Zim poultry production shows 1% decline in 2016
The slaughtering of fewer broilers and the production of fewer eggs had resulted in the decrease of poultry production in Zimbabwe in 2016. This was according to an industry report.
British American Tobacco Zimbabwe’s profits decline
Tobacco processor, British American Tobacco (BAT) Zimbabwe, reported a 45% drop in its bottom line for the year ended 31 December 2016.
R11,3 million mushroom project launched in Ghana
A €820 000 (about R11,3 million) mushroom project is set to create 5 500 jobs for the youth and persons with disabilities in Ghana.
Uganda in need of food aid
Uganda’s government recently announced that at least 10 million Ugandans were in need of food aid after the drought affected crop harvests, according to media reports.
Red locusts a threat in Zambia, Zimbabwe
The International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa (IRLCO-CSA) needs R13,5 million (K10 million) for the spraying of red locusts in Zambia in an effort to manage the pest and prevent swarms until September 2017.
Young Africa Works Summit puts youth at centre of agri
More than 300 global leaders and youth agripreneurs will attend the MasterCard Foundation’s second Young Africa Works Summit on 16-17 February in Kigali, Rwanda.
Zimbabwe’s Land Commission still under debate
The Zimbabwean government compensated 12 white former commercial farmers in 2016, and registered only five 99-year leases for resettled growers over the past 17 years.
New Holland to expand distribution in Africa
New Holland Agriculture, a division of CNH Industrial, will open a new branch office in Johannesburg at the beginning of May, to provide support to farmers in South Africa, as well as Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana and Namibia.
Food inflation increases by more than 10% in Kenya
Food prices in Kenya have increased by 12,54% when compared to 2016, which has led to a 7% increase in inflation, according to Fresh Plaza.
Ghana aims for 1,5 million farm jobs in two years
President Nana Akufo-Addo has pledged to boost the agriculture sector and create jobs as nearly 50% of 18- to 24-year-olds were unemployed.
Zimbabwe Farmer of the Year receives tractor
Case IH and its distributor AGRICON donated the first prize, a JX75T 4WD tractor and plough, to the 2016 Zimbabwe Farmer of the Year, Gracious Patricious Makoti from the Sanyati District.
Botswana suspected of fresh produce protectionism
Members of South Africa’s fresh produce production and marketing industry have expressed suspicion that Botswana is unfairly protecting its fresh produce farmers in contravention of the arrangements of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) free trade area.
