Tea farmers have earned close to Sh10 billion more from leaves delivered in the year ended June 2015, helped by a strong US dollar and high pricing of the commodity in the world market. Latest industry performance data released Tuesday shows that growers affiliated to the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) have received Sh28.7 billion in the second round of payment for their produce compared to the Sh19 billion they earned in a similar.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 23rd September 2015

More than 100 fish farmers in West Pokot county have received 1,000 fingerlings.   The project aims to encourage residents to eat fish.   Speaking to the Star in his Kapenguria town office yesterday, county deputy fisheries officer Jackson Limang'ura said the last group of farmers will receive theirs next Monday.   He said an hatchery is under construction to reduce the cost of transporting the fingerlings from.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 22nd September 2015

A new variety of Ruiru 11 coffee is expected to reduce the cost of production by 30 per cent and also lead to higher yields.   Coffee Research Institute director Elijah Gichuru said the improved disease-resistant variety jointly developed by Sasini Coffee Ltd and the research institute produces more berries per tree and allows more plants per acre.   Speaking during a tour of the company's plantation at Ndumberi in Kiambu County,.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 22nd September 2015

Kenya and Norway are seeking close business ties to strengthen economic growth and create jobs in the two countries. A high-powered business delegation from Norway is in the country led by the nation’s Minister of Trade and Industry Monica Maeland to seek available business opportunities in Kenya. According to Kenya’s ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 22nd September 2015

MEMBERS of the private sector and the government have been advised to consult each other and see how they can solve challenges that impede Tanzania to take advantage of the readily rice market in the East African countries. A Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) consultant, Dr Halima Noor, told a news conference during a high level policy dialogue for rice value chain stakeholders that Tanzania was not utilising her potential in producing.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 21st September 2015

The government has been urged to facilitate and put in place conducive environment that will enable more production of soybean in Tanzania. The call was made during the soya stakeholders' consultation meeting held in Dar es Salaam at the weekend organised by the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC). The EAGC Country Director, Mr Julius Wambura, said it was high time for the government to put more efforts and make sure that the grain.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 21st September 2015

 NAIROBI: Kenya is the new Food and Agriculture Organisation and World Health Organisation co-ordinator for the Codex Food Standards programme for Africa. The country took over the co-ordination role from Cameroon, whose term ended in July. As a co-ordinator for Africa, Kenya will be responsible for defining problems and needs concerning food standards and food control for all Codex member countries in the continent. Other countries that.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 21st September 2015

Meta Abo Brewery S.C. invested 90 million Br in three years for sourcing beer malt barley. Of this sum, 12m Br was dedicated to providing pre-financing to all of its smallholder farmers, and purchasing 8,000 tons of local barley from both commercial and smallholder farm sources.   Meta partnered directly with 6,113 smallholder farmers in Arsi, West Arsi and South West Shewa Zones, providing training, interest free pre-financing, quality.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 21st September 2015

The USIU-Africa Global Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship Center has received a Sh33.9 million grant from Cultivate Africa's Future, a joint programme of the International   Development Research Center of Canada and the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research.   The 18-month funding programme will support expansion of business opportunities for youth in the fish and poultry sectors in Kenya to help them.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 21st September 2015

Nairobi — Kenya will strengthen agricultural cooperation with China in order to transform the sector through technology adoption, value addition and irrigation, a government official said on Wednesday.   Sicily Kariuki, the Principal Secretary in the State Department of Agriculture, said Kenya will strengthen agricultural cooperation with Beijing in strategic areas like research, investments in irrigation alongside post harvest.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 21st September 2015

According to the Ministry of Fisheries, legislation and regulations changes are needed to ensure parity with other food production sectors in advancing the promoting of pro-poor uptake of freshwater aquaculture.   Current freshwater fish production is low with estimates of only 50-100 tonnes per year even with the establishment of a series of Inland Aquaculture Centres and farms in Omusati, Oshana, Kavango, Otjozondjupa and Zambezi.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 21st September 2015

THE NETHERLANDS EMBASSY in Nairobi will next week launch the Potato Value Chain Afrika Portal in a bid to support farmers in the country.   The portal will be launched at the Eldoret University Agricultural Fair, which is set for September 24-26 in Eldoret.   Agriculture Counsellor Bert Rikken said the crop would boost food security following the numerous challenges facing maize sector. With over 300 registered varieties,.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 21st September 2015