It is six decade plus years ago since Ethiopia first acquainted with the sugar industry. Given the ample labor, market, water resource and the favorable climate condition for sugar development, the country has not been benefiting as to its potential.   For long time, the number of sugar factories were limited to three and the total sugar production was not exceeding 300, 000 quintals annually. This has led the country for the importation.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 2nd January 2017

 The Coca-Cola Company has agreed to acquire Anheuser-Busch InBev’s 54.5% equity stake in Coca-Cola Beverages Africa for US$3.15 billion. CCBA includes the countries of South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Ghana, Mayotte and Comoros. In addition, The Coca-Cola Company is to acquire AB InBev’s interest in bottling operations in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, El Salvador and.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 30th December 2016

Feed the Future Ethiopia Commercial Farm Services Project is set to provide funding for 20 entrepreneurs and farmers' cooperative unions to open new farm service centers in Ethiopia's four major regions. Each recipient is to receive over one million Birr, to establish a farm service center in their area. Feed the Future is a U.S. supported global initiative to improve agricultural development and food security in 19 countries in need including.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th December 2016

The new varieties could improve production and productivity.   The Bako Agricultural Research Center announced that it has submitted its research findings of nine varieties of improved crops and animal fodder species to the National Species Endorsing Committee.   Center Oil and Cereals Crops Team Leader Solomon Bekele said the species included three types of sesame, two species of millet and a pea. It took five years to finalize.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th December 2016

Lindi — Cashew nut farmers from five villages in Lindi Region have pocketed 2.6bn/- from Mnolela Primary Society in the region after selling their produce in three auctions this year.   An official of the society, Hassan Kongwa told reporters here yesterday that the farmers earned the money after selling 488 tonnes of raw cashew in the first auction, 120 tonnes in the second auction and 232 tonnes in the third auction.   He.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th December 2016

Smallholder farmers can reduce post-harvest losses and improve income by adopting better storage management practices and technologies.   According to Food and Agriculture Organisations (FAO) about one third of the food produced globally is lost or wasted representing a loss of 1.3 billion tonnes of food per year.   In Tanzania, results from different research studies demonstrate that farmers lose up to 40 per cent of the harvest.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th December 2016

The year 2016 was good for tea farmers thanks to high prices the produce fetched amidst a weaker dollar.   Growers affiliated to Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) earned a record-high bonus compared to any other year in the history of the crop.   Farmers earned Sh84 billion from leaves delivered in the 2015/2016 season, marking the second year of improved earnings helped by a stable exchange rate and high pricing of the commodity.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 28th December 2016

 97 percent of the Bank's agriculture projects rated satisfactory. 4000 kilometers of feeder roads built; three million people trained on farming practices 150,000 microcredit loans, water systems on 181,000 hectares of farmland By 2025, Africa aims to feed its fast growing population with its own production. What is more, the world will need Africa's help to feed an extra two billion people in the coming generation. So making the right.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 27th December 2016

Kenya will this month start manufacturing bio-control product Aflasafe KE01 to tackle aflatoxin.   The country has previously lost food stocks and lives to aflatoxin - tasteless poisons produced by Aspergillus flavus fungus, a mold in the soil that commonly infects maize, groundnuts and other crops both in the field and in storage.   Aflatoxin affects livestock and their products when the animals feed on infected grains or grass.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd December 2016

Ethiopia is encouraging investment in meat and meat product export as part of effort to increase hard currency earning. Last week, a two-day tour to major abattoir investment at Dukem, Modjo, Zeway and Adami Tulu of Oromia State has taken place organized for media partners by Ethiopian Meat and Dairy Industry Development Institute that flickers a gleaming hope that the nation is on the right track to utilize its livestock potential.   As.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd December 2016

East Africa Region is expected to hold Postharvest Technology congress next year to address and reduce the level of loss that account for more than 30 per cent of the food produced for human consumption.   The Inter Region Economic Network (IREN), Chief Executive Officer Mr James Shikwati said the first ever 'East Africa Postharvest Technology' congress and challenge will be held in Nairobi, Kenya toward the end of next year's quarter.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd December 2016

 Maun — North West councillors have been implored to encourage farmers to conduct horticultural projects in a commercial way. They were informed that although the district had a reasonable substantial amount of surface water, it continued to be one of those not doing enough in horticulture. Council chairperson, Mr Reaboka Mbulawa told councillors that the district had a total of 48 operational projects out of 60 allocated. He said.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd December 2016