The ripple effects of the Iran war have reached deep into the agricultural economies of Africa, where smallholder farmers are confronting fertilizer prices that have climbed beyond reach. The conflict, which choked off traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, dramatically disrupted international trade shipments — including essential fertilizer supplies — and triggered price spikes felt far beyond the Middle East. For farmers in countries like Zambia, where small-scale agriculture forms the backbone of food production, the sudden cost increases threatened to upend planting seasons and livelihoods alike.
Yet on the outskirts of Lusaka, Kanangwa Newlove has barely noticed the crisis. On 12 acres of land, she has cultivated what amounts to a small agricultural paradise: shady fruit trees scattered across her fields, long tomato vines draped over trellises during the growing season, and tidy rows of corn, pumpkins, and a local leafy green known as blackjack. She also grows eleven different varieties of lettuce. Her farm, Loctaguna Organics, supplies restaurants and airlines, and she runs courses to educate NGOs and students on organic farming methods.
Newlove's secret to weathering the fertilizer crisis is a traditional Asian recipe that she has relied on for years. Instead of purchasing expensive synthetic fertilizers, she feeds her plants with bokashi — a fermented compost made from locally available organic materials. The technique, which originated in Japan and has spread across Asia, involves fermenting kitchen scraps, agricultural waste, and other organic matter with effective microorganisms. The result is a nutrient-rich soil amendment that improves soil health and reduces dependency on imported chemical inputs.
"I started taking vegetables to my workmates, and before I knew it I was supplying the supermarket," Newlove says. "It went on and on." Her success story stands in stark contrast to the struggles facing many of her peers. Across the continent, smallholder farmers are often the most vulnerable to rapid changes in fertilizer costs. They lack the financial buffers of larger commercial operations and cannot easily absorb sudden price shocks. When the Iran war halted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint for global trade — the consequences cascaded through supply chains, leaving farmers scrambling for alternatives.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world's most strategically important maritime corridors. A significant portion of global fertilizer exports, particularly from the Middle East, passes through this route. When the war effectively closed it to international shipping, fertilizer prices spiked globally almost immediately. The effects were particularly acute in African countries, where import dependency is high and local production capacity is limited.
Bokashi offers a compelling solution for farmers facing such disruptions. Unlike traditional composting, which relies on aerobic decomposition and can take months to produce usable material, bokashi uses anaerobic fermentation to break down organic waste in a matter of weeks. The process involves layering food scraps and agricultural residues with a bran inoculated with beneficial microorganisms, then sealing the mixture in an airtight container. The resulting product is a pre-digested, nutrient-dense material that can be buried directly in soil or used to create a liquid fertilizer.
For Newlove, the benefits extend beyond cost savings. Bokashi has helped her build healthier soil, which in turn produces more resilient plants. Her farm has become a demonstration site of sorts, attracting interest from other farmers, NGOs, and students eager to learn the technique. She sells bags of homemade bokashi fertilizer at local markets, where they share table space with her organic vegetables. A single bag sells for about 50 Zambian kwacha, roughly equivalent to $2.50 — a modest price that makes the product accessible to farmers with limited budgets.
The broader implications of this shift toward DIY fertilizer extend well beyond individual farms. In many African countries, governments subsidize synthetic fertilizer to boost agricultural productivity and food security. But such programs are expensive and vulnerable to global market fluctuations. When international prices spike, subsidy programs can become unsustainable, leaving farmers without affordable options. Techniques like bokashi offer a decentralized, community-based alternative that reduces reliance on global supply chains and foreign exchange reserves.
Agricultural experts have long argued that building local capacity for organic fertilizer production is essential for long-term food security in regions vulnerable to trade disruptions. The Iran war has underscored that argument, demonstrating how quickly global events can translate into local hardship. For cash-strapped farmers, however, the switch to homemade fertilizer is not just a matter of economics — it is a labor of love. The process requires time, attention, and a willingness to experiment with unfamiliar methods.
Newlove's story illustrates how small-scale innovation can flourish in the face of adversity. While her neighbors may struggle to afford imported fertilizer, she continues to harvest abundant crops, supply high-end customers, and teach others what she has learned. Her farm serves as a reminder that resilience in agriculture often comes not from dependence on distant supply chains but from knowledge, resourcefulness, and a deep understanding of local ecosystems. As farmers across the region look for ways to cope with volatile prices and uncertain trade flows, recipes like bokashi may offer a path forward — one handful of fermented compost at a time.
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