Scientists have, for the first time, located major quantitative trait loci associated with bunch weight and its component traits in Matooke, the East African Highland cooking banana. This is an important breakthrough in efforts to speed up the breeding of improved high-yielding varieties for both food security and improved household incomes in the region. Increasing…
Climate smart farming: Tanzanian Women Parliamentary Group (TWPG) to offer support
By Zedekia Mapunda Tanzanian Women Parliamentary Group (TWPG) plans to create awareness about the importance of gender-responsive policies, plans, and strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Women are disproportionately vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters and climate change when their rights and socioeconomic status are not equal to those of men. According…
Kiwash installs a Ksh 10M community water project in Busia
By Checky Abuje The Kenya Integrated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Project (KIWASH) has partnered with counties in Western Kenya to complement the acute shortage of water bedevilling the region. The latest project is in Busia county valued at Ksh 10m. More than 150 households will benefit from the project intended to supply clean water…
Lowland Rice Research Institute set for Busia County
By Checky Abuje Busia County has been picked by the National Government to construct a Rice Research Institute that is aimed at developing new breeds for lowland rice ecologies and their major market segments, including good grain quality and tolerance to major biotic and abiotic stresses. Jane Ndung’u, Head of Rice Promotion Programme in…
New Media Fellowship Award aims to improve sanitation across Africa
An alliance of organisations working across the WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) sector in Africa, launched a new media fellowship award, designed to support journalists to report on the most pressing sanitation issues in Africa. Housed in Côte d’Ivoire, the Sanitation Media Fellowship<https://www.speakupafrica.org/publications/?catid=5> is open to all journalists working across the continent and demonstrates the…
US $650 M in support of 300 M Smallholder Farmers Adapt to Climate Change
A coalition of donors, aid institutions and philanthropy promised today to invest more than US $650 million in the CGIAR System Organization to help 300 million smallholder farmers in developing countries adapt to the impacts of climate change. The investments from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands,…
How Blockchain is enabling African farmers
Blockchain technology is a game changer. It is transforming agriculture by enabling smallholder farmers in Africa to improve their production and enhance their trade through a platform of trust. Blockchain is a decentralised, digital ledger which works through a series of digitally connected records where information can be shared openly and publicly verified through a…
Kenya: Government commits to support research
By Jacton Akoyo Kenya’s Deputy President Dr William Ruto said Tuesday that the Government is committed to supporting research through increased funding. Speaking during the third Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) International Conference and the 4th AfriGEO Symposium, Dr Ruto noted that the move would boost the quality of information and…