Fish breeding: 50 researchers, technicians, others set to breed tilapia in Cuba

NaijaAgroNet

About 50 researchers, technicians and farmers working in Cuba will be involved in the breeding and fattening of tilapia in Cuba, NaijaAgroNet reports.

The director, Base Business Unit (UEB ), Zenaida Arboleya, said this is a programme that seeks to achieve more efficient fish by breeding, which has a component of training and consulting services.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is about launch a freshwater fish breeding programme in Cuba.

NaijaAgroNet learnt that the programme will include training and introduction to fish breeding, according to Carlos Pulgarín, an FAO officer in Panama, serving the Caribbean and Central America.

He further said that the project is expected to begin this year in the Base Business Unit (UEB, in Spanish) El Dique, a part of the Company for the Development of Aquaculture Techniques, located in Loma de Tierra, in the municipality of Cotorro, Havana.

Cyriacus Nnaji with additional report from The Fish Site/GEE

... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

FAO injects N97,117m to fight pests, diseases in Botswana

NaijaAgroNet

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has said it has injected P281 000 million, about N97,117 million in a bio security joint project with the Ministry of Agriculture to fight pests and diseases in Botswana.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the project which was officially launched at Ramokgwebana border post by the assistant Minister of Agriculture, Fidelis Molao, is expected to clamp down on the risks of unsafe and contaminated plants and foodstuffs from being brought into Botswana, even though the awareness campaign which is targeted at cross-border travelers is expected to educate the public on the importance of bringing into the country plants and non plants which have been inspected and pest free.

According to THEVOICEBW, an FAO representative, David Tibe, said that bio security is critical if Botswana is to maintain and upscale its food security: “Increased travel is also creating more pathways to spread diseases, pests and other hazards that are moving faster and further than ever before,” Tibe said.

Tibe added that the joint project will help the ministry of agriculture and other stakeholders to improve their capacities at all levels to provide public services to plant and animal health as well as food safety, NaijaAgroNet learnt.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

Lagos plays host again to Bird Flu

NaijaAgroNet:

 

Incidence of the deadly bird flu has been reported in Lagos state as an estimated 60, 000 birds have been infected.

NaijaAgroNet learnt that this figure was confirmed by the Executive Secretary of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, Mr. Olugbenga Ogunsetan.
Report by News Agency of Nigeria revealed that a lot of poultry farms got affected by this disease in the Ikorodu area.

“Over 60,000 birds were lost in August after the avian influenza ravaged the farms.

“This has largely affected production of poultry products and leading to price hike in the area,” Ogunsetan said.

Efforts, NaijaAgroNet gathered, are being made by the state government alongside the Federal Government to compensate the farmers affected by this disease scourge. This move is being made to encourage other farmers, whose poultry stock may also be affected by this disease to voice out.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE
 
... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

Quinoa set to serve as major food

NaijaAgroNet:

 

Due to its high nutritional, agronomic and economic values, Quinoa is set to be a major food for future generations and an important alternative crop considering the challenges caused by climate change, NaijaAgroNet reports.

The Director of the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Division of Nuclear Techniques in FAO, Qu Liang, made disclosure in a public statement on FAO website.

He  said in the battle to help developing countries overcome threats from declining food production caused by climate change, NaijaAgroNet gathered, one species of edible grain-like crop has caught international attention because of its unique nutritional value. New and improved varieties of quinoa, historically grown in the highlands of South America, will be made available to farmers in mutations adapted to challenging environments in Bolivia and Peru.

Also speaking, Principal Professor and Head, Cereals and Native Grains Research programme, National Agrarian University of La Molina in Peru, L. Gomez-Pando, pointed out that increased genetic diversity is the result of the use of nuclear techniques in collaboration with the IAEA and FAO, said the

“There are 64 mutant lines of quinoa selected by yield potential and quality for the market. These mutant lines will be further evaluated and the best lines will be released as new varieties in 2015–2016,” Gomez-Pando said.

NaijaAgroNet learnt that Quinoa has exceptional nutritional composition, with higher protein content than brown rice, barley and millet. Besides being gluten free, quinoa is an excellent source of dietary fibre and has elevated levels of phosphorus, magnesium, iron and calcium. It is also rich in vitamins.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

 ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

Google, MasterCard, others support WFP initiative for families affected by war

 NaijaAgroNet

Google, MasterCard are among multi-industry effort that represents a powerful, tangible way to make a difference toward peace, refugees, displaced people and their families, NaijaAgroNet reports.  

On 21 September, the International Day of Peace, global brands are joining forces across industries and geographies in an unprecedented effort to highlight the vital role of food assistance in creating a more peaceful world. Many companies are donating television and digital media channels to drive support for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the frontline agency fighting hunger. 

First championed by McDonald, other supporting companies include Burger King, Cargill, DreamWorks Animation, Facebook, McCain, McDonald's, OMD, Twitter, TBWA and United Airlines.

World Food Programme Executive Director, Ertharin Cousin, NaijaAgroNet gathered, said, "Today is about people coming together across regions and cultures to take action for a hunger-free and peaceful world. Food assistance plays a powerful role in times of conflict by saving lives and alleviating suffering. Food brings and keeps families together. Food security gives families hope during desperate times while eliminating the need for families to resort to extreme and harmful measures as the only option for survival."

Cousin further said, "Humanity has one future together. This effort provides a great example of people and companies joining forces to make sure we achieve the goal of a zero hunger future".

All funds raised from this effort, NaijaAgroNet, will go to WFP's emergency response fund that is used to support WFP's most critical operations, including crises in and around Syria, Iraq, South Sudan and Yemen. With more people displaced now than any time since World War II, the needs are greater than the resources.

"The private sector has a significant role to play in ending hunger and promoting peace," said  WFP Director of Private Sector Partnerships, Jay Aldous. "And this global effort is a powerful example of brands coming together with one voice to make a tangible impact in the lives of vulnerable people."

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

 
... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology
Pix: Ertharin Cousin,

mPedigree confirms product originality

NaijaAgroNet:

The mPedigree anti-counterfeiting solution, a cloud-based system that creates unique 12 digit numbers  has been developed to confirm if a product is original or fake, NaijaAgroNet reports.

The12 digit numbers which are put on single packs of medicines hidden under an opaque layer, is revealed when the consumer is buying the product. A customer can then send these PINs by SMS to a special short code, and within 15 seconds receive a reply confirming if the product is original or fake.

Ghanaian startup mPedigree, which uses mobile phones to secure pharmaceutical products against counterfeiting, has expanded to a number of other Africa countries since its 2007 launch, partnering with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to roll out a mobile phone-powered traceability and e-verification service for agricultural inputs and commodities, NaijaAgroNet learnt.

Aside from expanding into other countries, mPedigree has also been entering other sectors in a bid to scale its business, with Disrupt Africa reporting in March it had entered the Ghanaian textiles industry. It is now launching operations in Uganda’s agricultural sector, it is also an e-verification product for inputs and commodities such as seeds, fertilisers and crop protection products.

Aside from UNBS, the startup has also partnered RenPublishing, a Ugandan corporation, and the Feed the Future Uganda Agricultural Inputs Activity, an initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-run project Feed the Future.

The initiative, NaijaAgroNet informs, brings together the E-Tags quality certification and auditing service of the UNBS and mPedigree’s Goldkeys serialisation and authentication engine to create a channel for verifying the source and supply chain status of agro-inputs as well as their compliance with acceptable quality standards under Ugandan law and regulations.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

DTMA, CIMMYT partner to produce drought-tolerant maize

NaijaAgroNet:

The Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) partnership with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), has produced a drought-resistant maize NaijaAgroNet reports.

Other partners and funders who will on Monday convene in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to take stock of the score-card, as a marathon maize project winds up after eight years include Consultative Group for International Research (CGIAR), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the Consultative Group for International Research (CGIAR).

DTMA  work in Africa on improved drought-tolerant maize, NaijaAgroNet gathered, was to help maize farmers in sub-Saharan Africa mitigate drought as well as contribute to a stronger food system in 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, through more than 200 improved maize varieties aimed at helping farmers cope with climate change and low-fertility soils through collaboration.

A release copied to Ghana News Agency said DTMA has benefited from, and drawn on, rich partnerships with private and public institutions with concerted efforts by national research organisations, seed companies, including CIMMYT, IITA and CGIAR.

The DTMA partnership has released more than 200 drought-tolerant maize varieties that perform significantly better under moderate drought compared to varieties already on the market, while yielding at par with – or better – than these existing varieties when there is no drought.

The 13 DTMA target countries, NaijaAgroNet learnt, are Ghana, Angola, Benin, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.According to the release, more than two million farmers have acquired and grown the new drought-tolerant varieties in DTMA target countries.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

 
... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

AfDB advocates ‘polluter pays’ principle

NaijaAgroNet:

The President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has affirmed the bank’s readiness to champion the implementation of the ‘polluter pays’ principle, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The principle is an environmental law enacted to make the party responsible for producing pollution to pay for the damage done to the natural environment. Adesina added that the bank will work with member countries and partners to support governance reforms, continental risk transfer and risk-sharing schemes. In addition, they will build institutions that will support greater social and economic resilience in the face of climate change.

The AfDB president was addressing a delegation of ministers representing more than 40 nations in Paris to push for a ‘New Deal on Energy in Africa’ to solve Africa’s energy crisis.

Adesina, NaijaAgroNet gathered, also called for strong political will, sharply focused partnerships and ambitious financing programmes to address climate and its impact on the millions of people whose livelihoods are under threat.

“We need to support initiatives that address risks associated with climate change, and build disaster-response capacity and recovery programmes for those who are most affected.
“This includes building their assets, providing catastrophic bonds, weather index insurance schemes, and crop/livestock insurance for farmers and rural populations, he stated.”

The AfDB president also held bilateral talks with Laurent Fabius and Helene Le Gal, Adviser to the President of France, and senior officials of the Agence Française de Développement to discuss strategic partnerships between the Bank and France, NajiaAgroNet learnt.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

Experts recommend conservation agriculture

NaijaAgroNet:

Experts have recommended soil management practices such as Conservation Agriculture (CA) to increase productivity based on three principles, NaijaAgroNet reports.

The principles include minimal soil disturbance (reduced tillage), permanent soil cover (mulching) and crop rotation."CA reduces production costs, is friendly to the environment, and helps to maintain high yields," said the executive secretary of the Nairobi-based Africa Conservation Tillage Network, Saidi Mkomwa.

In conventional agriculture, NaijaAgroNet gathered, the practice is to plough the land and loosen the soil before planting. But agricultural experts are warning against the  method, saying that it is not sustainable for the world's burgeoning population -- which the United Nations projects will reach 8.5 billion people by 2030, from 7.3 billion currently -- as it is putting a strain on land resources.

According to experts, when the plough turns the soil, it alters its structure, causing the particles to become loose and weak, and this affects yields. The situation is worsened by the effects of climate change.

Another expert on sustainable management at the New Partnership for Africa's Development, (NEPAD), Rudo Makunike, said: "It is not only an adaptation mechanism for climate change, but it also helps to build resilience in farming systems."

NaijaAgroNet recalls that the impact of climate change affects all sectors of the economy including water, energy, infrastructure, agriculture and food security, as well as tourism. The knock-on effect is lingering poverty on a continent that lags behind in meeting the UN Millennium Development Goals.

Cyriacus  Nnaji/GEE

... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology
Pix:Rudo Makunike,

El Niño causes harvest decline in Central America

NaijaAgroNet:

 

El Niño, a weather phenomenon characterized by abnormal warming of surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean has caused major decline in cereal production in Central America, NaijaAgroNet reports.

Early estimates from Central America’s main de prima harvest suggest declines of as much as 60 per cent of maize and 80 per cent of beans due to dry weather El Niño-related dry spells are known to delay planting, reduce planting areas and stifle crop development

According to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), prolonged dry weather associated with the El Niño phenomenon has severely reduced this year’s cereal outputs in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, putting a large numbers of farmers in need of agricultural assistance as the sub-region tries to recover amidst ongoing dryness.  This, NaijaAgroNet learnt, is the second consecutive year that the region's main season cereal harvest has been negatively affected by severe dry weather related to El Niño.

The Central American Agricultural Council -- headed by agriculture ministers of the sub-region – has declared a state of alert after hundreds of thousands of subsistence farmers have suffered the partial or total loss of their crops planted for the main grain season that runs from May to September.

With hundreds of thousands of families affected by severe food losses, the governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua have begun distributing agricultural aid packages, including seeds, fertilizers and irrigation pumps, to help farmers recover as much as possible in the second planting season, now under way, NaijaAgroNet reports.

The Economist in FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) unit covering Latin America, Felix Baquedano, said, “This year's El Niño's impacts are even more intense than last's. After two years of intensifying dry weather, it’s critical that we support farmers to recuperate some of their losses by helping them achieve stronger yields in the second season,”

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology
Pix: Felix Baquedano,