AGP Executive Report

Farm Relief: Namibia’s banks are being asked to offer eligible farmers and agricultural businesses up to 24 months of principal repayment relief after drought and foot-and-mouth disease losses. Liberia’s president, meanwhile, warned that agricultural aid must reach genuine producers, not be diverted. Harvest and Weather: Zimbabwe has harvested 83% of its winter wheat crop, with output estimated at 568,581 tonnes and farmers urged to finish before Friday. Heavy rain from Cyclone Murasu has damaged crops in India’s Godavari districts, where farmers are seeking compensation. Rising Costs: U.S. ammonia fertilizer prices have climbed more than 30% since June as supply tightens, adding to pressure from fuel costs and weak demand for farm products. Market Glut: Kenyan macadamia growers say more than 30,000 tonnes of nuts remain unsold after an export window shipped only 700 tonnes of its expected 14,000. Climate and Innovation: U.S. farmers using newer water-management approaches report cutting water use by 20% to 40%; researchers are also testing drones and AI to spot drought stress in soybeans. Women in Farming: Kenyan officials say women make up 53% of the country’s farming population but still face barriers to land, finance and leadership roles.

U.S. Farm Support: The Trump administration has pledged $15 billion for farmers facing higher fuel and fertilizer costs, including a proposed $8 billion payment program. The pledge comes as growers contend with weaker Chinese demand and tariff-related pressures. Sri Lanka Subsidies: The government plans to extend cultivation subsidies to 12 more food crops, offering eligible growers support on terms matching paddy farmers. Mechanization in Liberia: China has donated 304 farm machines as Liberia targets 50,000 hectares of agricultural land, with private-sector partners expected to help operate the equipment. New Export Markets: Malagasy goat farmers are expanding herds as Chinese demand grows, building on a mutton export agreement signed in 2023. Climate Resilience: In the Philippines, 200 rice farmers received training and fertilizer support to improve production and prepare for El Niño conditions.

Cyclone Relief: Odisha has promised cash, rice and crop-loss assistance to families hit by Cyclone Arnab, while deploying 145 agriculture officials to assess damage in flood-hit Ganjam. A farmer’s death has renewed concern over losses to submerged, near-harvest paddy; relatives linked the death to crop damage, and officials are investigating. Wheat Harvest: Zimbabwe expects to harvest at least 600,000 tonnes after 83% of its wheat area yielded nearly 569,000 tonnes. Authorities are urging farmers to finish before forecast rain threatens grain quality. U.S. Farm Aid: The Trump administration has announced more than $15 billion in farm payments and initiatives ahead of the midterms, including support aimed at offsetting higher diesel and fertilizer costs. New Markets: A proposed coconut-shell processing facility in the Philippines could handle 20,000 tonnes a year, creating an additional market for growers’ by-products. Beekeeping: Guyana plans to give 280 beekeepers 10 hive boxes each as it seeks to expand honey production and meet demand that currently exceeds supply.

Farm Safety: Police arrested two suspects after a farmer was shot and mutilated during a farm robbery in South Africa’s North West province. Farm Risk Cover: Malaysia has disbursed RM56.92 million under its paddy crop insurance scheme since 2024, including a new RM2.42 million payment to 541 farmers. Local Markets: Nepal’s ban on imported marigolds and plastic flowers is spurring local production; growers in Nawalpur say the number of commercial flower farmers has tripled this year. Irrigation: Nepal’s Sikta project is 51% complete as officials register water users, while a separate canal built to serve 5,000 hectares remains dry as it awaits water from India. Climate and Costs: Fiji warns El Niño-driven dry conditions could affect sugarcane and water supplies into 2027, while a global outlook sees limited crop-margin recovery next year as ample supplies weigh on prices and input costs rise. Trade and Production: Ghana and Russia plan to expand cooperation on grain production and fertiliser supplies; in India, maize use for ethanol has surged, reshaping demand for a crop grown by about seven million farmers.

Sri Lanka’s Farm Push: A new World Bank–IFAD initiative aims to connect 900,000 farmers to jobs and markets by 2030, with $665 million in planned investment and up to $170 million in private capital. Farm Trade: Egypt reported $852 million in medicinal and aromatic plant exports in 2025 and wants more local processing to capture greater value. Harvest and Weather: Manitoba had harvested 94% of its crop by Oct. 24; yields were mostly average to above average, though rain delayed work and hurt the quality of some later crops. In India, teams are assessing cyclone Arnab damage as Andhra Pradesh seeks ₹4,600 crore in relief. Farm Support: India’s PM-KISAN scheme transferred ₹18,680 crore to 9.34 crore farmer families. Price Protests: Sugarcane growers staged protests across Karnataka, seeking ₹5,500 per tonne and higher sugar prices. Climate Resilience: A Himachal Pradesh study documented 25 community-led measures, including changing crop patterns, natural farming and restoring traditional water sources.

Farmer Support: India released ₹18,680 crore in PM-KISAN payments to 9.34 crore farming families, including 35.38 lakh in Odisha. In Hawaii, farmers and ranchers hit by three storms can apply for emergency grants of up to $1,500 starting Nov. 2. Agriculture Investment: Sri Lanka launched a $665 million World Bank and IFAD-backed plan to modernize farming and connect 900,000 farmers to markets by 2030. Separately, FAO and ASEAN partners identified more than $3 billion in potential climate-smart agriculture investments that could benefit at least 2.6 million farmers and fishers. Weather and Crops: Tru-Cape expects its South African cherry harvest to be about half last year’s, after heat and cold disrupted flowering and pollination, though fruit quality is strong. Heavy rain in eastern Uttar Pradesh is also raising concerns for harvest-ready paddy and newly sown crops. Food Systems: Kenya’s agriculture principal secretary urged governments to look beyond production volumes, citing the need for better water access, soil health and nutritious diets.

Disaster Relief: Hawaiʻi has launched emergency grants to help farmers and ranchers repair damage from three major storms. Energy Costs: A solar-powered irrigation project in Tanzania helped mango farmers roughly double production and sales income, offering a buffer against diesel price spikes. Crop Outlook: U.S. crop-insurance harvest guarantees are expected to stay above spring levels at $4.75 a bushel for corn and $12.63 for soybeans, though analysts say yield losses—not lower prices—would likely trigger payouts. Harvest Pressure: Punjab has recorded more than 1,000 stubble fires, with 246 cases filed against farmers as authorities step up enforcement before wheat sowing. Market Access: Flood-damaged roads and bridges in Nepal have left vegetables rotting in fields as transport costs erase farmers’ earnings. Farm Support: India released ₹18,690 crore in PM-KISAN payments to 9.34 crore farmer families.

Smallholder Services: China has built 16,000 agricultural service centers and plans 1,000 more by 2030, bringing technology and professional support to small farms. Farm Finance: Kazakhstan is seeking billions of tenge in additional lending for livestock, machinery and farm investment, alongside 270 billion tenge already earmarked for long-term agricultural loans this year. Climate Adaptation: European farmers and advisers say the cost of water-saving irrigation is the biggest barrier to adoption, even as drought risks drive interest. Crop Outlook: Türkiye’s cotton output is forecast to fall 38% to 1.2 million tonnes as rising input costs push growers toward other crops. Pest Prevention: Thirty surveillance plots in Bangladesh are helping officials track crop disease and pests and warn nearby farmers early. Investment: Ghana’s president has urged Russian businesses to invest in fertilizer production, farm machinery and agricultural processing.

India’s Farm Aid: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to transfer ₹18,690 crore to more than 9.34 crore farmers on Oct. 30, alongside investments in storage and horticulture. Cyclone Losses: Cyclone Arnab damaged harvest-ready paddy across eastern India, affecting more than 80,000 hectares in Andhra Pradesh and prompting calls for compensation. Costs and Markets: Wheat has logged its longest losing streak since 1997 as growers face rising diesel and fertilizer costs; 31 U.S. states are joining efforts to ease diesel prices. Managing Risk: A new South African commentary urges farmers to include crop insurance in production budgets as weather, energy and market risks mount. Seeds and Yields: Kenya’s potato sector is held back by a shortage of certified seed, with most farmers unable to access quality planting material.

Farm Relief: India will transfer ₹18,680 crore to 9.34 crore farmers through the PM-Kisan scheme on October 30, while Maharashtra plans ₹5,000 payments for drought-hit growers. Weather Risks: Cyclone Arnab has flooded fields in Odisha and damaged crops in Andhra Pradesh; in the Philippines, farmers and fisherfolk are using weather forecasts to adapt after El Niño caused ₱3.5 billion in agricultural losses. Farm Insurance: Ghana’s agricultural insurance pool is promoting coverage for seeds that fail to germinate after drought or excessive rain. Crop Markets: Tanzanian MPs are pressing the government to end a Sh240-per-kilogram cashew deduction used to repay old industry debts. Harvests: Mongolia reports 88.1% of its autumn harvest completed, including 569,500 tonnes of grain. Afghanistan’s Poppy Crop: Opium cultivation more than quadrupled to 43,000 hectares this year despite the Taliban ban, as farmers say legal crops no longer provide enough income to feed their families.

Poultry Biosecurity: Arkansas has confirmed its first seasonal avian flu case in a backyard flock and urged poultry owners to step up monitoring and prevention as detections rise elsewhere. Farm Costs: Canada’s grain growers are seeking diesel relief, citing sharply higher fuel bills during harvest; Louisiana drought-hit farmers can now apply for USDA emergency loans. Technology: China’s agricultural drone fleet has topped 300,000, covering more than 30 million hectares and helping reduce water and pesticide use. Market Access: A new cooperative-run Kadiwa store gives farmers in Oriental Mindoro a direct outlet to sell produce to consumers in Metro Manila. Sugarcane: Goa growers welcome plans to revive the state’s closed sugar factory but want firm guarantees on cane prices, procurement and timely payments. Climate Resilience: Ghanaian insurance experts are urging wider agricultural coverage to protect farmers from weather shocks, pests and crop disease.

Climate and Harvests: Cambodia’s farmers are counting losses after El Niño drought gave way to flooding; the federation estimates about 10% of expected crops may be lost, while livestock producers face weak prices. In Australia, heavy rain has helped dry areas but damaged mature grain crops. Farm Investment: Liberia has received 42 containers of Chinese-donated farm machinery to support mechanisation and food production. Drought Relief: Maharashtra approved Rs 7,500 crore in aid, including Rs 5,000 payments for 1.5 crore farmers whose crops suffered more than 33% damage. Trade and Cooperation: Australian banana growers warn proposed imports from the Philippines could bring disease risks and intensify competition for a $1.3 billion industry. Sri Lanka and Türkiye signed an agricultural cooperation agreement covering technical collaboration and knowledge sharing. Farmer Protests: About 500 tractors are expected in Madrid as Spanish farmers demand better farm profitability, citing rising costs, low producer prices and bureaucracy.

Drought and Crop Losses: Dry conditions have caused P41.9 million in rice and corn damage in Negros Occidental, Philippines. Officials are seeking P30 million to expand cloud-seeding operations. Farm Relief: The Philippines has disbursed P677.8 million to 66,005 sugarcane farmers and workers hit by a pest infestation. Clean Energy on Farms: India plans to expand agrivoltaics, pairing solar power generation with crop production to diversify farm income and use land more efficiently. Food Security Investment: Singapore will spend S$138 million over five years on climate-resilient crops, fish breeding, food safety and supply-risk research. Costs and Competition: U.S. farm groups are divided over a proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger as diesel prices climb; supporters expect faster shipments, while opponents fear higher costs and fewer choices. Separately, USDA-backed fertilizer projects will draw more than $1.34 billion in total investment. Animal Health: Bird flu has been detected for the first time in a Benton County, Washington, dairy herd, prompting a raw-milk safety warning.

Feed Supply: The Philippines is raising its low-tariff corn import quota from 220,000 to 500,000 tonnes to address shortages and steady feed prices for livestock and poultry producers. Climate Resilience: A $112 million ADB-backed project aims to help 200,000 smallholder farmers in Cambodia withstand heatwaves, droughts and floods, with investments in irrigation, roads and farming skills. Crop Innovation: New work in East Africa will use wild potato relatives to breed varieties better able to withstand heat, erratic rainfall and disease. Drought: Farmers in Romania and Hungary report severe maize losses after prolonged dry conditions, adding to concerns over Europe’s grain output. Sugarcane Relief: More than 66,000 farmers and workers in the Philippines’ Negros Island region have received ₱677.8 million in aid after an insect infestation damaged crops.

Climate Readiness: Malaysia is stepping up preparations for Super El Niño, with low dam levels threatening rice production. Plans include smart irrigation, alternative water management and controlled-environment farming. Irrigation Investment: A new $1.49 billion pump system in the Philippines will extend irrigation to as much as 2,300 hectares and serve 1,315 farmers. Farm Technology: Growtech Middle East opened in Dubai, showcasing technologies aimed at more sustainable production and stronger food supply chains. A UAH researcher also won a $1.18 million NSF award to develop cold-plasma treatments that could help crops withstand drought and use fewer resources. Farm Finance: In Kenya, more farmers are turning to banks and savings cooperatives for loans, especially to cover inputs and labour. Storage and Research: Ukraine has begun delivering grain-storage sleeves to producers in conflict-affected regions, while Cambodia broke ground on new agricultural science and laboratory facilities.

Irrigation Investment: The Philippines inaugurated a $1.49-billion pump irrigation system expected to serve 1,315 farmers and expand irrigated land from 275 to 2,300 hectares. Rural Resilience: The Asian Development Bank approved $72 million for Cambodia to help 200,000 smallholder farmers withstand drought, floods and heat, with a focus on women’s participation. Drought Strain: Farmers in Maharashtra and Telangana face crop losses from water and power shortages; one Telangana grower set fire to a failing crop. Trade Concerns: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung pledged to consult farmers and fishers before any CPTPP application, and said they should not bear unfair costs from market opening. Yield Gains: A hybrid rice harvest in India’s Agusan del Sur yielded 52% more than a farmer’s previous crop, following government support with inputs and guidance. Farm Costs: Irish agriculture department accounts indicate bovine TB levies could rise by 60% before year-end to help cover compensation costs.