When the Iran war disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year, the ripple effects reached far beyond the Middle East. Global fertilizer exports were dramatically curtailed, and prices climbed sharply around the world. For smallholder farmers in Africa, who are among the most vulnerable to sudden cost increases, the crisis threatened to upend an already difficult growing season.
But on the outskirts of Lusaka, Zambia, one farmer barely noticed the price shock. Kanangwa Newlove, who cultivates 12 acres of land, has spent years fertilizing her crops with a homemade fermented compost known as bokashi. The traditional Asian recipe has become her shield against volatile international markets.
Newlove's farm is a study in abundance. Shady fruit trees are scattered across her fields, and during the growing season long tomato vines cascade over trellises. She tends tidy rows of corn, pumpkins, and a local leafy green called blackjack, along with eleven different varieties of lettuce. What began as a modest effort to share vegetables with coworkers gradually grew into a full-scale commercial operation supplying supermarkets.
"I started taking vegetables to my workmates, and before I knew it I was supplying the supermarket," Newlove said. "It went on and on."
Her operation, Loctaguna Organics, now supplies restaurants and airlines, and she runs courses to educate NGOs and students about organic farming methods. At the heart of her success is bokashi, a fermented compost that she produces herself rather than purchasing expensive synthetic fertilizers.
The timing of her approach has proven fortuitous. In 2026, farmers across the developing world have faced one of the most challenging years in recent memory. The Iran war choked off the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for international trade, and dramatically halted shipments of many goods, including fertilizers. Prices spiked globally almost immediately.
The effects were felt acutely in African countries, where smallholder farmers often operate on thin margins and are highly susceptible to rapid changes in input costs. When fertilizer prices surge, many farmers are forced to reduce their usage, which can lead to lower yields and reduced incomes. In some cases, the price increases can mean the difference between a profitable season and a devastating loss.
Bokashi offers an alternative. The technique, which originated in Asia, involves fermenting organic matter — such as food scraps, agricultural waste, and other biodegradable materials — using a special inoculant. Unlike traditional composting, which relies on aerobic decomposition, bokashi uses anaerobic fermentation to break down materials more quickly and with less odor.
The resulting product is a nutrient-rich soil amendment that can improve soil health and provide plants with essential nutrients. For farmers like Newlove, it represents a way to maintain productivity without depending on imported synthetic fertilizers whose prices are tied to global energy markets and geopolitical events.
At a market in Zambia, bags of homemade bokashi fertilizer sell for about $2.50 each, according to reporting from the ground. The affordable price point makes it accessible to cash-strapped farmers who might otherwise struggle to afford conventional alternatives. The fertilizer shares table space with organic vegetables at the market stall, illustrating how the product has become integrated into the local agricultural economy.
The broader implications of the fertilizer crisis extend beyond individual farms. Food security across many African nations depends heavily on smallholder farmers, who produce a significant share of the continent's food supply. When these farmers face rising input costs, the consequences can cascade through local food systems, affecting availability and prices for consumers.
International development organizations have long advocated for sustainable agricultural practices that reduce dependence on imported inputs. Bokashi and similar techniques align with these goals, offering a locally sourced solution that builds soil health over time rather than relying on external supply chains.
Newlove's farm has become something of a model for this approach. By demonstrating that organic methods can produce enough food to supply commercial buyers, including airlines and restaurants, she has shown that sustainable agriculture is not merely a niche pursuit but a viable business strategy.
For farmers who have watched fertilizer prices climb beyond their reach, the lesson is clear: sometimes the oldest solutions are the most resilient. A "labor of love," as some describe the process of making bokashi, may also be a practical response to a world where international trade disruptions can quickly translate into local hardship.
As the effects of the Iran war continue to reverberate through global markets, farmers in Zambia and beyond are finding that self-reliance — rooted in traditional knowledge and local resources — can offer a buffer against forces far beyond their control. Newlove's flourishing fields stand as evidence that, with the right techniques, even a year of crisis can still yield a harvest.
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