Researchers at the Pennsylvania State University (PSU) in America are developing a smartphone application that uses image recognition to identify up to 5 different cassava diseases. The application is being developed and tested in conjunction with the Tanzania research office of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and a…
The Nigerian Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and a coalition of civic groups have warned that the recent government decision to grant permission for the start of confined field trials (CFT) of genetically modified (GM) cassava risks turning the country into a testing ground for “unregulated technologies”. The organisations…
A bio-energy company has invested US$20 million in a farmer out-grower scheme that will benefit 2 000 farmers in Zambia’s Luapula Province. Local media reports that the investment by Sunbird Bioenergy Africa will also create economic opportunities for thousands of other small-scale producers. “So far, close to 300 ha of…
Philafrica Foods, a food processing company operating in Africa and based in South Africa, sees great potential in cassava processing and has expanded its operations accordingly. The firm, which forms part of Afgri Group Holdings, has bought a controlling stake in The Dutch Agricultural & Trading Company’s (DADTCO) cassava processing…
Larger grain borers have surfaced in Zambia’s Northern Province, heightening concerns that the pests will cause damage to the region’s harvest. The Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) also advised smallholder farmers to budget for the purchase of chemicals* to combat fall armyworm. The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) said grain borers…
Cassava production has increased to 3.8 million tons from 1.2 million in previous years. The Zambia National Cassava Association (ZNCA) said the growth is driven by the use of tubers. “There is a growing demand in food manufacturing and industry,” said Chairperson Brighton Mulonga, speaking at the third Cassava World…
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (AB InBev) and agronomists and food scientists from the Stellenbosch University in South Africa’s Western Cape will partner on a R6 million research project on beer producing grains. Dr Nikki Else, Research and Development Manager: Agriculture Africa at AB InBev, said projects on cassava and sorghum will…
An energy expert says the growing bio-fuel industry, spurred by the removal of subsidies on fuel, presented smallholder cassava and sorghum farmers with a ready market for their crop. Energy Forum Chairman Johnstone Chikwanda said these farmers now have a realistic chance of up-scaling production. “There has been huge growth…
Melania Chipungu, of Lusaka’s Ibex Hill, is one of a growing number of smallholders tapping into the Moringa tree market. The health benefits of Moringa tree leaves have sparked local and global consumer interest. The leaves are reported to have many health and nutritional benefits and to be high in…
The Ministry of Agriculture removed 20 000 so-called ghost farmers from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to eliminate malpractices. “Most of the people who benefit from FISP are not farmers, and this exercise is to ensure the programme benefits the intended smallholder farmers,” said Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya. Siliya…
The Zambian government has broadened the number of crops to be covered under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to accelerate crop diversification. Agricultural minister Dora Siliya said the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) will buy all crops produced by farmers under FISP. “FISP will now support about 10 crops to…
