Nigeria Leads in Cowpea Production, Deficit in Consumption - Experts

beans

Experts in cowpea production, processing and consumption have unanimously agreed that despite the fact that Nigeria has been leading in pulses and cowpea production, findings have revealed that the nation's citizens record deficit in consumption.

Factbox-From New Beans to Ancient Plants, Drought-Busting Crops Take Root

Drought-Busting Crops

"Getting new crop varieties into the hands of a large number of farmers quickly is the challenge"

As farmers worldwide experience more frequent drought and erratic rainfall linked to climate change, the race to find and improve drought-resistant crops grows ever more important.

Farm Attacks, Murders to Be Debated in Parliament

Jacob Zuma

Parliament is expected to hold a debate on farm attacks and murders, the FF Plus said on Wednesday.

National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete had reversed her recent decision not to allow a debate on the matter, FF Plus leader Pieter Groenewald said. The debate, to be held next Tuesday, followed discussions with Mbete last week.

Maizegate Scandal - Malawian President Fires Agriculture Minister

Maizegate

Fired Agriculture minister George Chaponda is not reporting for duties at parliament since he lost his job on Wednesday.

Gambia: Exiled Gambian Ex-Leader Jammeh 'To Take Up Farming Full Time'

Yahya Jammeh

Gambia's exiled former leader Yahya Jammeh has reportedly disclosed plans to take up farming "full time".

Australia Provides Therapeutic Foods for IDPs

The Australian High Commission

The Australian High Commission in Nigeria is partnering with a non-governmental organization, Empower 54, to produced Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) for thousands of malnourished kids in Nigeria.

Water Scarcity Needs 'Urgent and Massive Response' in North Africa and Near East

water

*Sustainable water use for agriculture requires transforming food systems and diets.

Access to water is a fundamental need for food security, human health and agriculture, and its looming scarcity in the North Africa and Middle East region is a huge challenge requiring an "urgent and massive response," FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva said in Cairo.

FG vows to jail fish smugglers --Lokpobiri

Senator Heineken Lokpobiri

* Association of indigenous seafood task custom to step up board surveillance

                                 

The minister of state for agriculture Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has re-assured Nigerians of Federal Government’s readiness to slam fish smugglers with five years imprisonment or pay fine of $250,000 and in addition destroy the vessel and its products through further clampdown on cold rooms stocked with illegally imported frozen fish across the country. He disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja.

Kenya: Govt Sets Aside Sh154mn to Mitigate Drought Effects in Schools

Uhuru Kenyatta

The government has set aside Sh154 million to be disbursed to various institutions to bolster the school feeding program in parts of the country experiencing drought.

Eight Die in Zambia Food Stampede

Food Stampede

Some 35,000 people turned up to the event organized by a church group in Lusaka. Droughts across southern Africa have caused a sharp uptick in food prices in a nation where poverty is already rampant.