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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Unmarried women have no place in Chief Mutasa’s village registers

By Norma Tsopo Unmarried women are being denied land in Chief Mutasa’s area with village heads claiming they have no jurisdiction to allocate single women land and register them against tradition. Speaking during a meeting organized by Zimbabwe Women Against Corruption Trust (ZWACT) on gender-responsive administration in Penhalonga recently, some women from the chieftainship said…

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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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Climate Action Network’s take on the Bonn talk shop

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…

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SADC urged to harness CAADP’s transformative impact to develop the agricultural sector

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has been urged to ride on the success story of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), with its transformative impact on the agricultural sector, to draw invaluable lessons that can be applied in the pursuit of food security to spur progress and development in the region. This was…

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Zimbabwe’s Gastronomy Heritage: A Key to Healthy Living

Writes Catherine Murombedzi  In nature’s nurture, open your eyes to see the healthy habits from the past. Before the 1960s, lifestyle diseases were minimal. People grew their own food and lived healthy lifestyles. They worked in the fields. They were physically fit. Sedentary work was also taken when shelling nuts after harvest. Grandmothers were the…

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25,000 people in Bikita to benefit from USAID food assistance grant

In response to the El Niño-induced drought in Zimbabwe, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded CARE Zimbabwe with a US$3 million grant to support 25,000 people in Bikita district in Masvingo province from June to November. According to the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment 2023 Report, 2.7 million people in Zimbabwe are in dire…

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SADC Regional Technical-Level Consultation deliberates on CAADP Post-Malabo Agenda Process

Stakeholders are gathered in Lusaka, Zambia to deliberate on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Technical-Level Consultation which is the third in a series of five regional dialogues on the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) Post-Malabo Agenda Process. When African leaders adopted the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, CAADP, as Africa’s policy framework…

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Who’s investing in climate adaptation for smallholder farmers?

Writes Jennifer Marston Climate adaptation is underfunded globally but especially so in emerging markets. Developing countries alone need some $212 billion per year by 2030 to adapt to increasingly inhospitable growing conditions in agriculture, according to a recent report from AgFunder and ISF Advisors. But it can be a challenging space to invest in, say investors….

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RFMO Accountability Tracker Highlights Actions at Indian Ocean Tuna Commission

As part of its effort to promote transparent and open ocean governance, Accountability.Fish has released the results of the 28th Session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission held in Bangkok, Thailand on May 13 -17. The results can be found at: https://accountability.fish/meeting/iotc -2024 “Once again, as the IOTC doesn’t report out the actions taken by…

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Roadmap towards reversing Biodiversity Loss in the Pungwe River Basin Ecosystems

…a lifeline for People, Wildlife, and the Economy The Pungwe River basin, shared by Zimbabwe and Mozambique, is rich in plant and animal diversity. However, the ecosystem is now under threat from human activities. In 2023, Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) commissioned an Environmental Flow (EFlows) assessment to understand how the Pungwe River Basin…

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Urgent action needed to save Cleveland Dam: CBOs

A grouping of community-based organisations (CBOs) has said there is an urgent need to save Cleveland Dam, one of internationally-recognised wetlands under the Ramsar Convention. Cleveland Action Alliance, Manyame Conservation Trust, Network for Environmental and Climate Justice, and Residents Against Land Degradation have joined hands in condemning environmentally-degrading activities at the dam. The CBOs expressed…

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World No Tobacco Day: YADD against manipulative tactics of tobacco industry

On this World No Tobacco Day, Youth Against Alcohol and Drug Dependency (YADD) in Zimbabwe has said it stands united against the manipulative tactics of the tobacco industry on children. “As YADD, We are committed to protecting our generation and future ones from the harmful effects of tobacco and vaping. We call on governments to…

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Prevail Group International (PGI) creates 500 jobs

Writes Lloyd Rabaya  Moving in line with the president’s Vision 2030 mantra of leaving no one and no place behind, Prevail Group International (PGI) has to date created 500 jobs nationwide. PGI, the company contracted to drill boreholes under the presidential borehole drilling scheme, is employing skilled and semi-skilled workers in Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces where…

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How African mass markets shape the social fabric and day-to-day life

Writes Charles Dhewa In addition to being seedbeds for individual entrepreneurial ambitions among women and youth, African mass/territorial markets have become good at shaping the social fabric and day-to-day life in ways trusted by the majority of citizens. They may not have advertising budgets and other resources that are in the hands of corporations, but…

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10th World Water Forum: AfDB commits to facilitating access to water and sanitation in Africa

The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) will highlight the importance of preparation, financing, and coordination for water, sanitation, and hygiene initiatives across Africa at the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, Indonesia. The Bank and the African Water Facility’s delegations to the world’s largest international gathering of water sector partners will share insights, strategies, and…

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SADC launches regional humanitarian appeal in the wake of El-Nino-induced drought and floods

The Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola on 20 May 2024 launched the SADC Regional Humanitarian Appeal of at least US$5.5 billion to support over 61 million people affected by the El Niño induced Drought and Floods The Humanitarian Appeal, which was launched during…

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Media encouraged to amplify fight against veld fires

Writes Elvis Dumba Chinhoyi – The media has been challenged to contribute towards veld fire prevention, a menace that is threatening to derail development in the communities. Briefing journalists on the Provincial Fire Awareness Week organized by Environment Management Agency (EMA), Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Marian Chombo said…

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Presidential boreholes scheme covers Matabeleland

Staff Writer Prevail Group International (PGI) which has been contracted to drill approximately 10,000 boreholes countrywide has spread to Matabeleland South. The team is currently installing several boreholes in Thabani village, Tsholotsho. Apart from drilling boreholes, it is also installing irrigation facilities under the presidential borehole drilling initiative. Prevail Group International (PGI) has already taken…

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Food production reduced over land squeeze: Experts

Writes Nhau Mangirazi A new study has exposed how land grabs in various forms have led to doubling land prices globally since 2008, thereby placing unprecedented strain on farmers and rural communities. The report early this week by the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) warned that pressures are exploding, including for…

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The Arab-Africa Trade Bridges Program Announces the Membership of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire

Arab Africa Trade Bridges Program (AATB) General Secretariat Announces Cote d’Ivoire as New Member of AATB Program The Arab Africa Trade Bridges Program (AATB) General Secretariat is pleased to announce the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire as a new member of the program. This strategic addition marks a significant step towards enhancing trade, economic cooperation, and…

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African Heads of State endorse Nairobi Declaration on Fertiliser and Soil Health

Writes Sally Nyakanyanga Africa African Heads of State and Government endorsed the Nairobi Declaration on Fertiliser and Soil Health during the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit, which was held last week in Nairobi, Kenya. This move by African leaders and relevant stakeholders seeks to enhance the promotion of soil health for sustainable food systems…

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Accountability.fish blasts “unprecedented” Chinese proposal at Indian Ocean Tuna Commission

Calling a move to curtail stakeholder participation at a meeting on 13 May 2024 of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) an “unprecedented and unnecessary infringement on the right of stakeholders to submit data and have it be openly considered”, accountable marine governance advocates Accountability.Fish has called on Commission parties to reject the proposal. The…

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African food systems are better understood as food baskets not value chains

Writes Charles Dhewa Value chain is one of the major notions associated with industrial agriculture where the food production process is viewed as a chain of activities from production to consumption. However, when applied to African indigenous food systems, the value chain notion is found wanting because the majority of commodities that make up African…

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UNICEF calls for USD 84.9 million to respond to El Nino emergency in Zimbabwe

UNICEF’s appeal will provide emergency support to 866,000 children UNICEF is urgently appealing for USD 84.9 million to fund its emergency response aimed at assisting children and women affected by the El Nino crisis in Zimbabwe. This funding will provide life-saving interventions to 1.34 million people, including 866,000 children, amidst a complex humanitarian crisis exacerbated…

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SADC Extraordinary Heads of State and Government Summit to tackle El Nino’s humanitarian impacts

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will on 20 May 2024 hold a virtual Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government to discuss the humanitarian situation in the region, following the ongoing El Niño induced drought that has negatively impacted the lives and livelihoods of an estimated 58 million people. The Extraordinary Summit will…

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Minister Marian Chombo links dreaming innovator to professional guidance

Writes Elvis Dumba Zvimba – A rural-based scholar’s dream of contributing to the agricultural revolution of the country through his irrigation innovation is slowly turning into reality after Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Marian Chombo linked the scholar to Chinhoyi University of Technology engineers and Ministry of Higher and…

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AUDA-NEPAD and Norad Partner to Accelerate Soil Health for Sustainable Food Systems in Africa

The African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) and the Government of Norway have joined forces to launch a transformative partnership aimed at enhancing soil health for sustainable food systems across Africa. The partnership marks a significant milestone in addressing the pressing issue of soil health on the continent. This ambitious 3-year Programme is designed to support…

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African leaders commit to tripling domestic production and distribution of fertilisers

The Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit (AFSH) organized by the African Union concludes with the adoption of a 10-year action plan that aims to increase investments in the local production and distribution of both organic and inorganic fertilizers, ensuring they reach 70% of small-holder farmers across the continent. The plan reasserts the 2006 Abuja…

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The Disappearing Rains of Zimbabwe

OWN CORRESPONDENT Zimbabwe, like many other African nations, heavily relies on agriculture as a major source of livelihood and economic activity. The country’s agricultural sector is primarily rain-fed, meaning it depends on regular and adequate rainfall for successful crop production. However, Zimbabwe has experienced a series of prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall patterns over the…

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Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit: AfDB advocates for agritech scaling, partnerships and affordable fertilizer access

This week, the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) will leverage its deep expertise and convening power to highlight the crucial role of agricultural technologies, fertilizer and healthy soils in driving sustainable agricultural growth at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi. Representing Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, Vice President for Agriculture,…

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