Plans by Kenya’s government to commercialize the agricultural sector has irked civil society groups even as the country marked World Food Day. Through a new agricultural policy, the agricultural sector transformation and growth strategy (2019 – 2029), the government seeks to increase the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers among Kenyan farmers. This is despite…
‘Six Steps’ toolkit sparks excitement among cassava farmers
Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria were in awe when the African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI) of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) conducted some harvest operations on-farm plots set up to demonstrate the Six Steps to Cassava Weed Management and Best Planting Practices, one of the project’s agronomic recommendation toolkits. IITA-ACAI last year set…
New pact to develop rice sector in Ivory Coast
The Minister in charge of the promotion of Rice Growing, Gaoussou Touré, and the Managing Director of SOLEVO Côte d’Ivoire, Marc Desenfans signed in Abidjan, a memorandum of understanding aimed at developing the Ivorian rice sector, by providing rice farmers with the necessary fertilizers, crop protection products, and technical support to increase their productivity and…
Urgent call to African leaders to support women access to lifesaving malaria treatment
The Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership to End Malaria has Tuesday issued an urgent appeal to leaders and health policymakers across Africa to better protect millions of pregnant women and their newborn children from the devastating consequences caused by malaria in pregnancy. Malaria strikes hardest against pregnant women and children in sub-Saharan Africa, who are…
Biopesticide offers hope for sustainable agriculture in Africa
By Joseph Checky Abuje The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) has developed new biopesticides that gives hope to sustainable agriculture in Africa. The bio-pesticide products included 417 botanicals, 274 microbial and 271 microbial extracts, or fermentation products. Of the products, 23, including Neem and Bacillus thuringiensis and sex pheromones and microbials…
Conservation agencies devise ways to combat illegal wildlife trade
By Joseph Checky Abuje Leaders and Conservation organizations in East Africa have vowed to strengthen their synergies in an effort to tackle the lucrative Illegal Wildlife Trade that has seen a steady decline in wildlife globally. The organisations which include World Wide Fund for Nature Kenya (WWF-K), International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN), The Convention…
Nigeria:New names for top performing cassava varieties approved
The Federal Government of Nigeria on Wednesday evening approved new names for 10 improved cassava varieties, as part of efforts to brand the root crop for easy identification, cultivation and marketing of cassava stems. The branded varieties comprise 6 released varieties and 4 yet-to be-released varieties. The released varieties and their new names are as…
Is HIV/AIDS conquerable? Study provides positive news
By Joseph Checky Abuje Ongoing study on a first proof-of-concept studies of bNAb VRC01 for prevention of HIV by the International AIDS Vaccine Institute (IAVI) is showing significant viral reduction among HIV positive participants and safety to users and tolerability. The study aims to make artificial antibody mediation protection (VRC01) proves successful. The study…