Keypoints:
- Horizon secures $250m impact fund support
- Nigeria’s ginger farmers reap higher incomes
- Processing drives Africa’s spice export growth
ON his four-hectare plot in Kurumi Musa, in Nigeria’s Kaduna State, Istifanus Dauda remembers long years of struggle. For generations, his family harvested ginger, hauled sacks for hours by road to Kachia market, and received less than ₦40,000—about $30—for an entire crop. That income was too meagre to cover school fees for his seven children, let alone food security.
‘School was a challenge for my family,’ Dauda said. ‘Sometimes we ate only once a day, and there was never enough. Now farming is easier for me. I don’t have to worry about paying labour or school fees—life is much better.’
Four years ago, Dauda’s fortunes shifted. Kaduna-based Horizon Group Africa offered to buy all the ginger he could grow at premium prices. With guaranteed markets, he hired 12 labourers alongside his siblings, producing 50 bags of dried organic ginger and earning over $1,000—more than 30 times his previous income.
Backing Africa’s spice economy
Dauda’s story reflects a wider transformation in Nigeria’s spice trade. Horizon Group Africa, which partners with over 3,000 smallholders, has secured investment from Aavishkaar Capital through its $250 million Global Supply Chain Support Fund (GSCSF). The backing will allow Horizon to triple its farmer outreach to 10,000 within three years, scale processing facilities, and expand exports to Europe, Asia and the United States.
‘Horizon Group Africa is proof that African agriculture can move decisively up the value chain,’ said Darren Lobo, Director at Aavishkaar Capital Africa. ‘Farmers in the Horizon network are not merely surviving; they are building resilience, creating jobs, and competing globally.’
Nigeria’s untapped export potential
Nigeria is the world’s second-largest producer of ginger, accounting for 16 percent of global supply in 2023, yet it captures only a sliver of export revenues. According to trade data, Nigeria produced 781,000 tonnes of raw ginger last year, ahead of China’s 697,000 tonnes. Yet Nigerian exports of raw ginger brought in just $47.5 million, compared with China’s $581 million.
Where processing is involved, however, Nigeria shows its strength. The country is the top global exporter of crushed and ground ginger, generating $29.6 million in 2023 and commanding 22 percent of world trade. Horizon’s strategy focuses on scaling such value-added exports, positioning Africa to move from raw commodity supplier to global market leader.
Farmers first approach
Founded in 2006 and refocused in 2017, Horizon Group Africa manages spice sourcing, processing, and trading across Nigeria, Tanzania and Madagascar. The company supplies ginger, turmeric, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and black pepper to premium markets in the EU, Asia and the US.
Its farmer-first model combines certified seed distribution, agronomy guidance, and cooperative organisation to ensure organic certification and traceability. Farmers also receive training, access to credit, and scholarship support for children. Horizon operates nursery schools, medical camps, and soil health programmes to improve rural life alongside income.
Stories from the field
In Kaduna State, the results are visible.
- Handan Haruna recalls his parents selling ginger for 70 naira a bag. With Horizon, he has boosted yields from 500 to 800 bags per hectare, hired labour, and enrolled all six children in school. ‘Farming finally offers hope for the next generation,’ he said.
- Gabriel Bako, who once saw his family scrape by on 800 naira a bag, now produces 50 bags per harvest and has expanded his farm. ‘Before Horizon, farming barely kept us alive. Now I can think about hiring help and giving my children a better future.’
- Blessing Mustafa, farming three hectares, benefits from Horizon’s scholarships. ‘It feels like history has changed—my children will grow up with opportunities I never had.’
- Patrick Peter has expanded production to his full three hectares, employing up to 20 local youths. ‘With Horizon, farming has dignity. I can employ others and ensure my boys are in school.’
Impact capital at work
The investment is the fourth African deal under the GSCSF, a fund established by Aavishkaar Capital in partnership with KfW, the German development bank. Japan’s JICA recently added $40 million to the fund to expand SME support in Africa and Asia. Previous African investments include Privamnuts in Kenya, which processes macadamia nuts, and apparel manufacturers Hela Apparel Holdings in Mauritius and Balaji EPZ in Kenya.
Dr Markus Aschendorf, Head of Division at KfW, said: ‘Our investment reflects KfW’s commitment to strengthening sustainable supply chains across Africa and Asia. Horizon’s work in regenerative agriculture aligns with our vision for ecologically conscious businesses ready to thrive in global markets.’
Scaling for the global market
Horizon targets a fourfold revenue increase to $100 million within three years, anchored on farmer networks, expanded processing, and premium exports. Demand for organic and traceable food is surging worldwide, and Horizon’s positioning allows African farmers to capture a larger share of the $40bn global spice trade.
‘This partnership allows us to scale our model, empower more farmers, and ensure Africa’s spices command their rightful place in global markets,’ said Jomy Antony, Founder and CEO of Horizon Group Africa.
The company processes both organic and conventional spices, but global awareness of organic produce has widened margins. By linking thousands of farmers into certified supply chains, Horizon demonstrates how impact capital can transform rural livelihoods and put Africa’s spice industry on the global stage.
Building resilience through spices
Household incomes among Horizon farmers have risen by three to five times, with ripple effects across education, healthcare, and nutrition for tens of thousands of dependents. Farmers have moved from subsistence to planning for growth, employing local labour, and reinvesting in communities.
The model represents a break from extractive commodity trade towards one that builds resilience at the farm gate. For Dauda and thousands like him, the partnership has brought not only income but dignity.
As Lobo of Aavishkaar Capital put it: ‘Africa’s spice trade has long been overlooked in the global economy, but with the right investment it can thrive. The success of Horizon Group Africa shows how farmers can compete globally and benefit directly from the demand for sustainability and traceability.’
