Market News| Africa Business News

345,000 Tanzanian Famers to Receive TZS114b in Agriculture Loans in 2016

The Tanzania Private Agricultural Sector Support (PASS) plans to reach 345,000 agricultural entrepreneurs with TZS114b guaranteed loans in 2016. PASS is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) which assists farmers to access loan facilities for viable investments through appraisal of loan write ups in line with specific bank’s terms and conditions. Nicomed Bohay, PASS Managing Director, explained that the organization will help maize.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 2nd September 2016

Tanzania secures huge loan to build a new tractors assembly plant

Tanzania has secured a loan worth 110 million U.S. dollars to establish a tractors assembly plant in its efforts to become east Africa’s food basket and a middle income nation by 2025. Tanzania will become the first nation in sub-Saharan Africa to venture into assembling farm machinery, which will transform the agricultural sector in the region, when the plan is fully implemented. "We have secured loan from the Poland.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 2nd September 2016

Tanzania: Pass, WFP Partner in Ambitious Maize Production Project

Private Agricultural Sector Support (PASS) envisages reaching 345,000 entrepreneurs in agricultural sector this year, with projected guaranteed loans of 114bn/-. PASS Managing Director Mr Nicomed Bohay said in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the organisation will, under the PPP, partner with the World Food Programme (WFP) to support maize farmers in Songea, Mbeya, Iringa, Morogoro, Dodoma, Manyara and Arusha to access farm.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 1st September 2016

How Ethiopian famine influenced Japanese businessman to campaign for modern farming in Africa

How Ethiopian famine influenced Japanese businessman to campaign for modern farming in Africa he meeting was a symposium on agriculture and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who was in Nairobi for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (Ticad) was to give an address. Titled, Contributing to Social Security and Jobs through Agriculture, it drew economists, donors, development bankers and government.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 1st September 2016

Kenya: New KCC Plan to Stabilise Prices of Milk, Boost Farmers

In 2009, many dairy farmers incurred huge losses due to an unprecedented milk glut. Processors were unable to handle all the milk that was being supplied, and this led to prices tumbling down. The government learnt an important lesson and formed the Strategic Food Reserve that would include buying of milk for the first time. The Strategic Grain Reserve until then only stored cereals. Apart from seeking ways to address the.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 31st August 2016

Tanzania-China Enterprises Unlock Huge Agriculture Potentials

Tanzania could capitalise on food crisis striking most African countries, an initiative that would boost its foreign exchange earnings. The abundant agriculture land resources give the country enormous development potentials that through use of modern technologies could transform farming activities and lead to improved living standards. The Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Lv Youqing, said in Dar es Salaam last week.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 31st August 2016

Selling coffee directly to overseas buyers helps farmers get high income

Cooperatives that paid coffee farmers the highest rates have revealed their secret: selling their produce directly to overseas buyers. And because of the direct sales, the Meru County Coffee Millers Cooperative Union will pay farmers a billion shillings at the end of this year. In Nyeri County, Barichu, Gikanda and Othaya coffee societies got the highest rates at Sh85, Sh81 and Sh76 per kilo respectively. Rutuma Coffee.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 30th August 2016

Africa: Scientists Hope New Varieties Can Start Africa Rice Revolution

The first hybrid rice varieties developed in sub-Saharan Africa are yielding up to four times more than other improved varieties, say scientists, who are using web-based tools to identify the right climate conditions to maximise harvests. The 15 hybrids, bred in Kenya and Tanzania, are also tolerant to diseases and the high temperatures found in Kenya's western Lake Region and coastal areas. Local farmers have always.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 30th August 2016

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania closer to ending maize disease

East Africa is inching closer to eradicating Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) with a variety of seeds that can tolerate and resist the disease undergoing national performance trials in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to be ready for planting in 2018. Scientists at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre in conjunction with the Kenya Agricultural Livestock and Research Organisation have several promising inbred lines and.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 29th August 2016

Japan, Africa teaming up to boost food security, nutrition

Boosting agricultural productivity and food security in Africa will require collective efforts by African countries and their partners. Japan already plays a significant role in boosting sustainable agricultural development on the continent. The country’s strong commitments, combined with the political will manifested by many African nations to eradicate hunger and malnutrition, will help to propel progress towards achieving.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 29th August 2016

Ethiopia: Effective Irrigation Dev't to Boost Production, Productivity

Agriculturalists frequently indicate that irrigation development can be taken as one of the prominent ways to ensure food security and increase productivity. As irrigation can be considered as an agricultural technique to utilize water gained from rain and wells for farming, currently the use of irrigation in Ethiopia has become common and growing from time to time. Ministry of Farming and Natural Resource Irrigation Drainage.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 27th August 2016

Kenya: State House Holds Summit on Agricultural Development

The Kenya government on Monday played host to stakeholders from the agriculture sector at the State House. The summit entertained honest and critical exchange of ideas and feedback among the various stakeholders and government representatives. Discussions included mechanisation of the sector, automation of fertiliser distribution among other key issues. The event was attended by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary,.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 26th August 2016