Malawi government to rent out tractors to farmers

The Malawian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has disclosed that it will soon start renting out tractors kept at the Plant and Vehicle Hire Organisation (PVHO) in Lilongwe to farmers.

Principal secretary of the Ministry, Geoffrey Luhanga, told the Malawi News Agency (Mana) that his office has meanwhile started transferring tractors to some districts of the country.

"Yes, it is true that we have started moving the tractors to some of the districts and what will happen is that those farmers wanting to use them will have to liaise with the district council," explained Luhanga.

"Farmers in recognised groups have an opportunity to also hire the tractors," he added.

Luhanga said commercialising agriculture in Malawi has been a challenge as many farmers lack the necessary assistance.

The tractors will act as a solution to some of the problems that Malawian farmers have encountered in their quest to improve their farming career, he added.

The rental tractors were initially bought to fulfil the purpose of the Green Belt Initiative championed by the late President Bingu wa Muntharika, Mana said.

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Nigerian government to cut wheat imports by 20 per cent

Nigeria's government will from 2014 cut wheat imports by 20 per cent, saving more than US$800mn from its annual wheat imports bill of more than US$4bn, the country's minister of agriculture Akinwumi Adesina has announced

The announcement was made on behalf of Adesina by his technical adviser on the cassava value chain, Toyin Adetunji, in Lokoja at a two-day training workshop on cassava bread.

The event was organised for members of the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria from the North Central zone.

According to Adesina, the government has concluded plans to implement its policy of 20 per cent substitution of wheat with cassava flour in bread production to reduce its wheat imports bill.

Adesina said the Master Bakers' training was part of the measures aimed at developing the cassava industry, creating jobs and boosting the income of the people.
The policy was also aimed at diversifying the country's economic base from oil to non-oil sectors, he added.

"The challenge to us as a nation is that Thailand, which is the third largest producer of cassava, controls over 80 per cent of the world market of cassava starch," Adesina said.

"Hence, there is need for us to play our role as a leading producer nation," he added.
The minister also confirmed that President Goodluck Jonathan had approved a cassava bread development fund of US$63mn.

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FAO rolls out campaign to reduce fish losses in Uganda

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is seeking to raise awareness of post-harvest fish losses in Uganda by launching a campaign in the country
The UN agency is driving towards educating the public on hygiene and quality in handling fish in small-scale fisheries.

Alhaji Jallow, FAO representative in Uganda, said the campaign was put together by small-scale fishermen, fish traders and consumers, to educate others on the importance of hygiene to preserve fish.

The campaign will be launched through the 'Clean Fish, Better Life' video campaign along 12 major landing sites in Busia, Namayingo, Mayuge and Buikwe districts.

"This comes at a time when different countries, particularly in Africa, are striving to ensure food and nutrition security for their people, in addition to enhancing revenue-generation from fish and fisheries products. Fisheries play a significant role in the socio-economic development of Uganda..." Jallow said while addressing journalists at Hotel Africana during a recent conference on fisheries.

The FAO representative added that post-harvest fish losses were affecting the quality and quantity of fish Uganda produces.

Fish exports rose from US$5.3mn in 1991 to the highest value of US$143mn in 2005, but fell to US$83.3mn in 2010.

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Kenyan government invests US$2.2mn in fish ponds

The Kenyan government has invested US$2.2mn in the construction of 940 fish ponds in secondary schools across 47 counties in Kenya
Each county will create 20 fish ponds at a cost of US$2,400 each to encourage fish consumption in their regions, the government revealed.

According to Kenyan officials, the cash will also be spent buying liners, fingerlings and feeds for the first six months, while students from selected schools will be trained on modern fish farming skills.

The government has already constructed four fish mini-processing plants in Tetu in Nyeri County, Imenti in Meru County, Rongo in Migori County and in Kakamega County.
Five years ago, the Kenyan government launched the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) to boost fish programmes in the country.

Under the programme, fish production has increased from four tonnes in 2009 to more than 50,000 tonnes last year, the government said.
A reported US$14mn was spent to construct fish ponds in more than 140 constituencies.

Among its targets were investment in long–term solutions to the challenges of food security and expanding economic opportunities in rural areas for employment creation.

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VIV organises animal protein summit in Nigeria

Nigeria's agribusiness leaders, organisations and authorities partook in a one-day international summit to explore the development of the country's poultry production sector

The event took place in Nigeria's capital city, Abuja, on 15 January 2014 and was organised by the VIV Europe team.

Nigeria is expecting that its demand for animal protein will rise quickly over the next few years, with its population set to reach 700mn and the government has listed agriculture and food production as its top priorities to meet the challenge.

It also recently revealed that the expansion of the poultry and aquaculture sectors are a key target.

Nigeria is the first African nation to hold an event under the official title of the VIV International Nigeria Summit, which included some roadshow activities visiting various continents on behalf of the VIV Europe 2014 global expo for poultry and livestock husbandry and processing.

Global experts in poultry and aquaculture hosted the event, providing examples of technical best practices as the foundation for the expansion of animal protein supplies from Nigerian farms.

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