By Joshua Masinde Scientists are calling for accelerated adoption of new hybrid maize varieties with resistance to maize lethal necrosis (MLN) disease in sub-Saharan Africa. In combination with recommended integrated pest management practices, adopting these new varieties is an important step towards safeguarding smallholder farmers against this devastating viral disease. A new publication in Virus…
Delivering improved maize seed against all odds
By Joshua Masinde As one of the pioneer homegrown seed companies in Uganda, Farm Inputs Care Centre (FICA) has become one of the leading players in the seed sector value chain. Since its inception in 1999, it has played a significant role in variety development and maintenance, seed production, and processing, packaging and marketing. The…
Rice farmers count gains
By joseph checky abuje joabuje@gmail.com After a devastating season of floods in the flood prone area of budalangi in western kenya, rice farmers from Bunyalla irrigation scheme have a reason to smile after recording a bumper harvest of paddy. Majority of farmers had just transplanted rice in their fields as others werer in a haste…
IITA scientist, Dixon, named among the top 20 most influential plant breeders in Africa
The Director of Development and Delivery Office of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Alfred Dixon, has been named among the top 20 most influential plant breeders in Africa. He was named alongside two other IITA scientists – Abebe Menkir and John Derera. The Southern African Plant Breeders’ Association (SAPBA) recently published the…
New maize variety set to uplift farmers’ fortunes in western Kenya
By Joseph Checky Abuje joabuje@gmail.com For many years Elda Mariam, a maize farmer from Nambale sub-county, Busia County has been harvesting a maximum of Seven bags in her one-acre parcel. This could however change with the introduction of Bt Maize variety in that locality. “Maize farming has been a big loss to me. I…
Nigeria: Agricultural Council trains seed agents
The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) has trained 38 third party seed certifying agents in Kogi and Benue States, as part of efforts to ensure the effective regulation of the seed industry and offer farmers easy access to seed certification. The training, which was conducted in the framework of the Building an Economically Sustainable Integrated…
Access to loans: CBN favours farmers using improved, disease-free cassava varieties for lending loans
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says only farmers who grow improved disease-free cassava stems will have access to the N25billion facility it has created to boost cassava production in the country. The policy aims at ensuring that beneficiaries of the facility have increased productivity and are able to repay loans and make incomes for…
Rising aflatoxins in food import worry East Africa states
By Joseph Checky Abuje The East Africa partner states have expressed fear that there is increasing levels of aflatoxins in the foodstuff imported into the region. “The fight against aflatoxin can be won by putting in place the necessary legislation, regulations, standards, coordination, infrastructure, capacity development, and innovation,” he said, noting that efforts are…