Agricultural laws entail various legal matters that address agricultural infrastructure, seed regulations, water management, fertilisers, pesticides, agricultural finance, insurance, farming rights, tenure systems, and legal regulations governing agro-processing and rural industries.
Given the substantial contributions of agriculture to a nation’s economy, agricultural laws are of utmost importance in the seamless administration of the sector. The new agricultural laws in this article will cut across land use, GMO use, subsidies and trade in 2025 across various African countries.
The Expropriation Act in South Africa
South Africa began 2025 by signing the Expropriation Act into law. This act replaces the apartheid-era 1975 law and sets clearer rules for land takings in the public interest. In cases such as abandoned land, the law permits nil compensation and ensures court oversight. For investors and landholders, the Act clarifies procedure but raises the stakes in land reform debates. However, it is beneficial to smallholder farmers as it slowly shifts land from large commercial estates, making more land accessible to them. With more land, these farmers can expand their operations and produce more agricultural goods.
National Land Registration and Titling Programme in Nigeria
This law aims to digitise records and push formal land registration above 50% within a decade. It should be recalled that there had been a call by the federal government to amend the Land Use Act, which has long been criticised for contesting power in the governors’ hands. Therefore, the policy is being scoped to harmonise state-level practices under the Land Use Act.
Nevertheless, some states, such as Enugu in Nigeria, have adopted new regulations, including Enugu’s 2025 land-use directives, to reshape acquisition and planning rules.
The National Land Registration and Titling Programme aims to reduce land disputes and attract tangible private investment for farmers in the country. Additionally, it seeks to create equitable access for women and youth farmers.
Devolution and Tax Reform in Kenya
Kenya’s Cabinet recently approved the transfer of Amboseli National Park’s management to Kajiado County. This is a landmark devolution move that strikes a balance between conservation and local community benefits. At the same time, the Finance Bill 2025 proposes a 0.3% national property tax on urban residential properties. If passed, it will sufficiently alter the cost of landholding and inject new revenue into public coffers.
Revised National Land Policy in Tanzania
Launched in March, this policy prioritises scaling up village land-use plans to reduce disputes and strengthen customary tenure. The government has also floated amendments to allow members of the diaspora to access land through special derivative rights, a potential game-changer for remittances and investment if it clears Parliament. With this new revision of the land policy, large-scale agri-investments are expanding, putting pressure on customary lands.
Rural Land Administration and Use Proclamation in Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s Rural Land Administration and Use Proclamation (No. 1324/2024) was officially enforced and legally binding in 2025. It restructures rural land administration by agro-ecological zones, tightens rules on leasing and transfers, and upgrades certification systems. The law is designed to strike a balance between tenure security for smallholders and state-driven land planning. This results in the efficient use of land for efficient climate-resilient crops.
Lands and Deeds Registry Amendment Bill in Zambia
In Zambia, this Bill before Parliament would empower the Chief Registrar to cancel fraudulent or erroneous titles. Though supporters say it will clean up corruption, critics warn of due-process risks. Coupled with higher property transfer taxes introduced in 2025, the bill could reshape both registry integrity and transaction costs. Its impact on farmers is that it enables commercial farming because land titling is increasing, and customary land ownership is now being formalised.
Electronic Land Information System in Ghana
Ghana has doubled down on digitisation with the Lands Commission expanding its Electronic Land Information System. Although no major statute has been passed this year, the reforms aim to reduce bottlenecks and corruption and as well as the capacity for property taxation. With the Electronic Land Information System, farmers would have a more sustainable approach towards farming.
Uganda: Courts Strengthen Customary Tenure
In a landmark ruling this year, Uganda’s judiciary affirmed that customary landowners are not mere tenants but holders of enforceable rights under the Land Act. This boosts the legitimacy of customary certificates and may complicate state expropriations and large-scale lease negotiations.
Court puts the brakes on roll-out in Kenya
On March 7, 2025, Kenya’s Court of Appeal halted government promotion and imports of GM foods pending the resolution of ongoing cases. This does not repeal earlier policy moves, but it pauses aggressive scale-up and imports while the courts scrutinise the process and risk assessment. Expect delayed commercialisation timelines and tighter oversight of approvals by the National Biosafety Authority.
Cowpea Adoption in Ghana
Ghana’s pod-borer-resistant (PBR) cowpea crossed a major milestone as its commercial release began in 2025, following regulatory clearance in 2024. Subsequently, the import policy for GE (Genetically Engineered) products remains permissive, and regulators are preparing systems to monitor production and labelling. For growers, this change would reduce pesticide costs and provide clearer compliance pathways for traders. Additionally, the adoption of GMO cowpea in Ghana is growing among smallholder farmers. This implies a successful effect.
Nigeria: Commercial approvals expand, enforcement ramps up
Nigeria entered 2025 with four TELA (insect- and drought-tolerant) maize varieties commercially approved in 2024, joining Bt cotton and Bt cowpea, two genetically modified crops approved for commercialisation in Nigeria. Furthermore, the National Biosafety Management Authority (NBMA) has approved TELA maize (a genetically modified maize variety developed for insect resistance and drought tolerance) for commercial cultivation in Nigeria. Notably, the NBMA has been in force since 2022, applying its gene-editing guidelines in the agricultural sector. A widespread cultivation of GMO cowpea and cotton improves pest resistance.
Drought-Driven GMO Adoption in Zimbabwe
Due to drought-driven deficits, Zimbabwe permitted genetically engineered (GE) maize imports in MY 2024/25 under strict conditions (quarantine and supervised milling). This pragmatic opening reduces supply risk but adds compliance steps for grain traders. Nevertheless, the government of Zimbabwe maintains a strict stance against GMOs. It is noteworthy that GE maize imports reduce supply risk but add compliance steps for grain traders.
Gene Editing as GMOs in South Africa
South Africa continues to regulate new breeding techniques (NBTs)/gene-edited products as GMOs, applying the full GMO Act risk-assessment framework. For developers, this means longer timelines and more comprehensive dossiers compared to product-based regimes. This keeps South Africa at the forefront of the top of GMO production ,in Africa with expanded export markets.
Genome Editing Guidelines in Malawi
The Malawi Genome Editing Guidelines (2022) remain a regional reference point in 2025, clarifying when gene-edited products are regulated like GMOs and when they may be exempt (e.g., when no foreign DNA is introduced). Developers gain regulatory predictability; importers still must check product-specific determinations.
Regardless of the aforementioned countries’ laws on GMOs, several countries maintain restrictions (eg, Zimbabwe) or bans on cultivation and imports of GMOs. They include Algeria, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Benin, and Mali. Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Egypt maintain a moratorium on GMOs.
Nigeria
In early 2025, Nigeria revamped its fertiliser subsidy scheme to increase support for both chemical and organic fertilisers and expand distribution networks to reach remote smallholder farmers. Additionally, this aims to stabilise crop production and control food inflation.
In response to the removal of the fuel subsidy, which took effect in 2023, the government launched a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle initiative. This was to help its people cut transport costs by nearly 50%. Over 100,000 vehicles have been converted so far, but infrastructural gaps and low public awareness are slowing progress. So far, the removal of the fuel subsidy has caused an unpleasant increase in production costs, while fertiliser subsidies remain, albeit under review.
Import Subsidy Programme in Morocco
Battling a severe drought extended its wheat import subsidy programme through December 2025. This attempts to support stockholding by importers to counter domestic shortfall.
Climate-Smart Irrigation Initiative in Kenya
Kenya launched a Climate-Smart Irrigation Initiative by distributing subsidised drip irrigation systems and solar pumps to smallholder farmers in drought-prone zones. According to this, yields could increase by up to 20% in supported areas, making farming more efficient for smallholder farmers.
Cocoa Exports Incentivisation in Ghana
This was introduced to streamline and incentivise cocoa exports, which includes export process improvements, quality and logistics support. While not a classic subsidy, these boosting measures recognise export competitiveness as a public good.
On regional trends, many African countries historically cut fertiliser subsidies due to IMF-driven or World Bank-driven structural adjustment programmes. This had mixed results. For example, fertiliser usage dropped 25–40% in some countries (such as Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania), but soared 14–500% in others (such as Benin, Mali, and Madagascar).
Across the continent (from Angola, Senegal, Ghana, Zambia to Congo-Brazzaville), many governments are phasing out fuel subsidies under IMF pressure or budget crises. These moves are often controversial, sparking protests and hardship. Yet, they are seen as fiscally necessary because such subsidies consume sizable portions of national budgets while disproportionately benefiting wealthier urban dwellers.
Agricultural Laws Guiding Trade
In terms of trade, a few agricultural laws have influenced agricultural practices across the continent. One example is the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
AfCFTA
AfCFTA is shifting from paper agreements to real-world impact. In 2025, cross-border commerce in Africa is reshaped by tools like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS). This tool allows settlements in local currencies, consequently reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar.
In an effort to alleviate border delays, Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda have introduced digital origin certificates and electronic customs systems. Beyond goods, AfCFTA negotiators are advancing legal frameworks on investment, intellectual property, and digital trade, a sign that Africa’s trade integration is deepening.
Border Efficiency and Diversification
Furthermore, several African states are modernising their trade regimes. Namibia is testing new border management and time-release studies to cut clearance delays on Southern African Development Community (SADC) trade routes. This boosts agroprocessing jobs and increases Africa’s competitiveness in global markets.
In Nigeria, efforts are being made to steer trade into mining, manufacturing, and automotive exports, while tightening infrastructure links to boost competitiveness.
Financing the Future of Trade
To counter external shocks, African institutions are strengthening financial integration. Discussions regarding an African Investment Bank and the AU Development Fund are progressing, alongside the rollout of PAPSS. Together, these reforms could provide a homegrown financial backbone for trade growth.
