Two United Nations human rights experts are calling for a comprehensive new global treaty to regulate and phase out the use of dangerous pesticides in farming, and move towards sustainable agricultural practices.   "Excessive use of pesticides are very dangerous to human health, to the environment and it is misleading to claim they are vital to ensuring food security," the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Hilal Elver,.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 9th March 2017

Did you know that donkey meat has been legalised and certified for human consumption in Kenya?   Well, the Meat Control (amendment) Act 2012 documented donkey alongside horse as a food animal in Kenya.   While butcheries have not been licensed to sell donkey meat, interested parties and owners of abattoirs can seek licences at the relevant veterinary offices to slaughter and sell the meat outside the country.   According to.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 7th March 2017

Oromia set to initiate a state wide economic revolution to fundamentally overhaul its economy through research based public-private partnership investment strategy aiming at ensuring economic justice among Oromo people.   State Communication Bureau Head Addisu Arega said the initiative would encourage domestic investment which in turn benefits the youth and farmers together with Foreign Direct Investment.   According to Addisu, the.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 6th March 2017

The Ministry of Agriculture and National Resources underscored the need for improving agri-technology to meet the goal of 594 million quintals crop production by end of GTP II.   Speaking at annual Agriculture and Mechanization Day Wednesday, Minister Dr. Iyasu Abreha highlighted that the sector is playing the role of ensuring food security and catapulting the country's effort to industrialize its economy and join middle income.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 4th March 2017

Uptake of agriculture insurance in East Africa is expected to increase with the anticipated drop in premiums following the launch of a risk-sharing facility.   The risk-sharing facility by the Global Index Insurance Facility (GIIF) and African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re) is aimed at encouraging regional underwriters to create affordable insurance products.   GIIF is a multidonor trust fund managed by the World Bank with.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 4th March 2017

Hundreds of farmers are thronging the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in Eldoret to get cheaper fertilizers ahead of the planting season set to begin in the region.   The parastatal began selling the commodity Monday and the Nation witnessed a long queue at the depot in the town.   The commodity is sold by the board at Sh1800 per bag for two planting varieties and Sh1500 per bag for top dressing.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 2nd March 2017

Khat, which was banned by the United Kingdom in 2014, is not as bad after all, at least going by a recent study commissioned by Kenya.   The study, which involved more than 800 people residing in major khat growing areas of the country, was the first large study that looked at the public health impacts of the plant. Its results? Khat has medicinal properties that could be a game changer in the region's health and economic.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 2nd March 2017

Aflatoxin, a major food poisoning fungal infestation that claims hundreds of Tanzanian lives may soon cease to be a major threat following new breakthroughs as the country's scientists finalize on-farm tests aimed at controlling its spread.   The toxic compounds produced by the green mold fungus, which can cause liver damage and cancer, occasions losses of up to 550bn/- annually, and kills at least 3,000 people within that.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 2nd March 2017

In late October 2015 in Ethiopia, a total of 12,000 smallholder farmers in four regions started to benefit from this nation's first weather index insurance claims payment to cover the loss for the previous year's crop failure due to El Nino. The weather index insurance claims paid out 2.6 million birr covering a total of around the selected smallholder farmers in Oromia, Gambella, Benishangul Gumuz and Tigray regions. The pilot insurance.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 1st March 2017

The new administration regards Ethiopia as its strategic alliance in the region.   Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn and US delegation led by Senator James Inhofe held talks Wednesday on ways of strengthening trade and investment between the two sisterly countries.   The premier expressed country's strong desire to cement ties with the new US administration in trade and investment in particular and African Growth Opportunity Act.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 28th February 2017

NAIROBI－Kenya's mango farmers will soon be able to export their produce to China to prevent a price slump amid an abundant harvest, a chamber of commerce official said at the weekend.   Chairman of the Kenya Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Zhuo Wu, said during the Chinese Mango Festival held in Nairobi that they would soon start exporting Kenyan-grown mangoes to China in order to boost local farmers' incomes.   "We will.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 28th February 2017

Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn laid a cornerstone for Baeker Integrated Agro-Industrial Park yesterday in Humera, town of western Tigray State.   Speaking at the occasion, Prime Minister Hailemariam said the industrial park would play a role in creating economic integration with neighboring countries apart from its importance for the national economy.   The premier noted that the industrial park would also support country's.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 23rd February 2017