Zambian Farmers Turn to Ancient DIY Fertilizer as War-Driven Prices Soar

Agricultural costs have surged in 2026 following the Iran war’s disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, which severely restricted international trade and halted shipments of essential fertilizers. The price spikes were felt acutely in African nations, where small-scale farmers remain highly vulnerable to volatile input costs. In response, some growers are reviving an ancient fermentation technique to produce their own organic amendments.

Kanangwa Newlove, who operates a 12-acre organic farm called Loctaguna Organics near Lusaka, Zambia, has relied on a homemade fermented compost known as bokashi for years. The method, which traces its roots to Korean farming traditions and was popularized in Japan, allows Newlove to avoid the commercial fertilizer market entirely. Her farm features diverse crops including tomatoes, corn, pumpkins, blackjack greens, and various lettuces.

“I started taking vegetables to my workmates, and before I knew it I was supplying the supermarket,” Newlove said. “It went on and on.”

Newlove described bokashi as a “game changer” because it produces potent organic fertilizer in just a few weeks. The process involves fermenting food scraps and farm materials—such as leaves, crop residues, animal dung, charcoal, and ash—in an anaerobic environment. To initiate fermentation, farmers add a sugar source like molasses or bananas along with yeast. Once the mixture heats up from microbial activity, it is buried near crops to finish breaking down.

The technique has gained traction across Zambia. Farmers now trade tips on social media and sell bags of homemade bokashi at local markets, such as the Sugarbush Green Market, where Loctaguna Organics offers the product for K50 (approximately $2.50). The Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre has incorporated bokashi into its curriculum, often sending students to Newlove’s farm to observe the practice firsthand.

Rabecca Mwila of the Knowledge Platform for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Africa noted that local growers have been searching for ways to maintain food production while lowering expenses. She stated that inputs like bokashi have provided a necessary buffer for these farmers during a difficult economic period.