Posted on March, 11, 2016 at 11:42 am
Regional News
Africa: Climate change set to wreck African bean farming
Climate change could wipe out 60 per cent of bean production in Sub-Saharan Africa, and decimate banana and maize crops in the region, a study warns. A paper published yesterday in Nature Climate Change urges policymakers to step up efforts to adapt local farming and limit the effects of higher temperatures and rainfall on food production. The paper found that various parts of Sub-Saharan Africa could become unsuitable for some staple crops by 2100.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201603100229.html
16 nations delay TFTA ratification
None of the 16 countries that have signed up to the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) has ratified the agreement as the 12-month deadline given in June last year fast approaches. Subsequently, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Council of Ministers is concerned that the timeframe given by the heads of state and government is unlikely to be met.
http://www.mediamaxnetwork.co.ke/people-daily/205765/16-nations-delay-tfta-ratification/
Africa: Agra keen on enriching farmers
Aliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) in collaboration with the MasterCard Foundation has launched Financial Inclusion for Smallholder Farmers in Africa Project (FISFAP) to enable farmers get access to financial services. The FISFAP Team Leader at AGRA, Ms Hedwig Siewertsen, said in Dar es Salaam that the five year project targets to reach 700,000 smallholder farmers in the country, adding that the project is also being carried out in Kenya and Ghana.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201603100819.html
Kenya News
One major step to curb post-harvest food waste
The Rockefeller Foundation last month unleashed Sh13 billion ($130m) war chest to fight food waste and loss in the world. Food waste and loss is not an issue that can be stopped single handedly; it will require strategic partnerships between governments, private sector, businesses and consumers alike.
Search for top farmer begins
You are invited to participate in this year’s National Farmers’ Award scheme starting March 15. The entry forms will be available in the Seeds of Gold, county agriculture offices or downloaded from www.kilimo.go.ke,www.elgonkenya.com,www.hortinews.co.ke and www.nation.co.ke/seedsofgold. This year’s categories include large-scale farm, large-scale agro- dealer, small-scale farm gearing towards commercialisation, small-scale farmer fully commercialised, small-scale agro-input dealer, youth in agriculture, women in agriculture and the physically challenged.
Farmers to benefit from BIDCO deal
The agreement has been signed together with Shaleem investment Limited, a social enterprise that links small holder farmers with reliable and predictable market opportunities. The company has assured the farmers of a ready market for sunflower and soya beans. Bidco currently works with 12,500 farmers across East Africa, who supply soya beans and sunflower seeds, but the company is well below its processing capacity.
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2000194529/farmers-to-benefit-from-bidco-deal
Tanzania News
AGRA president to announce major project
AGRA's President Dr Agnes Kalibata will visit Tanzania starting today and is scheduled to launch a new project for empowering smallholder farmers to enhance food security and incomes.For the last two years smallholder farmers, farmers' groups and the government owned National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) have been testing the efficacy of three innovative storage technologies for grains - hermetic bags, metal silos and cocoons with the support of AGRA and the Rockefeller Foundation.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201603100883.html
Uganda News
Opinion: We can promote local economies through farmer cooperatives
Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda's economy, with 85 per cent of the population in rural areas reliant on farming for food and income. The vast majority of these farms are small-scale enterprises on plots of less than five acres. These farmers face daunting challenges that include limited access to markets, credit and improved farm inputs, and in the case of women, lack of ownership and control of land.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201603100289.html
Rwanda News
High food prices push inflation rate up by 4.4 pct year on year
Rwanda’s consumer price index main gauge of inflation rate has increased by 4.4 per cent year on year up from 0.7 per cent same period in 2015. A monthly report released yesterday by the national institute of statistics of Rwanda, indicated a 0.4 percent increase in inflation on a monthly basis resulting into an annual average rate of 3.1percent since February 2015. The increase was mainly attributed to the high commodity prices including food and non-alcoholic beverages.
http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/article/2016-03-11/197892/
Farmers in Nyabihu upbeat as Irish potato processing plant opens
Farmers in Nyabihu and neighbouring districts have welcomed a new potato processing plant constructed in the district, saying it will help add value to their produce to attract better prices. The new plant was launched on Wednesday in Mukamira Sector.
http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/article/2016-03-11/197883/