Youth Empowerment scheme to fight unemployment of Nigerian youths

A project by the Youth Empowerment Scheme Through Agriculture and Farming (YESTAF) is designed to provide a platform for the youth to practice modern agriculture in rural arrears, reports AllAfrica.com

The project according to Malam Abdul, a member of the programme initiators is to create employment opportunities for Nigerian youths by getting them involved in modern farming in order to reduce the rate at which politicians make use of them as errand boys and thugs during electioneering.

He further said that agriculture holds the key to the nation's security by getting the youths to be fully engaged as there would be provision for seeds, tractors, water and other inputs to make it less cumbersome. Read more

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Liberian opposition wants duty-free rice

Liberian's opposition party, the Liberty Party (LP), has called on the Liberian government to reduce the cost of rice alongside other basic commodities to fight against food insecurity in the country.

The party also advised that granting duty free importation on rice, temporary elimination of tax on gas with the suspension of government discretionary spending could be used to aid in the reduction.

Israel Akinsanya II, Liberty Party national chairman said, ordinary Liberians are feeling the pinch of higher basic commodities. Read more

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African crop to decline by 2050

The Inter-Governmental Panel (IGP) on climate change has predicted that Africa crop yields would fall by 50 per cent between now and year 2050, reports AllAfrica.

According to a research the risk of future climate change is very high on the continent, while its impact on agriculture, ecosystems and livelihoods would be catastrophic.

The most severe impact, the panel disclosed would be felt in Africa.

Some of the impact, the panel noted is evident in Somalia where a combination of drought, hunger and conflict have given birth to famine, the worst in more than half a century. Read more

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Half of Madagascar's population suffer food insecure

Madagascar, having all her food security indicators in red, one of every two of her populace has food insecurity.

The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur, Mr. Olivier De Schutter has said that Madagascar currently has the highest level of malnutrition in the world with the food security crisis having a proportional rise of 68 per cent in the south of the country, reports StarAfrica.

He pointed out that aggravating the situation are the international sanctions imposed on the island and governmental inactions. Read more

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Dought: Tanzania to assist East African nations

Tanzania is set to negotiate with any affected countries in the drought ravaging the eastern African countries, to provide food, reports TheCitizen.

The Tanzania Minister for Agric, Food Security and Cooperative, Prof. Jumanne Maghembe urged countries affected with the food crisis to deal directly with Tanzania government and not farmers for food purchase.

The population of people in need of food in the affected nations, he said, is expected to rise as a result of the failure of the April-June long rains in some areas while below-average in others. Read more

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AU, AfricaRice sign MoU to promote rice sector

In an effect to promote rice sector in Africa, the African Union (AU) Commission and the Africa Rice Centre (AfricaRice) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The MoU would focus on policy research analysis, promotion of production technologies, facilitating dialogue to inform and improve the design and implementation of food and agricultural policies in AU member states.

NaigaAgroNet gathered that while praising the partnership, the Director General of AfricaRice, Dr. Papa Abdoulaye Seck said it would create a political will in moving Africa's Rice sector forward. Read more

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Kenya earned N163.7billion from Tea in 2010

Kenya has earned KES97 billion, an equivalent of N163.718 billion from tea in 2010, thus an increase of 32.8 per cent over the previous year, reports DailyNation.

Kenyan President, Mr. Mwai Kibaki, made this known while speaking at the First African Tea Convention in Mombasa. He advised farmers to produce quality tea since it is the most important commodity, the number one foreign exchange earner and providing income to a large number of Kenyans.

He further said the adoption of more efficient process with regard to emerging opportunities such as leveraging on Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Read more

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Scientists say artificial meat reduces carbon by 96%

Scientists at Oxford University and Amsterdam University, have revealed that eating artificially grown meat could reduce the production of carbon body by 96 per cent in a study recently released.

The research study establish that food crisis would be solved with people feeding on lab-meat, noting that its’ production require less energy and farmland to produce thereby creating more land for other use.

Lead-researcher at Oxford University, Hann Tuomisto, said they could not replace conventional meat with artificial meat as conventional meat could still be used to guide against food shortage. Read more

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Rockefeller boosts Africa food production with N10.6billion

A United States-based think tank, Rockefeller Foundation has set aside $70 million, about N10.667billion to enhance food production in Africa as part of its objectives in proffering solutions to world's most pressing challenges, reports TheObserver.

The grants, the Vice-President of the foundation, Ms Heather Grady, said would sustainably increase agricultural productivity, enhance national and global food security and reduce greenhouse gases.

The foundation, she said, believes that supporting farmers is a priority since agric provide employment for major Africans, as majority of households depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Read more

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'Seize farmlands not put to productive use’

South African National Congress Youth League has asked farmers to seize farmlands not being put into productive use, reports BusinessDay.

The report also stated that the Congress said this would motivate farmers to make good use of the borrowed farmlands as the success rate of emerging farmers lies between 43 per cent and 57 per cent.

As part of South African government's efforts to guarantee food security, the country with her Land Reform Programme in collaboration with Land Bank is giving out farmlands in form of loan to farmers but the Youth League advised seizure of lands that are not be explored without compensating its victim.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that Dr. Japie, the Land Bank, Adviser said the success rate is a result of lack of business plans on the part of the farmers, hence the need for screening of potential farmers. Read More

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