Latest news with #fertiliser
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Tunisia: Small Cabinet meeting focuses on preparations for 2025-2026 agricultural season
Tunis - A small Cabinet meeting was held on Tuesday at the Government Palace in Kasbah, chaired by Prime Minister Sara Zaafrani Zenzri, to review preparations for the 2025-2026 agricultural season and ensure optimal conditions for its successful launch. It was decided in this regard to accelerate fertiliser stockpiling to fully cover the needs of the 2025-2026 season while maintaining current chemical fertiliser prices. This falls within the state's social role to help farmers acquire supplies at reasonable prices and control production costs. This is besides streamlining financing procedures for all the 2025-2026 agricultural season-related activities, while ensuring adequate energy supply for chemical fertiliser storage centres, their safety, and equitable distribution in the domestic market. The Cabinet also decided, according to a Prime Ministry statement to organise a training session in June 2025 by the Sectoral Centre for Transport and Logistics Training in Borj Cedria (under the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training) for hazardous materials truck drivers. This training is mandatory under Law No. 37 of 1997 (June 2, 1997) concerning hazardous material road transport, which prohibits ammonia transport without proper certification. It was also decided to immediately implement the 'Engrais' digital platform to modernise agricultural sector monitoring, enabling end-to-end tracking of fertiliser distribution from producer to final consumer, while ensuring all stakeholders have access. During this meeting, the latest agricultural indicators and the results of the previous season were discussed, evaluated and analysed. The preparations for the 2025–26 season were also presented, focusing on the challenges facing the agricultural sector and how to invest in it. The most important data related to the progress of preparations for this season at all levels was also presented. In this context, plans for supplying chemical fertilisers were presented. After assessing the local market supply during the 2024–25 agricultural season and defining the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries' fertiliser needs for the 2025–26 season, the meeting focused on the technical and logistical preparations underway to supply the market during this season and to meet the demand for chemical fertilisers, such as agricultural ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate and triple superphosphate. This is being coordinated with the Tunisian Chemical Group, the producer of these materials, to ensure farmers have access to the necessary production inputs. At the end of the meeting, the Prime Minister urged ministers to coordinate their efforts more closely with regional and local structures, as well as with all stakeholders in the agricultural and industrial sectors, in order to double production and build up strategic stockpiles of chemical fertilisers. She emphasised the importance of ensuring that all safety conditions are met and all preventive measures are taken. She also underscored the need to intensify efforts to ensure the success of interventions at all levels, maintain constant communication with farmers, launch awareness campaigns to benefit them, and provide everything necessary for the 2025–26 agricultural season to run smoothly. © Tap 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
The Sun
4 days ago
- General
- The Sun
The essential gardening task you need to do to make your hanging baskets flower and last all summer
IF you've recently been to a garden centre and bought yourself a gorgeous hanging basket, you'll need to listen up. Many of us will have hanging baskets outside our homes, but if a very crucial gardening task is avoided, they will not survive the summer. 3 3 3 So if you want to ensure your baskets look beautiful all summer long, you've come to the right place and will need to take notes. According to gardening experts Jim and Mary Competti at This Is My Garden, many hanging baskets will experience foliage fading and scarce blooms during hot weather. They warned: "Unfortunately, most baskets that are purchased or planted in the early spring don't make it past mid-summer. 'In fact, sadly, some don't even make it to late spring without their foliage fading, and their once plentiful blooms becoming more scarce with each passing day." And it turns out that keeping hanging baskets in bloom is a mean feat if you're unequipped with the right advice and tools. As a result, the gardening maestros stressed that gardening enthusiasts "need to fertilise" hanging baskets to keep newly planted baskets flowering. However, fertilising hanging baskets is not a one-time task, but rather one that should be done regularly. Hanging basket plants have restricted soil available for energy absorption and cannot spread out to seek additional nutrients, which makes this process incredibly vital. Subsequently, Jim and Mary warned that without fertiliser, hanging baskets "simply will not be able to survive the entire summer". And it turns out that timing is essential when it comes to feeding. Cheap ways to bring vibrant colours to your garden all year round Unlike roses, which can be fed just a few times a year, plants grown in hanging baskets need a slow and steady stream of nutrients. Therefore, adding too much too quickly can encourage the roots and foliage to expand too fast, as the gardening pros recognised: "The result will be a plant that outgrows its basket and stops blooming because of it.' Top 5 Spring Gardening Jobs *If you click a link in this boxout, we may earn affiliate revenue Nick Grey, Gtech Inventor and CEO shared the tasks to crack on with as Spring arrives. 1. Clean your garden Make sure to clear away all leaves, soil and plant debris from your patios and flower beds; this creates a healthier environment for new growth, especially as we get into the summer months. Gtech's Garden Safety Kit includes durable gardening gloves and safety glasses; perfect for comfortability whilst tackling those outdoor tasks. 2. Weeding Early Spring is the best time to tackle weeds; if you can introduce some regular weeding into your routine, you can guarantee a tidy garden all year round. 3. Hedge maintenance Spring is the ideal time to tidy up overgrown hedges and shrubs, as regular trimming ensures healthy growth and reduces pest issues. Using a tool like the Gtech Lightweight Hedge Trimmer can help to keep your greenery looking sharp and neat. 4. Composting Starting a compost heap this spring is a pro-active, cost-effective way to harness nutritious soil for your plants and recycle organic waste that will benefit the overall health of your greenery and foliage. 5. Look after your lawn Lawn care is hugely important in assuring your garden stays looking beautiful. Make sure to rake away any excess leaves and trim your grass routinely. So if you want your hanging baskets to impress this summer, you should opt for a liquid fertiliser that contains more phosphorus and potassium than nitrogen. While nitrogen promotes growth, phosphorus and potassium are essential for blooming. Unfortunately, most baskets that are purchased or planted in the early spring don't make it past mid-summer Jim and Mary Competti, at This Is My Garden Not only this, but a light dose of fertiliser should be applied to your baskets every 10 to 14 days for best results. Additionally, West Coast Gardeners recommended a 15-30-15 water-soluble fertiliser with micro-nutrients. They explained: "You can either use it every second watering at full strength, or use it every time you water, but at half strength." 8 must-have plants to brighten up your garden Nick Hamilton owner of Barnsdale Gardens has shared his favourite plants and flowers you should consider adding to your garden, borders and pots. Tricyrtis A spectacular plant that gives a real exotic feel to any garden with its orchid-like, spotted flowers giving the impression that this plant should be tender but it is 'as tough as old boots!'. Penstemon I love this plants genus of because most will flower all summer and autumn. They'll grow in sun or semi-shade in a well drained soil and produce a non-stop display of tubular flowers in an array of colours and colour combination to suit all tastes. Luzula sylvatica 'Marginata' With the evergreen leaves edged with yellow it's great asset is that it will grow in sun or shade in any type of soil and is great as groundcover in the hardest spot to fill - dry shade. Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue' A stunning, nectar-rich plant that will feed the beneficial insects in your garden. Leave the flowerheads once they have turned brown because they look stunning with winter frost and snow, extending the plant's interest period. Sarcococca hookeriana 'Winter Gem' If you need winter scent then look no further than this compact, evergreen shrub. The scent is stunning and the evergreen leaves create an excellent backdrop for the summer flowers. Cornus sanguinea 'Anny's Winter Orange' A dwarf version of 'Midwinter Fire' the very colourful stems create a stunning winter display, particularly on sunny days. Rosa 'Noisette Carnee' A very well-behaved climbing rose that is perfect for training over an arch, pergola or gazebo. The small, 'noisette' flowers are blush-pink and produce the most amazing clove scent constantly from June to November. Sanguisorba hakusanensis 'Lilac Squirrel' I've never seen a squirrel with a drooping, shaggy lilac tail, but this variety will give your garden an unusual and different look throughout summer. It does need a moisture retentive soil but will grow in sun or semi-shade. To ensure your hanging baskets thrive, simply dilute the fertiliser with water to ensure a lighter dose. But note that if you have forgotten to water your baskets and they have become bone dry and the plants are wilted, you should avoid fertilising them. Instead, water hanging baskets regularly and wait until the soil has absorbed enough clean water to become soft and the plants have perked up. Following this, you can then safely continue your regular fertiliser schedule.
Zawya
28-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Afreximbank wins mandate as sole financial advisor for South Africa's $1.7-billion Suiso Project
AFRICA African Export-Import Bank's (Afreximbank) ( Advisory and Capital Markets (ACMA) department has been appointed and mandated as the exclusive financial advisor to raise capital for the US$1.7-billion Suiso Project, a transformative coal-to-fertiliser facility to be developed in Kriel, Mpumalanga Province, in South Africa. As financial advisor, ACMA's role will involve leveraging its network and expertise to structure and mobilise the capital required for the project's execution. The Suiso Project, which aims to promote sustainable agriculture, will use cutting-edge fertiliser technology, such as air products gasification, and is expected to enhance the food security situation in the region. Sponsored by a consortium of leading energy and industrial companies committed to sustainable development and economic growth in the region, the project represents a significant investment in South Africa's industrial agriculture sector aimed at reducing dependency on imported fertilisers. This appointment is a reflection of the increasing recognition of Afreximbank's capacity and commitment to supporting large-scale projects with the potential to drive industrialisation and economic development across Africa. Suiso was formed recently to focus on the manufacture of ammonia and fertiliser, using a fossil-fuel gasification process. It intends to build a more resilient and sustainable fertiliser and agricultural market across Sub-Saharan Africa with more efficient fertiliser application rates and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Suiso plans to establish a blue ammonia production facility with a capacity of 2,200 tonnes per day (TPD). This facility will produce approximately 2,600 TPD of Urea, 1,600 TPD of Ammonium Nitrate (TAN), and a low-density Ammonium Nitrate using prilling technology, with any excess ammonia being sold in bulk. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank. Media Contact: Vincent Musumba Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations) Email: press@ Follow us on: X: Facebook: LinkedIn: Instagram: About Afreximbank: African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa's trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank's total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody's (Baa1), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, "the Group"). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. For more information, visit: Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. 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Arabian Business
27-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Dubai's Invictus acquires majority stake in Angolan fertiliser company
Dubai-headquartered Invictus Investment Company is strengthening its position in Africa and making its third major acquisition in the continent when it signed an agreement to acquire a 65 per cent stake in Angata, a leading fertiliser blending company in Lobito, Angola. In the recent past, , and a 60 per cent stake in Graderco, a Moroccan agro-trading company. The acquisition, being made through Mauritius-based Dagro Chemical Limited, is subject to regulatory approvals and transaction closing mechanisms. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Angata specialises in customised fertiliser blending and tailors its products to the specific soil and crop requirements of farmers across different regions of the country. It has a production capacity of 100,000 metric tonnes per annum, with plans to increase capacity by the end of 2025. Its product range addresses critical crop nutrition needs, including urea, phosphates like diammonium phosphate (DAP), potassium, trace elements and boron. In addition to its core fertiliser business, Angata also imports and resells pesticides and other essential products for productive farming. Invictus strengthens African presence The acquisition opens a new area of business for Invictus Investment and marks a strategic entry point into the agricultural and agro-input industry in Angola, a key market in Africa with significant growth potential. Amir Daoud Abdellatif, CEO of Invictus Investment, commented: 'Our acquisition of Angata marks another major milestone in our continued expansion in Africa following our earlier transactions in Mozambique and Morocco. 'It also signals a strategic shift. It broadens our capabilities beyond trading into the agro-input segment where we can directly support farmers and strengthen the ecosystems that feed regional and global supply chains. Angata's fertiliser blending expertise addresses a critical gap in farm productivity and gives us a direct connection to farmers. We see it as a strategic base for us to source and process more commodities in Angola and cater to both local consumption and export markets.' Angata's strategic location also provides an attractive opportunity. The Lobito corridor links Angola to the Atlantic coast, and the city has rail connections extending into the mineral-rich regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The company can become a strategic hub to serve farmers in surrounding markets. Christian Louvet, Director General, Angata, added: 'We are pleased to be working with Invictus Investment and view this partnership as a catalyst for long-term growth. Invictus Investment brings the reach and operational capabilities needed to scale the business and broaden our impact in the region. 'The focus now is on expanding what we do well, helping farmers grow their productivity and playing a stronger role in Angola's agricultural economy.'
Zawya
26-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Invictus Investment acquires majority stake in Angolan fertiliser blender Angata
Acquisition represents strategic entry into the agricultural and agro-input business in key African market of Angola Angata specialises in tailored fertiliser blending and customises products based on local soil requirements Transaction marks Invictus Investment's third major acquisition in Africa, following the purchase of Mozambique's largest flour miller Merec Industries and a 60% stake in Moroccan agro-trading leader Graderco Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Invictus Investment Company Plc (ADX: INVICTUS), a leading agro-food enterprise in the Middle East and Africa, today announced it has signed an agreement to acquire a 65% stake in Angata, a leading fertiliser blending company based in Lobito, Angola. The acquisition, being made through Mauritius-based Dagro Chemical Limited, is subject to regulatory approvals and transaction closing mechanisms. The deal marks Invictus Investment's third major acquisition in Africa, following the purchase of Merec Industries – Mozambique's largest flour milling company – and a 60% stake in Moroccan agro-trading leader Graderco. While representing a new business area for Invictus Investment, this transaction marks a strategic entry point into the agricultural and agro-input industry in Angola – a key market in Africa with significant growth potential. Angata specialises in customised fertiliser blending and tailors its products to the specific soil and crop requirements of farmers across different regions of the country. The company has a production capacity of 100,000 MT per annum with plans to increase capacity by the end of 2025. Its product range addresses critical crop nutrition needs, including urea, phosphates like di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), potassium, trace elements and boron. In addition to its core fertiliser business, Angata also imports and resells pesticides and other essential products for productive farming operations. From a location perspective, the company presents an attractive opportunity with its base in the strategic Lobito corridor that links Angola to the Atlantic coast. Lobito also has rail connections extending into the mineral rich regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This positions Angata as a strategic hub to serve farmers in surrounding markets. Commenting on the announcement, Amir Daoud Abdellatif, CEO of Invictus Investment, said: 'Our acquisition of Angata marks another major milestone in our continued expansion in Africa following our earlier transactions in Mozambique and Morocco. It also signals a strategic shift – broadening our capabilities beyond trading into the agro-input segment where we can directly support farmers and strengthen the ecosystems that feed regional and global supply chains. Angata's fertiliser blending expertise addresses a critical gap in farm productivity and gives us a direct connection to farmers. We see it as a strategic base for us to source and process more commodities in Angola and cater to both local consumption and export markets.' Christian Louvet, Director General, Angata, said: 'We are pleased to be working with Invictus Investment and view this partnership as a catalyst for long term growth. Invictus Investment brings the reach and operational capabilities needed to scale the business and broaden our impact in the region. The focus now is on expanding what we do well, helping farmers grow their productivity and playing a stronger role in Angola's agricultural economy.' Looking ahead, Invictus Investment remains focused on furthering its long-term growth strategy through strategic investments in key African markets, targeting the acquisition of majority stakes in leading ventures as it works towards its goal of becoming a fully integrated agro-food enterprise. *Please refer to for more information. About Invictus Investment Invictus Investment Company PLC, established in March 2022 and headquartered in Dubai, is a leading holding entity primarily focusing on agro-food commodities through its main subsidiary, Invictus Trading FZE, founded in February 2014. Initially offering procurement services that supplied raw materials and finished goods such as wheat in the MENA region, the company has since expanded its commodity portfolio to include a diverse range of products such as barley, corn, cotton, Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS), fertilisers, groundnuts, meat, sesame, soya bean, soya bean hulls, soya bean meal, sugar, vegetable oil and wheat flour. Today, Invictus Investment operates across 54 countries with a broad sourcing network and a focus on midstream and downstream acquisitions in the value chain, with the aim of becoming a fully integrated agro-food enterprise in the commodity trading sector across the Middle East and Africa. For media inquiries, please contact: Raneem Abudaqqa Senior Consultant | Tales & Heads E:
