COMESA stakeholders harmonize fertilizer policy

NaijaAgroNet:

Stakeholders at the just concluded high level harmonization workshop on fertiliser policies and regulations in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) ended in the city of Lusaka, Zambia, with a call by member states to proactively facilitate free trade through meaningful regional integration, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The two day meeting, NaijaAgroNet gathered attracted policy makers in COMESA region who ended up recommending that COMESA, being the implementing agency of the member countries facilitates a highly consultative process at national and sub-regional levels that will lead to an agreement on a regional policy and regulatory framework for fertiliser development.

A press statement issued by Maria Wanzala-Mlobela, Senior Fertilizer Expert with Africa Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) informed NaijaAgroNet that the main tasks will include a systematic assessment of, and response to, policy, legal and regulatory obstacles to fertiliser trade, including the removal of value added tax (VAT) and other taxes on all fertiliser products in the region.

This, she said, was aimed at creating an enabling environment for private sector investment and commercial opportunities in the region.

As said by her, investing in improved agricultural production is vital to Africa’s economic transformation to alleviate poverty and achieving food security through the development of the fertilizer industry especially through public private partnerships (PPPs).

Ms. Maria Wanzala-Mlobela noted that revolutionising the fertilizer supply chain system in Africa requires a multi-stakeholder, all inclusive approach that addresses access, affordability, availability, and investments incentives.

“COMESA will support the domestication of regional regulations, monitor progress toward regional harmonisation and guide Member States in the formulation and alignment of national policy and programme initiatives such as subsidy programmes,” said Maria Wanzala-Mlobela.

+Remmy Nweke @NaijaAgroNet @COMESA
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Expert says entrepreneurship not silver bullet for fighting poverty

NaijaAgroNet:

 

As the Global Entrepreneurship Week, the world’s largest campaign to promote entrepreneurs, comes to a close an academic from The University of Manchester warns that entrepreneurship shouldn’t be a silver bullet for fighting poverty, reports NaijaAgroNet.

According to Dr Nicola Banks from The University of Manchester is an ESRC Future Research Leader (The Economic and Social Research Council) who is leading on research into young people's experiences of urban poverty in Tanzania, this kind of definition negates the spirit of entrepreneurship.

She told NaijaAgroNet in a press statement made available by Kath Paddison, Media Relations Officer, The University of Manchester that the world should be wary of solutions that focus on entrepreneurship as a silver bullet for fighting poverty.

“Entrepreneurship can be a way to help young people out of poverty, but a sole focus on entrepreneurship can put all the responsibility on the young person and removes responsibility from governments,” she said.

Dr Bank also pointed that as the popular TV show The Apprentice illustrates, “we're not all born with entrepreneurial skill.  Multilateral agencies and national governments need to address the full range of obstacles facing young people to adequately support the world’s growing population of young people.” 

Isaac Oyimah
+Remmy Nweke +enterpreneurs us +The University of Manchester  
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Fashola stops Nov. 29 sanitation exercise over distribution of PVC

NaijaAgroNet:

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, has stopped the November 29, 2014 sanitation exercise, scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday in Lagos and nationwide to afford Lagosians to collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) at various parts of the state, reports NaijaAgroNet.

This coming as NaijaAgroNet gathered that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rescheduled the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in nine local governments in Lagos State and other states that were left out in the recently concluded third phase of the programme.

Others affected states include Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Rivers, where PVCs are yet to be distributed and the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise pending.

PVC distribution is slated to take place in Rivers, Nasarawa and nine other local governments in News Express reports that Lagos State from Friday, November 28 – Sunday, November 30, while CVR would take place from Wednesday December 3 – Monday December 8, 2014.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has cancelled this month’s sanitation exercise, which should have taken place tomorrow, to enable people go and collect their cards.

Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said in a statement in 

Abuja that the commission met with leaders of registered political parties to present a progress report on the production of PVCs and also to explain lingering challenges necessitating readjustments in the previously announced schedule.

 
Isaac Oyimah with additional report from NewsExpress.
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GSK dangles N1.1trn on researchers on non-communicable diseases

NaijaAgroNet:

GSK has launched the first call for proposals of its Africa NCD Open Lab, to support much-needed scientific research into non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Africa with the sum of £4 million, about N1.1 trillion reports NaijaAgroNet.

Sources at GSK, confirmed to NaijaAgroNet that estimated £4m is now available for grabs as first funding round, to support successful proposals from researchers in Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Ghana, The Gambia, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Malawi. 

NaijaAgroNet notes that the Africa NCD Open Lab was established by GSK earlier this year, with a commitment of £25m funding over five years, as part of a series of strategic investments in sub-Saharan Africa. 

In this region, and across developing countries, NaijaAgroNet reports that non-communicable diseases, such as cancer and diabetes, are becoming more prevalent, and we need to learn more about how – and why – these diseases manifest differently in this setting. 

NaijaAgroNet also reports that Africa NCD Open Lab aims to address this through the creation of an innovative research network that will see GSK scientists collaborate with researchers across Africa on high quality epidemiological, genetic and interventional research, from its hub at GSK’s Stevenage R&D facility in the United Kingdom (UK).

This, experts affirmed to NaijaAgroNet will specifically inform interventions for the prevention and treatment of five priority diseases - cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and chronic respiratory disease – while helping build local expertise and creating a new generation of African NCD professionals.

Also, NaijaAgroNet reports that this builds on the success of GSK’s Open Lab in Tres Cantos, Spain which provides independent researchers access to GSK facilities, resources and knowledge to help them advance their own research projects into diseases of the developing world such as malaria, tuberculosis and leishmaniasis. Since the Tres Cantos Open Lab was established, 15 projects from world class institutions have been completed, progressing much needed research into diseases of the developing world.  

Further, NaijaAgroNet  gathered, an independent external advisory group, comprising clinical and scientific experts in the field of NCDs, will review applications to the NCD Open Lab, with recommendations for funding based on scientific merit. The group will consist of a majority African membership to ensure that only locally-relevant research is funded.

In addition, NaijaAgroNet reports that a second call for proposals in South Africa has been planned for early in 2015 which will be launched in collaboration with the Medical Research Councils of South Africa and the UK, with a combined £5m funding.

Dr. Mike Strange, Interim Head of the Africa NCD Open Lab, said: “We believe the highly collaborative research network we’re creating through the Africa NCD Open Lab has the potential to dramatically improve understanding of NCDs in Africa – and could ultimately, accelerate the development of new, better medicines to treat these.

“The launch of our first call for proposals is an important milestone for this initiative, and we encourage researchers working in the field of NCDs who are based in the eight eligible countries to consider applying for the funding and expert support available to them through this,” he said.

 

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COMESA, AFAP in joint fertilizer programme

NaijaAgroNet:

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) have entered a joint fertilizer programme to enhance member-states increase in supply and use of fertilizer among smallholder farmers, reports NaijaAgroNet.

 The programme, NaijaAgroNet gathered is expected to catalyse agribusiness development for rural transformation.

Speaking at the launch of the Joint Fertilizer Harmonisation Programme, AFAP president, Jason Scarpone, told NaijaAgroNet in a press statement that the goal of the cooperation is to enhance regional trade in fertilizer and food staples, food security and incomes by strengthening small and medium enterprises that are essential for increasing competitiveness and integrating farmers into national, regional and international market to catalyse rural transformation.

NaijaAgroNet also gathered from the Vice President, Partnerships and Communication at AFAP, Professor Richard Mkandawire who endorsed the press statement that COMESA and AFAP have committed themselves to working together in establishing a fertilizer trade facility comprising a set of financial instruments through investments in medium enterprises working along the fertilizer value chain.

He noted that this partnership would strengthen the Eastern and Southern Africa Fertilizer Stakeholders’ Forum as an avenue for sustained dialogue between the public and private sector in catalysing the growth of fertilizer markets in the region.

Describing the deal as a landmark achievement that would spur the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) agricultural growth agenda for COMESA member states.

Also commenting, COMESA’s Secretary General, Sindiso Ngwenya said the partnership would boost private sector investment in fertilizer production, supply and use in the region is a major priority.

“The AFAP model in enhancing use and usage of fertiliser is a proven instrument for rural transformation” Ngwenya said.

+Naija AgroNet +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) +CAADP - Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme  @COMESA
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