Writes Pylaia Chembe, UNDP Zimbabwe Communications Assistant In Ward 18, Chivi district, Masvingo Province, a newly revitalized irrigation scheme is poised to transform the food security narrative of 300 families in its community. The 34-ha Bindamombe Irrigation Scheme has been climate-proofed through a partnership between the Green Climate Fund, the Government of Zimbabwe, and the…
There is a need to develop the capacity to innovate, recognize, and create opportunities by encouraging African universities to transition from the first and second university missions of teaching and doing basic/fundamental research to the third mission of contributing to economic development by applying research findings in business practices in pursuit of creating employment opportunities…
The Government of Zimbabwe has taken significant steps to prioritise youth empowerment and mainstream youth in national development, particularly through the uptake of agribusiness initiatives for young people. This was said by Nickros Kajengo, the Chief Programmes Coordinator, Agricultural Youth Desk, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, who is also the Head…
It is estimated that 30 to 60 percent of Africa’s harvest, or more than USD 220 billion, is lost every year to plant pests, compared to only 20 to 40 percent worldwide, causing significant losses to food crops, revealed the Head of the African Union’s Rural Development Division, Janet Edeme. According to Edeme, who…
To give substance to the commitments made under the Malabo Declaration regarding the development of African youth, the African Union has developed several policies and frameworks including the African Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment (APAYE) 2019- 2024 – an instrument to galvanize youth development stakeholders. These sentiments were expressed by Mukulia Kennedy, the Principal…
Writes Charles Dhewa By pulling commodities from diverse production zones, African territorial mass markets have become genuine centres of excellence in food systems where a question about any food commodity receives answers from farmers, traders and consumers who interact in the same space. However, the pace at which these markets are growing calls for…
The Post Malabo Framework is going to shape the Food Systems landscape for Africa for the next 10 years, Mrs. Estherine Fotabong, the Director of Agriculture, Food Security and Environmental Sustainability of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) has said. She said so in her concluding remarks for the Validation Workshop for the Post-Malabo…
The Investment Conference held today during the 7th SADC Industralisation Week reignites the spirit of investment to spur domestic and regional economic development. This is the first-ever SADC Investment Conference, a prelude to the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government which shall be running under the theme: “Promoting Innovation to…
Writes Thomas Faranando In a bold move, two pastors in Kadoma have traded in their pulpits for plows, venturing into horticulture to empower their community and challenge the status quo. Their innovative approach has sparked admiration and inspired others to follow suit. Pastor Chinyemba of Great Commission Church and Overseer Pingama of Pentecostal Assembly of…
Mobile telephony giant, Netone Pvt Ltd, ensured that delegates at the UN Gastronomy Tourism for Africa Conference in the resort city of Victoria Falls accessed ubiquitous, uninterrupted connectivity. The company offered a diamond sponsorship package which demonstrated its commitment to supporting national initiatives by connecting thousands of delegates and promoting digital economy and cultural…
Africa’s food systems face multiple shocks and stressors hence the need to embrace resilience and inclusivity in implementing the Post-Malabo Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). In his presentation representing the thematic working group on ‘Enhancing Resilience of Livelihoods and Agri-food Systems to Shocks’ during the ongoing CAADP Validation Workshop for Technical Working Groups…
Dr Namukolo Covic is the Director General’s Representative to Ethiopia for the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), CGIAR Ethiopia Country Convenor, and CGIAR Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. Below she discusses how CGIAR can support countries following the African Union Heads of States Summit’s endorsement of the post-Malabo roadmap that outlines a framework…
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…
The Consortium of African Youth in Agriculture and Climate Change (CAYACC) has played a significant role in promoting youth engagement in the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). Spiked Online Media had an interview with Mwaka Namukonda, the Executive Coordinator of CAYACC in Lusaka, Zambia during the ongoing Validation Workshop for Technical Working Groups…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Writes Cleopas Huruva Mukungunugwa Zimbabwe continues to get international recognition with the country geared to host the United Nations Tourism Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa on 26 to 28 July 2024, at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria. The Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Honourable Barbara Rwodzi on 16 July 2024, informed the…
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…
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…
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…
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…
NetOne Pvt Ltd has announced its enthusiastic support for the inaugural UN Tourism on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa, set to take place from July 26 to July 28 in Victoria Falls. The event, championed by the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Her Excellency Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa, aims to celebrate Zimbabwean gastronomy and promote…
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…
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…
Writes Chimeno Azriel The Kore Kore Cultural Village this year plays host to the Mashonaland West Culture Month celebrations set for the 12th of July 2024 in Makonde. The day serves as a reminder of the importance of cultural diversity and the need to preserve cultural practices that embody the spirit of humanity (Ubuntu/Unhu). Situated…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
The United Arab Emirates, one of the leading contributors of humanitarian assistance to Sudan and Africa, has allocated 70% of the USD 100 million it pledged in April at the “International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Neighbouring Countries” to UN agencies and humanitarian organisations in support of efforts dedicated to alleviating the humanitarian crisis in…
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…
Harare, Zimbabwe – The No One Sleeps Hungry (NOSH) organization, led by Medtech Holdings CEO, Mr. Afzal Motiwala, has significantly increased its annual aid distribution by 25%. This year, NOSH provided food assistance to over 40,000 families across Zimbabwe during the Eid al-Adha celebrations, also known as the “feast of sacrifice.” Reaching All Communities in…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Zimbabwe’s activities to improve children’s diet diversity and prevent malnutrition need more funding to be scaled up Around 181 million children worldwide under 5 years of age – one in four children – are experiencing severe child food poverty, making them up to 50 percent more likely to experience wasting, a life-threatening form of malnutrition,…
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…
