The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development in Southern Africa (CCARDESA) has through the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), donated brand new state of the art virtual conferencing facilities to the Kingdom of Lesotho.
On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Director of the Department of Agricultural Research (DAR), Dr. Lefulesele Lebesa received these gifts which included a Max Hub 3, 65 inches conferencing equipment and 5 Samsung Galaxy Tablets. The tablets were handed over to extension personnel in the presence of both Directors of Research and Extension.
During the hand over, Dr. Lebesa thanked CCARDESA for the valuable gifts and indicated that the purpose of the tablets is to assist the Ministry in collection of agricultural information on research and extension and other related fields in the various Districts of Lesotho. This information will be shared with the rest of the SADC region through both DAR and CCARDESA websites.
The Director pleaded with the extension personnel to use and protect these tablets for the benefit of the Ministry and cautioned them against “owning” these tablets as they are expected to return them in cases of transfers and or resignation from the Civil Service.
Dr Lebesa expressed gratitude and applauded CCARDESA and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) for recognising the challenges that were brought by COVID 19 in terms of face-to face communication with key stakeholders globally hence the decision to graciously donate the Max Hub conferencing equipment the Mountain Kingdom to enable her to continue engaging with its stakeholders even when the world was in lockdown.
The Max Hub conferencing equipment has been mounted in the conference room at the main research station in Maseru, Lesotho.
The author is the Chief Research Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and also a CCARDESA ICKM Focal Point person for Lesotho.
The climate smart agriculture project in Zambia has begun to bear fruit with close to 5000 farmers in Mufumbwe district benefiting from tomatoes, green vegetables, egg plants, ginger, garlic, beans, groundnuts, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions and bananas produced under the project.
The project in Zambia is being run by Save the Environment and People Agency (SEPA), a non-profit making organisation which strives to improve the standard of living of rural communities and the poor in the country.
The project is also receiving extension services from the Agriculture Ministry, and beneficiaries have been trained in partnership with the ministry. Project manager Mailes Zulu said 200 farmers undertaking the project, spread over 14 hectares, have improved their livelihoods after selling the produce to the local communities. The farmers are using the produce to feed their families and selling the surplus to the communities surrounding them.
She said SEPA was a small group of people which had brought agricultural benefits to Mufumbwe district. Zulu added the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Centre for Coordination of Agriculture Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) were also supporting the project.
“When we ask for money, this is where we take the SADC money,” she said, pointing at the flourishing crop of groundnuts and pumpkin leaves.
Project’s success
The project has been a success, and has received recognition from the Government of Zambia., with Mufumbwe district administrative officer, Mr. Agrippa Chambala, recently writing to Ms. Zulu expressing appreciation of the project by the government.
“As district Administrator, we commend you for these great works that are contributing to improved livelihoods of your members as well as the general public,” said Agrippa Chambala, Mufumbwe district administrator said in a letter addressed Zulu.
“As you may be aware, the new dawn government is creating an enabling environment for business and encouraging individuals and organisations to be productive. Hence, we are urging you to continue with your good works and be an example to others. I wish you the best in your business ventures.”
The Mufumbwe project is managed by SEPA under close supervision by CCARDESA, with funding from the European Union (EU) under the Global Climate Change Alliance Plus (GCCA+) programme, in collaboration with the SADC secretariat to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and climate change on food and nutrition security.
A borehole and a drip irrigation system were drilled and installed to provide water for the vegetables and fruit trees planted by the beneficiaries. The project is one of the four Climate Smart Technologies projects launched in neighbouring Eswatini, Mozambique and Zimbabwe by CCARDESA in November and December 2020, with support from the EU.
The projects are an extension of the GCCA+ programme which seeks to strengthen the capacity of SADC member states to undertake regional and national adaptation and mitigation actions in response to the challenges caused by the effects of climate change.
The Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs)-Technical Coordination Team (CAAPs-TCT) convened its 2022 Planning Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, from 25th– 29th April 2022. The workshop brought together CAAPs-TCT members from the African Union Commission, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Forum for Agricultural Research for Africa (FARA), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Pan-African Farmers Associations (PAFO), and Pan-African Agribusiness Apex Chamber (PAAAC). The aim of the workshop was to review progress made in implementing the STC and the CAAPs-Steering Committee decisions, refining the CAAPs Coordination Roadmap considering the emerging issues, and developing the 2022 Deliverables and resources mobilization plan.
Dr. Janet Edeme, the Chair of the CAAPs-TCT and the Head of Rural Development Division of the African Union Commission, opened the workshop and welcomed participants by providing a brief background of the Common African Agro-Parks Programme (CAAPs). She noted that “the CAAPs programme is one of the concrete initiatives of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Programme (CAADP) to be implemented within the framework of the AU Agenda 2063 for achieving the CAADP Malabo commitments and AfCFTA goals, especially the one on tripling Intra-African trade for agricultural commodities and services’’.
One of the key discussions at the workshop was, preparation for the upcoming 3rd CAAPs-Steering Committee meeting and Leadership Engagement Meeting between the AU Commission and UNIDO on CAAPs. In addition, the CAAPs-TCT technical Coordination roadmap and leadership engagement plan was revised at the workshop. There were also discussions on resource mobilization activities and the establishment of task force to develop criteria for member states to host a pilot CAAPs Demonstration Projects.
The key outcomes of the meeting will be presented to the 3rd CAAPs- Steering Committee meeting that will be Chaired by HE. Amb. Josefa Sacho Commissioner for the Department of Agriculture Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment of AUC. The CAAPs- Steering Committee members, further comprises the Commissioner of Economic Development, Trade, Industry, and Mining (ETIM), Secretary-General of AfCFTA, Executive Director of FARA, and the President of Afriexim Bank. The 3rd CAAPs- Steering Committee is planned to take place in mid-June in Cairo, Egypt.
For further information, please contact:
Dr. Janet Edeme, Head Rural Development Division, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission – Email: [email protected] Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Mukulia Kennedy Ayason, Policy Officer, Rural Development Division, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission – Email: [email protected] Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
For Media inquiries: –
Ms. Peace Lydia Mutuwa, Department of Agriculture Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission; Email [email protected] Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Information and Communication Directorate; AU Commission Email: [email protected] Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) of Nigeria, and the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) hosted the First Agricultural Research and Innovation Fellowship for Africa- (ARIFA) Symposium, between April 28th and 29th, 2022 in the historic city of Viçosa, Brazil. The ARIFA Symposium brought together, for the first time, over 50 ARIFA fellows currently undergoing postgraduate training in different disciplines in six Brazilian universities. Also in attendance were six Faculty Focal Leads (FFLs) from TETFund Centers of Excellence (CEO), representatives of participating Brazilian universities, and Vice-Chancellors from Nigerian universities.
While declaring the event open in his intervention, the Chief Guest of Honor – His Excellency Prof. Mohammad Markarfi, Nigerian ambassador to Brazil, reiterated the Nigerian Government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that have improved their core of food and nutrition, which ARIFA encapsulates. Highlighting the agro-eco cultural intersections that present Brazil as a natural partner to Nigeria, the Ambassador encouraged the fellows to remain dedicated to pursuing their studies as they understudy the Brazilian cultural ethics within the context of the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI).
From Left to Right Arc. Sonny S.T. Echono (FNIA), the Executive Secretary (ES) of TETFund, Professor Raul Narciso C. Guedes -Dean of Post Graduate school, His Excellency Prof. Mohammad Markarfi, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Brazil, and Dr Yemi Akinbamijo, the Executive Director of FARA at the opening of the Symposium
In his welcome remarks, Professor Demetrius David da Silva, Rector of the Federal University of Viçosa, who was represented by Professor Raul Narciso C. Guedes -Dean of Post Graduate school, welcomed the ARIFA fellows and participants, expressing the commitment of UFV to continue to play a leadership role in the implementation of ARIFA in Brazil and the Global South as a whole.
While addressing the Symposium, Arc. Sonny S.T. Echono (FNIA), the Executive Secretary (ES) TETFund, lauded the concept of ARIFA, and the choice of Nigeria to lead the pack under the initiative as a model that can be scaled across the continent. He further expressed TETFund’s readiness to expand the program beyond the agriculture sector to other STEM-based disciplines, targeting at least 500 fellows in the next two years in Nigeria. The intended theory of change is that the infusion of six hundred fit-for-purpose fellows into the Nigeria academia would open up a fresh stream of capacities and twinning opportunities to build institutional capacities within the South-South Technical Collaboration context. The new stream from Brazil should provide fresh impetus to strengthen the pedagogic delivery of all participating public tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
While thanking all partners, particularly the UFV team that hosted the Symposium, the Executive Director (ED) of FARA, Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo, stated that ” Africans cannot continue to graduate thousands of agriculturists each year while food imports continue to riseIdentifying the Brazilian collaborative advantage as an attempt at a pedagogic retooling of the African academia one person at a time, he urged the fellows to continue to imbibe the culture of excellence as they form part of the success stories that can be replicated back home. He further expressed gratitude to the government of Brazil for lending a helping hand to Africa, through ARIFA, in the spirit of the south-south collaboration and shared cultural heritage.
A Section of ARIFA Fellows at UFV
ARIFA is a continental Initiative for Africa under the SSTC led by FARA, and currently implemented with funding support from the Government of Nigeria through the TEDFund, in partnership with Brazilian Universities
Signing of MoU between FARA and FAUBAI. L-R: Arc. Sunday Echono (ES, TETFund), Prof Márcio Venício Barbosa (President, FAUBAI) and Dr Yemi Akinbamijo (ED, FARA)
The epic signing of the MoU took place on the margins of the first Agricultural Research & Innovation Fellowship for Africa (ARIFA) Symposium, which took place between April 28th and 29th, 2022, at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brazil, and was tagged “Pedagogic Retooling Strategy for Africa’s Agricultural Research and Innovation System: Lessons from Brazil.”
Signing of MoU between FARA and FAUBAI. L-R: Arc. Sunday Echono (ES, TETFund), Prof Márcio Venício Barbosa (President, FAUBAI) and Dr Yemi Akinbamijo (ED, FARA)
The MoU was signed by the President of FAUBAI, Professor Márcio Venício Barbosa, and Dr Yemi Akinbamijo, the Executive Director of FARA, with endorsement by Arc. Sonny S.T. Echono (FNIA), the Executive Secretary (ES) of TETFund. Present to oversee the endorsement of the agreement was His Excellency Prof. Mohammad Markarfi, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Brazil.
In parallel, FARA and the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), signed a similar MoU, to provide the legal framework for the implementation of ARIFA in UFLA. Already, four (4) fellows are studying in various fields at the university.
The signing of MoU between FARA and UFLA. L-R: Dr Abdulrazak Ibrahim (FARA), HE Prof Ahmad Makarfi (Nigerian Ambassador to Brazil); Dr Yemi Akinbamijo (ED, FARA) and Prof. Paulo Eduardo Ribeiro Marchiori (Director, International Relations, UFLA)
The event’s objective was to strengthen Africa’s human capital for Agricultural Research and Innovation with Nigeria as an example. It was further revealed that the FARA-TETFund partnership is raising the bar to identify five hundred faculty members from Nigeria’s tertiary institutions for skills upgrade in the new TetFund-FARA-FAUBAI ARIFA Partnership, all within the context of the South-South Triangular Cooperation (SSTC).
The European Union (EU), through the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), has awarded a team of five researchers from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) research project funding totaling Kenya Shillings 31 million.
The project, entitled “Upgrading of Silver Cyprinid (Rastrineobola argentea) value chain through multi-stakeholder partnerships and novel climate-smart postharvest processing technologies and practices for improved rural livelihoods,” is among the 11 projects competitively selected from 150 submitted proposals by researchers in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda.
Ms. Vesta Akosua Nunoo, Grant Compliance Officer at the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), based in Accra, Ghana during a meeting at JKUAT to discuss the implementation of the project
It will be implemented by a multidisciplinary team comprising Prof. Nelson Ojijo (Department of Food Science & Technology), Prof. Christopher Kanali, Dr. Eric Ronoh, Eng. Gareth Kituu, and Eng. Samuel Njuguna (all from the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering).
The JKUAT pentad, in collaboration with the other consortium members – Kenya Marine & Fisheries Research Institute (KEMFRI), JKUAT Enterprises Ltd (JKUATES), and Kisumu and Busia Beach Management Units – seeks to boost the economic value of silver cyprinid fish, locally known as Omena, through a two-pronged approach – preventing post-harvest loss and promoting its consumption.
Omena is an important source of livelihood because it constitutes the bulk of the fish catch from Lake Victoria, according to Prof. Ojijo, a Food Technologist and the project’s lead researcher. However, due to microbial spoilage arising from poor drying conditions and high ambient temperatures, nearly half of the fish landings at the beaches go to waste, prompting overfishing to compensate for the loss.
To address this issue, the project will produce two machines. The first is a charcoal-powered portable cooling machine, which will enable the immediate preservation of the fish, while the second is a solar-powered drying machine, which will facilitate fast drying of the fish regardless of the weather and therefore prevent microbial growth.
Prof. Nelson Ojijo, a Food technologist at JKUAT and the Principal Investigator of the Project
The project will also focus on value-added processing into various novel products to promote the consumption of this fish variety, particularly among the youth with high nutritional demands.
Notably, the project is committed to collaborating with locals around the Lake Victoria beaches in order to create solutions that will be adopted and thus ensure sustainability.
To that end, roles and responsibilities will be divided between researchers and non-researchers in order to keep the focus on these needs. This will be accomplished through the use of a multi-stakeholder engagement mechanism known as innovation platforms (IP).
The IP is a social space, usually involving ongoing face-to-face and/ or virtual interactions, through which stakeholders engage to diagnose problems, identify opportunities, develop solutions and find ways to achieve shared goals.
The IP is crucial to the project as the basis for organizing the stakeholders along the Omena value chain for knowledge co-creation and innovation.
Sample of the Solar Dryer Machine to be developed by the Agriculture Engineers at JKUAT
The project will be carried out for 30 months, beginning in March 2022, as part of the broader EU-funded regional project, “Strengthening Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Ecosystem for Inclusive Rural Transformation and Livelihoods in Eastern Africa (AIRTEA),” being coordinated by a consortium of partners comprising FARA, the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), and the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF).
