Small Farmers As the Key to Africa's Agricultural Future
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Zambia are holding a regional workshop for East and Southern Africa from 6 to 9 May in Livingstone, Zambia, to review lessons learned from IFAD-funded projects and identify strategies to address challenges faced during their implementation.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda and Agriculture and Livestock Minister Wilbur Simuusa of Zambia will join PĂ©rin Saint Ange, Director of IFAD at the opening session of the workshop Tuesday.
The workshop is attracting more than 200 participants, including government officials, representatives of other United Nations agencies, and bilateral development institutions, members of the private sector and civil society groups, and partners from IFAD-funded projects in the region.
In keeping with the United Nations' designation of 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming, and the African Union declaring 2014 as the Year of Agriculture and Food Security, family farming and agricultural investment will be a central focus of this week's workshop.
Agro sector gets $18m boost
THE United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa have launched a multi-partner initiative to promote agriculture markets at a cost of about US$18 million.
The Strengthen the Agricultural Input and Output Markets in Africa (SAIOMA) project, which will be implemented in six districts of Eastern and Central provinces, will benefit about 35,000 smallholder farmers.
According to information posted on the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock website, the initiative will improve access to markets, increase income and improve livelihoods for smallholders.
The project will be done through building capacities of about 468 rural agro-dealers, who will provide quality seeds to the farming community.
USAID Zambia economic growth team leader Anna Toness said the initiative is aimed at addressing challenges in the agriculture value chain.
Zambia can be Africa's food basket - Simuusa
AGRICULTURE minister Wylbur Simuusa says Zambia has the potential to become Africa's food basket within the next five years.
Commenting on a statement by justice minister, Wynter Kabimba, who during a courtesy call on Mwense district commissioner, Mumba Mushitu, on Friday said the country's independence is incomplete if it cannot feed itself, Simuusa called for a change of mindset amongst all stakeholders if Zambians were to fully realise the enormous potential of the agriculture sector.
"…within the next five years, if we do our homework well and are focused as government, farmers and Zambians, we can be the food basket of this region and a good part of the world. What it will take is the realisation and change of mindset on the part of Zambians to grasp farming. It is not just a hobby, it is a business that will take this country forward," Simuusa said.
South Africa welcomes growth on U.S. citrus market
As the South African citrus industry approaches its 15th season on the U.S. market, exporters could be in store for a number of trade and protocol developments.oranges_68643514
Industry representatives, including the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) met with U.S. importers and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) at the Western Cape Citrus Producers’ Forum, where attendees praised the growing opportunities for citrus traders.
U.S. consul general to Cape Town, Erica Barks-Ruggles, described the considerable growth experienced by citrus since the signing of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in 2000.
