated vaccine doses have already been used amid 210 confirmed FMD cases.
Read full story: African Farming
Date published: April 9, 2026
South African Agriculture Warned Over Long-Term Decline Amid Policy Failures
South Africa’s agriculture sector is losing competitiveness as government focus on crisis response continues to crowd out long-term planning, according to AgriSA and its 2025 Annual Trade Report. Structural weaknesses are most visible in the sugar industry, once a strong export sector but now a net importer, with refined sugar imports rising sharply in 2025. Declining sugar cane production, mill closures and weak implementation of support policies have deepened the problem, while tariffs have failed to offset rising costs and import pressure. Industry leaders warn that without stronger public-private cooperation and deliberate reform, similar decline could spread across other agricultural value chains.
Read full story: Farmer’s Weekly
Date published: April 9, 2026
African News
Worcester Beekeeper Launches Bee Fence Project to Keep Elephants from Tanzanian Farms
A Worcester beekeeper is helping launch a 6km beehive fence in Tanzania to protect villages near Ruaha National Park from elephants damaging crops and injuring residents. Rachel Monger, working with Emmanuel International, plans to install 600 hives that will deter elephants, which naturally avoid bees, while also creating income through honey and beeswax production. Having lived in Tanzania for a decade, Monger says the scheme offers a sustainable solution that protects wildlife, improves food security and supports local livelihoods. The project also promotes women’s participation in beekeeping, helping them gain skills, confidence and new economic opportunities.
Read full story: BBC News
Date published: April 9, 2026
Global News
Latin America Moves to Safeguard Fertiliser Supplies Amid Hormuz Disruption
Latin America is seeking to reduce its heavy dependence on imported fertiliser as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz intensifies supply risks across the region. The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the US-based Fertilizer Institute (TFI) have agreed a joint plan to monitor supply conditions, produce reports for policymakers and promote long-term investment in regional resilience. The disruption has exposed the vulnerability of countries such as Brazil, which imports most of its fertiliser needs, while wider pressures including Chinese export restrictions and US tariffs have further strained global supply chains. Expanding nitrogen production within the Americas is now a central priority.
Read full story: MercoPress
Date published: April 9, 2026
New Zealand Farmers Warn Fuel Delivery Delays Threaten Farm Operations
Federated Farmers is urging urgent government action over worsening fuel delivery delays affecting farms across New Zealand, with some farmers waiting up to three weeks beyond their usual supply schedules. Dairy chair Karl Dean said disrupted fuel allocations from importers are leaving farms vulnerable, with some already running short for essential operations such as livestock water pumps. The delays come at a critical time, as dairy farmers prepare for major seasonal stock movements that will sharply increase diesel demand. The organisation fears rising transport and fuel costs will also affect next season’s production, while the government says supplies remain available despite localised disruptions.
Read full story: NZ Herald
Date published: April 8, 2026
India Increases Fertiliser Subsidy to Shield Farmers from War-Driven Price Surge
India has increased its nutrient-based fertiliser subsidy by 11.6% for the summer crop season as rising global prices, driven by the US-Iran conflict, put pressure on farm input costs. The government has approved 415.34 billion rupees in support to keep fertiliser affordable, particularly to maintain the price of a 50kg bag of diammonium phosphate (DAP) at current levels despite a 20% rise in international DAP prices. India, heavily reliant on fertiliser imports, has been affected by disrupted Middle East supplies, prompting additional urea imports to protect domestic availability and support the country’s farming sector.
Read full story: Reuters
Date published: April 8, 2026
UK Farmers Warn Iran War Will Push Food Prices Higher
British farmers say the war in Iran is sharply increasing fuel and fertiliser costs, forcing higher food prices across the supply chain. Growers report severe rises in key inputs during the peak planting season, with fertiliser costs up by as much as 40% and red diesel doubling in price as disruption in the Strait of Hormuz affects global supplies. Industry analysts estimate farm running costs were more than 7% higher in March than a year earlier, raising fears of another major cost squeeze. Farmers warn many cannot absorb the increases, making price rises for consumers increasingly unavoidable later this year.
Read full story: BBC News
Date published: April 9, 2026
