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IMAGE: Border controls and high transport costs have led to drops in production of the key food security crop in Sub-Saharan Africa. view more
Credit: Georgina Smith
A new study analyzing bean production and food security across 11 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, found COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions to significantly impact bean production. Border controls and high transport costs have led to drops in production of the key food security crop, threatening to reverse gains made in achieving Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2, towards no poverty and zero hunger, respectively.
Even before the pandemic, 55% of the world s hungry people and 70% of the world s poorest people lived in Africa, the researchers said. In addition, food systems across Africa were already affected by the adverse impacts of climate change, disease and pests, such as the worst desert locust outbreak in 70 years impacting food security in Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and other countries
Digital information service helps small-scale farmers respond to COVID-19
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Access to accurate and timely information is crucial for farmers all around the world, and even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many farmers rely on digital services, especially those delivered through platforms accessible via mobile phones, to access this information. But for many small-scale farmers in rural and remote areas, this kind of access remains a challenge.
This is especially true in Kenya. The majority of Kenyans own at least a basic mobile phone and are therefore able to receive communications like simple text messages. However, digital support for small-scale farmers remains patchy, and in some cases is non-existent.
THE STANDARD By
John Shilitsa |
April 7th 2021 at 00:00:00 GMT +0300
Lush green mukombero (White’s ginger) plantation welcomes you to Alfred Mukhwana’s farm in Lukume, Kakamega County.
The domesticated wild vine plant is said to have medicinal value and an aphrodisiac.
Boda boda operators in Kakamega town buy mondia whytei commonly known by locals as (Mukombero). Traders imports the roots from Uganda, they sell between Sh10- 50 according to the size. The root is said to have medicinal value. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]
“In two weeks, we will be moving the seedlings from the nursery to the main field,” says Mukhwana, 67, pointing at a well-nurtured nursery with thousands of mukombero seedlings.
FARMKENYA INITIATIVE
News
By Antony Gitonga | April 1st 2021 at 05:45:00 GMT +0300
The CEO Premier Foods Limited Joseph Choge, KALRO Director Dr Evans Ilatsia and Nicholas Kahiga from Industrial Promotion Services compare some of the honey products in the market on 2/3/21. [Antony Gitonga, Standard]
The overuse of chemicals in farms and deforestation has adversely affected honey production forcing consumers to rely on imports.
This has been worsened by an influx of cheap and adulterated honey from both local and international traders.
In the last couple of months, the county has recorded heavy spraying targeting desert locusts, a move that has led to the killing of thousands of bees.