South Africa: Western Cape Agriculture Confirms Presence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Two Ostrich Farms in Heidelberg Area

Ostrich Farms

 press release
 

The Western Cape Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza (HPAI), type H5N8, in two ostrich farms in the Heidelberg area.

Tanzania: Ambitious New Plan Aims to Double Production of Coffee

Coffee

Coffee production in Tanzania could more than double in four years' time if an action programme to increase the competitiveness of small holder farmers is successfully implemented.

Botswana: Govt Supports Farming

farmer

President Lieutenant General Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has reassured farmers that government's commitment towards agriculture will continue undiminished.

Nigeria: NDE Trains 400 Youths On Agricultural Skills

NDE

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in collaboration with C. Hassan Consultancy Ltd. has commenced a refresher training of 400 unemployed youths in Kaduna state on agricultural skills for gainful employment.

Nigeria: Obasanjo to Commercial Banks - Lower Interest Rates for Farmers

Farmers

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged commercial banks to lower their interest rates to enable farmers access loans for improved agricultural production.

The 4th National Commodity Growers, Processors and Buyers Forum

group picture

The 4th National Commodity Growers, Processors and Buyers Forum with the theme " sustainable  market opportunities in agriculture materials for stakeholders in the North Central and South western states in Nigeria held at National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM) Ilorin was very eventful as stakeholders were admonished to take the advantage of present economic repositioning of agriculture commercialization by the FG with upper priority using the best agronomics practices and value addition through processing for maximum market advantages for both local and international markets. Stakeholders are taken through some of the available simple farming and processing machines available at NCAM for off takers.

Tanzania: Controversy Surrounds Suspected Expired Sulphur

cashew trees

While Mtwara regional authorities have reportedly seized expired Sulphur, used for spraying cashew trees, the Tropical Pesticides Research Institute (TPRI) officers have reported to the Minister of State in the President's Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Mr George Simbachawene, that government agencies keep interfering with the administration of the said substance.

Ethiopia: UN Agency Sounds Alarm As Drought-Stricken Herders in Ethiopia Face Massive Livestock Losses

The most severe drought in decades has struck parts of Ethiopia, exacerbated by a particularly strong El Niño effect. This has led to successive failed harvests and widespread livestock deaths in some areas, and humanitarian needs have tripled since the beginning of 2015.

Drought has devastated herders' livelihoods as it exhausted pastures and water sources, the United Nations agriculture agency said today, stressing that supporting them to get back on their feet and prevent further livestock losses are crucial in the Horn of Africa country, where hunger has been on the rise this year.

FMARD/ICRIST train youth fabricators

FMARD/ICRIST training youth fabricators

 As part of the Federal Government drives to reposition agricultural practices to remove drudgery in farming through the use of modern simple and efficient tools, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) in partnership with International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is presently giving training to 34 youth fabricators along the value chains of sorghum at National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM), Ilorin. 

UNIDO technical support programme, Agric, Trade ministries co-chair

UNIDO

In a bit to ensure standard of agricultural produce in Nigeria, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has set up a technical support programme that will resuscitate and extablish zonal commodities certification centres with both the federal Ministries of Agriculture, and Trade and Investment being the co-chair.