The government seeks to establish a commodity exchange market to bring buyers and sellers together in a central location, citing many benefits for smallholder farmers, including the reduction of postharvest losses. Officials hope to have the framework for the exchange market ready in one year. http://allafrica.com/stories/201307020143.html?page=2
Bühler Joins Growing Africa Assistance Initiative
Multinational processing and manufacturing corporation, Bühler, joined ‘Partners in Food Solutions’, an international nonprofit organization which brings private sector expertise to small processors and millers in the developing world. Bühler stands as the 4th corporate partner, among Cargill, General Mills, and Royal DSM. http://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/news_home/International/2013/05/Buhler_joins_growing_Africa_as.aspx?ID={FDE81740-F54F-43F8-AD23-888236063FF5}&cck=1
Govt Urged to Establish a Postharvest Losses Policy, Framework
Tanzania policy markets action nodes (T-PAN) has proposed that the government develop a policy framework aimed at reducing postharvest losses based off results of a study carried out in in four districts in 2011. The study suggests farmers lose up to 40% of their crop to varying causes, and it looked at maize, paddy, and sorghum. The […]
AfDB-Funded Project to Boost Cassava, Rice Production Launched in Tanzania
The African Development Bank launched a multi-national project that seeks to improve the value chains of four important staple crops: maize, wheat, cassava, and rice. The project is led by CGIAR and is being implemented in 20 countries. http://www.africasciencenews.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=793:afdb-funded-project-to-boost-cassava-rice-production-launched-in-tanzania-&catid=49:food&Itemid=113
Projects to Combat Mycotoxin Contamination in Tanzania Launched
Two projects were launched at an April meeting of IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Feed the Future Initiative has funded projects to understand the depth and spread of mycotoxin contaminants in maize and cassava in the country. Another project funded by […]
Israel, U.S. Pledge to Expand Agricultural Cooperation in Africa
Israel and the United States have pledged to expand agricultural cooperation in Africa, focusing on Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Both Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation and USAID will be working on reducing PHL, irrigation issues, productivity, and applying R&D results. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-u-s-pledge-to-expand-agricultural-cooperation-in-africa-1.425587
Tanzania Wrong in Handling of Machingas, Cross-Border Trade
Tanzania finds government actions toward small-scale farmers and peddlers a source for postharvest losses and urges for more encouraging market and cross-border trade policies. http://www.tanzanianews24.com/tanzania-wrong-in-handling-of-machingas-cross-border-trade/
Innovation of the Week: Empowering Impoverished Communities with Compatible Technologies
Compatible Technology International (CIT) focuses on developing small-scale technology for rural farmers to process crops and produce efficiently. The McKnight Organization (with SUA and ICRASAT) has given them a grant of $673,000 for a 4-year R&D project focusing on Malawi and Tanzania, focusing on adding value and reducing postharvest loss. http://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/empowering-impoverished-communities-with-compatible-technologies-post-harvest-loss-food-waste-storage-corn-hunger/