EU adopts a four-year strategy for animal welfare

In order to improve the welfare of animals in the European Union (EU) member states, a four-year strategy starting from 2012 to 2015 has been adopted.

The Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner at EU, Mr. John Dalli, affirmed that the new strategy would give room for appropriate flexibility to allow operators to attain the necessary welfare stands by different routes.

As gathered by the NaijaAgroNet, he said, "Optimizing policy coherence and market transparency in a comprehensive animal welfare legislative framework will minimize real or perceived tensions between welfare and economics."

The commissioner also noted that the strategy is cost-effective and economical in terms of welfare.

Highlighting one of the setbacks of the union, Dalli said there is lack of enforcement of EU legislation by Member State in a number of areas which is adversely affect animals in the EU.

Hence, the new strategy was adopted in the form of a commission communication to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic and Social Committee.

Another means to address the issue of low enforcement is the provision of two-pronged by the strategy: a proposal for a comprehensive animal welfare law and a reinforcement of current actions.

Reinforcement and the optimization of current commission actions was also proposed couple with enhancing tools that will boost Member State's Compliances with the legal requirement and boosting the already existing international co-operation on animal welfare.

'Yinka Awosanya

... Linking agrobiz, people & technology

AU to motivate African countries to increase budgetary allocation to agric

Fighting food security in Africa, African Union is set to motivate African countries to increase their national budgetary allocations to agriculture a minimum of 10 per cent, SierraExpressMedia reports.

This, the AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Mrs. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime said at a press conference about the issue of agriculture and food security in the context of the comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

The 10 per cent minimum requirement for agriculture budgetary allocation, NaijaAgroNet gathered is to ensure agricultural growth of 6 per cent.

Part of the efforts of the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture as revealed by the commissioner includes coordination of multi-institutional support of the preparation of agricultural sector investment plans both at country and regional levels, this in order to for CAADP to reach its set goals.

Commissioner Tumusiime said that out of the 54 member states of the AU, only 30 have already yielded to the CAADP 10% strategic plan, and a number of them have surpassed the 10% requirement. This shows great commitment, she said. Read more

 Admin/LS

... Linking agrobiz, people & technology

Kibaki calls for mechanized agriculture across EAC countries

The Kenyan President, Dr. Mwai Kibaki, has advocated for more efforts to mechanize agriculture all over the East African Countries (EAC), reports UgPulse.

Currently the Chairperson of the EAC Head of States Summit, Dr. Kibaki said that agriculture is the region's leading economic activity and yet most of the acts are still based on rudimentary tools couple with traditional practices.

He called for more effort to mechanize agriculture in order to improve farming methods and seeds which in turn will give quantity and quality output from agriculture.

NaijaAgroNet authoritatively gathered that the East African country president cited three key strategies that partner states need to inculcate for the community to succeed.

The three key strategies include economic diversification, improvement in ICT and Tourism sectors alongside investment in infrastructure as key drivers for the EAC economies. Read more

Admin/LS

... Linking agrobiz, people & technology

Investments interest in agriculture on the rise - IIED

International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) had said that investments fund in agriculture shows a growing interest.

This was made known in a press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet, stating that lands and agribusinesses are on the global rush for investment.

Reasons for the increase in land investment as revealed by IIED could be linked to high long-term returns attributable to rising land prices, growing populations and increasing demand for food.

NaijaAgroNet also gathered that investments in the agrobusiness sector's sources are mostly financial players like pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and rich individuals.

Experts at IIED noted that an estimated US$14billion, about N2.234trillion in private capital has already been committed to investment in farmland and agricultural infrastructure. While a larger part of the fund is based in Europe and North America, whereas the figure according to analysts is expected to be doubled or tripled by 2015.

The potential for land values in Africa, they pointed out is much greater where farmland prices are comparatively low.

Returns on investment, as said by them is largely dependent on the prices of agricultural commodities which is the major reason some investors go for land with high yield potential, investing further in agricultural productivity in order to increase their annual returns.

Further, the fund structures in developing countries are reported to be on the increase, especially as they are being used to invest in agriculture, the investors are also being driven by the high expectation of returns which can be linked to rising land values and productivity.

 'Yinka Awosanya/ED

... Linking agrobiz, people & technology