Multinational seed company Dupont officially partnered with the United State’s Feed the Future program in Ethiopia. The project aims to increase productivity of smallholder maize farmers by helping reduce postharvest losses by up to 20%, as well as increasing the use of hybrid seeds and improving seed distribution. http://feedthefuture.gov/article/usaid-dupont-work-government-ethiopia-improve-food-security
How to Manage Post-Harvest Loss
The Guardian featured an article on postharvest loss and its contributions to food security. Caspa van Vark reviews PHL reduction techniques such as the use of metal silos, bags, and the role of public and private interventions. http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development-professionals-network/2012/dec/14/post-harvest-loss-food-security
Rs 15 bn Required for Uplift of Agri Sector: Member Export ICCI
Pakistan’s PHL losses are between 40-80%, as compared to that of the global benchmark. Wheat is 20% lower and non-basmati rice is 40% lower. Experts are estimating that 15 billion rupees are required to uplift the agricultural sector. http://www.onepakistan.com/finance/news/general/10220-rs-15-bn-required-for-uplift-of-agri-sector-member-export-icci.html
Nigeria’s Rising Population May Spoil Agricultural Transformation
Nigeria will be heavily affected by climate change, as agriculture will naturally decrease by 30% in 2030. Additionally, the rising age of farmers (from an average of between 55 and 60 to between 75 and 80) and 50% rate of youth migration to urban environments will cause additional issues. The government plans to increase food […]
Agriculture Should be a Close Companion
The Vietnamese agricultural sector’s high growth of 5.5% as compared with other Southeast Asian countries has led to stable growth and the ability to combat poverty. However, the Mekong River Delta, which accounts for 32% of the country’s farming land, is highly underutilized and unproductive due to outdated postharvest technology. Additionally, facilities such as warehouses […]
Hopes of Reviving Cooperative Unions Shattered
Uganda’s cooperative movement will not be revived as had been hoped due to a small budget allocated by the government. The Trade Minister cited the inadequate legal framework, poor storage facilities and infrastructure, and insufficient knowledge as major hindrances to cooperative expansion. http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Hopes+of+reviving+cooperative+unions+shattered/-/688334/1402320/-/fylo2jz/-/
“Handshake” The International Financial Center’s Quarterly Journal
The latest issue of “Handshake,” the International Financial Center’s quarterly journal on public-private-partnerships, focuses on smallholder agriculture, grain storage, agricultural clusters in Africa, and foundations involved in this sector. http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/e41fd239#/e41fd239/1
EU Development Cooperation With Kenya
The EU development cooperation with Kenya focuses on transport infrastructure and agriculture & rural development. An example of a funded project in these areas include the Kenya Rural Development Programme, with 66.4 million Euros in funding focusing on research, knowledge acquisition, improving productivity, reducing PHL, and drought management http://www.theinformationdaily.com/2012/05/02/eu-development-cooperation-with-kenya
FCI to Get Another 8 mt Storage Facility in 18 Months
The Food Corporation of India is looking to build another 8 metric tonne storage facility in the next 18 months. Currently 51 metric tonnes of space is available in storage facilities when there is a need for storage for 63 metric tonnes. Warehouses are to be built near producing and consuming centers in order to […]
Making Sure the Food We Grow Is Good Enough to Eat
A new Centre of Excellence for Post-harvest Biotechnology (CEPB) has opened in the School of Biosciences at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC). The centre is developing new technologies to reduce food losses, improving overall quality and food safety. Tropical countries like Malaysia have a particular problem because of the number of micro-organisms that […]