Empowering women leads to more progressive farmers and greater economic and social opportunities for households in low-income nations, according to a study conducted by Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. “The study was not only able to directly link empowerment with agricultural and household decision-making, but the ability…
Food security in parts of southern Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will move towards stressed and crisis levels between February and May 2018, according to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET). This is expected to occur during the upcoming lean season when farmers and…
Zambia’s food security is expected to remain stable, said the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET). According to FEWSNET, households will keep benefitting from lower staple food prices and adequate supply. “Food security in the country is generally expected to remain stable due to higher household food supply,” read the…
By suggesting and rearranging where and what type of crops farmers plant globally, scientists have calculated that crop production can be increased to feed an extra 825 million people. Scientists have calculated that global crop production can be increased to feed an extra 825 million people through rearranging the locations…
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…
About 15% of South Africa’s laying hens have already been culled due to an outbreak of bird flu. The disease is causing havoc in the poultry industry. Dr Charlotte Nkuna, acting executive officer for the South African Poultry Association, earlier said due to the number of chickens culled, egg shortages…
Efforts to contain red locusts in southern Malawi are being hampered by local communities who regard the migratory pests as a delicacy. Local media, however, reports warnings by the Ministry of Agriculture to refrain from eating the insects, went largely unheeded in the Mulanje district. “The red locust, dzombe as…
A swarm of red locust has invaded Southern Malawi where the migratory pests are attacking crop fields, the International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa (IRLCOCSA) confirmed on Wednesday. As a result IRLCOCSA has put five other members of the six-nation organisation – Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Kenya…
Good grain harvests are causing below-average maize prices for smallholder farmers in Southern African countries like Zimbabwe and Malawi, said the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET). According to the network’s September report, maize prices in Malawi and Mozambique are on average about 10% below the five-year average. “The trend…
Zambian Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya has called for intensified efforts to develop drought resistant crops, besides maize - to mitigate the effects of climate change on national food security. “There is a need to intensify research in alternative crops like cassava, so that it can be planted on a large…
Enabling quick and coordinated responses are essential in staying ahead of the fall armyworm, otherwise it could cost Africa dearly, said Dr Joseph DeVries, Vice President of Program Development and Innovation at the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Research done by the UK’s Department for International Development at…
Except for fall armyworm which has already wreaked havoc in southern Africa this year, two more migrating pests and plagues are moving south. It is only a matter of time before others reach Africa. Dr Marinda Visser, Grain SA Manager of Research and Grain Policy, at an Agbiz Grain mini…
South African President Jacob Zuma has called on Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states to speed up plans for the creation of a regional food reserve facility to mitigate variations in food production arising out of climate change. “Considering the annual variation of food production in the region due…
The Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET) predicts severe food insecurity in parts of Zambia. Economists also warn against maize scarcity and high prices in the long-term, following this year’s chaotic grain marketing season. FEWSNET linked the looming food insecurity to slower than usual local and regional demand coupled with…
The president of African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, is this years’ recipient of the $250 000 World Food Prize for expanding food production on the continent through policy reforms, financial innovation and modern farming practices. “I believe what Africa does with agriculture and how it does it, is not only…
After scares of possible El Niño conditions returning in 2017, current outlooks predict neutral conditions for this spring. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology changed its El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) outlook to inactive, with the American Climate Prediction Centre doing the same. “ENSO-neutral is favoured (50 to 55% chance) through the…
A rebound in grain production and improved livestock conditions means food security is recovering in Southern Africa, the FAO said. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Southern Africa is expected to produce 34.6 million tons of grain in 2017 mostly thanks to wetter conditions in the…
Zimbabwe have imposed a ban on grain imports after the latest output forecast shows the country expects a bumper harvest of 2.1 million tons, four times more than the 2016 harvest. According to Reuters, government announced the ban to “protect local farmers after producing enough to meet domestic demand”. The…
The fall armyworm (FAW) is well named for the devastation it leaves behind as it eats its way through crops –like an army following a scorched earth policy. Unfortunately, there is no permanent peace treaty with this particular enemy. Dr Anton Chapoto, agricultural economist of the Indaba Agricultural Policy Research…
Your monthly update of African markets. Most maize producing countries are at the end of their growing season and the prospects for good harvests looks promising despite the invasion of the fall armyworm. Zambia The Zambian maize harvest is expected to recover in 2016/’17 after smaller harvests in the past…
The highly invasive fall armyworm is steadily spreadingon the African continent after several countries recently reported damage caused by the pest. In Rwanda, part of the East African complex, about 80% of the population depend on agriculture [for food], and the fall armyworm presents a serious threat to food security. According…
A food security think-tank has urged Zambian smallholder farmers to plant drought-resistant cowpeas to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. In its latest report, Africa Rising says its pilot project in Eastern Province proved rural populations can use cowpeas as both food and as a cash crop in more…
Smaller farmers should not be overlooked in food production, says South African mega farmer, Charl Senekal. He says although mega-farmers are the main producers of agricultural products and utilise the most recent technology, smaller farmers also play an important role in South African farming. Senekal is a mega sugar farmer…
An international organisation which provides early warning and analysis on food insecurity, says Zambia’s maize harvest prospects for this season looks good, despite pest infestation and delays in input delivery. “Given the good seasonal rainfall, crop conditions are good, and household level food stocks will significantly improve,” reads the latest…