Browse Tag

farming

3 mins read

Black Ag Ecosystem: Fighting for Black Land and Food Sovereignty

In the heart of the Pacific Northwest, a powerful collective of Black-led organizations is pioneering a transformative movement to advance food justice, land stewardship, and community empowerment.

Known as the Black Ag Ecosystem (BAE), this coalition is dedicated to addressing the systemic inequities faced by Black farmers and land stewards across Oregon and Washington. By leveraging the collective strength of its members, BAE is creating pathways to food sovereignty, generational wealth, and sustainable community development.

The collective comprises several key organizations, each with its unique focus and expertise:

  • Black Food Sovereignty Coalition (BFSC): A community-based organization that empowers Black and Brown communities to participate as owners and leaders within food systems, placemaking, and economic development.
  • Black Oregon Land Trust (BOLT): A nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for Black farmers to affordably steward land and build culturally-relevant agricultural skills.
  • Feed’em Freedom Foundation (FFF): A Black-led nonprofit that supports Black farmers to grow and celebrate culturally-specific ancestral foods.
  • Black Food Fund: A fund that redistributes financial capital to Black farmers and land stewards to build wealth, self-determination, and resiliency.

Achievements and Impact

Over the past five years, the Black Ag Ecosystem (BAE) has made significant strides in advancing Black food and land justice across the Pacific Northwest. One of BAE’s major achievements includes hosting the Back to the Root Conference, which has successfully convened hundreds of BIPOC growers from Oregon, Washington, and California, fostering a strong sense of community and knowledge exchange.

BAE has also been instrumental in securing substantial federal and state funding, such as a $2.5 million USDA grant and a $1.7 million Portland Clean Energy Fund grant. These funds have been pivotal in supporting Black farming, land acquisition, and the development of innovative projects like the Net Zero Community Demonstration Site.

In addition to securing resources, BAE has facilitated the acquisition of 73 acres of farmland in Oregon and Washington, allowing Black farmers to practice sustainable agriculture and build generational wealth. The Black Food Fund, a key initiative within BAE, has been crucial in redistributing capital to Black farmers, providing them with the financial support needed to build resilience and self-determination within the regional food system.

BAE’s commitment to promoting climate action and food justice is further exemplified by organizing Black farmer participation in national advocacy efforts, such as the Farmers for Climate Action Rally for Resilience in Washington, D.C.

A Vision for the Future

BAE’s vision extends beyond its current achievements. The collective is working to create a more equitable and sustainable food system for Black communities in the Pacific Northwest. By empowering Black farmers, supporting land access, and promoting food sovereignty, BAE is laying the groundwork for a brighter future.

Don’t miss any articles! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube  & LinkedIn

Advertise with us

8 mins read

Delta Diamond: Pioneering Black Ownership in the Agricultural Supply Chain

In the heart of Mississippi’s second-leading county for crop production, historic Bolivar County, Delta Diamond Ag LLC stands as the first Black-owned multi-grain elevator, following a recent acquisition.

Led by Leigh Allen, whose family’s roots span five generations in the Delta, Delta Diamond is a symbol of heritage and advancement. It’s also a reminder of the pressing need for more Black-owned manufacturing and processing facilities in the agricultural supply chain.

Delta Diamond

Delta Diamond boasts a robust infrastructure with a 400,000-bushel concrete elevator, a modern seed cleaning plant, warehousing capabilities, and an additional 2.8 acres earmarked for future expansion opportunities. Their facilities can receive a variety of grains, including corn, soybeans, rice, yellow field peas, and more.

What’s more, their extensive network of growers enables them to provide contract growing services, cementing their role as a crucial player in enhancing Black ownership and representation in the agricultural supply chain.

In this interview, we’ll dive deeper into Leigh’s remarkable journey, the acquisition of Big River Grain Co, their commitment to sustainability, and plans for the future.

What was the inspiration behind founding Delta Diamond?

The inspiration of Delta Diamond was driven by the recognition that being vertically integrated and having a diversification of value-added products and services was essential in mitigating risk. 

As the agriculture industry continues to evolve in trends such as consolidation; digitalization; and regenerative farming, I believed that it was critical to ensure that we were at the table not only as producers but, as owners of such a facility.  The appreciation and desire to be engaged in agriculture was instilled in me at a very young age via a multi-generational family history in row crop production in the Arkansas Delta.     

The acquisition of Big River Grain Co. is a significant milestone. What strategic considerations led to this decision? 

Chiefly, location and access: our facility is located in the Mississippi River Delta which as a region utilizes upwards of 60 percent of its land for agricultural purposes. The facility is located only 17 miles from the Mississippi River Port of Rosedale and 100 miles south of Memphis, TN. 

Cleveland is located in Bolivar County, Mississippi’s second-leading county in terms of crop production, and is next door to the historic town of Mound Bayou, which still to this day has a prominent role in agriculture and is home to Alcorn State University’s Extension/Research Farm & Technology Transfer Center. Ultimately, for us to achieve our goals it is imperative that we afford all growers the same level of customer service regardless of their background or the size of their farming operations.

Secondly, the expertise and relationships that the Delta Diamond organization possesses has enabled us to be well-positioned to work with potential businesses and foreign countries as a supplier and partner.  

Finally, the fact that we happen to be minority-owned we hope will serve as a plus to those considering doing business with us, however, at the end of the day we understand that it is our performance and customer service which will distinguish us from our competitors.  Fortunately, our cumulative track record demonstrates just that, and we remain focused on building upon those past successes. 

Delta Diamond

Becoming the first Black-owned multi-grain elevator and seed cleaning facility in the U.S. is a remarkable achievement. How do you plan to leverage this unique position?

Thank you kindly.  We are cognizant of this achievement and consider it a blessing.  That being said, Delta Diamond is in talks with several major corporate entities and producers as we explore mutually beneficial collaborative projects. We hope to bring along the next generation of Black agribusiness entrepreneurs.

Many folks have written off the Mid-South, particularly as it relates to the Delta region.  We appreciate the ability to work with a firm like S3 Procurement Services in accomplishing this goal.  That doesn’t negate the fact that a considerable portion of the best people and hardest workers I know have Delta roots and this is a chance to highlight that to the world. 

Could you elaborate on the sustainable practices and initiatives your company plans to implement in the agricultural sector?

We have already been active in leading and participating in research field trials for products such as non-GMO soybeans.  We certainly believe that a market exists for non-GMOs and specialty grains in ideal places where it makes sense.  This is ultimately predicated on maintaining or improving both productivity and/or profitability for the producer. 

For those companies and producers that do feel it’s feasible and strategically beneficial to their operations, Delta Diamond wants to be a synergistic partner in those sustainable ag efforts.  As for the facility, we are seeking to incorporate the latest technologies like cloud-based analysis, AI, and renewable energy which will allow us to reduce energy costs while operating in an efficient and effective manner. 

Additionally, we will assist our grower partners in identifying premium opportunities and technologies that will provide another tool in revenue generation that may not have been previously accessible to him or her.       

Looking ahead, what are your future plans and aspirations for Delta Diamond?

Near term, our immediate attention is executing the relevant certifications and licenses needed for not only warehousing grain but exporting as well. By doing so it will position us to develop and grow our core business.  We look forward to working with local stakeholders such as the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce, and the greater community, and contributing to the ongoing economic revitalization happening in Cleveland.

Looking further out, we want to be able to move into food processing and that’s where the logistical infrastructure of Memphis comes into play.  I believe that the city of Memphis offers some pretty impressive capabilities to Delta Diamond and our plans for expansion and upscaling.

In the meantime, we are firmly committed to working on having a successful operation.  We hope that Delta Diamond will serve as an inspiration to others who may want to travel down the proverbial “road less traveled” in their respective industry.

by Tony O. Lawson

➡️ Advertise with us

3 mins read

Black Farmer Fund Raises $11 Million to Support Black-Owned Agricultural and Food Businesses

The Black Farmer Fund was born out of a conversation between Karen Washington and Olivia Watkins, two farmer activists who met at a conference in 2017. They were both frustrated by the lack of financial assistance available for Black farmers, and they decided to do something about it.

In 2021, they launched the Black Farmer Fund (BFF), a nonprofit organization that invests in Black-owned food businesses located in the Northeast that use their businesses to build community wealth, move forward economic justice, practice ecological wellbeing, and are community-oriented.

Recently, the BFF announced that it successfully secured $11 million toward a $20 million fundraising target. The funding round was led by the New York Community Trust and the Ford Foundation, with participation from other foundations and individual donors.

The new funding will allow the BFF to expand its lending and technical assistance programs, and to invest in Black-owned food businesses that are working to address food insecurity and climate change.

The Black Farmer Fund also plans to use the funds to support its new Rapid Response Fund, which supports Black farmers & food actors in emergency situations including but not limited to equipment breakdown, weather damage, loss of crops or animals, medical expenses, stolen or damaged supplies, etc.

The fund provides low-interest loans and grants to Black farmers, herbalists, restaurant owners, caterers, food distributors, and other food-related entrepreneurs. It also provides technical assistance and training to help its investees succeed.

The BFF is a community-led fund, which means that the decisions about who to invest in are made by a committee of Black farmers, food entrepreneurs, and advocates. This ensures that the fund is meeting the needs of the Black farming and food justice community.

The Black Farmer Fund has already had a significant impact. In its first year of operation, the fund provided over $1 million in loans and grants to Black farmers and food businesses. The BFF also provided technical assistance and training to help its investees succeed.

The BFF has helped Black farmers and food businesses to:

  • Increase their access to capital
  • Improve their business practices
  • Develop new products and services
  • Expand their markets
  • Create jobs

The Black Farmer Fund is a significant step towards addressing the historical discrimination faced by Black farmers and ranchers in the United States. Today, just 1% of farmers in the United States identify as Black according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). These numbers are down from 1 million Black farmers a century ago. In 1919, Black farmland ownership peaked at 16 to 19 million acres, about 14% of total agricultural land.

➡️ Advertise your Business

Don’t miss any articles! Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn

7 mins read

Operating a Black Owned Farming Business in a $1 Trillion Agricultural Industry

Green Heffa Farms is a Black owned farming business, tea company, natural health brand, and educational resource.

Clarenda “Farmer Cee” Stanley, the company’s CEO, is on a mission to defy stereotypes and remove barriers for others who turn to farming for a different quality of life.

We caught up with her to get an update on the state of Black farmers and her insights on how to operate a successful farming business and wellness brand.

Clarenda “Farmer Cee” Stanley, CEO of Green Heffa Farms

What inspired you to start a farming business?

I honestly had no intentions of becoming a farmer when I left my maternal grandparent’s home. I actually was adamant that I would not ever be a farmer. My grandfather was a farmer and it was hard. I am from Alabama’s Black Belt, an area rife with inequity, racism, and corporate environmental neglect. I saw how the government treated Black farmers like my grandfather.

I saw how land was taken and families were broken, if not literally then spiritually. Holding on to family land is an accomplishment. Not only is land wealth but it’s also a way to hold on to family history. This is especially important when your people’s ability to trace their history was interrupted. However, in 2018, I purchased a beautiful piece of farmland and in 2019, I found myself needing a place to heal and where I could feel safe.

I found that by building Green Heffa Farms from scratch. From developing the land to building the brand, I grew to have tremendous respect for farmers who are entrepreneurs through and through. It gave me a newfound respect for entrepreneurs like my grandfather.

How did you decide what to grow?

So in the beginning, it was thought that Green Heffa Farms would focus primarily on hemp. Hemp had just become available to licensed growers in North Carolina. The hype was high and so were the scams. I admit, I briefly got caught up but quickly realized that while I wanted to broaden our focus to medicinal plants.

While cannabis is a beautiful herb, it is by no means the only plant that offers botanically-based benefits. I set out learning what likes to grow already on the land that has medicinal value (turns out, there were several plants already here), what we can grow well, and which plants have the properties that we need for our functional teas and blends.

We currently grow over 2 dozen species of plants and for some species, such as cannabis and holy basil (tulsi), we grow several varieties. Of course, there are other considerations but these are the primary ones.

What are the current challenges Black farmers are facing?

Many of the challenges are well-documented. We receive a disproportionate amount of resources whether public or private, are operating in supply chains that are inclusive, and have smaller land assets.

Other challenges include the need for more climate resiliency – our farms are more susceptible to floods and droughts and often lack the green infrastructure needed. We also are constantly having to educate the public about exactly who Black farmers are.

There is this antiquated mindset that assumes that we all grow fruits and vegetables or that farmers are not actual business owners with enterprises that thrive on revenues.

What are the different ways to get into the farming business?

Aspiring farmers can lease land, rent space in a nursery, or even grow indoors. Additionally, make sure that you truly research market opportunities. There are so many industries that rely on agricultural production from food to textiles to beauty to energy.

Do not limit yourself. You can also gain experience by working on a farm, even if part-time and on the weekends. Make sure to learn just as much about the business side as you do the production operations.

What are some stigmas attached to farming?

That we all are “struggle farmers”. Another one is that farmers are less intelligent. or uneducated. That is completely false. I have two degrees and I still feel at times that I am not smart enough to be a farmer.  The level of brilliance some farmers possess is astounding. They would put most Fortune 500 CEO’s to shame.

What advice do you have for existing farmers who are trying to grow their businesses?

Build your brand, whether you are direct to consumer, business to business, etc. Try to get as rid of as many middle people as you can. Grow slow so you don’t owe. And when you do have to owe, make the debt work for you. Also, use digital and social media strategically.

What are your future goals for your business?

We will continue to grow slowly so we don’t owe, or rather owe as little as possible. We have plans to build a wash station and begin offering tea already bagged along with our loose-leaf options. We will also get into other products including seed oils and do more in the beauty space. And of course, we will continue expanding our herbal tea line with a few new recipes in 2023.

@Tony O. Lawson

Want to invest in Black founders? Please fill out this short form.

 

4 mins read

How to Start Your Own Indoor Farm

The best kind of independence and security you can have is food security. Growing what you need right in your backyard, kitchen garden, or even indoors can make you feel empowered and reduce your dependence on expensive produce.

Indoor farming functions on the concept of utilizing indoor spaces for growing fresh vegetables, microgreens, herbs, and even flowering plants by leveraging the power of technology.

The concepts of aeroponics, hydroponics, soil-based & hybrid indoor cropping are rapidly catching people’s interest because of their high yield and relatively simpler management.

According to Mordor Intelligence, the indoor farming market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.1% over the forecast period of 2022-27 – a statistic that is quite encouraging.

Here’s all you need to know to get started.

Selecting the Right Production Method

Today, many growers practice Urban Farming, where they use modern methods to maximize yields from smaller areas and try to grow crops indoors. There are various ways in which you can increase crop production. Some of them are Deep Water Culture, Nutrient Films, Media Beds, Aeroponics, Hydroponics, etc.

The method best suited for your space depends on the area you designate for cropping, the kind of crop you wish to grow, and the investment (time and money) you want to put into it. Lighting and water requirements are also some factors to consider when selecting a suitable production method.

Setting up Lighting

Setting up the right kind of lighting for your indoor farming system is essential to maximize the production and quality of crop yield. For example, hydroponics systems need a longer duration of artificial light – about 14 to 16 hours a day, while aquaponics would need about 13 hours of natural light.

The requirement is different for each system, so set up your indoor farm at a place where the surroundings can help meet its lighting requirements.

Gathering Tools

Nobody can professionally farm without the right tools. When researching urban farming methods, look up the tools you require to keep it functioning well. If opportunity allows, get some training to handle minor repairs or modifications yourself. It can help you figure out how to tweak the system for the best results.

Getting the Crop and Seeds

Once the setup is complete and the indoor plantation system achieves the recommended status (like required in hydroponics), you can start planting. Depending on what you are planning to grow, some crops need to be grown from seed, while some can be grafted. Acquire the starter sapling/leaf/seed/root, etc., and begin planting.

Monitoring and Maintenance

Once the planting is complete, all that remains is ensuring the health of the crop and the system. Monitor the status of your crops and indoor farming setup to see whether it performs as it should. If needed, acquire fertilizer or growing aid to help the saplings. Some indoor plantation systems need special fertilizers, like in hydroponics. Also, create schedules for every aspect of the plant’s health supervision.

Indoor farming can sound daunting at first, but you’ll ease into it once you grow familiar with the process, systems, and plants.

Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn & Twitter.

4 mins read

5 Steps for Creating Your First Vegetable Garden

Are you thinking of creating your own vegetable garden? Growing your own vegetables will provide you with inexpensive, fresh, organic vegetables and offer health benefits that come with being closer to nature. If you are a first-time vegetable gardener, follow these steps to start your garden now!

1.   Plan and Prep

When you are new to gardening, it’s better to start small to make sure it’s fun and fulfilling. Plan your seeds, buy organic manures, get the required tools, and get enough pots or materials to separate the gardening area. Make sure you have everything you need before you start with gardening. If you don’t know where to start, here’s a checklist of must-have gardening tools!

  • Gardening Gloves
  • Secateurs
  • Hand Trowel
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Shovel
  • Rake
  • Hand Saw
  • Garden Pitchfork

2.   Pick a Spot

Do you have a place in your yard that receives 6 hours or more direct sunlight? If yes, you’ve found the spot for your vegetable garden. Make sure this spot has access to a water source. If the water source is far, it is likely that the plants will get ignored. You can also use a self-watering system for sufficient irrigation.

The spot you pick should be sheltered from high winds to ensure the plants grow well. Use a trench or high bed to separate the gardening area from the rest of the space. You can also fence it with wooden planks, rocks, or any available material.

3.   Plan Your Bed

You can plan where each seed will go in the garden bed. Make a visual representation of the space each plant takes in the garden bed. Knowing how much each plant will grow can help in the successful design of the space.

Keep companion planting in mind when you are planning the garden bed. Even though seeds and transplants are tiny, fully developed plants can grow huge. Plants struggle to flourish when they are overcrowded. Small, well-kept gardens thrive better than vast, unkempt ones.

4.   Plant in Rich Soil

Your vegetable garden needs the richest soil for the best harvest. Rich, healthy soil is easy to dig and drains well. To determine the quality of your soil, check if it is gritty, powdery, or sticky.

A combination of sand, silt, clay in specific proportions will determine the quality of the soil for gardening as it affects the nutrients and drainage. Add enough compost and mix it well with the soil.

5.   Sow the Seed

With everything else in place, it’s time to sow the seeds. The bulbs and the big seeds go directly in the bed, while the small ones need to be planted in a seedling tray or pot first. The sproutings can be replanted to the bed when they have grown slightly and have at least 4-5 leaves. With constant care, you will be harvesting and eating your own veggies in no time!

Gardening requires a lot of time and patience. If you find it difficult to water the plants and keep a check on them when needed, you can install a self-watering system by Torpedopot.

This doesn’t mean you can ignore the plants completely as they require regular attention; it will just take one more thing off the to-do list for you.

Powered by Torpedopot

3 mins read

Black Owned Grocery Store Receives $2.5 Million Grant

Forty Acres Fresh Market is a startup grocer founded in 2018 by Liz Abunaw in response to the lack of fresh food options on Chicago’s West Side.

Forty Acres Fresh Market
Liz Abunaw

As much as Liz loved offering fresh produce at pop-ups, farmers’ markets, and a grocery delivery service, her dream was to open a brick-and-mortar store.

It seems her dream has come true. The city of Chicago is backing the development of a Black-owned supermarket with a $2.5 million grant, funded under the Chicago Recovery Plan.

The Chicago Recovery Plan Community Development Grant program will offer small grants up to $250,000 and large grants up to $5 million. Business owners can apply online. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with a first-round deadline on Jan. 31 and a second-round deadline on March 10.

For Forty Acres Fresh Market, the grant will fund part of the construction costs, including plumbing, mechanical and electrical work for things like refrigerators and freezers. They expect to apply for construction permits in the coming months. Construction will begin once the city approves the permits, a process that could take three to five months.

Tracy Smith has been with Forty Acres since the beginning.

“It’s very exciting,” Smith said. “I’ve never been a part of anything like this … I’ve seen Liz do everything, from the first events to finding a location where they wanted the store … Every time we go over there to get something, someone asks when it is going to open.”

The store will fill the gap in mid-sized grocery stores, allowing residents to stock up on daily food items between major shopping trips. The store will be full-service, with a range of fresh fruits, veggies, prepared foods, frozen items, a refrigerated section and dry goods.

Bringing a grocery store to the area will improve more than just food access, Abunaw said: A grocery store is part of a neighborhood’s social infrastructure that builds cohesion in a community and benefits all businesses along the corridor. The increased foot traffic and local dollars being circulated within the Austin community can “slowly start to shift the perception that there’s nothing on Chicago” Avenue, she said.

“We want people to start associating good shopping experiences with Austin,” Abunaw told Black Club Chicago. “It’s not just buying food. It’s the people, it’s the customer service. It’s the frozen food aisle and discovering new things you didn’t even know you needed.”

Don’t miss any articles! Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn & Twitter.

5 mins read

10 Step Guide for Growing Your Own Food

Growing your food is a fun and fulfilling experience. It’s tremendously exciting to watch the seeds sprout, grow new leaves, blossom, and bear fruit.

The highlight of it all is harvesting and eating meals made from veggies you cultivated yourself. If you plan to grow your own food, check out our ten easy steps to guide you through the process. 

1. Choose the Seeds

The growing conditions of each plant are different. Thus, knowing what you will be growing will help you with your research and the rest of the process. Based on the seed availability, your favorite veggies, and the area available for gardening, choose what you want to grow and how much you want to grow.

2. Know the Veggie Friends

Growing certain plants together is a simple trick gardeners use to increase their profit. As you plan your garden for this year, make sure you choose companion plants that will complement each other and help your garden flourish. They can provide each other with nutrients, shade, or support, as well as attract pollinators and repel pests. 

3. Do Your Research

Now that you know what you are planting, read up on the season, the growing conditions, and the processes for each of the seeds you have chosen. Know that each plant grows in different seasons and requires different amounts of sunlight, water, and manure. Have an understanding of the growing process for each seed to monitor the growth and make informed decisions. 

4. Find Your Spot

The perfect spot is where you can get a lot of morning sunlight. Sunlight contributes to the growth and development of a plant. However, planting it where the noon light shines a lot can make maintenance more difficult since it would require frequent watering and might even wither quickly. Plants require around 6–7 hours of sunshine to flourish. So, look for a spot with direct sunlight.  

5. Know Your Soil

Each plant requires different types of soil and pH levels for growth. A simple squeeze test can tell you whether your soil is clay, sand, or loam. Knowing your soil will help you determine how to prepare your soil for maximum yield.

6. Prepare the Soil

After understanding your soil type, you need to prepare your soil for each produce. Adding compost and fertilizers will help enhance the richness of the soil and help produce better yields. Add a generous amount of garden compost to the soil and mix it well before planting the seeds.

7. Plant It the Right Way

Depending on the seed, the way to plant it also differs. Some seeds need to be buried deeper, while others need only a light layer of soil to cover them. Bulbs can go straight into the pot, whereas the vulnerable range needs to start seed trays. They can be transplanted into the pot when they have a minimum of 4–5 leaves. Make sure to choose the right pot depending on the expected growth of each plant. 

8. Add Nutrients and Water

Like any living being, plants require sunlight, nutrients, and water to grow well. Keep a tracker and add fertilizers once every two weeks, and water it depending on the requirement for each plant. You can dip your finger in the soil to check the soil’s moisture level. Also, remember to add pesticides as and when needed. 

9. Harvest

Keep a close eye on ripening plants. Some need to be harvested raw, some fresh; some are happy to wait till you are ready to harvest, while some wait for none. Know and identify the right time to reap and enjoy harvesting the produce grown all by yourself.

10. Enjoy!

The final step is to enjoy the organic vegetables/fruit and make a healthy meal to share with your friends and family.

If you are looking for advanced ways to handle your garden, Torpedopot can help you set up a self-growing garden with a built-in, fully automated, pressurized plumbing system that waters your plants for you.

Don’t miss any articles! Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn

Advertise your Business

4 mins read

Black Farmer’s Are Fighting to Be Saved As The Number of Black Owned Farms Grows Smaller

Black farmers in the U.S. have shouldered many blows, but this time, their livelihoods are seriously at risk of extinction. The days when Black farms flourished around the nation are long gone, and now out of the 3.4 million farmers in the U.S. today, only 45,000 are Black, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

So, what happened? How did we go from nearly 1 million Black farms to fewer than 36,000 today? Black farmers say that a combination of systematic racism, discriminatory government policies, and more recently, the effects of the pandemic have led to their downfall.

Without loans from lenders such as the USDA that allows farmers to buy seed, scale, and support themselves during the times between harvest, Black farmers are forced to shut down their farms and say goodbye to a legacy of agriculture.

According to Natalie Belize, author of “We Are Each Other’s Harvest: Celebrating African American Farmers, Land, and Legacy,”the cycle of the mistreatment of Black farmers has persisted for decades, and its “cascading” effects leaves farmers paralyzed as they face a mountain of growing debt.

And now, with the disproportionate economic and physical effects of the pandemic on Black people, Black farmers require critical help and fast. But just when the government has finally stepped up to the plate to provide financial relief for Black farmers, a judge has pushed back and put the money on hold as white farmers cry reverse discrimination.

If passed, the relief plan proposed by the Biden administration will provide $4 billion in loan forgiveness for socially disadvantaged Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, Alaskan native, Asian American, or Pacific Islander farmers. White farmers are ineligible for relief, hence why they believe that the relief package is unconstitutional.

But non-White farmers have been victims of the mistreatment of the USDA for over a century. Not only were Black people not given the 40 acres and a mule following the Civil War that they were promised, but since then, they have been repeatedly denied loans, forced to foreclose their farms, and watch as white farmers reaped the benefits.

Although the USDA has many spokespersons who say that the institution is committed to eradicating racist and discriminatory practices, many Black farmers just don’t buy it, like John Wesley Boyd Jr.

“I think discrimination is still pervasive. I think that it’s done in a much subtler way,” Boyd said to CBS News. “I don’t think you’re going to see many USDA officials spitting on people now or maybe calling them colored, but they aren’t lending them any money—the way they lend White farmers.”

The relief program that Black farmers have been desperately waiting for is still halted and in the hands of U.S. Judge Marcia Morales Howard. So as white and Black farmers alike wait for a motion to be ruled, all Black farmers can do now is continue to fight and keep hope so that they stay afloat.

Written by Reese Williams


Subscribe and Follow SHOPPE BLACK on Facebook, Instagram Twitter

2 mins read

Agricorp Raises $17.5M To Export Spices From Nigeria and Empower Farmers

Agricorp International is a spice producing, processing, and exporting company. Founded in 2018, the Nigeria based startup is on a mission to satisfy a growing global demand for spices.

Although Nigeria is the second largest producer of ginger in the world, it only accounts for  3.5% of the export market share due to capacity constraints and consistency.

Through our engagements with local community members and farmers, Agricorp has created direct jobs for over 100 women and aggregated products from over 4,000 smallholder farmers and is currently on track to aggregate from over 10,000.

Agricorp recently announced a $17.5 million ( 7.2 billion naira) investment that will enable it to increase the amount of ginger and other spices processed and exported to the Middle East, Europe, and America. The investment also secures Agricorp’s position as Africa’s largest spice export startup.

The funding was raised from Vami Nigeria, One Capital LLC and AFEX. Vami led the funding round with $11.5 million in equity, while the other investors provided working capital financing for the company. Ernst & Young (Nigeria) served as transaction advisers while Elisio Law Office and Pavestone Legal served as legal advisers.

“We believe that by increasing our capacity, we will maximize the potentials to boost Nigeria’s forex earnings through export, contribute our quota to improving the Nigerian GDP from agriculture, and serve as a worthy model to African youths who aspire to be agribusiness owners. We want to show them it is possible and very rewarding as well” said Kenneth Obiajulu, Agricorp’s CEO.

Tony O. Lawson


Subscribe and Follow SHOPPE BLACK on Facebook, Instagram Twitter