Agriculture
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Ambassador Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko Emerges the Winner of the Africa Green Ambassador Award 2024
The Interconnections for Making Africa Great Empowered and Sustainable (IMAGES) Initiative, http://imagesinitiatives.org has awarded the 2024 Africa Green Ambassador Award to Her Excellency, Ambassador Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko. Ambassador Sacko is an Angolan, leading African Agronomist and Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Development, African Union Commission. Before her re-election…
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Climate change, demographic shifts among factors influencing Post-Malabo CAADP implementation
The implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) framework across the continent is impacted by agri-food systems and various megatrends including demographic shifts and climate change, Mrs. Estherine Fotabong, the Director of Agriculture, Food Security and Environmental Sustainability of the African Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), has said. She made the remarks in the…
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Success of Post-Malabo process demands accelerated implementation of policies and programs
Yvonne S. Mpundu, Zambia’s Permanent Secretary (administration) in the Ministry of Agriculture has said the success of the Post-Malabo process requires the accelerated implementation of policies and programs. She made the address in her keynote address during the official opening of a validation workshop for the Most-Malabo Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Agenda…
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Africa wants support to realise the development of carbon markets on the continent
African Union Commissioner, Josefa Correia Sacko, recognised yesterday in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) that the support of the international community is a fundamental pillar for the development of carbon markets in Africa. Speaking at the Africa Multilateral Conference on Carbon Markets, which runs from 24-26 July, the diplomat said that the concept of carbon markets…
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Validation Workshop for Post Malabo Technical Working Groups opens in Lusaka, Zambia
A validation workshop bringing together members and key stakeholders of the Post Malabo Technical Working Groups (TWGs) convened/co-convened by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and other partners kicks off today 25 July 2024 and will run until 30 July 2024 and is meant to review, revise, refine, and finalize the draft reports to be…
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UN and partners collaboration on El Nino Drought interventions show promising results
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Zimbabwe, Mr. Edward Kallon, undertook a comprehensive two-day field visit from 23 to 24 July 2024 to Buhera District, Manicaland Province. The purpose of the visit was to oversee the execution of anticipatory action interventions funded by the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to address the impact of…
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Chinese researchers find new gene enhancing wheat yields in saline soil
Chinese researchers have decoded a novel salt-tolerance gene in wheat, resulting in yield increases of 5 percent to 9 percent in experimental varieties grown in saline-alkali soils. The study findings have been published in the journal Nature Genetics. Wang Meng, corresponding author of the study, from the Institute of Soil Science (ISS), Chinese Academy of…
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Seize the spotlight: Exhibit at Africa’s Premier Organic and Natural Products Expo Africa 2024!
The leading industry event, the Organic and Natural Products Expo Africa, proudly sponsored by Standard Bank, is returning to Johannesburg for its fourth edition at the Sandton Convention Centre from 12 to 14 September 2024. As Africa’s only dedicated event for the organic and natural products industry, this expo is the ultimate platform for traders…
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How FoodForward SA’s digital tech tackles climate challenges and enhances food access in South Africa
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FoodForward SA The same food system that is feeding our population is also destroying our fragile planet. Food loss and waste is the third largest emitter of greenhouse gasses, accounting for around 10% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. The environmental and climate impacts of our food system are severe and becoming increasingly apparent. In…
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How territorial markets are nurturing Afrocentric agro-ecology entrepreneurs
Writes Charles Dhewa Agroecology and related sustainable ways of producing food started receiving attention in the past few years compared to industrial agriculture practices some of which are more than 100 years old. This means big industries that advance agroecology at a big scale are yet to be developed. However, the increasing demand for food…
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Morocco champions food security at UN forum, highlighting Africa’s potential
Held under the theme “SDGs in action: Shaping the Africa we want,” the event emphasized partnerships for tackling poverty, food sovereignty, and climate change. The initiative, co-organized by Morocco’s UN mission and the OCP Group, a leading phosphate producer, brought together key figures. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and Moroccan Ambassador Omar Hilale delivered…
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ZIMSOFF partners Parliamentarians in driving agro-ecology to address GBV and drug abuse
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In partnership with Parliamentarians, the Zimbabwe Smallholder Organic Farmers Forum (ZIMSOFF) is fighting gender-based violence (GBV) and drug and substance abuse in communities by implementing various agroecology mechanisms. Speaking at a tour of their projects by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committees (PPC) on Lands at the National Policy Dialogue recently, a Gutu small livestock farmer, Daizy…
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A New Dawn with Solar Power
Nurturing Community Gardens and Harmony in Hurungwe Writes UNDP Zimbabwe In the heart of Hurungwe rural district and the sun-drenched landscapes of Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe, a transformative initiative is quietly blooming. Through the innovative use of solar-powered piped water schemes, local communities are creating thriving gardens that mitigate the persistent human-wildlife conflicts that have…
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Shashe Community embraces agro-ecology for sustainable agriculture and food systems
Writes Lloyd Rabaya Swish swoosh goes the pens as attendees take notes while Christopher Chinyoka, a young field officer guides them through Elizabeth Mpofu’s field in Shashe, Masvingo more than 40km from the Central Business District (CBD). Under the cloud cover, the birds in the trees welcome the Zimbabwe Smallholder Organic Farmers Forum (ZIMSOFF) farmers…
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Irrigation Investment conference urges acceleration of agricultural sector climate-proofing
The Irrigation Investment Conference held in Harare recommended the uptake of actionable results to accelerate climate-proofing of the agricultural sector from the household to the national level. This was revealed by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Hon Dr. Anxious Jongwe Masuka at the Irrigation Investment Conference held at the Harare…
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Zimbabwe’s Report on the 54th SADC PF Resolutions heralds commitment to sustainable development
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On the 3rd of July 2024, during the session on the presentation of Country Reports, the Parliament of Zimbabwe presented its progress report on the Resolutions from the 54th SADC Parliamentary Forum Plenary Assembly Session held in Port Louis, Mauritius, from 22nd to 26th November 2023. The report reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to regional integration, climate…
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ARC Insurance Payout Cheque signifies resilience against climate-induced adversities
The handover ceremony of the drought insurance payout cheque by the African Risk Capacity (ARC) Group signifies the nation’s resilience against climate-induced adversities. This was said by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion, Prof. Mthuli Ncube at the occasion of the Africa Risk Capacity drought insurance payout today in Harare. “I am…
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Stakeholders evaluate SADC RAIP, proffer recommendations for successor regional agricultural plan
Stakeholders are reviewing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Agricultural Investment Plan – RAIP- (2017 – 2022), which was approved by Council in 2017 – a five-year plan that operationalised and implemented the regional agricultural policy (RAP). The RAIP outlined priority programs and sub-programs to be implemented during the five years. It was envisaged…
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FG unveils satellite-based crop watch system to boost food security
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The National Space Research and Development Agency has launched Crop Watch, a satellite-based agricultural monitoring system, in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the Aerospace Information Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The launch event, held in Abuja on Tuesday, brought together international partners and stakeholders to address…
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CAADP Post-Malabo Consultative Meeting: Parliamentarians driving accountability for agri-food transformation
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As the African Union Commission embarks on the Post Malabo consultations roadmap, the Members of Parliament of the African States remain key stakeholders in influencing their governments’ budget processes that will enable member states to improve their agricultural productivity potential, with a focus on driving accountability for agri-food transformation. This emerged at a 3-day workshop…
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Afreximbank, WTO Secretariat harmonise efforts to develop trade in Africa
Yesterday, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank or “the Bank”) (www.Afreximbank.com) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Trade Organization (WTO) to amplify the impact of their strategically aligned joint efforts of promoting global trade leveraging Africa’s unique resource endowment. The MoU will allow the two organizations to pursue a collaborative framework for harmonizing…
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Ending hunger: PAP unveils model law on food and nutrition security
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African Parliamentarians must prioritize and intensify the fight against hunger to achieve the continent’s mission of Ending Hunger, said the Pan-African Parliament President, H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, while unveiling the “milestone” Model Law on Food and Nutrition Security in Africa in Midrand, South Africa. Adopted by the Pan-African Parliament Plenary on November 11, 2022, the purpose…
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Agri challenge to boost youth innovation launched
Heifer International Kenya has officially launched the 2024 Agriculture, Youth, Technology (AYuTe) Africa Challenge, aiming to create opportunities for young entrepreneurs to transform agriculture, catalyse ground-up innovation from the youth, and make agriculture a desired career for the future. Through AYuTe, youth-led agritech innovations in Kenya get the opportunity to pitch for investment in their…
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International Conference on Afforestation and Reforestation to be Held in Brazzaville
Writes Baboloki Semele In response to the accelerating threat of climate change, the Republic of Congo, under the leadership of President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, will host the first International Conference on Afforestation and Reforestation from July 2 to 5, 2024, in Brazzaville. This event, endorsed by the African Union as the “African and Global Afforestation Decade,”…
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The AfCFTA, Mastercard Foundation and TradeMark Africa Collaborate on a Four-Year Fisheries Program
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and TradeMark Africa, has announced a four-year fisheries program to be implemented across seven countries to enable over 240,000 work opportunities and boost trade in fish and fish products by about $100 million by 2028. The “Women and Youth Economic Empowerment…
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Maskiri endorses goat farming handbook
Pioneer rapper cum goat breeder, Alishias Musimbe a.k.a Maskiri, has endorsed a book that provides knowledge of goat farming on the African continent. Written by Maskiri’s business partner, Tatenda Mashozhera, who is co-director of Mash Goats, the book titled “Goat Farming In Africa” brings out well-researched information on goat farming including different breeds and their…
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Adjusting Cover Crop Strategies to Adapt to Warming Climate
Thor Oechsner arrives at one of his wheat fields about 9 miles west of Cornell University’s Ithaca campus with a laugh and a shrug. “It’s not all turnip flowers,” Cornell Extension support specialist Kristen Loria responds in answer to the farmer’s good-natured, nonverbal admonishment. She’s referring to the bright blooms of yellow rockets that are…
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El Nino-induced malnutrition ravages Mutare
Writes Norma Tsopo MUTARE – Town dwellers are not being spared the vagaries of the El Nino-induced hunger that has begun to force families to skip meals across the country after a failed 2023/24 farming season. A caregiver who is supervising the care of two infants in Zimunya Township, which lies just 20 kilometres from…
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Making agro-ecology and its products more consumer-centric
Writes Charles Dhewa The fact that agroecology and other sustainable food production practices are gaining ground against industrial agriculture practices is no longer debatable. However, there is still a lot of work to make agroecology products more consumer-centric. That means proponents of agroecology and sustainable consumption have to re-invent creative ways of promoting agroecology products…
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EU provides EUR €3 million to support urban communities in Southern Africa
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a contribution of EUR 3 million from the European Union (EU) to support the continuation of nutritional support and services to the most vulnerable urban communities in Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. The contribution will explore viable pathways for WFP, governments, and partners to reduce and mitigate…
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Third woman and second Kenyan wins 10th Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation
A solar-powered tool using AI and machine learning-enabled cameras to swiftly detect and identify agricultural pests and diseases has won Africa’s largest prize for engineering innovation Esther Kimani is the third woman and the second Kenyan innovator to win the Africa Prize, receiving £50,000 Her tool reduces crop losses for smallholder farmers by up to…
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Breakthrough in agricultural technology: Azerbaijan boosts grain yield with Innovation
In the modern world, agriculture is one of the key sectors playing a crucial role in ensuring food security and sustainable development. The rapid development of technology and the introduction of innovations have significantly changed agricultural practices, including methods of growing grain crops. Currently, agriculture in Azerbaijan is undergoing significant changes. To increase productivity and ensure the…
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Nigeria Launches 4 TELA Maize Varieties To Enhance Food Security
Nigeria has achieved a significant milestone with the launch of four TELA maize varieties: SAMMAZ 72T, SAMMAZ 73T, SAMMAZ 74T, and SAMMAZ 75T. These varieties, publicly presented in Abuja, were developed by the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with support from the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF). During the launch…
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Mutoko smallholder farmers lead the way in sustainable agriculture
Writes Lloyd Rabaya As the sun rises over the field, casting a golden glow over the crops. Abel Katsande (67) and Marova Moyo (62) smile as they welcome visitors to their 1.5-acre field in Kawere village, Mutoko, about 170km from Harare. One easily notices the remnants of the recently harvested maize crop with leftover maize…
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Climate Action Network’s take on the Bonn talk shop
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Bonn, Germany – Proper progress is urgently needed at the UNFCCC climate negotiations this week as, with each day passing, the talks are turning into a cesspit of inaction. Underscoring this is how divorced Bonn is fast becoming from real-world conversations, while long-standing inequities within the UNFCCC process, and between and within countries, are worsening. Providing…
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AU, ILRI collaborate to make informal food markets in Africa safer
An estimated 70 percent of Africa’s urban households buy food from informal sources, such as street vendors, kiosks, and traditional market sellers, recent studies have found. Now, the African Union and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), are joining forces to design the first-ever guidelines to help African governments improve food safety in informal food…
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SADC report spotlights fisheries’ contribution to food systems and healthy living
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, through its Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration Ms. Angele Makombo N’tumba, launched the highly anticipated SADC/FAO Report “The Contribution of the Small-Scale Fisheries to Healthy Food Systems and Sustainable Livelihoods in SADC”. The launch event took place on 5th June 2024, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, during…
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A thousand boreholes a month achievable: PGI
Writes Lloyd Rabaya The countrywide presidential borehole drilling scheme has set a target of 1,000 boreholes a month as the government intensifies efforts for clean water supply countrywide. Yesterday, some of the contractors, Prevail Group International (PGI), led by Dr. Paul Tungwarara were at Muganwinwi High School in Bulawayo, where a business unit is being…
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SADC humanitarian appeal: FAO pledges USD10 million to ameliorate El-Nino-induced drought
The SADC region faces a humanitarian crisis because of the ongoing El Niño induced drought and floods that are negatively impacting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in the region. According to the SADC El Nino Appeal, an estimated 60 million people in Southern Africa are food insecure. Across the southern half of…
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H.E Edward Kallon rallies environmental sustainability, climate action and food security
HE Edward Kallon, the Zimbabwe UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, has rallied stakeholders to ensure environmental sustainability, climate action, and food security as part of efforts to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). This emerged at the 2024 SADC Regional Commemoration of World Environment Day Theme: “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience” held at the Geo…
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Call to action: Save 30 million people affected by El-Nino induced drought
More than 30 million people across Southern Africa have been affected by a severe drought. Millions could be pushed into acute hunger unless support is urgently mobilised to scale before the next lean season, warn the United Nations (UN) and partners. The joint call was made yesterday by the UN, NGOs, regional and national authorities,…
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Action needed to address fast-degrading environment, increase in desertification and drought
Writes Amkela Sidange (Environmental Education and Publicity Manager for EMA) The 5th of June is World Environment Day, which is a day that was set aside by the United Nations to raise awareness of environmental issues and provide solutions to environmental challenges that we are experiencing both at a national and global scale. The 2024…