Ethiopia plans to export 230,000 metric tons of sesame in the 2022/2023 fiscal year. This follows the lifting of the price cap on sesame seeds trading at the Ethiopian Commodities Exchanges (ECX) last week. The Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration (MoTRI) cited inflation on the product which led to the removal of the price […]
Agribusiness
AU Summit Showcases Common African Agro-Parks
The African Union Members States, the Regional Economic Communities, the United Nations (FAO, UNIDO, ECA), and Development Partners converged to discuss the implementation and financing modalities for the establishment of the Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs) he event took place on the margins of the ongoing AU Summit on Industrialization and Economic Diversification, in Niamey, Niger, […]
Solar Powered Water Gets Juba Farmers Back on Their Land
Solar power harnessed to draw water from the Juba River has enabled poor farmers in Somalia’s Lower Juba region to return to their fields after three years of failed rains and lack of harvests. Madey Abukar Mohamed, a farmer in Yontoy, 25 kilometres north of Kismayo, planted seeds on his one-hectare farm in September, with […]
We Need USD 416M to Avert Famine in Somalia-WFP
The World Food Programme (WFP) now says it requires 416 million U.S. dollars for the next six months to prevent famine in Somalia. In a report released in the capital Mogadishu, the WFP said the funds, required between November and April 2023, include a 356-million-dollar shortfall for life-saving relief food and nutrition assistance. “Assessment results […]
Djibouti Seeking Long-term Khat Supply from Kenya
Djibouti is emerging as a new market for khat (miraa) from Kenya. And the Djibouti buyers now want to pen a long term contract with Kenyan traders should the product meet the required standards in handling and reliability of supply. Leading Kenya khat traders association- the Nyambene Miraa traders said they have seen potential after […]
Somalia, Somaliland Famine Prevention Program Launched-Plan Int.
Plan International is currently implementing its drought response and famine prevention program several regions of Somalia and Somaliland. According to a report by the relief body, areas targeted are in Maroodi-jeh, Sool, Sanaag and Togdheer regions in Somaliland and Bay and Lower Juba regions in Somalia. Local partners include YOVENCO, TAAKULO, GREDO, and NAFIS Network […]
Farmers Demand Govt Not to Assent to AU Seed Laws-Ugandan
Paul Tentena, Small-scale farmers under the Eastern and Southern Africa Small-scale Farmers Forum ( ESAFF) have asked the Ugandan government not to assent to the African Union (AU) seed harmonisation guidelines saying they are a danger to the sector. The small-scale farmers from across Uganda, who converged in Kampala to dialogue on the key challenges […]
Fixing the Food Trade
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, GENEVA – Between rising hunger and the prospect of still more supply shortages, dark clouds are hovering over the global food system. Not only has the war in Ukraine limited access to, and raised prices for, food and fertilizer, but extreme weather events are disrupting production, and economic downturns have diminished people’s ability to afford adequate and […]
Study on Rising Groundwater Offers Hope-East Africa
New research indicates better groundwater supply management could hold the key to help combat the impact of climate change in East Africa, where countries are currently facing the worst drought and food insecurity in a generation. The study, led by the University of Bristol, looked at changes in rainfall within the two rainy seasons in […]
The AGRF 2022 Calls for Bold Action for Africa’s Food Systems
Kigali September 6, 2022 – The 2022 AGRF Summit kicked off today in Kigali Rwanda, with a call for bold actions to accelerate efforts to end hunger across the continent especially in times of crises. Speaking during the official opening, Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda, Right Honourable Dr. Edouard Ngirente noted that the summit […]
Agribusiness Development Centre Launches Business BAP
Kampala, Uganda – The Agribusiness Development Centre powered by dfcu limited and Rabo foundation has today (August 18th, 2022) launched a Business Accelerator Program (BAP) that will attract Agribusinesses getting out of ideation phase and offer them a business acceleration opportunity which should enable these enterprises to attract markets and funding for growth and sustainability […]
Africa’s Drought Reaches far Beyond the Horn of Africa-ForAfrika
Hundreds of thousands of people could die of starvation if the extent of Africa’s food security crisis is not recognised, says Isak Pretorius, CEO of the largest indigenous African non-governmental organisation, ForAfrika. “The food crisis – and rising malnutrition – affecting our continent is real and pressing, and I urge people of conscience to rally […]
ATEX, Can Mitigate Impact of Rising Commodity Prices in Africa
Addis Ababa, 21 July 2022 (ECA) – As part of its regular Price Watch Dialogue series, the African Centre for Statistics (ACS) at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) hosted, on 21 July, a policy dialogue on the impact of the Ukraine-Russia conflict on commodity and food prices in Africa. In his welcoming remarks, Oliver Chinganya, ACS […]