When the Iran war disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year, the ripple effects reached far beyond the Middle East. International trade routes that carry a wide range of goods — including crucial agricultural inputs like fertilizer — were thrown into disarray, and prices climbed sharply around the world. For smallholder farmers in Africa, who often operate on thin margins and have little cushion against sudden cost increases, the shock was felt almost immediately.
But on a 12-acre farm outside Lusaka, Zambia, one grower barely noticed the crisis. Kanangwa Newlove has spent years cultivating her land using a fermented homemade compost known as bokashi, a traditional Asian method that relies on locally available materials rather than imported synthetic products. While her neighbors scrambled to afford increasingly expensive commercial fertilizer, Newlove continued tending her fields as usual.
Her farm, called Loctaguna Organics, is a model of agricultural diversity. Shady fruit trees are scattered across the property, providing natural canopy and helping to retain moisture in the soil. During the growing season, long tomato vines drape over trellises, and neat rows of corn, pumpkins, and a local leafy green known as blackjack fill the fields. Newlove also grows eleven different varieties of lettuce, a sign of her commitment to crop diversity and experimentation.
Newlove's journey into farming was not a sudden career change but a gradual evolution. She began by sharing vegetables with her workmates, an informal gesture that unexpectedly grew into something larger. Before long, she found herself supplying a supermarket, and the operation kept expanding. Today, Loctaguna Organics supplies restaurants and airlines, and Newlove runs training courses to educate NGOs and students about organic farming techniques.
The timing of her success is notable. According to the source article, the Iran war choked off the Strait of Hormuz and dramatically halted international trade shipments, including fertilizers. Prices spiked globally, and the effects were quickly felt in African countries where smallholder farmers are especially vulnerable to rapid changes in fertilizer costs. For many farmers, 2026 has been a challenging year, but Newlove did not feel the pinch.
The reason lies in her reliance on bokashi, a method that transforms organic waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer through fermentation. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, which depend on global supply chains and fossil fuel inputs, bokashi can be produced locally using materials that farmers may already have on hand. This makes it a resilient option in times of trade disruption, and it also reduces dependence on volatile international markets.
For cash-strapped farmers, the appeal is obvious. At a market in Zambia, bags of homemade bokashi fertilizer are sold alongside organic vegetables, with each bag priced at about $2.50. That affordability stands in stark contrast to the soaring costs of conventional fertilizer, which many smallholders can no longer afford. The market stall, run by Loctaguna Organics, illustrates how the farm has integrated its fertilizer production into its broader business model.
Farmers who have adopted bokashi describe the process as a "labor of love," a phrase that captures both the effort involved and the satisfaction it brings. Making the fertilizer requires time, attention, and a willingness to experiment, but the payoff is a reliable source of nutrients that does not fluctuate with global commodity prices. For those who have mastered the technique, it offers a measure of independence from the unpredictable forces of international trade.
The broader implications extend beyond individual farms. In many African countries, smallholder farmers form the backbone of local food systems, and their ability to withstand price shocks has direct consequences for food security. When fertilizer becomes unaffordable, yields can fall, incomes shrink, and communities may face shortages. By contrast, methods like bokashi can help stabilize production and keep food available even when global markets are in turmoil.
Newlove's farm also demonstrates how organic practices can be combined with commercial success. By supplying restaurants and airlines, she has tapped into markets that value quality and sustainability. Her training courses further spread the knowledge, reaching NGOs and students who may go on to apply similar techniques in their own communities. In this way, the impact of her work multiplies, extending far beyond the boundaries of her 12 acres.
The Iran war's disruption of the Strait of Hormuz serves as a reminder of how interconnected global trade has become — and how quickly a conflict in one region can affect farmers in another. Fertilizer, which is essential for modern agriculture, is particularly vulnerable to such shocks because it is often produced in a few locations and shipped long distances. When those shipments halt, prices rise, and the most vulnerable farmers are hit hardest.
In that context, the turn toward traditional recipes like bokashi represents more than just a practical solution. It is also a form of adaptation, a way for farmers to build resilience in the face of forces they cannot control. By relying on local resources and time-tested methods, they reduce their exposure to international markets and strengthen their ability to weather future crises.
For Newlove, the benefits are clear. Her farm thrives even as others struggle, and her fertilizer business provides an additional source of income. She has become a source of inspiration for other farmers in the region, showing that it is possible to succeed without depending on expensive imported inputs. Her story is one of many that illustrate the potential of sustainable agriculture to address both economic and environmental challenges.
As 2026 draws to a close, the global fertilizer market remains unsettled, and the full consequences of the Iran war's trade disruptions are still unfolding. But for farmers who have embraced homemade solutions like bokashi, the outlook is brighter. They have found a way to insulate themselves from the volatility of global markets, and in doing so, they are helping to build more resilient food systems for their communities.
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