LAGOS, Nigeria (PAMACC News) - As at 2014, rice consumption in sub-Saharan Africa was estimated to be approximately 26 million metric tons (MT). Out of this figure, 13 million MT which represents about one-third of what is traded on the world market, came into Africa via imports. Rice consumption in Africa is projected to reach 34.9 million tons by 2025. Out of this figure, 12.6 million MT will be imported at a cost of about US$5.5 billion annually. The demand for rice in Africa is growing as a result of population growth, increased per capita consumption, and a shifting preference toward ‘premium’ rice linked to increased urbanization. The African Development Bank (AfDB) reckons that the rice sector has the potential to become an engine for economic growth across the continent. To achieve self-sufficiency in rice by 2025, Africa requires the production of nearly 13 million additional tons of premium rice per year. This will then improve the livelihood of at least 3 million producers and lead to economic gains of about US$5.5 billion per year among African countries. However, to attain this feat, Africa requires holistic mechanisms which include widespread distribution and commercial adoption of high-yielding, climate-resilient rice varieties, accompanying technologies, and innovations. It is in this light that the AfDB is supporting the Post-harvest, Processing and Value Addition Equipment Fabrication and Standardization Workshop which began today in Porto Novo, Benin Republic. The one-week workshop brings together equipment fabricators from Benin, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal to Improve the quality of locally fabricated rice processing equipment to respond to consumer preferences. Organized by the Rice Compact of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) in collaboration with AfricaRice and Technique de Construction Mecano Soudé (TCMS), the workshop is expected to harmonise the type and specifications of locally fabricated rice processing equipment earmarked under TAAT. Funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), TAAT’s main objective is to improve the business of agriculture across Africa by raising agricultural productivity, mitigating risks and promoting diversification and processing in 18 agricultural value chains within eight Priority Intervention Areas (PIA). The programme increases agricultural productivity through the deployment of proven and high-performance agricultural technologies at scale along selected value chains which include rice. Dr. Sidi Sanyang, TAAT Rice Compact Coordinator says the workshop will, in the course of one week, galvanise small and medium scale equipment manufacturers to build and install rice husk-fueled GEM systems and other equipment in TAAT target countries and elsewhere. “Already, TCMS in Benin has signed a contract of FCFA19.5 million to manufacture and install rice husk-fueled GEM systems in six communities in the Glazoue rice hub in Benin,” Dr. Sanyang added. While speaking on behalf of the rice equipment fabricators at the workshop, Charles Frimpong, Managing Director of Hanigha Ltd says the increased collaboration between local fabricators in Africa, facilitated by the workshop, will not only enhance knowledge sharing but lead to uuniformity in type and quality of equipment out-scaled under TAAT. “It will also increase the availability…

LUANDA, Kenya (PAMACC News) - At 11 O’clock in Essong’olo village in the heart of Vihiga County, 400 kilometres west of Kenya’s capital Nairobi, Philemon Echoka sits under a mango tree to listen to his favorite weekly radio programme – ‘farming in the face of climate change.’ He increases the volume of his yellow coloured solar powered FM radio as Moses Ombogo, the broadcaster at Anyole Radio introduces his guest-Japheth Manga Amutete – in a local Luhya dialect called Olunyole. And on this particular morning, the subject of discussion is ‘aquaculture as a method of adapting to climate change.’ Anyole Radio, run by the Nganyi RANET Community Radio Station in Western Kenya is one of five community radio stations established by the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) in different parts of the country prone to different climate stresses to help locals understand the prevailing climate and weather patterns so as to develop resilience. The Nganyi community members are renowned rainmakers in Vihiga County. Their traditional methods of weather forecasts have since attracted the attention of international researchers, who have concluded that blending traditional weather predictions with modern science may provide a more accurate forecast. It is based on this kind of knowledge that Anyole Radio was launched on March 23, 2015 to disseminate weather and climate information across the entire Vihiga County and to parts of the neighbouring counties that include Kakamega, Busia and Kisumu counties. But before the discussion begins on this day on Ombogo’sprogramme, the announcer takes time to read out the weather forecast for the week, revealing that despite of it being late, the long rainfall season will delay even further, and that farmers must start using climate smart techniques to adapt to the changing climatic conditions. “That is one of the reasons why we have Amutete in the studio today, to discuss how smallholder farmers can start up fish farming projects for extra income generation,” announces Ombogo using the Olunyole dialect. “This programme has always been a blessing to me,” said Echoka, who ownsa two-acre piece of land in Vihiga and another of the same size in Nangili in Kakamega County, still in thewestern part of the country. Generally, the community radio station was targeted to reach out to 250,000 members of the Abanyole community, but with its infiltration to neighbouring counties, it ends up serving tens of thousands more who can understand the local dialect. The dialect can be understood by nearly all Luhya speaking individuals. Within the entire Luhya community Kakamega has 1,660,651 people, second to Nairobi with 3,138,369, Bungoma (1,374,477), Busia (743,946) and Vihiga (554,622) as per the country’s last round of census. So far in his Kakamega farm, Echoka is taking advantage of the dry spell to make money as other farmers keep staring at the azure blue skies, praying for the heavens to open for the elusive rains to come down. “From my savings, I bought a 6,000-litreportable water tank trailer, and for sure, having such equipment is the easiest way of…

Washington DC, USA (PAMACC News) - The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has awarded Dr. Agnes Kalibata, the President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) with the 2019 NAS Public Welfare Medal.The NAS Public Welfare Medal is the Academy's most prestigious award and is presented annually to honor extraordinary use of science for the public good. Dr. Kalibata was recognized for her work in driving Africa’s agricultural transformation through modern science and effective policy, helping to lift more than a million Rwandans out of poverty and scaling impacts for millions more African farmers. Upon receiving the award, Dr. Kalibata emphasised that agriculture has tremendous power to move massive numbers of people out of poverty and is the key to building prosperity in Africa.“My presence here today is proof of possibilities. Possibilities whose reality on my continent is fueled by agriculture. I grew up as a refugee in Uganda and even attained my PhD while I lived in a refugee camp. Throughout this period, agriculture sustained my family and got us out of poverty. I am happy to witness my country Rwanda and a few other countries in Africa awakening to the tremendous power of agriculture to move massive numbers of people out of poverty” she said.Since 2014, Dr. Kalibata has been the president of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), an African-led organization founded by former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan that works with public and private partners to promote rapid, inclusive, sustainable agricultural growth and food security by giving farmers access to locally adapted and high-yielding seeds, encouraging judicious use of fertilizer, promoting policy reforms, and increasing access to structured markets to improve the livelihoods of farming households. Prior to joining AGRA, Dr. Kalibata spent six years as Rwanda’s minister of agriculture and animal resources, implementing a science-based approach to agriculture that greatly increased efficiency and productivity and transformed Rwanda to a largely food-secure nation. Dr. Kalibata is also widely heralded as one of the most successful agriculture ministers in sub-Saharan Africa. During her tenure from 2008 to 2014, Rwanda reduced its poverty by more than 50 percent, largely through targeted agricultural programs for family farmers. Kalibata contributed to the growth of the nation’s agricultural sector from an annual budget of less than US$10 million to more than US$150 million annually. In addition, Rwanda became the first country to sign a compact under the African Union Commission’s flagship Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme. Congratulating Dr Kalibata on her achievement, Susan Wessler, home secretary of the National Academy of Sciences and chair of the selection committee for the award observed that throughout her career, Dr. Kalibata has recognized that family farmers are the key to agricultural success. “She has consistently made family farmers the focus of science-based policies and interventions. Under her leadership, a remarkable agricultural transformation is underway in Africa that will benefit many generations to come.”On his part, Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences said, “Dr. Kalibata has…

ACCRA, Ghana (PAMACC News) - Extreme weather is becoming commonplace as the world warms. With rising temperatures, the signs of climate change are everywhere – as more people feel the devastating impacts of stronger storms, droughts and burning heat waves.Indeed, excessive floods are wreaking havoc on people’s lives around the world. In the last few weeks alone, Cyclone Idai has impacted the lives of millions, killing more than 1,000 in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. The affected countries will need over $2 billion to recover, according to World Bank estimates.Even before the affected receive support, cyclone Kenneth is making a dangerously unprecedented strike in Northern Mozambique.The economics of climate change is staggering. In 2017 alone, natural disasters – from floods to fires – caused record losses of $330 billion.The need for people to take bold action in response to the devastation is now louder than before.When local people are hardest hitSaturday, July 14, 2018 went down as a solemn day at the Asokore Mampong community in Ghana’s Ashanti region.Tears flowed uncontrollably as the mortal remains of three children and a woman, all victims of floods, were conveyed for burial after an emotionally-charged requiem service.A day after torrential rains, the bodies of Christian, Louisa, Liza and Susana were recovered by officers of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).The four were among more than 15 people in the region who were swept away by high currents of flood water, following incessant downpour in June 2018.The situation was dire in other parts of Ghana, including the capital, Accra, which experience perennial flood disasters.Questions have been asked if such deaths could have been averted. But the rains will not wait for answers before resuming the onslaught in 2019.Severe rainstorms in the month of April alone have wrecked havoc in parts of Ghana, killing people and displacing hundreds in schools, homes and communities.Unabated Flood DevastationIn years past, the sign of rains brought joy as children had fun bathing in the heavenly showers of blessings.Today, many a community in major cities in Ghana begins to panic when the clouds get dark. People run for cover when the clouds gather for fear of losing lives and property to the rains.Floods have ravaged communities, caused havoc to roads and collapsed bridges. Residents have been displaced, communities cut off, and socio-economic livelihoods impacted negatively. The worse impacted are farmers – some farms in lowland areas get submerged in high volumes of flood water, after a downpour. Instead of counting their blessings of bumper harvest, farmers wail because they are unable to cart their harvests from farmlands to the market because of bad roads.The Ghana Meteorological Agency anticipates more rainstorms and floods in 2019, and has warned farmers and residents in flood prone communities to stay alert.There are likely agricultural losses with dire food security implications, as prices of foodstuff like maize, cassava, plantain and vegetables shoot up on the local market.Driving FactorsRecent rains in Kumasi have been described as ‘unprecedented’ by residents. Streets and homes have been inundated as vehicles,…