Ken Lohento joins 2021 AgriHack judges - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

NaijaAgroNet:

The Digital Innovation Strategy Consultant with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Mr. Ken Lohento, has been named alongside Ebunoluwa Bolodeoku of Heifer International and six others as confirmed judges for the 2021 Pitch AgriHack, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Ken Lohento

Other members of the judge panel, NaijaAgroNet gathered include Elisee Kamanzi and William Matovu of Heifer International, Nixon Gecheo of AGRA, Barbra Musata of Corteva Agriscience, Grace Vuhya Obeda and Hafou Toure-Samb of African Development Bank.

Nairobi agog for African Green Revolution forum 2016

NaijaAgroNet:

The city of Nairobi, capital of Kenya would from this weekend becomes agog in readiness for the hosting of the 2016 African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) with the theme: “Seize the Moment - 

Securing Africa's Rise through Agricultural Transformation,” reports NaijaAgroNet.

According to the organisers, the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), all is now set for the week-long stakeholder forum between September 5 and 9, this year.

NaijaAgroNet gathered the forum kicks off this weekend with pre-forum organized field visit to the Dryland Seed Company (DSL) in Machakos County, while the official opening ceremony has been slated for Monday, September 5, 2016 under the chief host, H.E Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of Kenya.

The African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) promises to advance policies and secure the investments that will ensure a better life for millions of Africa’s smallholder farmers and families who make up 70 per cent of the population.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that AGRA is an alliance led by Africans with roots in farming communities across 18 countries in Africa. The alliance was formed in 2006 in response to a call from former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who believed that time had come for African farmers to wage a “uniquely African Green Revolution.”

For the past five years AGRA has used the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) to not only highlight major accomplishments but also to bring all stakeholders together to advance the policies and secure the investments that ensures a better life for millions of Africa’s farmers and families – and realize the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The forum expected to attract hundreds of participants to Nairobi.

Remmy Nweke/ED,Ops

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Africa agriculture potential reaches N159trn by 2030

NaijaAgroNet

 

The Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has said that the value of Africa's agriculture output is estimated at $280 billion, about N55.79trillion yet it has the potential to reach $800 billion, about N159.4 trillion by 2030, reports NaijaAgroNet.

"It (agriculture) could address a major problem in Africa by providing economic opportunities for the 200 million people between 14 and 24 years old that make Africa home of the youngest population in the world."

NaijaAgroNet gathered that a global accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has, in its own assessment of the continent’s agriculture, said that Africa "represents the 'last frontier' in global food and agricultural markets".

"The continent houses almost 60 per cent of the world's uncultivated land and an abundance of natural resources." It also said due to the large percentage of uncultivated fertile land and the presence of water, sub-Saharan Africa was specifically attractive.

A report by the international accounting firm KPMG said agricultural growth in Africa has failed to reach its potential and there was need for a concerted effort at improving techniques, markets and access to credit for small farmers.

This avalanche of positive reports about Africa’s agricultural profile, Business Standard informed, is reasonthe third India-Africa Summit coming up in New Delhi next month will, afford an opportunity to deepen India's involvement in improving Africa's agriculture NaijaAgroNet learnt.

The Nigeria’s permanent secretary, ministry of agriculture, Sonny Echono said the Chinese agricultural development model suited Nigeria's Agricultural Transformation Agenda and the country was working to improve its milling capacity in rice and cassava.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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AGRA partners COMESA for youth-centred agro plans

NaijaAgroNet

The Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has concluded plans to partner with the Zambian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), to invent strategies that will enable the youth and women engage in profitable agriculture.

AGRA and COMESA, NaijaAgroNet gathered, will next month host the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) to develop concrete investment plans for driving Africa’s agricultural transformation. The forum, whose theme is “Walking the talk on youth and women, bringing inclusive agricultural markets to life,” is slated for September 29 to October 2, wherein about 300 global and African leaders are expected.

AGRA president Agnes Kalibata at a press briefing recently, NaijaAgroNet reports, said as African economies have continued to experience positive growth, it is important that all stakeholders join forces in scaling up production to give to the livelihoods of the people.

“The AGRF partners group is pleased to have Zambia as the venue for this year’s forum. Zambia is a regional agribusiness hub and Government has prioritized agricultural growth over the past few years as witnessed by its heavy investments in developing the sector,” she said.

She said for Africa to unlock the wealth that exists in the agriculture sector, governments should ensure that the value chains work for men, women and youth.

NaijaAdgroNet learnt that the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Given Lubinda  on her part, said that government will support any programme that seeks to promote the growth of the sector in a sustainable way.

“We are ready to partner with AGRA, the AGRF Partners’ Group and other industry players to ensure that the planned forum is a resounding success and that Africa’s agricultural transformation gets the push it needs to witness even more progress for our businesses and farmers,” Lubinda stated.

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 PIX: Agnes Kalibata

AGRA, Mozambique boost smallholder farmers with maize, sweet potato varieties

NaijaAgroNet:

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is collaborating with the government of Mozambique, to boost small holder farmers with maize, sweet potato varieties through the Umbeluzi Agriculture Research Centre in Maputo.

This was revealed during a field visit by participants at the just ended 2013 African Green Revolution Forum organized by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

NaijaAgroNet recalls that the forum was in collaboration with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) of NEPAD with some staff joining in the field visit penultimate Tuesday, September 3, 2013.

Also gathered by NaijaAgroNet was that the maize and sweet potato breeding projects centre visited by were projects supported by AGRA at Umbeluzi Agriculture Research Centre.

Leading the participants into the project, Dr Pedro Fato, who has been breeding maize for over 20 years, said that his work at Umbeluzi entails breeding maize that is tolerant to multiple constraints such as down mildew, and pests that are prevalent both in the field and in storage.

Dr Fato equally said that down mildew is especially prevalent in low lying areas in Mozambique, hence the importance of this project in Mozambique that has a high number of areas that often get water logged.

Dr Fato further elucidated that down mildew is carried on through seeds, and the maize breeding project has so far produced twelve maize varieties. 

According to him, the focus of this breeding project is small scale farmers who make up 90 per cent of maize growers in Mozambique, even as the project has so far released five hybrids into the market since 2002.

He stressed the varieties are now producing better yields per hectare as testified by local farmers.

Commenting, AGRA representative, Mr Richard Mwanza, pointed out that AGRA supports programmes in 16 countries across the continent.

NaijaAgroNet

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Pix: Mr Richard Mwanza of AGRA