Lifestyle | Page 7 of 24 | Best African News Online

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

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago07 mins

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…

Who’s investing in climate adaptation for smallholder farmers?

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago1 year ago08 mins

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….

RFMO Accountability Tracker Highlights Actions at Indian Ocean Tuna Commission

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago02 mins

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…

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

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago1 year ago04 mins

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…

The Africa We Want: Listen to the Land

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago08 mins

By Abdelmonem Fawzi Food gives us power and efficient energy, being a basic necessity of life. It contains nutrients — substances essential for the growth, repair, and maintenance of the body tissues and for the regulation of vital processes. This was why hopes were pinned on the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit (AFSH), held…

Food production reduced over land squeeze: Experts

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago07 mins

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…

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

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago07 mins

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…

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

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago03 mins

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…

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

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago011 mins

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…

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

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago05 mins

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…

Paris Summit expected to Close Clean Cooking Funding Gap for African Women

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago06 mins

The Paris Summit is expected to build on ground-breaking clean cooking initiatives launched at COP28 and the African Development Bank’s Adesina (www.AfDB.org), Tanzanian President Hassan, Norway Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol will co-chair the event. Development partners gathering in Paris on 14 May are expected to pledge…

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

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago1 year ago04 mins

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…

Climate change has a profound impact on children: UNICEF

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago1 year ago05 mins

As Zimbabwe faces the effects of climate-induced El Niño, UNICEF is taking proactive steps to highlight the profound impact of climate change on children. Under our climate campaign “Invest in Climate, Invest in Children!” we are launching a petition to urge government entities, development partners, and the private sector to prioritise children in their climate…

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

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago03 mins

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…

African leaders commit to tripling domestic production and distribution of fertilisers

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago013 mins

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…

The Disappearing Rains of Zimbabwe

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago08 mins

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…

ZAOGA keeps the legacy of late Archbishop Professor Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti alive

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago03 mins

Writes Ronnie Chisamba The passing on of Archibishop Professor Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti has not deterred the ZAOGA church from keeping the late visionary’s vision of a better world for all alive, regardless of race, tribe, or origin. A walkathon was held at Grange Christian School – in the capital – on Saturday morning last week,…

Scientists work to make healthier white bread

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago09 mins

Scientists are trying to create a new type of bread that is just as healthy as wholemeal but looks and tastes like its white counterpart. Aimed at lovers of white bread, the project has been funded by the government to improve the health benefits of UK food. The researchers plan to add small amounts of…

Placing farmers at the core of Development Effort is Key to Achieving Food Security

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago04 mins

As Africa races against time to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and the Malabo Commitment to end hunger by 2025, the continent faces formidable challenges aggravated by climate change, inflation, and regional conflicts. The urgency to re-evaluate financing mechanisms is increasingly recognized, with a growing emphasis on mobilizing domestic resources and exploring…

Low-Cost Techniques for Fruit and Vegetable Value Addition in Rural Zimbabwe

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago05 mins

Writes Zvikomborero Machinga In rural Zimbabwe, small-scale farmers face the dual challenge of surplus produce and limited market access. However, with the right value-addition techniques, these farmers can transform their excess fruit and vegetables into profitable products. This article explores low-cost value-addition methods tailored for small-scale farmers in Mutoko, Zimbabwe, empowering them to maximize the…

Use cyberspace for growth: Gospel artists urged

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago04 mins

Gideon Madzikatidze; and Simbarashe Sithole Gospel artists have been urged to embrace cyberspace to reach a wider audience and move with time, whilst taking the platforms to make ends meet, Pastor Clyde Mutemachani of the Izodzo Choral Group has said. Speaking during his preliminary album launch interview on the national broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC)’s…

UNDP hands over goats and agricultural equipment worth over US$82 000 to Esigodini Agricultural College

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago06 mins

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) handed over feed analysis, laboratory equipment and goats to Esigodini Agricultural College worth over US$80 000 to advance the agricultural training institution’s capacity in goat breeding and nutrition. The initiative is set to enhance the institution’s educational programmes, extension, and business advisory services. “The integration of these resources into…

FAO Regional Conference for Africa concludes with strong commitments toward agri-food system transformation

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago06 mins

The 33rd Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa has concluded with a strong ministerial declaration that calls for greater support to build resilience in African countries against climate shocks, increase cooperation for Blue Transformation to intensify African aquaculture, a revival of underutilized African crops, and inclusive rural transformation. The declaration comes at the…

Immediate Action is Needed as Southern Africa Grapples with Worsening Drought

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago1 year ago011 mins

Southern Africa is on the brink of a devastating hunger crisis as a relentless drought tightens its grip. El Niño has led to searing heat that led to massive crop failure causing water sources to dry up. As a result, millions of people in Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Zambia have been driven towards starvation. To highlight…

Zimbabwe’s Independence: ZIMCODD spotlights urgent need to address socio-economic challenges

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago05 mins

Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) As Zimbabwe marked its 44th Independence Day under the theme “Unity, Peace, and Development towards Vision 2030,” it is crucial to reflect on both the progress made and the persistent challenges facing our nation. Despite strides in various sectors, Zimbabwe continues to grapple with significant socio-economic issues that…

IFT Highlights How Under-utilised and Bio-fortified Crops Can Improve Food and Nutrition Security

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago07 mins

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit scientific organization with global members spanning academia, government, and industry, has released a white paper that examines how underutilized and biofortified crops could help improve global food and nutrition security. Food Science and Technology Solutions to Improve Food and Nutrition Security: Advancing the Use of Underutilized and Biofortified Crops examines benefits,…

TIME Reveals the 2024 TIME100 List of the 100 Most Influential People in the World

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago011 mins

Today, TIME reveals the 2024 TIME100, its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The issue has 4 worldwide covers, each highlighting a member of the TIME100: singer-songwriter Dua Lipa, football quarterback Patrick Mahomes, actor Taraji P. Henson, and Yulia Navalnaya, a leader of Russia’s opposition movement. See the full 2024 TIME100 list, tributes, videos and…

Converting harvests into commodities and products that last longer

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago011 mins

Writes Charles Dhewa The lack of capacity to convert harvests into commodities and products that last longer has negatively impacted African food systems for more than five decades. Huge harvests are meaningless if much of the food is not consumed or turned into better livelihoods and employment creation. If there was serious investment in food…

SADC Member States meet to validate Regional Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago04 mins

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Southern African Development Community (SADC), has organized a three-day workshop to validate the SADC Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP); developed with technical and financial support of FAO under the European Union (EU) funded Capacity Building Related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements…

WFP provides technical support for food distribution in Zimbabwe

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago1 year ago07 mins

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has partnered with the Government of Zimbabwe by providing information communication technology (ICT) equipment to alleviate hunger in the country. The WFP today handed over ICT equipment to the Ministry of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare. The donation comprised 75 tablets, 5 laptops, 2 desktops, and 3…

Dry weather hits southern Africa’s farmers, putting key maize supplies at risk

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago1 year ago011 mins

How to blunt the impact South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe have recently published reports indicating a potential decline in grain harvest because of intense El Niño-induced dryness. These developments could put the entire Southern African maize supply chain at risk, with Zambia and South Africa hard hit by heatwaves and dryness. The neighbouring small producers such as Zimbabwe,…

Zimbabwe declares drought a disaster, joining Malawi and Zambia

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago02 mins

Zimbabwe’s president declared a state of national disaster over a drought that’s curbed farm output in the southern African nation. The announcement follows similar declarations last month in neighbouring Zambia and Malawi, where poor rainfall has cut production of the staple corn and other grains and contributed to higher food prices that have hurt poor…

FAO, West African Nations To Tackle Flood Impacts On Food Security

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago1 year ago04 mins

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and representatives from West African nations have converged on Abuja to explore diverse ideas to better handle flood risks affecting food security in the sub-region. The goal is to foster a collective approach towards more proactive flood risk mitigation with shared knowledge from different actors…

ZPHCA grassroots women building back communities devastated by disasters

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago06 mins

The Zimbabwe Parents of Handicapped Children Association (ZPHCA), through working closely with grassroots women, is taking a leading role in building back their families and communities affected by climate change in Zimbabwe. On the 25th of March 2024, 24 grassroots women affected by climate change gathered in Harare for a Reflection, Planning, and Consultative Forum…

Mashonaland West targets to surpass 45 000 hectares of Winter Wheat

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago03 mins

Writes Elvis Dumba Banket – Mashonaland West Province intends to surpass 45,000 hectares of irrigated wheat as the winter wheat season for 2024 beckons. This was revealed by Mashonaland West Province Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Marian Chombo during an agricultural stakeholders interactive meeting on agricultural programs held at Banket Sports…

Gene editing: Time for SA to embrace plant breeding innovations

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago08 mins

Plant breeding innovations have significant benefits to offer South Africa. Innovative breeding technologies can help to protect and grow our agriculture and retail sectors, which will also lead to further job creation and economic revenue. These technological advances in plant breeding can also provide enhanced food security at a time when economic and geopolitical realities have…

Gastronomy heritage promotes a healthy and sustainable society: Tourism Minister

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago09 mins

Cookout Competitions introduced by First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa are in line with the President’s vision of making Zimbabwe an empowered upper-middle-income economy by 2030 so gastronomy heritage is a powerful enabler of a healthy and sustainable society, Hon Barbra Rwodzi, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry has said. Hon Rwodzi made the remarks during…

Scientists at LUANAR say genetically-modified maize has shown resistance to fall armyworm

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago1 year ago015 mins

Scientists at Lilongwe University of Agriculture (LUANAR) say trials have shown that Genetically Modified (GMO) maize seeds are resistant to insects, particularly fall armyworms which affect maize yields in Malawi. The trials for the GMO maize are being done at LUANAR’S Bunda Campus and according to scientists, leaves for maize plants that have transgenes are…

Accountability.Fish Takes On Fisheries, Oceans Secrecy with New Campaign

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago04 mins

Writes Ryan Orgera WASHINGTON: Is today’s fisheries management system capable of taking on a bigger role in the future of ocean governance? Or, is it even effectively managing the sustainability of the world’s marine wildlife today? From Accountability.Fish’s perspective, the answer to both questions is no – and the transparency advocacy group is launching a…

Schools feeding program: Government acquires borehole rigs for nutrition gardens

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago1 year ago04 mins

Writes Elvis Dumba Zvimba – The government has acquired 40 state-of-the-art borehole rigs which will be used to ensure clean water provision for schools in the country. Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Hon Torerayi Moyo said the borehole rigs will help in the setting up of nutrition irrigation gardens in schools which will help…

Zimbabwe showcases rich cuisine at the ITB Berlin 2024

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago05 mins

Zimbabwe is showcasing its rich cuisine at the ITB Berlin 2024! It is a great opportunity to share the country’s unique culinary traditions with the world. Food is a key aspect of any tourism experience, and by sharing its delicious dishes with the world, Zimbabwe is sure to generate more interest and visitors through its gastronomy….

SCS Global Services Approved as First Certification Body for Pioneering New Feed Certification

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago05 mins

SCS Global Services, the world’s leading 3rd party certification body, has become the first auditor accredited to provide certification for the Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s (ASC) Feed Standard. The certification represents a significant step forward in promoting greater environmental and social responsibility within the aquaculture industry. As the leading 3rd party certification body, SCS Global Services (SCS) brings its…

Japanese MPJ Group tours Zimbabwe

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago03 mins

Zimbabwe, represented by the Zimbabwe Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, is facilitating a familiarisation tour of Zimbabwe by 13 members of Millennium Promise Japan (MPJ). This is a Japanese-based Non-profit organization that was formed in April 2008 and is involved in education, food and material assistance, and disaster response to affected countries across the globe. The…

Symposium empowers young people in agro-ecology to address climate change

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago09 mins

The youth bear the brunt of vulnerability to climate change hence engaging and empowering them in promoting agro-ecology, sustainable farming practices, and advocating for climate justice is crucial for building resilient and sustainable food systems in the country. This emerged today at a symposium by the Young Volunteers for the Environment (YVE) in partnership with…

Rwanda Finally Passes Law On GMO – What Next?

Byron Adonis Mutingwende1 year ago05 mins

Rwanda, on February 21, published in its Official Gazette a law governing biosafety, which seeks to ensure that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are handled, transferred, and used safely in the country. According to the purpose of the law, it establishes an adequate level of protection in the field of the safe transfer and use of living…