Mr. Mooketsa Ramasodi, the Director General of the Department of Agriculture of the Republic of South Africa, who is also the Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) Board Member on Wednesday 4 June 2025 welcomed the launch of the FANRPAN Strategic Plan for 2025 to 2035. The Government of South Africa…
The Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) Strategic Plan (2025-2035) lays out not only its strategic priorities – ranging from climate change resilience, nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods to trade, innovation, and social inclusion but also it shows how the network delivers through robust evidence generation, knowledge management, and partnerships. These were…
G20 Agricultural Chief Scientists (G20-MACS), held from 26-28 May 2025 in Polokwane, under South Africa’s G20 Presidency identified actionable science, technology, and innovation actions to advance the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the Africa Common Position on Food Systems. In her address, Nakedi Kekana,…
A new joint research initiative is bringing together experts from Australia and France to enhance wheat yields amid a changing climate. The International Associated Laboratory “Wheat Adaptation to Changing Environments” (WheatACE) unites researchers from The University of Queensland, France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE), and the University Clermont Auvergne….
A significant occasion, Africa Day honors the achievements, diversity, and solidarity of the continent. With the assistance of My Food is African, a regional campaign for My Food is Zimbabwe, the Mbare community has utilized the celebration this year to highlight the importance of agroecology in tackling climate change, a significant issue affecting agriculture and…
on 23 May 2025 in Cambridge, the Unites States, at the end of the 2025 International Summit on Genome Editing, the Global Observatory for Genome Editing issued a Statement calling for a Charter on Emerging Technologies and Human Dignity. A global process of developing such a Charter will facilitate deeper reflection, responsibility, and moral purpose and protect…
Agroecology has been identified as one of the most important pathways to climate resilience and sustainable food systems transformation in Africa. The approach integrates ecological and social principles into farming practices to address food insecurity, environmental degradation, and poverty, leading to food security, environmental sustainability, and economic development. The second Conference on Agroecology…
In the heart of Zimbabwe’s tobacco belt, a quiet transformation is taking root. In small rural communities in Hurungwe District, women are harnessing the power of mushrooms to grow not just food—but dignity, income, and resilience. Supported by the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF) with financial assistance from the European Union and the Embassy of…
Board chairman of AGRA and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn says the future of Africa’s food systems depends on the youth of the continent. Speaking at the launch of the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal, he said the youth are already doing great things in Africa’s agriculture, and efforts to make…
Dr. Deckster Savadye, the Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of the National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe (NBA), who is currently in India, New Dehli, attending the 31st Board Meeting of the ICGEB said the country is set to benefit immensely from its participation in this forum. Speaking to Spiked Online Media from India, Dr….
Zimbabwe Civil Society Organizations Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance (ZCSOSUNA), with financial and technical support from UNICEF, in collaboration with key government ministries and departments, held a training workshop to empower journalists to go beyond numbers to using data-driven storytelling to uncover meaningful insights, raising public awareness, influencing policy and shifting consumption behaviors when reporting on…
By FANRPAN Convening multi-stakeholder policy dialogues is one of the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN). Convening policy dialogues is crucial for promoting evidence-informed policymaking, fostering mutual understanding, and achieving better policy outcomes. It allows stakeholders to engage in a structured process of discussing issues, identifying priorities, and finding common ground….
Across the African continent, there is an increased recognition of the role youth and young people must play in shaping the future of agriculture and food systems. That was captured in the remarks by Dr. Tshilidzi Madzivhandila, the Chief Executive Officer of the Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) today during…
The Southern African Development Community (SADC)’s revised regional agricultural investment plans (RAIPs) position the regional bloc as a continental leader in working towards an agri-food transition that responds to the multi-faceted impacts of climate change by adopting sustainable approaches (agroecology); empowering smallholder farmers (particularly women, youth, and vulnerable people); supporting the use of indigenous knowledge;…
More than 66,000 children in the Gaza Strip are suffering from severe malnutrition due to the starvation policy that Israel continues to implement, following the closure of the crossings and the prevention of the entry of relief aid for more than two months. Since March 2, the Israeli occupation authorities have closed the crossings with…
The launch of the third ten-year Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) embodies stakeholders’ collective commitment to reshaping Africa’s agri-food systems and securing a prosperous future for all. “We all know the journey from Maputo to where we are, and we have made significant strides in driving sustainable agricultural growth, enhancing food security, and strengthening…
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Regional economic communities (RECs) and farmer organisations have welcomed the official launch of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan and Kampala Declaration following its approval by the African Union Head of State and Government in January 2025 wherein they pledged to contribute their expertise to the…
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – The Africa Food Systems Parliamentarian Network (AFSPAN) together with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Non-State Actors (NSAs) have pledged to support the African Union Commission (AUC) to drive agriculture on the continent. In their meeting with Mr. Moses Vilakati, the Commissioner for the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development,…
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Mr. Moses Vilakati, the Commissioner for the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (DARBE) in the African Union Commission (AUC) has set a 100-day plan to measure performance of the department in improving African Agriculture under the Africa Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action…
The 7th Africa-wide Agricultural Extension Week slated for the 12th to the 16th of May 2025 is an opportunity for the exchange of information and knowledge among countries and other stakeholders in farming. This was revealed by Dr. Silim M. Nahdy, the Executive Director of the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) who…
Writes Violet Mashonga The sun rises over the fields of Makonde District in Mashonaland West Province, casting a warm glow over the lush green wheat crops. Recently, Provincial Agronomist S. Makaza and District Agronomist T. Marovora embarked on a mission to assess the progress of winter wheat preparations and planting in the district. Their…
The ECOWAS Regional Agriculture and Food Fund (RAFF) Supervisory Board approved its 2025-2027 work plan and budget during a meeting in Lomé last week. The fund aims to boost agricultural program funding across member states as West Africa faces escalating food insecurity. Harmonized Framework estimates that 49.5 million people could face food insecurity during…
The international community once again witnesses the flagrant violation of human rights and international law by the Israeli apartheid government, as it continues to deny essential aid to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, subjecting them to deliberate starvation, bombing, and forced displacement, HE Tamer Almassri, the Ambassador of Palestine to Zimbabwe has said….
Writes Violet Mashonga In pursuit of empowering farmers for a food-secure future, the Zvimba District held a Field Day themed “The Power of Educating Farmers: Achieving Food Security Everywhere, Every Day,” which showcased the importance of agricultural education and innovation. At the heart of the event was the Pfumvunza farming method, a climate-resilient approach…
The Zimbabwe Civil Society Organisations Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance (ZCSOSUNA), with financial and technical support from UNICEF and in collaboration with key government ministries and departments, launched a new project titled ‘High-Level Nutrition Advocacy and Parliamentary Engagement’ to enhance national efforts in nutrition advocacy and deepen engagement with policymakers on child nutrition and development. …
The Government of Japan provides support, in partnership with UNICEF, UNDP, WFP, and UNOPS, to the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and has launched five transformative projects under Japan’s 2024 Supplementary Budget and the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). These initiatives aim to strengthen maternal and child health, prevent malnutrition, modernize medical…
Writes Charles Dhewa Due to the colonial legacy that has looked down upon indigenous food for decades, diet and nutrition analyses in most African countries are based on data collected in supermarkets and other formal shops. Rarely is data collected from territorial mass food markets from which the majority get their food. That means…
Writes Violet Mashonga In the heart of Mhondoro Mubaira, Ward 5, the Chomudondo family has been making waves with their innovative farming and poultry projects. This elderly couple has defied conventional expectations, showcasing that age is no barrier to achieving success. Their determination and hard work have not only improved their own lives but also…
Writes Violet Mashonga Gandiwa Village in Mhondoro Mubaira recently hosted a successful field day at the Mandizvidza homestead, attracting numerous organizations and companies. The event, held in Ward 5 of Chief Rwizi’s area, showcased the growing interest in the farming industry. Guest of honor, Mrs. Ndoro, the Provincial Deputy Director of Agritex, expressed her…
The Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (The Mechanism) is making significant strides toward closing Africa’s agricultural productivity gap. At its 14th Governing Council meeting, held on 20 March 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya, the Mechanism reported that its initiatives had facilitated access to 18,448 tons of fertilizer for 115,535 smallholder farmers across Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe during 2024. …
If you look around a Senegalese village, you will see the connection. Farmers under a mango tree drinking the afternoon pot of attaya (tea). A cluster of children from all corners of the community magnetically gathered around a soccer ball like Mecca and the idea that they could be the next Sadio Mané. Or a…
To boost the immunity of HIV-positive people, wild or Indigenous plants are sources of key nutrients and useful to ensure healthy living, Dr. Batsirai Chipurura from the Department of Nutrition Dietetics and Food Sciences at the University of Zimbabwe has said. He was addressing participants attending a workshop organised by the National AIDS Council…
Writes Violet Mashonga The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Dr Amxious Masuka, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to food security, emphasizing that the Ffumvudza program introduced by President Emerson Mnangagwa plays a crucial role in enhancing agricultural productivity. Addressing farmers and stakeholders during a field day at Headman Peter…
The End School-Age Hunger Fund (ESAH) was approved on 20 March to bolster school meal programmes in targeted African countries The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) approved the establishment of a fund to help put an end to hunger and malnutrition among school-age children in Africa. The End School-Age…
To ensure that modern technologies are developed and used in an ethical, safe, and equitable manner, the National Biotechnology Authority (NBA) is leading in the development of a regulatory framework for genome editing in Zimbabwe. The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Prof. Fanuel Tagwira…
Water and sanitation play an important role in the pursuit of Africa’s development aspirations given their direct bearing on all basic social and economic indicators, Hon Vangelis Haritatos, the Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has said. He made the remarks during the official opening of the Southern Africa Sub-regional…
In the drought-prone district of Mwenezi, Zimbabwe, farmers battle unpredictable rainfall and dwindling agricultural yields. Climate change has made traditional farming methods unreliable, forcing smallholder farmers to seek new solutions. For Chizivano Shava, a lead farmer in the Climate Resilient Livelihoods (CRL) project, innovation is not just an option, it’s a necessity. Supported by…
The Entrepreneurs Network Association of Zimbabwe (ENAZ) is set to host a groundbreaking symposium on April 11, 2025, in Harare, bringing together key stakeholders in agriculture, finance, and policy to drive Zimbabwe’s economic resurgence. This high-level event will underscore the agricultural sector’s indispensable role in steering Zimbabwe toward its Vision 2030 goals, focusing on food…
At the recently concluded Africa Business Forum (ABF) 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, IITA–CGIAR Director of Private Sector Partnerships, Dr Debo Akande, led an IITA delegation at the high-profile event hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Centered around the theme, “From Potential to Prosperity: Activating Africa’s Regional Value Chains,” the forum brought together key stakeholders to drive…
In pursuit of enhancing resilience in a multi-shock environment, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UN Resident Coordinator’s Office of Zimbabwe, today, officially launched Phase 2 of the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF), together with its donors, the European Union and the Government of Ireland. ZRBF is a…
The African Union has taken a historic step towards enhancing food safety across the continent with the adoption of the statute for the establishment of the Africa Food Safety Agency during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 16 February 2025. This landmark decision marks…
A workshop by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) regional office for Africa (RAF) that took place in Harare from 17 to 28 February 2025 enhanced participants’ skills and knowledge in the quest for establishing resilient agri-food systems on the continent. Below, Spiked Online Media shares participants’ perspectives about the…
A local agricultural organisation, Mash Goats, hosted a day-long goat farming training session aimed at empowering communities with agricultural entrepreneurial skills. Speaking to journalists at the training session in Harare, the initiative’s founder, Tatenda Mashozhera, stated that equipping people with knowledge of goat farming is crucial for bridging the unemployment gap. “Empowering communities with agricultural…
NAIROBI, KENYA – A continental training of trainer’s seminar for agriculture development programme experts is taking place in Nairobi to prepare experts from regional economic communities to support the biennial review mechanism in data collection, to ensure that data continues to be of high quality. This event centred on efforts to critically analyse the…
Addis Ababa – The outgoing African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, Josefa Correia Sacko, was honoured in Nairobi by the Inter-African Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) for her work on the continent. The farewell event, organised by the specialised technical office, came at a time when the Angolan…
