The World Bank approved $89.4 million in credit to assist governments of Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia in establishing Regional Centers of Leadership for staple grains, and other projects to boost food and farm productivity. http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2013/03/14/world-bank-support-boosting-food-production-malawi-mozambique-zambia?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRonu6rBce%2FhmjTEU5z17%2BwtX6CygYkz2EFye%2BLIHETpodcMScpnN6%2BNFAAgAZVnyRQFHuWDeZg%3D
World Bank Support for Boosting Food Production in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia
Mud Brick and Wood Storehouses Save Grain After the Harvest
University of Kentucky researchers are currently working to reduce postharvest losses in Ghana and Nigeria. They have hosted workshops in the regions since 2009, and recently wrote a report for the US Department of Agriculture. https://www.engineeringforchange.org/news/2013/03/06/mud_brick_and_wood_storehouses_save_grain_after_the_harvest.html
New Warehouses Will Improve Grain Storage in Ghana
The United States Feed the Future program is co-financing the construction of new warehouses in northern regions of Ghana and is also training farmers on warehouse management. USAID and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa are partners on the project. http://www.feedthefuture.gov/article/new-warehouses-will-improve-grain-storage-ghana
Grain Storage with Philip Burrill – Using Aeration Controllers
The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) of Australia warns farmers to be particularly mindful of grain quality given that temperatures continue to fluctuate in the region. A recent video by the GRDC demonstrates how to maintain proper aeration. http://www.grdc.com.au/Media-Centre/GRDC-Gallery/Video/vxoBO71rTDg http://www.nynganobserver.com.au/story/1345137/new-video-shows-how-to-control-stored-grain/?cs=1494
Land O’Lakes Sponsors 25th Annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum
President and CEO of multinational company Land O’ Lakes will sponsor the 25th Annual Nobel Peace Prize forum, where they will discuss the need for innovation and partnership in achieving sustainable food systems globally. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/land-olakes-sponsors-25th-annual-nobel-peace-prize-forum-194795691.html
Chinese Told to Clean Their Plates to End Food Waste
China’s State Administration of Grain recently announced that 50 million tonnes of food are lost each year, of which 35 million tonnes are grain lost in the drying, storage, and transportation postharvest phases. Consumers have started to respond with food waste reduction campaigns. http://ajw.asahi.com/article/asia/china/AJ201303020009
FAO, IFAD Sign Agreement to Promote Smallholder Financing
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Fund for Agricultural Development agreed to commit $875,000 to help improve smallholder farmer access to finance. The grant will generate policy tools and training materials for stakeholders to use in making credit more accessible. Gained knowledge will be shared on an open source platform. http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/169727/icode/
Africa: Raising the Bar on Agricultural Innovation
A recent article discusses the power of innovation for agricultural development in Africa. Mobile technology is specifically highlighted as an important tool for communicating information about markets, harvests, pests and diseases, etc. Several individual success stories are described as reasons to increase funding for R&D in agricultural innovation. http://allafrica.com/stories/201301090731.html
Govt Gets Involved to Cut Food Waste
Hong Kong seeks to reduce its 40% food waste by setting up the Food Wise Hong Kong Steering Committee. The committee is a combination of private, public, and civil sector representatives that will work to promote public awareness and best practices in public and private institutions over the course of at least the next three […]
NCPB Starts Drive to Cut Grain Losses
The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), an agricultural commodity management and trading organization in East and Central Africa, is currently advising and training Kenyan maize farmers on how to mitigate issues that cause postharvest loss. In addition to strategies for proper handling and fumigation, NCPB is urging farmers to utilize the warehouse receipting system. […]