International Food Policy Research Institute (Report on halving hunger- Meeting the First Millennium Development Goal through “Business as Unusual”)

In 2000, the world’s leaders set a target of halving the percentage of hungry people between 1990 and 2015. This rather modest target constitutes part of the first Millennium Development Goal, which also calls for halving the proportion of people living in poverty and achieving full employment. The goal of halving hunger by 2015 can [...]

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Interactive food security guide ahead of G8/G20 summits

Food security is an immediate and future priority for all countries worldwide. Since the food crisis erupted in 2008, a large number of global and regional food security initiatives have been launched or strengthened in response. Read more here.

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WFP declares Africa Agricultural investment forum a turning point

WFP said the high-level gathering — part of the CAADP — was a sign of governments’ strong commitment, leadership and vision with regard to reducing hunger and poverty in the region, and was pleased that the investment plans presented at the forum prioritise nutrition and access to food for the most vulnerable. The agricultural investment [...]

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COMESA’s strategic goal with CAADP

COMESA’s strategic agricultural goal is to achieve improved regional food security in the COMESA region with member states recognising that attaining food security is not possible without achieving agriculture sector competitiveness. Read more here.

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Ghana agriculture projects to get $100-million from World Bank

Ghana’s agricultural industry will receive $100 million from the World Bank this year to fund projects aimed at boosting production in the West African nation. The money, which may be handed out in July, will be used for road-building in farming communities, irrigation projects and farm equipment, said Gladys Ghartey, director of the World Bank [...]

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Africa not spending enough on food

Africa is now facing the same type of long-term food deficit problem that India faced in the early 1960s, says a paper by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), a US-based think-tank. Read more here.

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Uganda’s agriculture spending below population growth

In April this year, Uganda signed the CAADP protocol to compel the government to increase agricultural spending by 10%. The aim of the protocol is to help Africa reach economic growth through agricultural-led development. Read more here.

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New weapon for Africa’s farmers against armyworm

Farmers across Eastern and Southern Africa will soon have a new organic insecticide effective enough to kill one of their most deadly foes – the armyworm. Read more here.

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Call for free market in grains in East Africa

Players in the East African regional food chain are pushing for the maize sub-sector to be allowed to operate freely for more food security and improved intra-regional trade. The Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) wants finance ministers in the EAC trade bloc to consider lifting the ban on cereal exports and instead encourage intra-regional dealings. [...]

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SA farmers’ plea to export surplus maize

The South African grain industry is to apply to the Competition Commission for an exemption that will enable it to set up a pool to export 5-million tons of excess maize to the highest bidder. If granted an exemption, the farmers would be given a chance to obtain competitive international prices, which they say would [...]

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