Posted on February, 18, 2016 at 01:36 pm
Regional News
Africa: Achieving New Global Goals Will Require Increased Investments in Smallholder Agriculture
Rome — Development leaders, heads of state and government representatives gathered for the opening of the 39th Session of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to explore ways of boosting investments in smallholder agriculture that are essential to achieving the Global Goals of ending poverty and hunger. “Investing in smallholder agriculture in developing countries is a cross-cutting issue that helps to stabilize communities and countries and reduce migration and conflict.” - Sergio Mattarella, the President of the Italian Republic.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201602171463.html
Kenya News
Second maize harvest in Galana-Kulalu to be done in two weeks
The second harvest of another 500 acres of maize in Galana-Kulalu irrigation project will be ready in two weeks. Water and Irrigation cabinet secretary Eugene Wamalwa said six high-yielding varieties were planted and Kenyans should expect good harvest.
Tanzania News
Boost budget to eliminate devastating whitefly, scientists urge
SCIENTISTS have called on the government to increase budgetary allocations on agricultural research activities and programmes to control whiteflies, which destroy and spread diseases on important crops for smallholder farmers.
Uganda News
Uganda must seize the opportunities and respond to the growing markets-PM Rugunda
The Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda has commended Generation Agripreneur Expo and Summit for contributing to the promotion of commercialization of agriculture and the drive for wealth and job creation for the youth through agribusiness. He revealed that Government has invested time and resources in regional efforts to expand the market adding that Uganda must seize the opportunities and respond to the growing markets.
Rwanda News
Quality produce will open doors for local suppliers
Local farmers and small businesses in the agricultural sector often find it difficult to supply produce to major corporations and regional retailers operating in the country.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201602170412.html
Gatsibo coffee farmers reap fruits of their labour
Wilson Mbonimba is proud of his achievements. Last year, his coffee earned over a million francs. “I have worked in the coffee fields for years. When I turned 18, my father gave me a one-hectare field so I could start planting my own coffee,” he recalls. At the same time, adds Wilson, his family cultivated cassava and other cash crops because income from coffee was too low to sustain them. Through government support, farmers have received training on how to cultivate high-quality coffee in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way. Farmers like Wilson have realized that they can pursue income-generating activities that are legal and sustainable, and that those alternatives mean independence and security for themselves and their families. Apart from improving livelihoods, coffee farmers in Muhura and Murambi sectors in Gatsibo district says that coffee generates revenue for the district. There are 164,9000 coffee trees in Muhura sector that belong to two coffee growing cooperatives and 125,0000 in Murambi sector but farmers plan to increase the number of hectares in order to increase yields. One farmer Fenias Maniraguha from Muhura sector explained that coffee growing is easier for them because they have coffee factories with a capacity of processing up to 2,150 tons into 375 tons of dried coffee. “Coffee growing increases the sector revenue. 1980 tons of coffee is sold at Rwf200 per kilo earning over Rwf450 million a season,” said Maniraguha
http://www.umuhinzi.com/crops/11823/gatsibo-coffee-farmers-reap-fruits-of-their-labour/
Regional News
Africa: Achieving New Global Goals Will Require Increased Investments in Smallholder Agriculture
Rome — Development leaders, heads of state and government representatives gathered for the opening of the 39th Session of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to explore ways of boosting investments in smallholder agriculture that are essential to achieving the Global Goals of ending poverty and hunger. “Investing in smallholder agriculture in developing countries is a cross-cutting issue that helps to stabilize communities and countries and reduce migration and conflict.” - Sergio Mattarella, the President of the Italian Republic.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201602171463.html
Kenya News
Second maize harvest in Galana-Kulalu to be done in two weeks
The second harvest of another 500 acres of maize in Galana-Kulalu irrigation project will be ready in two weeks. Water and Irrigation cabinet secretary Eugene Wamalwa said six high-yielding varieties were planted and Kenyans should expect good harvest.
Tanzania News
Boost budget to eliminate devastating whitefly, scientists urge
SCIENTISTS have called on the government to increase budgetary allocations on agricultural research activities and programmes to control whiteflies, which destroy and spread diseases on important crops for smallholder farmers.
Uganda News
Uganda must seize the opportunities and respond to the growing markets-PM Rugunda
The Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda has commended Generation Agripreneur Expo and Summit for contributing to the promotion of commercialization of agriculture and the drive for wealth and job creation for the youth through agribusiness. He revealed that Government has invested time and resources in regional efforts to expand the market adding that Uganda must seize the opportunities and respond to the growing markets.
Rwanda News
Quality produce will open doors for local suppliers
Local farmers and small businesses in the agricultural sector often find it difficult to supply produce to major corporations and regional retailers operating in the country.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201602170412.html
Gatsibo coffee farmers reap fruits of their labour
Wilson Mbonimba is proud of his achievements. Last year, his coffee earned over a million francs. “I have worked in the coffee fields for years. When I turned 18, my father gave me a one-hectare field so I could start planting my own coffee,” he recalls. At the same time, adds Wilson, his family cultivated cassava and other cash crops because income from coffee was too low to sustain them. Through government support, farmers have received training on how to cultivate high-quality coffee in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way. Farmers like Wilson have realized that they can pursue income-generating activities that are legal and sustainable, and that those alternatives mean independence and security for themselves and their families. Apart from improving livelihoods, coffee farmers in Muhura and Murambi sectors in Gatsibo district says that coffee generates revenue for the district. There are 164,9000 coffee trees in Muhura sector that belong to two coffee growing cooperatives and 125,0000 in Murambi sector but farmers plan to increase the number of hectares in order to increase yields. One farmer Fenias Maniraguha from Muhura sector explained that coffee growing is easier for them because they have coffee factories with a capacity of processing up to 2,150 tons into 375 tons of dried coffee. “Coffee growing increases the sector revenue. 1980 tons of coffee is sold at Rwf200 per kilo earning over Rwf450 million a season,” said Maniraguha
http://www.umuhinzi.com/crops/11823/gatsibo-coffee-farmers-reap-fruits-of-their-labour/