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Saturday, August 6, 2011

Germany to release documentation @ Falling Walls confab’11

German government through the Federal Ministry of Education and Research is collaborating with the organizers of Berlin Wall to release a documentary entitled ‘Falling Walls – Documentation 2009-2010.’

The documentation would released at this year’s international conference on Future Breakthroughs in Science and Society, otherwise named Falling Walls conference, supported by some scientific organization and German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

A press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet by Doreen Rietentiet of the Falling Walls Foundation Berlin, Germany, said the unique documentation is made of past conferences.

“The book provides a concise snapshot of the status of leading research throughout the world,” Doreen said, adding that it featured latest research in HIV Therapy, Islamic Studies, Capitalism Planning, Blindness Cure, Sustainable Manufacturing, Pain Relief Policies, Public Art and many other fields.

This, Doreen noted, brings together the full manuscripts of the 15-minute lectures presented at the past Falling Walls Conferences including the best pictures and quotes from the press and the audience.

The official explained that the Falling Walls Conference is an annual global gathering of estimated 600 participants from science, business, media, the arts and politics.

“Every year, on 9 November, the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, 20 world-class researchers present their scientific breakthroughs and a perspective on their impact on our lives,” Doreen said.

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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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Wednesday, August 3, 2011

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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Monday, August 1, 2011

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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Saturday, July 23, 2011

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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Friday, July 22, 2011

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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