A USD 15.1 million investment contract was signed Wednesday in Luanda between the Technical Unit for Private Investment (UTIP) and the firm Novagrolider- Exploração, Agro-pecuária Lda.   The deal is meant for agro-industrial and agro-farming production of fruits and vegetables.   The contract was signed by UTIP director, Ernesto Manuel Norberto Garcia, and Novagrolider group manager, João.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 15th January 2016

The land is covered in greenery and the livestock are slowly starting to show signs of recovery from the fresh nutrition brought by the recent rains. Although it is not certain whether the dry spell experienced last year has finally been broken, communal farmers are optimistic that the trend of assisting livestock to get up every morning is gradually coming to an end. Of late many farmers have had to assist their livestock to stand up in order.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 14th January 2016

Newly established fruit processing firm Best Fruit Processors says it expects to process 20 000 tonnes of fruit this year at its Norton plant with revenue projected at $4,6 million. Best Fruit Processors is a joint venture between Schweppes Zimbabwe's 100 percent owned Beit-Bridge Juicing Co and the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority.   Last week, the company started test production of mango juice at the Norton facility, about.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 14th January 2016

Your administration has launched a legal process against Britain for compensation of the Kipsigis and the Talai for their land now under tea. Won't the move disrupt the multi-billion tea sector?   This case is not targeting the tea estates and our investors should not worry.   We are addressing appalling events that occurred nearly 100 years ago whereby our people were thrown into difficult circumstances when the British took away.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 5th January 2016

South African company Willowton Group will spend at least $40 million to set up an integrated fast consumer goods plant in Mutare. The group manufacturers a wide range of products which include edible oils, margarines and spreads, toiletries, laundry and bathing soaps, candles, chocolates, and baking and industrial fats.   Some of its popular brands on the local market include Sunfoil cooking oil and D'lite cooking oil.   "The.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 4th January 2016

Farmers in Buikwe, Mukono, Kalangala and Mpigi districts as well as the outlying Buvuma islands are engaging in agroforestry to boost their agricultural production as well as combating climate change.   The initiative, which is a collaboration between World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and National Forestry Authority (NFA), will have many farmers simultaneously conserve forests and plant particular trees species for fruits, to aid bee.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 31st December 2015

The Government is considering exporting high value crops to the US under the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA).   The country has in the recent past been exporting agriculture products which include groundnuts.   Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe said in an interview that, her ministry was working on introducing high value crops like cotton, spices and honey, to be exported to the US under.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 28th December 2015

African countries can now export their cotton to developed countries duty-and quota-free as from January following a global deal sealed in Nairobi at the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference.   The ministers agreed on a deal that will allow least developed countries (LDCs) to export more cotton to developed countries.   This will help LDCs, mainly those in sub-Saharan Africa, to gain greater access to non-producing.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 28th December 2015

Sweets maker Kenafric Industries is set to diversify into the production of soda in a move that will intensify competition in the industry that is currently dominated by Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.   Kenafric plans to set up a Sh1 billion factory to manufacture sodas and ready-to-drink juices at its headquarters in Ruaraka, Nairobi, during the second half of next year.   About 30 per cent of the total cost of the investment will be debt.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 24th December 2015

Pretoria — The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has announced that South Africa has earlier this month exported its first air shipment of litchis to the United States.   "The department views this achievement as one of the major contributions on the country's initiative of expanding export markets, positioning South Africa as one of the significant exporters in the world.   "This achievement will.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 24th December 2015

Kampala — Ugandan farmers are increasingly inter-planting coffee, the country's primary export, and banana, a staple food, as a way of coping with the effects of climate change.   In densely populated Elgon and Rwenzori Mountains, the two crops have been planted together on smallholder farms despite recommendations under the colonial agricultural extension system to separate these in Central and Western Uganda where land was.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 24th December 2015

 After buying tractors to bring more land under cultivation and distributing seeds and fertiliser to poor families, Machakos County has now turned to green grams. Governor Alfred Mutua spoke to JULIUS SIGEI.   In our last interview two years ago, you told us that only about 20 per cent of the arable land in Machakos was under agriculture and that you planned to increase this to 70 per cent. What is the situation now?   We have.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 24th December 2015