Africa

Low rainfall, drought, conflict, and internal displacement are affecting food security across Africa.

Wheat farming in Zimbabwe was projected to rebound this winter after government raised US$140 million (R1, 96 billion) to be loaned to farmers to plant 70 000ha to wheat, which was expected to yield 280 000t.

Following the recent avian flu outbreak in Zimbabwe, the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and the South African Poultry Association (SAPA) have urged SA poultry owners to implement basic biosecurity measures to prevent poultry from coming into contact with wild birds.

East Africa is grappling with a fall armyworm (FAW) invasion, while still recovering from the effects of a drought that had resulted in significant maize shortages.

President Robert Mugabe's cabinet has approved a policy for the government to introduce a US$150 million (R2,5 billion) "command" approach to boost livestock production.

For Zambia to become a breadbasket in Africa, it was necessary for its government to urgently implement a zero tax rate on products essential for enhanced agricultural production.

Kenya’s cashew nut exports decreased from 835t to 485t between 2013 and 2015.

The World Bank is set to grant funds of between US$100 million and US$125 million (R1,3 billion and R1,7 billion) to Ivory Coast to mitigate the drop in cocoa prices. Cocoa is a key commodity in the west African country.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation in Southern Africa (FAOSA) is hosting a two-day meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, to discuss the region’s response to fall armyworm (FAW). The meeting closes tomorrow, 26 April.

Zimbabwe’s Cold Storage Company (CSC) is set to be capitalised.

Visitors will be offered an opportunity to meet with some of the world's leading agricultural companies, and network with agricultural professionals as well as government and union officials at the Zambia Agritech Expo held from 27-29 April, in Chisamba.

The cashew nut farming industry in Lamu County, Kenya, faces collapse after years of losses. These follow a government ban on exports in 2009, according to the Daily Nation newspaper.