Tag Archives | Africa
WFP traditional storage

Postharvest Loss: A Hidden Tax on Smallholders

by Steve Sonka, Research Professor, ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss Much of what I know about farming was learned growing up on a small Iowa farm. My parents devoted considerable attention to producing our crops and livestock.  However, considerable attention also was focused on the decisions of how much to sell and […]

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Combating Postharvest Loss for Smallholders: How to Achieve Sustainable Adoption?

By Steve Sonka and Grace Kenney The ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss is currently working on a learning assessment of global food loss as part of a grant funded with financial support from the Rockefeller Foundation for the Waste and Spoilage in the Food Chain Development Initiative. This effort has led to […]

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Firm Launches Sh8.7bn Fund to Stem Postharvest Losses

A $100 million initiative called AgResults has been rolled out in Kenya to stem postharvest losses. The project will work with entrepreneurs with the financial capability to develop cost-effective storage facilities and distribute them to the farmers. The project is funded by the UK, US, Australia, Canada, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. http://mobile.nation.co.ke/business/Firm-launches-Sh8-7bn-fund-to-stem-post-harvest-losses/-/1950106/1998356/-/format/xhtml/-/10361nuz/-/index.html

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Food Wastage in Cape Happens After Harvesting

Most “food wastage” in Cape Verde, an island country in the central Atlantic Ocean, occurs in postharvest stages, especially processing and packaging. The country lacks adequate postharvest facilities to support market needs. http://www.macauhub.com.mo/en/2013/09/18/food-wastage-in-cape-verde-happens-after-harvesting/  

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Accra Brewery Donates Towards Farmers’ Day Celebrations

Accra Brewery Ltd. delivered their annual donation of products to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the National Farmers’ Day celebrations in December. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Managing Postharvest Losses”. http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201309/113322.php

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Company License Storage System That Deters Insects

Farmers in West and Central African nations could benefit economically, socially and nutritionally using a crop storage system developed by researchers at Purdue University and licensed to Kano-based Lela Agro Industries Nigeria Ltd. The PICS system uses special triple-bagging technology to protect cowpeas in storage against weevils, an invasive insect. http://agrinews-pubs.com/Content/News/Markets/Article/Nigerian-company-licenses-Purdue-crop-storage-system-that-deters-insects/8/26/8295

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Mitigating Aflatoxin Exposure to Improve Child Growth in Eastern Kenya

A project by the International Food Policy Research Center (IFPRI) seeks to identify and utilize postharvest and storage technologies to reduce aflatoxin exposure, and studies the impact of reduced exposure on child nutrition. The project will take place in 65 villages in Eastern province, Kenya. http://www.ifpri.org/publication/mitigating-aflatoxin-exposure-improve-child-growth-eastern-kenya

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Young Kenyan Woman Named Recipient of 2013 Borlaug Field Award for Scientific Biological Breakthroughs Combating Deadly Grain Mold

Kenyan food scientist, Dr. Charity Mutegi, is honored for her efforts in reducing aflatoxin contamination in Kenya. Mutegi is leading the development of a biocontrol product used to fight off aflatoxins in maize. The award is funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, and administered by the World Food Prize. http://www.worldfoodprize.org/index.cfm/24667/25372/young_kenyan_woman_named_recipient_of_2013_borlaug_field_award_for_scientific_biological_breakthroughs_combating_deadly_grain_mold

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CSIR, MoFA Initiate New Technology to Produce Bakery Products

The Ministry of Agriculture of Ghana has initiated a project meant to develop technology to make composite flour out of various crops including cassava, sweet potato, maize, sorghum, millet, and others. The project aims to reduce dependence on imports of wheat flour, improve food security, and cut postharvest losses. http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2013/09/04/csir-mofa-initiate-new-technology-to-produce-bakery-products/

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Running a Farm Business From Your Phone?

A Kenyan company has created an app that tracks deliveries from farm to market. The app, Agrimanagr, monitors inventory, supports mobile payments, and weighs out products with information on the cloud. http://www.bloomberg.com/video/running-a-farm-business-from-your-phone-6gEsyI5YS6u8rYZeomaPtQ.html  

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