Tag Archives | infrastructure

Combating Aflatoxin – a Value Chain Approach

Alfatoxin, a cancer-causing fungus, costs Africa nearly $750 million in export losses to the EU each year, and puts an estimated 4.5 billion people worldwide at serious health risk. A UK-based organization called Twin works with farmers in Malawi to raise awareness, share best practices, and build private sector partnerships to improve supply chain safety. […]

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USAID, AFDB, Government of Sweden Announce Agriculture Fast Track

USAID, the African Development Bank, and the Swedish government recently announced the creation of the ‘Agriculture Fast Track‘, a $25 million fund meant to spur private sector investment in agricultural infrastructure in developing nations. http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/usaid-afdb-government-sweden-announce-agriculture-fast-track

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Investments in Postharvest Loss Strategies Cardinal Says AUC

FAO and regional leaders stressed the importance of postharvest loss management at a recent meeting focused on Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) engagement in reducing loss in Sub-Saharan Africa. The African Union Commission introduced the PHL Project, which is an institutional capacity-building initiative aimed to increase awareness and understanding of PHL issues. http://en.starafrica.com/news/investments-in-post-harvest-loss-strategies-cardinal-says-auc.html  

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“Enormous Opportunity” for Ending Hunger in Africa

The FAO Director General recently met with senior delegates from African nations to prepare for a High-level meeting in June between international leaders. Discussions occurred around the growing opportunities for ending hunger in Africa, which are due to advancements in political will, partnerships, and collaboration. Promoting rural infrastructure development was listed as a food security program priority […]

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Government Eyes 32 New Tramlines This Year

At least 32 tramlines will be built in the Phillippines by August 2013 in effort to raise farmers’ incomes through reducing postharvest losses. The Department of Agriculture expects lower transportation costs to contribute to a decrease in loss from 25% to 5%, and farming communities in hilly and mountainous regions are being targeted. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/304285/economy/agricultureandmining/govt-eyes-32-new-tramlines-this-year

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Grain Stocks: Is It a Problem of Storage Capacity?

An opinion piece on Indian storage issues claims that a close-ended procurement system is the “ideal reform”, and that the Indian government should establish separate procurement processes for public distribution and for buffer stock purposes. http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/ryjIsy6fBOHyGAtMKin1rO/Grain-stocks-Is-it-a-problem-of-storage-capacity.html

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Rwanda: Minagri Registers Reduction in Post-Harvest Losses

The Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources recognizes the need for proper postharvest management to minimize loss and maintain production levels. A task force has worked since 2010 to reduce loss of maize to a maximum of 5%, with losses currently declining from 30% in 2009 to 18.5% last year. http://allafrica.com/stories/201302190148.html

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Study: Postharvest Projects Most Viable Livelihood

A recent World Bank quality review study concluded that postharvest facilities are the most successful livelihood projects in the Philippines. As compared to livestock or fishery projects, postharvest facilities add more value and provide farmers with immediate income. http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/business/2013/02/17/study-postharvest-projects-most-viable-livelihood-268741

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Remarks on Preventing Postharvest Loss

Senior-level government officials emphasized the need to reduce postharvest loss to achieve global food security, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality. The Department of State hosted a forum dedicated to finding cross-sector solutions to postharvest loss. Assistant Secretary of the Economics and Business Affairs Bureau said in his opening remarks that there is “no silver bullet […]

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Small Farms Crucial for Food Security, Say NGOs

At the Global Forum on Food and Agriculture in Germany, experts discussed the urgent need to direct investment and aid efforts toward smallholder farmers. One example cited is that many farmers who don’t have access to proper infrastructure experience postharvest loss. The Forum identified public-private partnerships which focus on smallholder development as crucial to global […]

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