South African News
Farm Women March on Parliament Demanding Urgent Land Redistribution
More than 100 farm workers and farm residents, led by the Women on Farms Project, marched to Parliament in Cape Town to demand faster land redistribution and dignified housing for farm women. Protesters highlighted ongoing evictions, overcrowded informal settlements, and worsening living conditions more than three decades after South Africa’s first democratic elections. Johanna August, who was evicted from a farm in Wellington in 2015, spoke of the hardship she now faces in New Rest, including the loss of her son in a shack fire. The group’s memorandum called for urgent talks with key ministers and for unused commercial farmland to be acquired and redistributed, with priority given to farm women.
Read full story: Ground Up
Date published: April 21, 2026
South African Farmers Turn to Innovation to Protect Soil and Water on Earth Day
As Earth Day 2026 highlights environmental action, South African farmers are adopting practical innovations to address soil degradation and water scarcity. From hydroponics and aquaponics to drip irrigation and biochar, agripreneurs are finding sustainable ways to improve crop yields and conserve resources. Eastern Cape farmer Phumeza Dolo described using pH-monitored containers, artificial lighting and hydroponic systems to meet demand despite difficult soil conditions and unstable weather. In Gauteng, Tebogo Makgatho is focusing on water-saving irrigation, organic fertilisers and biochar to improve soil health and productivity. For these farmers, long-term land sustainability and future food security remain the ultimate goals.
Read full story: Food For Mzansi
Date published: April 22, 2026
African News
Agroforestry and Recycling Offer New Job Opportunities for Rural Communities
A new income model combining agroforestry with paper recycling is being presented as a practical way to create jobs and strengthen rural economies across Africa. The approach encourages farmers to grow fast-yielding crops such as bamboo and eucalyptus for sale to paper mills, while also collecting recyclable paper waste to create a second revenue stream. This dual-income system helps reduce financial risk and offers greater stability than traditional farm wage labour. The article outlines how partnerships with local paper mills, careful crop selection and community recycling programmes can build long-term prosperity, improve environmental sustainability and significantly boost household incomes in rural communities.
Read full story: Farmer’s Review Africa
Date published: April 21, 2026
Global News
Korea and Vietnam Discuss Expanding K-Food Exports and Agricultural Cooperation
South Korea’s Agriculture Minister, Song Mi-ryung, has met with her Vietnamese counterpart in Hanoi to discuss strengthening agricultural ties and expanding K-food exports to Vietnam. A key focus of the talks was extending Vietnam’s import window for Korean melons by one additional month, from May to June, to support growing demand for the fruit. The ministers also explored ways to broaden bilateral fruit trade, enhance cooperation through agricultural development assistance, and improve joint responses to livestock diseases such as African swine fever. The meeting reflects South Korea’s continued efforts to grow its agricultural export presence in Southeast Asia.
Read full story: Korea Joong Ang Daily
Date published: April 22, 2026
Research Raises Questions Over China’s Pig Farm Methane Credits
New research has cast doubt on the climate value of methane offset credits linked to pig farms in China, suggesting that nearly one-third of projects may have gone ahead without carbon credit revenue. The study focuses on “additionality,” whether projects genuinely depend on credit funding to be viable, and argues that many farms could already afford methane capture systems through savings on energy costs alone. The findings add to broader concerns about the credibility of voluntary carbon markets, where overstated emissions reductions and weak verification processes have undermined confidence. While improved manure management remains important for cutting methane emissions, the report raises serious questions about the reliability of some offset claims.
Read full story: Dialogue Earth
Date published: April 21, 2026
El Niño Threatens India’s Monsoon, Farm Incomes and Food Prices
Indian farmers are increasingly concerned that an El Niño weather event could disrupt the second half of the monsoon season, reducing rainfall during July, the crucial month for summer planting. Scientists expect the phenomenon to bring drier conditions to South Asia, potentially affecting crop yields, farm incomes and economic growth in a country where agriculture remains a major employer and contributor to GDP. While crops such as sugarcane may be more resilient, foodgrain and oilseed production have historically declined in most El Niño years. Experts note that a positive Indian Ocean Dipole may help offset some effects, but reduced rainfall could still increase inflation and place significant pressure on farmers.
Read full story: Hindustan Times
Date published: April 22, 2026
Iran Conflict Sparks Growing Fears Over Global Food Prices and Hunger
Concerns are mounting that the prolonged Iran conflict could trigger a global food crisis, with analysts warning that the worst effects are still to come. While food prices have risen only modestly so far, higher fuel and fertiliser costs are expected to push prices up in the coming months, particularly if disruption in the Strait of Hormuz continues. Experts warn that poorer countries in Africa and Asia are most vulnerable, as households already spend a large share of their income on food. Although global cereal stocks remain strong, delayed effects on farming costs, crop yields and transport could lead to worsening hunger, undernutrition and significant pressure on food security worldwide.
Read full story: Al Jazeera
Date published: April 21, 2026
