The ministry of supplies and internal trade has concluded its technical research for a project to produce bio-diesel from cooking oil, the minister announced on Tuesday, adding that the project will be enacted "soon".   In a press statement released by the ministry, Supplies Minister Khaled Hanafi said that the project would provide job opportunities for the youth and produce around a million litres of diesel.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 15th October 2014

The Nairobi ASK trade fair was held last week and the main focus was on farming technologies. The theme of this year's show was enhancing technology in agriculture and industry for food security.   Many thronged the fair to get knowledge and information on the best farming technologies that would help them cope with the changing patterns of the weather that are being experienced currently. Here are a few of the technologies that were.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 9th October 2014

Twelve hundred smallholder avocado farmers in the central highlands of Kenya are benefiting from a five-year aid project involving Plant & Food Research and edible oils company Olivado. The New Zealand Aid programme has provided up to $4 million over five years to Plant & Food to help improve the productivity and quality of production from the farmers who supply Olivado’s Nairobi factory. The smallholder farmers generally have.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 9th October 2014

President Uhuru Kenyatta has said his Government is undertaking major reforms in the agricultural sector to boost production and increase profits for farmers.   He said various agricultural institutions are being restructured with the aim of harmonizing operations so as to increase production in the sector.   Speaking when he officially opened this year's Nairobi International Trade Fair, President Kenyatta said what is remaining.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 9th October 2014

The Kenya Seed Company has introduced new maize seed variety which is resistant to the maize lethal necrosis virus. Managing director Willy Bett said the company has also unveiled highland hybrid maize seeds and another maize seed variety, known as "Ua Kayongo" that is resistant to the striga weed common in western Kenya and North Rift. "We have developed a maize seed variety that is showing high resistance to the Maize Lethal.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 17th September 2014

 THE Federal Government on Friday in Nairobi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kenyan government for the promotion of agribusiness between both countries. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, who spoke at the ceremony, said that seven out of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world were in Africa. Adesina said 65 per cent of the arable land that would provide "food for the.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 17th September 2014

A task force has recommended the revival of cooperative societies and opening of new ones to spur dairy farming in Kakamega county. The task force on dairy farming wants Kakamega Dairy Cooperative Society converted into a limited liability company, owned by farmers and other stakeholders to streamline marketing of dairy products. The report says a vibrant cooperative movement will ensure strong collective bargaining and adoption of new.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 17th September 2014

The Government of Kenya has signed an agreement with Toyota Tsusho Corporation, which will see the global car maker construct a US$1.2bn fertilizer plant in Eldoret, Kenya. The project involving construction of the new fertilizer production plant will be implemented in two phases, where the first phase will see construction of a Nitrogen Potassium Calcium (NPK) production plant, while the second phase will see Toyota construct a plant for the.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 12th September 2014

Beverages maker Coca-Cola has announced an ambitious plan to ‘give back’ an equivalent of 18.5 billion litres of water it uses globally every year in its products and production process by 2020. The firm said the plan is to replenish water used in its products and to support healthy ecosystems and watersheds in local communities in which it operates. By 2020, Coca-Cola plans to have improved water efficiency by 25 per cent as well as.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 6th September 2014

 Banana, avocado and citrus farmers in Africa will now be able to export their produce to lucrative markets in Europe, the Middle East and South Africa, thanks to new research. "Previously, banana, citrus and avocado from many African countries were banned by several importing countries due to the presence of an invasive Asian fruit fly, known asBactrocera invadens," explains Dr Sunday Ekesi, a scientist with icipe. "Our.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 3rd September 2014

 The African Plant Breeding Academy has been established in Nairobi, Kenya, by the African Orphan Crops Consortium (AOCC)* to improve the livelihoods of Africa's smallholder farmers, reduce hunger and boost Africa's food supply. The Academy will use the latest scientific equipment and techniques to genetically sequence, assemble and annotate the genomes of 100 traditional African food crops to guide the development of more robust products.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 3rd September 2014

Glenmark, a global integrated pharmaceutical company, will spend Kshs5 million this year on a three-year programme to address malnutrition in Nairobi's Kibera slums. Speaking during the launch of the programme in Kibera, Jessica Mbochi of the Division of Nutrition in the Ministry of Health said that about 35% of children below the age of five are malnourished and called for more efforts to address nutritional needs of underprivileged.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 6th September 2014