Campbell: “Goal of bringing more plant-based foods to consumers”

NACCIMA: stakeholders decry value chain neglects

  *BOA differs on recapitalization

Stake holders at the 1st Annual NACCIMA-NIRSAL Agribusiness & Policy Linkage Conference in Abuja

Participants at the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (NACCIMA) and the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing for Agriculture Lending (NIRSAL) have pinned down the neglect of agricultural value chains to its present state of non-maximum productivity.

Uganda: Ban On Meat Raises Prices for Fish in Nebbi

Fish

Following a ban on the sale of meat in Nebbi Municipal Town due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, the demand for silver fish and beans has gone up.

Raw Materials, others on strike

Raw Materials Research Development Council (RMRDC)

Some senior staffs of Raw Materials Research Development Council (RMRDC) an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria vested with the mandate to promote the development and utilization of Nigeria’s industrial raw materials, has since last week been on strike to press home their demands for fulfillment of government agreement with Non Academic Staff Union in over 15 science and agric related research institutes.

Kaduna successfully attracting private investors, says governor

Governor of Kaduna State,Nasir El Rufai

Contrary to what is happening in most states of Nigeria, the Kaduna state government has achieved tremendous success in attracting private investors. This was disclosed by the governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai through a representative, Mrs. Ambi Maikaswa, during a national symposium on agriculture organized by Premium Times, Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) and the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) in Abuja on Monday.

Uganda: Tears and Cheers Over New GMO Law

GMO

Days after parliament quietly passed the National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill, widely known as the 'GMO Bill', in early October, Meg Hilbert Jaquay, the Managing Director of Jakana Foods Limited, remains sad. Her company exports 30 metric tonnes of organic dried fruits to U.S., Europe, Asia, and across Africa every year.

Rwanda: Experts Devise Ways to Develop Drought, Disease-Resilient Crops

Disease-Resilient Crops

As climate change and disease continue to affect crops worldwide and threaten food security, experts are meeting in Kigali at a crop development meeting proposing solutions to these threats through resilient varieties.

Angola: Ministry of Fisheries Bets On Sea Hygienic Conditions

sea

The formation of the mentality of the population on the hygienic conditions in the fishing and commercial enclosures is one of the great bets of the Ministry of Fisheries and the Sea so that the fish is consumed in a healthy way, said on Tuesday in Luanda, minister Victoria de Barros Neto.

The Future of the Future Farmers of America

Future of the Future Farmers of America

With more than 650,000 members, FFA is teaching a new generation dedicated to feeding the world’s growing population.

Nothing that you’d find on any runway in Milan, though, or draped over the shoulders of a peacocking Kardashian. Instead, from the time I was a preteen, the piece of outerwear that has made my Kentucky-raised heart skip a beat is the signature jacket of the Future Farmers of America.

Animal Science Association’s urgent call to save the livestock industry from imminent chaos posed by a member’s private bill being sponsored by Senator Habbu Ibrahim

Cow

  

TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL LIVESTOCK IDENTIFICATION, TRACEABILITY, REGISTRATION, AND FOR OTHER RELATED PURPOSES.

At last, cassava flour inclusion bill scales through

Cassva Bread

·       NAFDAC, SON ask for standard control on fertilizer

The cassava flour (mandatory inclusion in flour production) bill 2016 has scaled through the senate just as two other bills namely  the bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the National Livestock identification and Management Bureau and the one for an Act to regulate the manufacture, importation, distribution and quality control of fertilizer were set to be amended for more inclusion by stakeholder before passage  by the Senate Committee on Agriculture chaired by  Sen. Abdullahi  Adamu at the public hearing  held by the committee at the National Assembly last week at Abuja.

Gambia: Farmers Raise Voices of Concern,Agric. Minister Responds

Farmers

Farmers in the length and breadth of the Gambia, have raised their voices on the threats to food security. All the farmers who spoke on the Agriculture Minister's tour have lamented the same situational problem: lack of seeds, fertilizer, farm implements, lack of adequate water or rain for the crops and animal intrusion on farm lands.

South Africa: Philippi's Vegetables Feed the Hungry

vegetables.

Many people living near the farms of the Philippi Horticultural Area depend on them for cheap or free vegetables.

Improved seeds: DFID galvanizes voices for blockage removal

Nat. Pres, Yam Growers, Processors and Marketers Association, Prof. Simeon Irtwange speaking on partnership with Root and Tuber Research Institute on seedling while Chika of PERL looks on

As the accessibility of farmers in Nigeria to improved seedlings worsen, the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) and some few select voices in the agricultural sector have interfaced on the need to ensure accessibility of farmers to improved seeds with sustainability through blockages removal in the productivity process.

Mugabe's Food Security Doctorate 'Is a Thoroughly Ill' and 'Not Funny Joke"

President Robert Mugabe

Zimbabwe's opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party has described as "thoroughly ill", the granting of an honorary doctorate in agricultural Sciences to President Robert Mugabe by the Lupane State University (LSU), says a report.

Africa: Cooking to Fight Climate Change

 Cooking to Fight Climate Change

What you eat doesn't only affect your own health - it also affects our planet's health. From deciding which food to buy, to how you store and prepare it, you are making decisions that have profound effect on your personal health, as well as the health of your environment.

Three agricultural bills, a secret hearing called public hearing- by Ayeni, Oladehinde.

Senate committee on Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Adamu

As the years go by, this democracy is supposed to be maturing and stable, but it appears that it is only an illusion. Nowadays, it’s as if public hearings a forum organized to obtain public views on matters slated for legislation are being stage-managed.

Nigeria: Niger to Declare 2018 Year of Agricultural Revolution

Niger to Declare 2018 Year of Agricultural Revolution

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has said that his administration will declare 2018 as the year of "Agricultural Revolution" in the state.

Crisis: NASS summons FCA, ARCN to hearing

House Committee Chairman on Colleges of Agriculture, Hon. Linus Okorie

·        FCA Alumni calls for peace

The House Committee on Colleges of Agriculture, National Assembly has invited all the parties involved in the crisis rocking the Federal College of Agriculture (FCA), Moorplantation, Ibadan and Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) to a hearing schedule for today Monday 20^th November, 2017.

Zimbabwe: Govt Launches District Risk Profiles

World Food Programme

Government has launched District Risk Profiles through the Food and Nutrition Council (FNC) in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) to gather information that will assist in understanding food security and livelihood challenges and provide information on these factors.

Kenya: Tea Farmers Get Sh42 Billion Bonus After 2-Day Delay

Tea Farmers

Small-scale tea farmers started receiving Sh42 billion payment popularly known as bonus Tuesday following a two-day delay occasioned by impromptu holidays last week.

Malawi Needs an Urgent Shift From Relief to Resilience - Chilima

food

Vice President Saulos Chilima says it is high time Malawi breaks the circle of food insecurity arising due to weather shocks by urgently transiting from relief to resilience paradigm.

Pyrethrum or Sun Flower Farming

Pyrethrum Farming

Pyrethrum is a cash crop grown for its natural pyrethrins which are used in formulating insecticides. The flowers are pulverized and the active components, called pyrethrins, contained in the seed cases, are extracted and sold in the form of an oleoresin. Pyrethrins attack the nervous systems of all insects .

Rwf260 Billion Earmarked for Research in Agric Transformation

Agric Transformation

Agriculture performance and food security are expected to improve further, thanks to a new Rwf260 billion agriculture transformation scheme.

FG officials storm Fed. College Agric, Ibadan today

Chief Audu Ogbeh

The Federal Government (FG) has yesterday sent out its fresh team to the College of Agriculture (FCA), Moorplantation, Ibadan to put under control the violent activities that has led to halting people and destruction of properties of the school and individuals. All this happened during a peaceful demonstration that turned to be violent due to the policemen approach.

USAID Release: Nigeria to benefit in US food security plan.

Reduce Hunger, Malnutrition & Poverty

The United States (US) has targeted twelve countries of the world including Nigeria to reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition using the Global Food Security Act as strategies to achieve this as plans are already under way. This was contained in a statement signed by Jana.T Sweeny, Development Outreach and Communication specialist.

KDC Ag’s Technology is Taking Food Waste From Fork to Farm

Taking Food Waste From Fork to Farm

Kamine Development Corporation’s agriculture division (KDC Ag) has developed a technology with California Safe Soil that converts more than 30 tons of fresh food waste into fertilizer and animal feed in just three hours.

Tanzania: Livestock Activists Condemn Govt for Burning Chicks

Livestock

Veterinarians have condemned government's decision to burn 6,400 chicks which were illegally imported from Kenya.

Breaking news: Tension at Fed. College of Agric after FMARD visits

Victim

·       Police attacks, two in hospital

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development (FMARD) fact finding officials sent to the College of Agriculture located at the Moorplantation, Ibadan may have resulted to heating up the peaceful atmosphere as students are presently protesting with two or more casualties recorded as a result of sporadic shooting by the police.

Campbell: “Goal of bringing more plant-based foods to consumers”

Goal of bringing more plant-based foods to consumers”

The Campbell Soup Company announces it is joining the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA), the only trade group in the United States that represents the plant-based food sector. Campbell is the first major food company to join PBFA.

Senate agric public hearing, farmers say bills long over due

The Senate committee public hearing

The Senate committee public hearing initially slated for 7^th November for three different agricultural bills has been postponed till tomorrow Tuesday as stakeholders especially the farmers have described the exercise an overdue veritable tools to combating many challenges confronting food security and wealth creation in the country.

Botswana: Utilise Land Effectively - Autlwetse

Residents of Pandamatenga

Residents of Pandamatenga have been advised to fully utilise their ploughing fields to sustain households and improve food security in the country.

Texas Ranches Manage Cattle to Improve Habitat and Watershed Health

Texas Ranches Manage Cattle

The following is an edited excerpt from Replenish: The Virtuous Cycle of Water and Prosperity by Sandra Postel, published by Island Press.

Zimbabwe: Govt Vows to Tackle Armyworm

 Armyworm

Government has secured knapsack sprayers that will be distributed to smallholder farmers in an attempt to fight the risk which might be caused by the fall armyworm this season.

Zambian Farmers Outline “Potential agriculture holds to reduce poverty and hunger”

farm

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) recently developed a field report with farmers in Zambia, outlining the importance of smallholder agriculture in combating poverty and hunger. The farmers carved pie charts, figures, and numbers relevant to African agriculture into a field to make their case for more investment in small farms.

How One Woman Is Tackling Michigan’s Water Crisis

We the People of Detroit in action

*Last year alone, Detroit shut off water service to 23,000 residents.

After witnessing the impact of the ongoing water shutdowns in her home city of Detroit, Monica Lewis-Patrick co-founded We the People of Detroit.

Malawi: Mutharika's Lifting of Malawi Maize Export Ban 'Too Little, Too Late' - Farmers

farmers

Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) has welcomed the order by President Peter Mutharika on Monday lifting the ban on maize export, a change of heart from his earlier stand, but pointed out that it has come "too little too late" after mostly farmer already sold the grain to vendors and middlemen at give away prices.

Obasanjo and governors highlight gains of Zero Hunger initiative

On a field trip: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo sandwiched by David Umahi, Governor of Ebonyi State (far left); Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom (second from left); Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal (right behind Obasanjo); Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu (third from right); and Deputy Governor of Borno State, Mamman Usman during the Nigeria Zero Hunger Forum's visit to Ebonyi State Hatchery …on 7 November 2017 

*commend Buhari for supporting agricultural programs

Nigeria’s former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said he was impressed with the impact the Nigeria Zero Hunger Forum (NZHF) was making especially in promoting healthy competition among states with a view to achieving food security.

Angola: 8,000 Fingerlings Launched to Boost Fish Farming in Cacongo

fish

Eight thousand fingerlings were stocked Tuesday in 17 tanks based in Tchimanha cooperative in Cacongo municipality's Mpuela locality, northern Cabinda province, to promote aquaculture in rural community.

Liberia: World Food Programme Renews Pledge to Support Farmers in Liberia

farmer

It was a festive moment for a group of women and their donors on Magarma Farm located near Kpekor in rural Montserrado County when they gathered to reap what they have sowed over the last few months.

Angolan Beer Receives Quality Certification

Beer

The Tigra beer produced by Refriango received quality certification from the Portuguese Institute of Accreditation (IPAC), ANGOP learned Wednesday.

South Africa: Innovative Breeding Platform to Improve Wheat Yields

 Wheat

A partnership between government and the wheat production sector has led to the launch of a platform that will improve wheat yields, despite the challenging climate.

Another Scary Superbug Has Been Found on an American Hog Farm

 Hog Farm

*Researchers went looking for one type of antibiotic-resistant bacteria only to find one that had no reason to be there.

If you weren’t already alarmed by the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, consider this: Scientists recently went looking for one type of superbug lurking among livestock only to find another superbug they weren’t expecting.

Namibia: Drought a Thing of the Past At Uuvudhiya

Grazing

The prolonged drought at Uuvudhiya in Oshana Region could soon be over, as the area continues to have sufficient grazing land and water for livestock since the last rainy season.

Trump’s Pick for Labor Secretary Is No Friend of Fast-Food Workers

Andrew Puzder, chief executive of CKE Restaurants, exits after his meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Trump International Golf Club in Bedminster Township, New Jersey, on Nov. 19

* Andrew Pudzer, the CEO of Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr., is a vocal critic of the Fight for $15.

The tragicomedy that is the Trump transition just keeps getting worse—or better, depending on whether you see it more as, well, tragedy or comedy.

Kenya: Shortage Fears Loom as Supply of Cheap Maize Flour Dwindles

Maize Flour

Reduced supply of subsidised maize flour has hit supermarkets days to the end of the subsidy scheme, raising fears of shortages.

Kenya: 17 Counties Set to Revive Pyrethrum Farming

Pyrethrum Farming

Seventeen pyrethrum growing counties are working on forming an economic bloc in an effort to revive the collapsed industry.

How to Fight Food Waste With Food Waste

Food Waste

* Apeel Sciences uses what might otherwise be trash to make a second skin for fragile fruit and vegetable products.

As much of the country remains in the grip of a wicked spell of early winter courtesy of a polar vortex, the bounty of farmers market season sure can feel a long way off right about now. But thanks to one emerging food-tech start-up, we may one day soon be enjoying far fresher produce year-round—and the solution is all-natural.

Sudan: Completion of Preparations for Hosting National Animal Resources' Conference in Next January

Livestock

The Minister of Animal Resources Bishara Juma Aru has affirmed completion of all preparations for hosting the National Conference on Animal Resources in next January under the patronage of the First Vice President of the Republic and National Prime Minister with the participation of regional and international bodies as well as private sector to shed light on the economic, social and political importance of animal resources.

Sudan: First Vice President Launches Harvest and Grinding Season of Sugar Cane At Sennar and Al-Junaid Factories

First Vice President of Republic and National Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Saleh

First Vice President of Republic and National Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Saleh inaugurated Wednesday the beginning of the harvest and milling of sugar cane for the production season 2018 -2017 at Sennar and Al-Junaid factories.

Zimbabwe: Govt, WFP Commits to Ending Hunger in Zim

livestock

Government and the World Food Program  unveiled District profiles aimed at identifying root causes of hunger and food insecurity in the country.

Scientists Discover How Farmers Can Fight Pests With Crops

Discover How Farmers Can Fight Pests With Crops

A new study shows that varying the nutrient levels in a monoculture can reduce the need for pesticides.

Bakers, Caterers demand legislation for global efficiency

Group Picture

·       COMAFAS asks for cassava initiative to reduce wheat import

The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN), during a one-day capacity building sponsored by Crown Flour Mills has demanded the need for an operational act that would enhance global professionalism practices of its members just as the Community Allied Farmers Association of Nigeria (COMAFAS) requested for the revival of cassava bread initiative so as to reduce wheat flour import and high prices occasioned by dealers.

Remembering Gus Schumacher: Farm Hero and Food Justice Advocate

farmers

Advocate, consultant, and farm hero Gus Schumacher passed away on September 24, 2017, of a heart attack at the age of 77. His long career began with helping out on the family farm in Lexington, Massachusettes. After serving in the government for many years, he later co-founded his own nonprofit called Wholesome Wave. Throughout all, he promoted food justice.