Agriculture
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Zimbabwe declares drought a disaster, joining Malawi and Zambia
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…
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Transforming agricultural shows, trade fairs and competitions into genuine knowledge management platforms
Writes Charles Dhewa Who really benefits from expos such as agricultural shows, trade fairs, food festivals, cooking competitions, and several other bandwagons? How do those who benefit do so? Without clear methods for evaluating these events, it is difficult to get correct answers to such questions. There is a strong feeling among many people that…
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PGI takes Presidential Borehole Scheme to rural Plumtree
Staff Writer Prevail Group International (PGI) has taken its borehole drilling scheme to rural Plumtree to provide villagers desperate for portable clean water. Plumtree, a district in Matabeleland South province is facing a grave water crisis worsened by an El Nino-induced drought. Several water sources have since dried up, with villagers walking long distances to…
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FAO, West African Nations To Tackle Flood Impacts On Food Security
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…
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ZPHCA grassroots women building back communities devastated by disasters
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…
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Mashonaland West targets to surpass 45 000 hectares of Winter Wheat
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…
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‘Opportunity Crops’ Could Boost Nutrition across Africa
Agriculturist Cary Fowler is best known as the former executive director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust and co-founder of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which houses more than 1.2 million seed samples covering every crop variety imaginable on an island in the Norwegian Arctic. Now he’s engaged in an ambitious new plan to use the genes…
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Development planners told to value wetlands
By Hopewell Chibvongodze Harare, March 22, 2024 – The Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife has warned developmental planners against ignoring the importance of wetlands and the accompanying bio-diversity loss through the destruction of wetlands. Wetlands play a vital role in maintaining water quality and bio-diversity, yet they are often overlooked in development planning,” said…
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Flowing Towards Harmony: Using Transboundary Water Cooperation for Peace in Southern Africa
Written by Dr Loreen Katiyo, Transboundary Water Governance & Environmental Specialist- GWPSA and Leticia Ngorima, Regional Communications Specialist-GWPSA Growing populations and climatic impacts are placing unprecedented pressure on water resources. This is true of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region which comprises 16 Member States, whose population in 2018, was estimated to be at…
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Gene editing: Time for SA to embrace plant breeding innovations
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…
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Economies not backed by local manufacturing are markets for other countries
Writes Charles Dhewa Most African economies are now driven by the trading of external commodities that are not backed by local manufacturing. For example, in addition to imported food, second-hand clothes businesses are draining African resources as traders import used clothes from Asia and the Global North. Such unfortunate practices are creating employment in countries…
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USD6 million project for Sustainable Development in the Limpopo River Basin launched
In a landmark development, Ministers responsible for Water Affairs from the Republics of Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe gathered in Musina, South Africa on 14 March 2024 to officially launch the “Integrated Transboundary River Basin Management for the Sustainable Development of the Limpopo River Basin (LIMCOM-UNDP/GEF project).” The Ministers pledged to ensure that the…
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Scientists at LUANAR say genetically-modified maize has shown resistance to fall armyworm
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…
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Accountability.Fish Takes On Fisheries, Oceans Secrecy with New Campaign
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…
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Schools feeding program: Government acquires borehole rigs for nutrition gardens
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…
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Vice President Chiwenga officially opens 2024 Tobacco Marketing Season
Vice President Dr. Constantino Chiwenga officially opened the 2024 Tobacco Marketing Season on Wednesday 13 March 2024 where he reiterated that agriculture remains one of the key sectors in Zimbabwe’s accelerated drive to achieve an Empowered and Prosperous Upper Middle-Income Society by 2030. In 2020, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Dr.…
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TIMB readies for 2024 Tobacco Selling Season
The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) is ready for the 2024 Auction tobacco marketing season that opens on Wednesday 13th March 2024. This emerged at the TIMB Media Interface held at the board’s headquarters in Harare today. Addressing journalists, Mr. Tapiwa Chimedza, the TIMB Head of Business Development revealed that under the Muhancha Project,…
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SCS Global Services Approved as First Certification Body for Pioneering New Feed Certification
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…
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AFC Holdings commits to support Winter Farming Season
AFC Holdings, through its Land and Development Bank, is expected to finance at least 18000ha of winter wheat crop this season. This will be supported by Agro-bills which will be backed by government guarantees. “We have applied for a government guarantee worthy of US$42 million to enable the raising of funds from the market.”, said…
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Community-based adaptation essential under CBA-SCALE Southern Africa+ project
The Scaling up Community Action for Livelihoods and Ecosystems in Southern Africa and Beyond (CBA-SCALE Southern Africa+) launched on the 29th of February 2024 in Harare realises that to support groups most impacted by climate change, community-based adaptation provides livelihood opportunities for communities suffering from climatic shocks. Addressing delegates who witnessed the launch at Wild…
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Symposium empowers young people in agro-ecology to address climate change
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…
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Rwanda Finally Passes Law On GMO – What Next?
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…
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Hands-on technical capacity crucial for matching skills with industry needs
Engineer Malven Takaidza, the Head of the Mechanical and Production Engineering Division of the Harare Polytechnic has said the Zimbabwean human capital skills development for industrialisation requires a hands-on technical capacity of an individual towards the fulfillment of an assigned socio-economic assignment. He said this while giving an overview of the skills landscape in Zimbabwe…
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Uganda’s NARO Licenses More Seed Companies to Boost Agriculture and Exports
In a significant move aimed at bolstering the agricultural sector, the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) in Uganda has recently expanded its network of licensed seed companies. With the addition of 10 new licenses, the total number of seed suppliers in the country has surged to 23. This strategic initiative is poised to enhance the…
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First Session of the Zimbabwe-Belarus Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation opened
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Fredrick Shava, has opened the First Session of the Zimbabwe-Belarus Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation (JPCC). Honourable Sergei Aleinik, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus and Co-Chair of the First (1st) Session of the Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the…
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The counter-productivity of fragmented investments in African food systems
Billions of dollars have gone into African agriculture and food systems over the past few years but the main challenge remains the absence of a coordinated framework for deploying such resources. Resources that are squandered through fragmented investments by development organizations, government, and the private sector are more than what is needed to address challenges…
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Rwanda commits $2m to food security based on agricultural innovation
At a time when food security in Rwanda is under increasing threat from several phenomena, including climate change, the government is committed to supporting agricultural innovation through the $2 million Hanga Agritech Innovation Challenge Fund. In Rwanda, the government is banking on digital innovation to improve farming practices. The “Hanga Agritech Innovation Challenge Fund” initiative…
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Technical, fundamental soft skills required for competitiveness: Prof Mavima
The country requires critical technical skills and other fundamental soft skills to be competitive, Prof Paul Mavima, the Minister of Skills Audit and Development has said. Prof Mavima made the revelation at a Stakeholders’ Consultation Workshop on the Mandate of the Ministry of Skills Audit and Development that got underway in Harare today. The workshop…
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African Development Bank Backs Mozambique with $33 Million for Food Security and Climate Resilience
In a significant move to bolster food security and climate resilience in Mozambique, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed $33 million to support agricultural and meteorological initiatives in the region. This investment, approved by the AfDB’s board in January, is part of a larger $150 million program co-financed with the Mozambican government and other…
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Wetlands central to sustainable development, human well-being: NECJ
On World Wetlands Day (2024), the Network for Environmental and Climate Justice (NECJ) reiterated the importance of wetlands for sustainable development and their centrality to human well-being. The 2024 theme for World Wetlands Day; “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing” outlines the interconnection between wetlands, sustainable development, and human health. NECJ said it is regrettable though to…
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RFMO Accountability Tracker Update Highlights Deflected Accountability
Results of recent meetings of leading Regional Fisheries Management Organizations underscore the need for greater transparency and accountability in their decision-making processes. That was the conclusion from Accountability.Fish as it published the latest results from annual meetings of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) which…
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$15M additional funding to tackle food waste around the world
Nairobi/Cape Town, 31 Jan 2024) Work tackling the huge environmental cost of food waste has been given a massive boost this year, as international climate action NGO WRAP receives catalytic funding from the Ballmer Group. The $15M funding will support essential work by WRAP and our partners in tackling food loss and waste through existing Voluntary Agreements in Australia, Indonesia, Mexico, and South…
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The Ghanaian Farmer: Bringing African Farmers’ Voices to the Forefront
Writes Winston Mwale ACCRA, Ghana – “We want to showcase the real stories of farmers,” said Enyonam Manye, creator of The Ghanaian Farmer YouTube channel, in an exclusive interview with AfricaBrief’s Editor-in-Chief, Winston Mwale. Manye is committed to bringing informative and uplifting stories from farmers across Ghana and Africa. Manye utilizes a constructive journalism philosophy in her…
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Public confidence needed for adoption of biotechnologies like genome editing
ACCRA, GHANA – There is a need to create a science culture among the citizenry to boost public confidence in such emerging modern biotechnology sciences as genome editing, a workshop here has revealed. In his opening remarks at the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) In-country Training Workshop for Genome Editing Communicators today in Accra, Ghana…
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Genome editing knowledge products solve agricultural, healthcare challenges
Product knowledge of genome editing provides transformative technology in the field of biotechnology, unlocking unprecedented possibilities for solving complex challenges in various sectors, ranging from agriculture and environmental conservation and healthcare. These were remarks by Mrs. Anna Tinarwo, the Chief Director of Devolution and Development Planning in the Office of the President and Cabinet, who…
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A look into the science of genome editing in Africa to optimise agriculture
Genome editing is one of the latest tools that has been developed by scientists to effect changes in organisms of agricultural, medical, and economic importance. The advent of genome editing has increased the available tools and the effectiveness of developing new productive and better-adapted organisms of economic importance. Genome Editing (GEd) involves the deliberate introduction…
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How to stem the turbulent tides of food insecurity across Africa
Food insecurity in Africa is off track. The situation keeps becoming aggravating as soaring food prices, inflation, conflict, and climate change are plunging parts of the continent into a severe and enduring food crisis, magnifying hunger and malnutrition. This extreme situation is hitting great swathes of Africa in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel particularly…
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Who needs a wholesaler when consumers can speak directly to food producers?
Writes Charles Dhewa Fundamental shifts in African food systems are accelerating changes in the food distribution landscape, blurring traditional boundaries between distributors, wholesalers, and retailers. These structural challenges are dismantling the wholesaling business model, forcing wholesalers to continuously rethink their aggregation and distribution strategies to remain relevant. In a fast and fluid distribution landscape driven…
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Science module on communicating genome editing under review
A science module on communicating genome editing – a powerful tool that holds immense potential in revolutionizing the field of biotechnology to optimize African agriculture, is under review in Harare this week. Addressing participants in his welcome remarks today, Dr. Leonard Madzingaidzo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre…
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Food Security: Experts Advocate Adoption Of Technology And Innovation
Experts and agricultural researchers have advocated the adoption of technologies and innovation to produce intensive agriculture and bridge the yield gap between Africa and other continents so as to ensure food security in the continent. The researchers, from different research groups including the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), WorldFish,…
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Which is critical, using what you have or looking for what you don’t have?
There is a strong realization by SMEs that knowledge and technologies from outside are not donations but come with negative terms because whoever is providing those resources will eventually benefit at the expense of local economies.
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Climate change, pandemics and global conflicts affecting SDGs implementation
Writes Elvis Dumba Chinhoyi – Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Marian Chombo, has said there is a need for the acceleration of actions that will ensure the successful implementation of sustainable development goals in the country, which has been hampered by various challenges. Minister Chombo was speaking during the…
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TELA Maize to boost food security in Nigeria: NABDA Director-General
TELA Maize will lead to a substantial reduction in pesticide use, benefiting humans, livestock, and the environment
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COP28 Outcomes: The key lessons for Zimbabwe and the Global South’s Quest for Climate Action and Justice
Traditionally, the push for acknowledging historical climate obligations was put to the test, as some of the big emitters joined forces with global southern countries to push for a fossil fuel phase-out position.
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Government allays fears of grain shortages
The government has allayed fears of grain shortages and assured food security for all citizens despite low rainfall amounts countrywide as the Southern African region is grappling with an El Nino-induced drought. This came to the fore as the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development toured the National Foods processing plant in…