On the 10th Anniversary of the adoption of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), African Union declared the year 2014 to be the Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa. There is much to celebrate; agricultural production in Africa has increased steadily over the last 30 years: its value has almost tripled showing an increase that clearly exceeds the growth rate of global agricultural production over.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 30th January 2015

 Huye District residents are expecting bumper harvests of coffee following a coffee extension programme in the district. The move, which seeks to increase areas covered by coffee in the district, is expected to help generate more revenue for farmers, increase productivity, raise household income as well as quality of local coffee, among others Huye is one of the major producers of coffee in the country and is mainly known for the Maraba.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th January 2015

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – The government has announced that last year the country had bumper harvest of food crops, in particular cereals, but is now struggling in procurement and storage of the surplus.    According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, the country produced 16.02 million tonnes of cereals last year compared to 14.38 million tonnes in the preceding season reflecting an increase of 1.64.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 27th January 2015

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority Sisal Inspectorate move seeks to reverse its predecessor, the Kenya Sisal Board’s decision to quit the global body.   According to the Fibre Crops Directorate’s Interim Head Anthony Mureithi, the country early this month formally requested to rejoin the Inter Governmental Group on Hard Fibres which comprises countries such as Brazil, Tanzania, China and Madagascar, among other.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 26th January 2015

 Farmers' groups have been urged to export their produce to other African countries.   Launching the Nyamarura Farmers' Self-Help Group, Egerton University's Adijah Olubandwa said the groups should stop relying on domestic markets.   Olubandwa was speaking at Charagita, Nyandarua West sub-county, on Wednesday.   "Our students are highly qualified in agriculture and community development and can help the groups.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 24th January 2015

Kenya’s raw sugar production is expected to rise 4% to 617,039 tonnes in 2015, buoyed by extra factory capacity and improved supply of cane, the industry regulator said on Wednesday.   East Africa's biggest economy has an annual sugar deficit of around 200 000 tonnes, which is usually filled by imports from other producers in the region. The country is struggling to improve output due to relatively high production costs and.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd January 2015

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (Minicom) has signed an agreement with SteviaLife, a Canadian firm, that will see the latter promote the production and export of stevia plant.   Stevia is a sweetener that comes from a plant and has no calories.   During the signing ceremony, yesterday, officials said at least 25,000 people will be employed on every 100 hectares of stevia plantation.   The MoU aims at promoting the new.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd January 2015

 Cotton production of Kenya stood at approximately 30,000 bales in 2014 an increase from 2013, when production stood at 22,000 bales due to the effects of drought, was informed Agriculture Fisheries and Food Authority (AFFA) Interim Head of Fibre Crops Directorate Anthony Muriithi in Nairobi on Wednesday.   Muriithi at the Pre-Launch of the Application of the Coffee Kenya Mark of Origin said that despite production deficit, Kenya.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd January 2015

IN its bid to support the agricultural sector, Serengeti Breweries Limited (SBL) has distributed barley seeds to farmers in Manyara and Kilimanjaro regions.The seeds have been distributed under the company's Local Raw Material Initiative where 4,000 tonnes of barley seeds would be distributed to barley farmers this year.   SBL Agribusiness Manager, Mr Shafii Mndeme, said in Manyara recently that the initiative continues to expand and that.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 19th January 2015

Agriculture cabinet secretary Felix Koskei said that direct coffee sales will be introduced as a measure to liberalise the marketing system of the product. Other measures including the restructuring of key coffee institutions including the Coffee Research Foundation and Coffee Board of Kenya to improve efficiency in the coffee sector.   "The Coffee Credit Support Fund has to date disbursed over Sh1 billion to coffee growers.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 19th January 2015

 cNairobi — KENYA has spent more than Sh1 billion towards coffee growers in order to increase production of a quality product, a senior government official said.   Speaking at a pre-launch for branding of Kenya Coffee, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei, said the government would embark on restructuring exercise targeting major coffee institutions in order to improve the coffee quality as well as efficiency.   He.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 19th January 2015

 THE Bungoma government has bought a fleet of agricultural machinery to boost food production.   The Sh28 million tractors will offer quick and affordable land preparation services, Governor Kenneth Lusaka said yesterday. The equipment includes tractors, incubators and Artificial Insemination kits are expected to be unveiled tomorrow, at Mabanga Farmers Training Centre.   "In the past, high costs of farming operations.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 19th January 2015