Category Archives: Farming

Tanzania: Creating Drought-Tolerant Maize

From: Yona Maro

In Morogoro, a drought-prone area in Tanzania, farmers are using certified maize seed and urging other farmers to grow a new drought tolerant variety, TAN250, which they say is like “an insurance against hunger and total crop failure, even under hot, dry conditions like those of recent years.”

Link:
http://allafrica.com/download/resource/main/main/idatcs/00080087:9ee4ef357b37e4c32c36ad4593df82d5.pdf

Why and how African governments should transform their agriculture spending

From: Yona Maro

In 2003, the Maputo Declaration of the African Union stated that, within five years, 10 per cent of the budgets of member states would be dedicated to agriculture. Ten years on, despite spending increases by some countries, African governments still allocate an average of only 5 per cent of their national budgets to agriculture. Only seven out of 49 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have consistently reached the 10 per cent target. This failing is holding back food production and food security in Africa, where 223 million people (a quarter of the population) live in hunger.

Link:
http://www.actionaid.org/sites/files/actionaid/walking_the_talk_full_report_final.pdf

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Kenya: multi-billion dollar project in siaya is facing myriads of problems

NEGATIVE POLITICS AND GREEDINESS FOR THE CHEAP CHEAP HANDOUTS MONEY IS THREATENING TO DERAIL MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR US INVESTOR’S RICE PROJECT IN SIAYA COUNTY

News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo

Negative politics and anti-development attitude of Siaya politicians is now threatening to derail a multi million investment by an American entrepreneur who has sunk close to Ksh. 10 billion in River Yala Swamp land reclamation project.

Mr. Calvin Burgess an American investor from Okhlohama, US has invested a lot of money in mixed Yala river swamp land measuring about 17,500 hectares in the farm which is located near Ratuoro in Central Alego, Siaya district, Siaya county.

Yala swamp land reclamation project is a multi purpose farm producing thousands of top grade rice, maize, beans, cotton, sorghum, millet, bee keeping, citrus fruits, fish ponds, and other cash crops.

The vast swamp land on both sides of Yala River is covering Bondo, Bunyala, Budalangi and Siaya district. Before Mr. Burgess started this multi billion dollar investment project the massive swamp, now farm land, was home to crocodiles, hippos, pythons, and highly poisonous snakes.

Dominion Farm Limited has now been turned into ultra-modern mixed farm which of late has become the hub of food production inside Luo-Nyanza. However, the work has not been going on smoothly as expected due to gross interference by lead politicians and some local NGOs, environmentalists and local civic leaders, who had turned this most important project into their punching box, thereby incessantly polarizing its progress and expansion.

The war of words intensified earlier this week after the outspoken Gem MP Washington Jakoyo Midiwo fired the first salvo by issuing threats that he will mobilize and lead a mob of ODM supporters to evict the company.

Meanwhile the Dominion Farm Limited has persistently come out to defend its clean record and dismissed numerous allegations of reneging on the agreement signed between it and the defunct County Council of Siaya and Bondo.

Midiwo’s threats prompted the nominated MP Dr. Oburu Oginga and Siaya County Commissioner Joseph Kimigwi to tell Midiwo off over his threats to lead the company’s eviction by the mob of ODM followers and supporters.

Oburu, the elder brother of the ODM party leader Raila Amolo Odinga said it is naïve to evict the investor who has sunk down Ksh. 10 billion in the Yala Swamp rice development project. The MP warned the County Reps and villagers who are reportedly harassing Dominion Group for cheap hand-outs, jobs and other goodies.

“Let us not fight the investor. This behaviour will scare away other potential investors” said the MP, adding that the Government of Kenya and Siaya County residents should instead protect the US Company which has also created job opportunities for thousands of locals.

Dr. Oginga said there are channels of addressing grievances raised by the residents and their leaders and which should be followed. “Because the investment is of great importance to Siaya County and cannot be wished away over petty issues”

“Such a multi billion shillings investment cannot be shut down at the whim of county leaders. It is inconcurrable”, said the administrators.

The commissioner defender the Dominican Group and vowed to beef up security around the project to thwart any attempt to disrupt its operations.

Mr. Kimigwi went on “ Infrastructure that has been brought up by the Dominican Group will always remain the property of the local community and residents should not just look at immediate gains or hand outs.

Midiwo had issued the threats to evict the US company for allegedly failing to comply with agreed and signed with the former County Council of Siaya and Bondo when it leased more than 6, 000 acres of the swamp land for a rice project.

Some local politicians demanded for fresh negotiations at the agreement arguing that the residents have allegedly been given a raw deal by the US multinational company.

The proprietor, Calvin Burgess, has however dismissed Midiwo’s claims saying the project has employed thousands of workers from the surrounding villages and locations both skilled and unskilled.

This US multinational firm has also revived the old ginnery in the region which went burst many years ago due to poor management by co-operative sorcery and is now encouraging cotton growing in the region

It has established the honey processing plant within its own compound. The firm is known to have freely supplied mosquito nets to the villagers in the malaria prone region for free.

Dominion has vehemently denied the allegations and claims that it is not helping the local RESIDENTS.

Ends

KENYA: STOP SUGAR IMPORT,GOVERNMENT URGED

To: “jaluo@jaluo.com”

By Agwanda Saye

Sugar millers in Western Kenya have asked the government to find measures of stopping he entry of illegal sugar into the markets that threatens their operations.

The Kenya Sugar Manufacture Association says there is an influx of cheap sugar crossing the border into the Kenyan market without paying necessary duties.

The association chairman Peter Kebati says the government needs to seal the loopholes at the border where illegal sugar passes into the country.

Kebati says the mills will be forced to reduce the cane price that now stands at Sh. 2,900 per tonne if the issue is not addressed by the government.

Addressing the press in Kisumu after their meeting, Kebati who is also the managing director of Mumias Sugar Company says that the government should advance funds for development of more cane.

He says there are numerous millers in Western Kenya but there is no effort to develop more cane for the mills.

Kebati noted that more research should be done in other areas in the country for expansion of the development of more cane.

Ends.

THE GOVERNMENT OF KENYA IS ACCUSED FOR BEING INSINCER WITH ITS EFFORTS TO REHABILITATE THE AILING SUGAR INDUSTRY

A Special Feature By Leo Odera Omolo

The government of Kenya is being accused of insincerity in its declared plans to resuscitate the ailing sugar industry. Instead the sugar sub-sector which, is so vital in the country’s economic growth, is said to have been neglected and turned to a milking cow.

A recent tour of the Nyanza sugar belt by the cabinet secretary for agriculture Felor Koskei has provoked sharp criticism of the government whose sincerity to introduce a crash programme for the rehabilitation of the sugar sub-sector is now put into a big question mark.

Koskei announced that five sugar mills which are currently in public investments and under the parastatal management would be privatized soon.

He said the move will be to comply with a resolution passed by parliament in January this year. The five sugar factories included Nzoia, Muhoroni, Sony Sugar, Chemelil and Miwani.

The five sugar companies are heavily indebted to the turned US 525 million with their annual books of account not very attractive.

Koskei issued a directive that sugar cane farmers may now be forced to sell their crops to any millers without zonal restriction. This he said will be on willing seller willing buyer basis.

The cane farmers in Western Kenya through Kenya Sugar Cane Growers Association (KESGA) have reacted angrily and vehemently opposed the new directive.

Sugar cane farmers view the new directive as aimed at protecting the errant millers at the expense of cane growers.

The farmers in the sugar cane growing regions said they have a feeling that if Koskei directive is implemented it will automatically trigger chaos worse than the current pathetic situation in which cane poaching crisis has threatened to cripple the sugar industry.

Koskei, they said has missed the point. How do the farmers who are specifically contracted to sugar companies that had advanced them with millions of shillings in land preparation and development loans deliver their harvests to other millers that did not invest a cent in the same crops development, even if they are offering better terms?

For a farmer too develop an acre of sugar cane from the land preparation to harvesting cost approximately between Ksh. 40, 000 and Ksh. 50, 000 respectively which poor farmer can not afford, hence for partnership with the millers who can only recover their money upon the farmer delivering the cane to the same miller, who had advanced the m with the land preparation and cane development loan.

The government is equally blamed for not having put in place certain binding conditions when signing contract with new investors in the sugar industry especially on issues related to the employment of top management staff in the sugar companies.

There are five privately owned sugar factories which are currently operational. In all the five with the exception of one, Miwani sugar Mills which went burst and presently under the official receivership, all top managers are foreign expatriates recruited from either India or Pakistan.

Local African staff and workers in those factories are only engaged to work as casuals without letters of appointments. Local Kenyans are employed but earning discriminative salary scales in comparison to their foreign counterparts

The expatriate are the one earning the highest salary scales, but not subjected to mandatory deductions such as NSSF and NHIF, while their counterparts (Africans} are forced to pay the mandatory deductions.

Expatriates are employed on petty and odd jobs such as time-keepers, store-keepers, junior account clerks, cane yard clerks, casuals, messengers, accountants, electricians tractor drivers, sweepers etc.

Salaries for the expatriate varied from Kshs 30, 000 up to 80,000 per month. The highest paid African worker earns between Ksh 6000 and Ksh 15, 000 per month, but without being issued with letters of appointment.

In actual sense this is purely case of new slavery when indignant Kenyan workers are being discriminated in their own country.

All the jobs specifications on which foreign workers are doing can easily be filled by local personnel.

Kenya has trained and turned out thousands of skilled workers, in excess of its industrial needs therefore does not require any foreign workers of the above mentioned categories.

The Indian sugar companies, it is being alleged, are said to be spending fortunes in the way of corruptly obtaining the work permit for the expatriate workers, which runs into millions of shillings.

The Indian owned factories incTrans-Mara lude Butali, West Kenya, Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries, Trans Nzoia, Mara Sugar Companies and Miwani Sugar Mills. All are located in Western Kenya.

Some of these rules stipulates among other things that the new mills must be established at a distant of not less than 40 km apart from the existing one, cut the invest must provide to the KSB with evidence that they had acquired enough land acreage for sourcing continued cane supplies to avoid scrambling and cut throat cane poaching.

These r KSB regulations are defiantly and flagrantly ignored by excessively arrogant Indian investors and hence the source of discontent leading to near violence cane poaching that has been witnessed in Western province and in the Nyanza sugar belt and also Awendo sugar cane growing zone which Sony Sugar is violently competing for cane harvesting with Sukari Industries and Trans Mara Sugar Companies as located less than 15 km apart.

ENDS

THE CATHOLIC TEACHING ON DIVORCE

From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013

The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste reader from New York who has requested that we hide her identity writes: “Sir, I have read your article on German bishops and I fully support them that divorced and remarried Catholics should be allowed to receive Holy Communion.

Even here in USA the divorce cases are high. I have been divorced for 9 years now and got married to another man but our Pastor here insists I cannot be allowed to wed in the church again or receive the Communion because during our first wedding we vowed that only death can separate us.

I filed the divorce case and the court allowed us to divorce. We have formalized our marriage civilly but the Pastor says the Catholic Church maintains that our first marriage is still valid and therefore cannot be allowed to wed with this man in the church.

I am fed up and sometimes I just regret why I became a Catholic. Sir I am deeply stressed and confused, yet I desire to continue receiving the Holy Communion. Otherwise thank you very much for raising this issue. Please I request you hide my identity”.

The sentiments of this lady from New York are the same with many divorced and remarried Catholics. Many would like to be allowed to receive the Communion. This is not possible because while the Catholic Church teaches that divorced Catholics can receive the sacraments, Catholics who have been divorced and remarried civilly cannot.

In the Catholic Church we do not talk of divorce but an annulment. Divorce and annulment is not the same thing; they differ in two ways: First, divorce is a civil law decree from the state, whereas an annulment is a canon law decree from the Church.

In other words, the state issues a marriage license; and the state issues a divorce decree while the Church celebrates the Sacrament of Matrimony; and only the Church can issue a Decree of Nullity (otherwise known as an annulment). This is because the Church does not believe in divorce.

The main reason for getting an annulment is that the sacrament of marriage wasn’t valid. Unlike divorce, an annulment is usually retroactive, meaning that an annulled marriage is considered to be invalid from the beginning almost as if it had never taken place.

Most annulments are based on canon 1095. It gives three conditions that would make a person unable to contract marriage from mental incapacity: (1) who lack the sufficient use of reason; (2) who suffer from grave lack of discretion of judgment concerning essential matrimonial rights and duties which are to be mutually given and accepted;
(3) who are not capable of assuming the essential obligations of matrimony due to causes of a psychic nature.

Canon 1096 further states thus: 1. For matrimonial consent to be valid it is necessary that the contracting parties at least not be ignorant that marriage is a permanent consortium between a man and a woman which is ordered toward the procreation of offspring by means of some sexual cooperation.

Error concerning the person also renders marriage invalid (Canon 1097). For example, a man may marry believing the woman to be the mother of his child, a fact which later proves erroneous. If that was the direct and primary reason he married her then his consent was conditioned by that quality.

Or, a woman may believe she is marrying into a certain family, and that quality of her fiancé is the principal and direct reason for marrying him. The motive may be specious, but it determines her consent.

Marriage based on a condition concerning the future can also not be contracted validly (Canon 1102) A condition can also be made based on past and present behavior, even though it concerns the future. For example, a man marries a woman with a past drinking problem based on her promise to live soberly.

A marriage is also invalid if it is entered into due to force or grave fear inflicted from outside the person, even when inflicted unintentionally, which is of such a type that the person is compelled to choose matrimony in order to be free from it (Canon 1103)

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, offenses against the dignity of marriage included adultery (Cat. 2380). Adultery refers to marital infidelity. This is when two partners, of whom at least one is married to another party, have sexual relations – even transient ones – they commit adultery.

Adultery is an injustice (Cat. 2381). This is because he who commits adultery fails in his commitment. He does injury to the sign of the covenant which the marriage bond is, transgresses the rights of the other spouse, and undermines the institution of marriage by breaking the contract on which it is based.

On divorce, since the Lord Jesus insisted on the original intention of the Creator who willed that marriage be indissoluble (Cat. 2382), it explains why Catholic teaching is against the divorce.

It explains further, why divorce is a grave offense against the natural law (Cat. 2384). Divorce claims to break the contract, to which the spouses freely consented, to live with each other till death.

Divorce is immoral also because it introduces disorder into the family and into society (Cat. 2385). This disorder brings grave harm to the deserted spouse, to children traumatized by the separation of their parents and often torn between them, and because of its contagious effect which makes it truly a plague on society.

Pastors must know that, for the sake of truth, they are obliged to exercise careful discernment of situations and should not act rigidly. Where the Pastor cannot solve it is always advisable he refers the matter to the canonists.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole
Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ
UN Disarmament
Conference, 2002

KENYA: A MAASAI WOMAN AND HER CHILDREN HOLD HOSTAGE BY LIONS

A TERRIFIED MAASAI WOMAN WHO LOCKED HERSELF IN THE HOUSE AS THE PRIDE OF SIX LIONS FEASTED ON THE FAMILY BULL

Reports Leo Odera Omolo

A Kenyan Maasai living close to the famous and popular tourist destinarion in Kenya, the Maasai Mara is counting its losses after a pride of six adult lions and their cubs invaded their homestead and killed one fat bull.

The beasts made a break into highly fortified Manyatta home and jumped into the cattle pen,. A young housewife and her young children were asleep when the incident occurred. Her husband was away at the time of the incident leaving the family behind at home, which is located close to the Mara Game Reserve,

The lions imposed a dawn to dusk curfew and held the family hostage for close to ten hours. After accessing the cattle pen. The woman said she was terrified when she opened her door during the day break only to find the six lions and their cubs feasting on the carcase of the family bull they had killed. She quickly locked the door and could not raise the alarm fearing the beasts on hearing any commotion w could be provoked to attack her and her children, The children were still sleeping and It didn’t alert them.

The woman and her children fearing they would be terrified on seeing the lions wondering in the homesteads next to their doorstep. She stay put inside the Manyatta until the neighbors, who sensed that something was wrong in the home, came. The neighbors wondered why the family cattle were still locked inside the pen whle the herds of cattle from the neighboring home were grazing outside They came with crude weapons such as arrows and speakers and chased the lions away . The beasts escaped into the nearby thicket and disappeared in the forest and game reserve. The woman and her family were late rescued by the neighbors. Mrs Christine Nakola 43 year old mother of six children.

The neighbors might have wonders that something is a miss, because there were no human movements in the usually crowded Manyatta, while the family herds of cattle were still locked in their pen.

Ends

KENYA’S NEWEST WHITE SUGAR MILLING FACTORY EXPECTED TO START WORK NEXT JULY

Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Kenya is expected to commission its tenth white sugar processing factory next July. This will place the country to a near self-sufficiency in sugar products. Already the country has nine sugar mills most of them are located in the sugar growing region in Western part of the country.

Once fully operational, the new sugar mill, which is currently under construction in the Coastal district of Kwale will help the country cut-down its perennial deficit in sugar preproduction for its domestic requirement and needs.

Available statistics shows that Kenya is currently producing close to 500,000 of made sugar, while domestic needs stands at about 700,000 tons annually. This leaves about 200,000 tons, which the country is sourcing from foreign countries. At the present the bulk of these imports come from Egypt, a country which is outside the Preferential Trade ArEA for East and Southern African countries [COMESA}. However it has since been discovered that Egypt is a country which is producing less sugar for its domestic supplies, but only imports the commodity from Brazil, which in turn is re-exporting to Kenya.

Sugar products sale into the domestic and international market would boost the economy. The firm which is constructing the new factor is called Kwale International Sugar Company Limited [KISCO} The firm is expected to invest about USD 200 million which is equivalent to KJSHS 17 .1 billion. The project is also expected to generate 80 megawatt of electricity with 25 per cent being used to the plant and 75 per cent to be used for water supplies to the mill, and the rest would be connected to the national grid.

The new factory is expected to go into production on or about July 24, 2014 when its products would be introduced into the regional and local market. The project director Mr Harsil Kotwxha was recently quoted by the media as saying that that because sugar cane takes a year to mature in the coastal region due to unfavorable weather, compared to between 18 and 24 months in other sugar cane growing zones in Western KENYA.

The firm is currently embarked in constructing green field system of sugar cane growing. It started land preparation and cultivation in 2010 through the cultivation and plugging of a 5000 hectares nucleus estate farm.

The entire project is expected to cost Kshs 17.1 billion. It was launched by the retired President MWAI kibaki in 2007. It is owned by members of a family of business men through their family business flagship IPabari investment.

Endshich undertook the initiative following the collapse of Ramisi Sugar factory in 1980,which later sold 25 per cent share equity to Omni Sugar.

The project was partly financed by CPC/Stanbic and the PTA bank. At the same time about 1,200 local farmers were registered as the cane out growers. They have so far put about 4000 hectares of land read for sugar cane plantation2. The government of Kenya had leased 15,000 hectare of land for the same purpose..

Ends

SUGAR CANE FARMERS FROM LUOLAND TELLS MUHORONI MP AND CRONIES OFF OVER SUGAR CANE ISSUES.

By Our Reporter.

SUGARCANE farmers in Nyando, Muhoni and parts of Nyakach Districts within Kisumu Kisumu County have welcomed the newly proposed Muhoroni Sugar Factory Receiver Managers saying the duo Dr Hezron McObewa and Oda Wakwabi will alleviate problems of cane farmers within the region.

McObewa is the current CEO of National NGO’s Council Board and runs a chain of hotels,schools, hospitals, orphanages and rescue centres while Wakwabi is the former Mumias Out growers CEO.

The farmers said they want managers who have knowledge in sugar industry like the two and called on Muhoroni MP James Onyango Koyoo and the man who contested Kisumu Senatorial seat James Ocholla Ogoda to cease interfering with the smooth operations of cane factories and farmers within the region..

They distanced themselves from the recent sentiments of Kenya Sugarcane Growers Association Secretary General Richard Ogendo who said that said the right procedure was not followed in selecting the candidates saying they are that was hired by Ogoda and Koyoo to attack Macobewa and Wakwabi .

“We know that Koyoo has taken a lot of money from some quarters promising them the said positions but has now backfired that’s why he is employing such underhand deals and he thinks Mcobewa can sponsor a candidate to challenge him as Muhoroni MP”said Joshua Owuor who is one of the farmers from the region..

He added that no any farmer stormed out of the meeting 500 farmers stormed out of the said meeting adding that many farmers had demanded to know what Koyoo and Ogoda have done to the farmers from the region

“Ogoda is fighting McObewa because he was the chief financier of Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma and he became distant last during the interviews for Kisumu Public Service Board, I think that’s why he is fighting back thinking that McObewa had a hand in his rejection” they added

Wakwabi is said to have been rewarded by her close ally Billy Wanjala who chaired the Selection Committee of the Receiver Managers.

The farmers want the current managers Asa Okoth and Thomas Makeni out of the factory.

“The incoming Receivers Managers they can do commendable job,given their diverse administrative background ,they can pay farmers their bonuses and we hope they will pay Sh 300 million out of the Sh 500 million tax debt to KRA,” the farmers said.

The farmers also opposed the plan to disband Kenya Sugar Board saying it should left to regulate the sector.

“We want the government to let the farmers to be in charge of the sugar sector,” they added.

He said only a few individuals have been mandate to control the sugar sector hence minting money at the expense of the farmers.

“The state owned mills’ board must be reformed as required in the sugar sector to eradicate corruption,” Ogendo said.

On privatization, the farmers have demanded a share of 51 percent saying they are the key contributors in the sugar sector.

They warned both Koyoo and Ogoda that they risk facing the wrath of famers if they continue to incite idlers and outsiders who have no interest in cane farming against the incoming receiver managers was witnessed recently when they ferried people from as far as Siaya and Migori Counties and portrayed them as cane farmers during a recent Kenya Sugar Board meeting .

“Koyoo was elected by cane farmersand he should be very careful what he does to farmers as we are capable of making his leadership ungovernable” they added

KENYA: THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ABOLISH THE INCOMPETENT KENYA SUGAR BOARD

COmmentratry by Leo Odera Omolo

It is very encouraging that the government of Kenya has declared its reform exercise of its parastatals and other loss making – quasi-government organizations. However the inefficient and perennial loss making Kenya Sugar Board should be scrapped and axed and another vibrant body be established to perform the KSB duties.

The board was created by an act of parliament a few years ago to look after the sugar s-sub sector. At the time of its inception the performance of the industry was well, but gradually this got derailed such that it is not effective in making what used to be a robust industry almost totally collapsed.

The reasons for the decay in this important dub-sector include {1} Composition of a new board that include farmer representative elected more or less along a line similar to that of electing ward representatives to the regional assemblies. At the present electoral system, it is doubted if the farmers have got adequate and effective representation for improvement of their lot.

{2} The current Kenya Sugar Board has failed to achieve equity in financial returns from three tire industry. To – date there is no operating sugar cane payment formula and the poor farmers are so disadvantaged, especially when they have ineffective representation.

The sugar industry in this country could borrow a leaf from Mauritius or South Africa. In the Indian Ocean island of Mautirius, after all made sugar has been sold, about 75-76 per cent of the proceeds are given to the raw cane owners and 24-25 per cent shared by other stakeholders. In this way availability of raw material, cane is assured and there is equity.

As regards COMESA rule, total production of sugar in COMESA countries put together is far less than total consumption in the same region. He Sugar board has not addressed importation of sugar from Comesa countries, which are well known to produce much less than their domestic consumption.

In general, operation of the sugar regulating board should be devolved and placed under County Agriculture docket for close supervision.

In general, operations of the KSB should be devolved and made to fall under County. It is worth noting that this institution has changed names many times. Good agricultural work appear to be conducted in this institution. Effective extension programs need to be created to disseminate research findings to improve the industry. The institution, however should encompass work related to sugar factory as is done in the other sugar research institutions in Mauritius. Research should go to factory level as well. Composition of the board should include people with relevant professional experience, and strictly not seconded civil servants. All the parastatal sugar factories in this country have been run-down. From that time appointments of CEOs had little bearing on professional suitability. Selection criteria of CEOs must be reviewed. The same should go for departmental heads.

Ends

KENYA: ATWOLI AND COTU HAVE FAILED KENYAN WORKERS

By our special correspondent

The sentiment expressed by a section of Western Kenyan leaders who have asked the Kenya Sugar Boards Chief Executive Rosemary Mkok to Resign has received the backing of sugar cane farmers in Nyanza.

A cross section of farmers in the sugar cane farming fraternity there is a teaching that the KSB CEO should pack and go home due to what they termed as “incompetency, inefficiency and poor management style.

Western province Mp who included Kakamega senator Bonny Khalwale, Mwingi West MP Benjamin Wachiali, Mumias West Johnson Nakoccaa an Lugari MP Ayub Savula in a joint statement released in Kakmega last Friday called on the KSB CEO to take responsibility for the problem taking the Sugar Industry in this country.

The \Western leaders were speaking during the stakeholders meeting held at Mumias Sugar Company Guest House.

The team warned that “Sugar Industry was on the verge of fatal collapse because of Mkok’s poor leadership”.

The KSB which is the regulatory body in the sugar industry had irregulsrlym licensed millers to operate in various parts of their region without meeting the mandatory requirements which stipulated in the law and that is why the sector is in the present mess.

The regulation guiding the establishment of new sugar mills have been ignored and violated with impunity hence the source of intensive scrambling for the raw cane.

It stipulates that the new mills might be located about 40 kilometers from the existing for the purpose of maintaining smooth supplies of raw cane.

The regulation was flagrantly violated by the KSB when it licensed both West Kenya and Butali Sugar Mills very close to each other.

In Southern Nyanza the Sukari Limited at Wachara in Ndhiwa is only 10 km from the Awendo based Sony Sugar while at the same time another Sugar factory in Trans Mara is less than 20km from each. This has been the source of excessive cane poaching.

Meanwhile workers within the Sugar Industry in Western Kenya have placed the blame about the woes in the sugar sub-sector of the economy on the unrealistic policy and practice of Cotu (k)

The workers blame the Secretary General Francis Atwoli for having failed the workers in the sugar industry in particular and in the agriculture sector as a whole. Atwoli is fond of double speaking and has contributed largely towards the workers endless problems in this country.

Atwoli is the secretary at the Kenya Union of Agriculture and plantation. He has clandestine interest in the Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation Workers (KUSPW) whose secretary general is Francis Wagara while the union chairperson is Mrs Roslida Atwoli. It has become a family business.

Atwoli has failed to kick out foreign workers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh who now forms the best part of staff in the Sugar Mills. All the sugar Mills owned by Indian Investors have imported hundreds of foreign workers. Some not even justified for the farm jobs they are holding can be filed by the local Kenyans.

These Mills included Butali, West Kenya, Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries , Sukari industry in Ndhiwa and Trans Mara Sugar. Factory in Narok Countty.

Foreigners are engaged on petty subordinate jobs general office clerks, time keepers, store – keepers, junior clerks, account clerks, messengers, cleaners, mechanics, electricians e.t.c. these categories of jobs can be filled by Kenyans.

The attack on COTU (K) and Atwoli came as realization to his support for the de-regeneration of Buteli at West Kenya Sugar Companies in Kakamega County.

Speaking during a fundraising meeting at Chekalini Secondary School in Lugari Constituency where he supported the blamed move by members of the National Assembly to de-register Butali out then key as saying that some of then licenses to the millers were uncalled for..

Anyone supporting the existence of the two factories is encouraging corruption, he said, abutting Mumias Sugar Man can employ and support over 200,000 people it allowed to thrive without competition.

Atwoli also came in to time for having failed miserably from his vain attempt to block the introduction of mechanized tea plucking machine in Kericho, Bomet, Bituli and Nandi Hills, tea growing regions. These machines were introduced a couple of years ago hence rendering close to 20,000 workers who plucked tea manually further deep then Atwoli vehement opposition to the man, which included a failed strike.

The COTU (K) should stop the mechanized tea plucking machine that instead of interfering with the workers in the Tea industry first before poking his nose into the sugar industry

Ends

Rifts emerge in scientists’ views on safety of GMOs

From: Yona Maro

Claims of there being a scientific consensus that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are safe are misleading and misrepresentative with potentially dangerous effect on regulation of GMOs, says a group of scientists.

The statement was signed last week (21 October) by an international group of 93 scientists, academics and physicians, gathered under the umbrella of the European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility, a non-profit association.

Based on scientific articles and reviews that show contradictory data on the safety of GMOs to human health and the environment, they argue that claims of there being a consensus that GMOs are safe, presented by “GM seed developers and some scientists, commentators, and journalists”, is “misleading and misrepresents the currently available scientific evidence and the broad diversity of opinion among scientists on this issue”.

It could also encourage “a climate of complacency that could lead to a lack of regulatory and scientific rigour and appropriate caution, potentially endangering the health of humans, animals, and the environment”.

Scientific research on GMO safety “has raised more questions than it has currently answered”, they say, with results that are “nuanced, complex, often contradictory or inconclusive, confounded by researchers’ choices, assumptions, and funding sources”.

Link:
http://www.scidev.net/global/gm/news/rifts-emerge-in-scientists-views-on-safety-of-gmos.html

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KENYA: THE GOVERNMENT IS URGED TO BEEF UP SECURITY POLICE PATROL ALONG THE NANDI-LUO BORDER

Reports Leo Odera Omolo

SECURITY along the Nandi-Luo border should be improved in order to save the lives of people now being killed every night. The situation now calls for urgent action by the higher authorities on both sides of the border to restore peace and calm.

Borders within Muhoroni sub-county is getting worse day by day. The residents have now appealed to the government to beef up police security night patrol. At the same time, politicians, especially MPS who are representing area close to the border area have been asked to hold public meeting and educate their constituents on the importance of living in peace and harmony, and to find the way o f resolving the land disputes amicably.

The people, who are believed to be member of terror gang from Nairobi, last Saturday night raided the small Police post at Ruga near Chemelil and attacked the policemen with arrows, machete and other crude weapons. The gang injured one policeman forcing his colleague to retaliate resulting in the three member of the gang being shot dead. The rest fled and disappeared under the dark cover.

The raid on the police post was staged at about 1.30 AM.

This attack came only a few hours after the revelers in a pub, which is located at Kibigori were forced to take cover following arrow attack by unknown people. Kibigori is an old, but a small town situated along the Kisumu-Nakuru railway line, but on the Kisumu Countryside.

The revelers were mainly a group of school teachers who were returning home after attending the colorful burial of their slain colleague Mr. Abira, the retired former head teacher of Nyakoko School and a Kisumu based businessman. He was shot with an arrow and killed by the Nandi youths two weeks ago. The incident took place when the retired teacher had gone to Chepsweta area to inspect his sugar cane. The deceased was given a warm send off in at the burial which attracted hundreds of friends, well-wishers and relatives at his Kajulu home. His killers have yet to be arrested.

As the teachers were enjoying their refreshment in a small bar, unknown people fired poisoned arrow into the pub. As they run helter-skelter, the bar owner went out to check in the darkness as to what was happening outside. He was shot with the arrow and another man followed suit.

No arrest has been made so far no arrest has been made.

The Kisumu Regional Commissioner Ms Lorna Odero is the only senior government official who has visited the area and preached peace to the two communities. of the border.

On the Nyanza side of the border only Muhoroni MP James OyangoK”oyoo has toured the troubled areas. He told the two warring communities to live in peace. But his Nandi Hill counterpart has yet to be seen in the area. K”Oyoo told the two communities to love one another and live-in peace and harmony.

Sources in both Muhoroni and Chemilil have confided to this writer that the latest flare up which has brought about the insecurity situation along the border between the two communities is abut some old and outstanding land disputes. One community is claiming that farms, owned by large scale farmers and those under the Settlement Schemes, were originally their ancestral land.

Settlement schemes in areas like Muhoroni, Songhor, Koru, Fort-Tennan,Kimwani were opened shortly after independent in 1965.These were the areas previously known as the White Highland, which were large scale mixed farms and belonged to the departed white settlers.

Ends

Kenya: IS THE ODM – WIPER COALITION HEADED ONTO THE ROCKS?

Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

SIGNS are emerging out of Luo-Nyanza indicating that relations between the Orange Democratic Movement [ODM] and the Wiper Democratic Party may be heading onto the rocks.

This could be judged by the recent events in which Members of Parliament who had won their parliamentary seat on MARCH 4, 2013 elections on WDP tickets have been placed under political siege, and are reported to be having it rough.

Both the ODM and WPD are the leading component of the CORD coalition, which also brings together other smaller parties. ODM is headed by Raila Odinga, while the WDP is under the leadership of the former Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka.

The symptoms of the rapidly widening gap and differences between the two partners surfaced during last week homecoming party for the Alego-Usonga MP Omondi Muluany. The gathering appeared to have been boycotted by senior ODM politicians in Siaya County. The only ODM luminaries in Siaya County who attended the party included Nicholas Gumbo, The MP for Rarieda and his Bondo counterpart Gideon Ochanda.

Muluany was elected on WDP ticket. Before this homecoming party, the legislator had faced rowdy ODM youth who confronted him and shouted him down during the Mashujaa DAY event held in Siaya town the previous week,

Senior ODM politician who were notably absent included Siaya Senator James Aggrey Orengo, Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo and his two counterparts from Ugenya and Ukwala constituencies. Also absent from the gathering was Dr. Oburu Oginga the former Bondo MP and several Ward representatives from the various parts of Siaya County. The minority leader in Parliament Nyenze from Ukambani was the only senior politician from outside Luo-Nyanza who attended the gathering.

Another MP who is said to be under siege is Fred Kopiyo [Awendo}. He too was voted into parliament on a FORD Kenya ticket. The MP who is prior to his election was living in a rented house within Awendo Town is reported to have relocated to and is now occupying a rented house near Rodi-Kopany within Homa-Bay Town constituency due to pressure mounted by ODM youth in Awendo. He is reported by sources to be as rare visitor to Awendo Town

The same sources say Kopiuypo these days changes his mode of travels whenever he is visiting his rural home which is in Sakwa West Location within Awendo district. He changes vehicles at the nearby Rongo town before he proceeded home where he is reported to be putting up an ultra modern house, which is still under the construction.

Reports emerging from Awendo says that an ugly incident recently occurred at the CDF office, which is also used by the MP as his constituency office when it was invaded by a group disillusioned and frustrated ODM youth who caused a fierce fighting. The attackers are said to have gone to the office with intention of forcefully ejecting the manager and workers out of the office. The fracas left several people inured and needed medical attention. Those who sustained bodily injuries included the MP’s personal assistant {PA}

Unconfirmed reports say the MP”s constituents are finding it difficult to communicate their messages to home because his cellphones are permanent switched off. They included the Ward representatives from the various locations within the constituency. The MP also sent his donations towards funeral gathering during the burial of his fallen constituents through emissaries. The MP could not be reached for his comments over these allegations as his two phone lines are permanently switched off.

The majority leader in the Migori County Johnson Omolo Owiro who represented Central Sakwa Ward is the one who is now handling most problems within the constituency because the MP is nowhere to be seen.

Owiro, the former chairman of the defunct Awendo Town Council confirmed in a phone conversation with this writer that he is also finding it difficult to communicate with his MP, but he is not nursing any ill=feeling towards the legislator and only wished well. He denied the rumor and speculations making the round that he is nursing parliamentary ambition, and might be a candidate for the seat in 2017. Kopiyo used the ticket of the PDP party of Omingo Magara after having losing the ODM ticket during the party’s primaries to his populist challenger Walter Sirawa.

Those politicians in Luo-Nyanza who the elections using other party tickets including those parties which were perceived to be friendly to the ODM and CORD have found the going difficult to integrate smoothly with their ODM colleagues and are therefore in political dilemma.

KOyoo is currently giving sleepless to the manager of the sugar mills which are located within his Muhoroni constituency, and who he has persistently accused of fleecing sugar cane farmers on their harvested cane crops and for the unnecessary delays in paying out raw cane bill after the deliveries.

However, there is only one Luo MP who has defied these political machinations and has integrated well with his ODM parliamentary colleagues. This is the Muhoroni MP James Onyango K”Oyoo. This is due to the fact that the outspoken MP is one of the shrewdest Luo politicians in the 11th Parliament.

Ends

KENYA: EIGHT PEOPLE SUFFERED FROM THE ROGUE JALUO LEOPARD ATTACKS

Writes Leo Oder Omolo

Eight people were still nursing bodily injuries following the recent attack by a rogue male leopard, which had strayed into Muhoroni sub-county. The animal was first sighted at Nyaroche farm, which belonged to the former cabinet Minister the late DR.Wuilliam Odongo Omamo near Kimwani in the Songhor Valley. It had attacked and killed several goats sheep and a cow.

There it was scared away by the KWS officials who made an abortive attempt to have it trapped with food in vain.. But it evaded the trapping and run across the hilly and rocky region into a bush at a place near Got Alils where it went into hiding for some days. Got Alila is situated along the Nyando River in villages separating Kisumu and Kerixho Counties. But when the leopard resurfaced at Kapsimwi village a group of people went around trying to kill it. A police officer was among those who sustained injuries in a fight with the cunning animal as he tried to shoot it with his rifle. .7he leopard has disappeared and went into hiding at the nearby hill and rock village causing fears rgar since it was shot at and missed, the residents are now living under the fear that it could sprung back and strike anyone in sight. This fear has placed the residents of the area under dusk to dawn curfew making people not to dare go outside their houses after dark.

KWS officials believe this animal might have arrayed out of the nearby Nandi forest.AT the same time the people who live along the shorelines of Lake Victoria have of late been complaining bitterly about the alarming increases of cases of Hippo attacks and killing of fishermen Such incidents were recently reported in Bondo,Rarieda and Rusinga Island as well in Rachuonyo North district where farmed are complaining that herds of Hippos were frequently invading their farms and destroying food crops in the farms lying along the lake’s shoreline and have asked the government to look for the lasting solution as well as promptly compensate the families of who have been killed by the animals.

Ends

Kenya: Launching of the Banana Sector Development Strategy

From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)
PRESS RELEASE
Date: Wed, Oct 23, 2013 at 9:31 AM
Subject: Kenya: Launching of the Banana Sector Development Strategy: More than 300 experts will convene in Nairobi to discuss key issues affecting the banana sector

Experts to chart the way forward for a stronger banana sub-sector at inaugural Banana Conference

More than 300 experts will convene in Nairobi to discuss key issues affecting the banana sector

NAIROBI, Kenya, October 23, 2013/ — More than 300 experts including top leaders from the Ministry of Agriculture, agricultural research institutes, non-governmental organizations, regional bilateral institutions, development partners, financial institutions and farmer organizations will convene at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) Headquarters, in Nairobi to discuss key issues affecting the banana sector. The conference is themed: “Fostering Partnerships for an Improved Banana Subsector in Kenya” and is jointly convened by the Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers (KENFAP), the Banana Growers Association of Kenya (BGAK) and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) (http://www.agra.org).

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/agra.jpg

Highlighting the government’s increasing recognition of the banana sub-sector’s contribution to food security and income generation, Hon. Felix Koskei, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Development will officially launch the Banana Sector Development Strategy during the conference.

“The government is proud to launch Banana Sector Development Strategy and participate in today’s conference. We look forward to increased incomes and food security for growers from a strengthened banana sub-sector,” says Hon. Koskei.

Delegates will focus on how best to address issues hampering the growth of the banana sub-sector and jointly identify practical solutions that will facilitate a more coordinated banana sub-sector. Specifically, the delegates will evaluate the value chain from production to post harvest management, marketing and value addition through processing.

“AGRA is proud to be associated with the Banana Growers Association of Kenya as it is providing an important platform to making a real difference in the productivity and profitability of smallholder banana growers in Kenya. AGRA will continue working with the BGAK and other stakeholders to improve the banana value chain – from supporting the production and uptake of improved planting materials to promoting better postharvest management practices such as quality grading, storage and collective marketing,” says Jane Karuku, AGRA President.

Through its Farmer Organizations Support Center in Africa (FOSCA) and Market Access Programs, AGRA is supporting 23 produce aggregation centers across Kenya, owned and managed by farmer groups where they come together to learn about the need to start with quality planting materials and good soil fertility, effective postharvest management and collective marketing. These groups have been connected to the mobile money network and this has greatly increased their access to real-time price information and convenience in transacting with buyers. This initiative has seen both the productivity and profitability of banana farmers rise.

“The BGAK aspires to grow from strength to strength as the voice of the banana smallholder farmer in Kenya. This conference is just the beginning in encouraging networking and collaboration among all stakeholders to improve the banana value chain for the growers and various consumers, including processors,” says Thomas Mwangi, Chair, BGAK.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

About the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

AGRA (http://www.agra.org) is a dynamic partnership working across the African continent to help millions of small-scale farmers and their families lift themselves out of poverty and hunger. AGRA programs develop practical solutions to significantly boost farm productivity and incomes for the poor while safeguarding the environment. AGRA advocates for policies that support its work across all key aspects of the African agricultural value chain from seeds, soil health and water to markets and agricultural education.

AGRA’s Board of Directors is chaired by Kofi A Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations. Ms Jane Karuku, former Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General of Telkom Kenya, is AGRA’s president. With support from The Rockefeller Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the UK’s Department for International Development, USAID and other donors, AGRA works across sub-Saharan Africa and maintains offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Accra, Ghana.

For more information, visit http://www.agra.org

About the Banana Growers Association of Kenya (BGAK)

The Banana Growers Association of Kenya (BGAK) is the apex association of banana farmers in Kenya formed in 2010. It is registered under the Societies Act, Laws of Kenya CAP 108. It is a membership association which serves as a platform for banana farmers to articulate issues affecting them and the banana industry at large while trying to seek timely redress with relevant authorities. BGAK focuses on strengthening the voice of smallholder banana growers in Kenya and has countrywide scope focusing on all the banana growing areas in Kenya.

For more information, visit http://www.dynamiccreations.org/banana/

SOURCE
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

KENYA: CHURCH FOUNDATION TO IMPROVE LIVELIHOODS

To: “jaluo@jaluo.com”
By Chak Rachar

AFRICAN Churches Foundation has embark on various community projects to improve the livelihoods of those people living in extreme poverty.

The Chairperson Bishop Phoebe Onyango said the foundation is undertaking subsistence farming in the seven constituencies of Kisumu county to ensure food sufficient.

Bishop Onyango disclosed that the foundation is training the residents on new farming methods after which they provide them with farm inputs.

She said the foundation also support education sector by funding the feeding programs and access to clean water in various schools in the county.

Onyango said the foundation targets the orphans and vulnerable children from the seven constituencies adding that they provide them with food and medical assistance.

She said the county has a population of 968,909 with 226,719 households saying that 45% of the populations are living below the poverty index.

The leader said the foundation also empowers women and youth economically to enable them start up small business activities.

Onyango asked the churches in the county to support the agricultural initiatives launched by the foundation to reduce food insecurity among the poor.

Speaking yesterday during the church leaders meeting in Kisumu, Onyango said churches have been lagging behind in development agenda.

The leaders were drowned from Muhoroni, Nyando, Kisumu West, Seme, Kisumu Central, Kisumu East and Nyakach constituencies.

Onyango called church leaders to initiate various development activities that can change the lives of the poor communities.

END

Kenya: Africa grain experts to explore the continent’s potential as the next frontier in global grain supply at 5th African Grain Summit

From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)
PRESS RELEASE

Africa grain experts to explore the continent’s potential as the next frontier in global grain supply at 5th African Grain Summit

MOMBASA, Kenya, September 30, 2013/ — Over 250 top leaders from Africa including business executives from the private sector, including farmers, traders and millers, non-governmental organizations, development partners, financial institutions, researcher government representatives, regional bilateral institutions, and policymakers will convene from the 1st – 3rd October 2013 to discuss key issues affecting the African grain sector. This will be at the 5th Africa Grain Trade Summit, hosted by the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) (http://www.eagc.org) at the Sarova-Whitesands Hotel, Mombasa, Kenya. The Summit’s theme is “Africa: The Emerging Frontier for Global Investments in Grain Trade.”

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/eagc.jpg

The summit is timely as global focus shifts to Africa’s potential to feed itself and feed the world. Africa with an estimated population of 1 billion people and an area of 30.2 million km² is home to seven of the world’s 10 fastest growing economies with a projected economic growth rate of 6%. Additionally, the continent has a youthful population, a rich resource base, rising incomes and a steadily growing private sector: all these factors make for a healthy and attractive investment environment.

At this year’s summit, delegates will focus on advocating for a predictable agricultural trade policy and price environment which facilitates public private partnerships and stimulate increased investments along the grain value chain. Additionally, opportunities for innovation and technology adoption to address constraints and increase agricultural investments in Africa will be explored as will means of optimizing intra-Africa market access by dismantling barriers to trade. Delegates will also discuss how to scale up agribusiness financing for Africa’s grain trade through Structured Trading Systems.

“The summit will be setting the stage and opening doors through establishing essential linkages and new and increased investments in grain trade in Africa,” says the EAGC Executive Director, Mr. Gerald Masila.

“AGRA is happy to be associated with the Africa Grain Summit as it will help in charting the way forward on resolving the issue on postharvest grain losses which are currently at 40% in sub-Saharan Africa. By stemming these losses we can help to increase farmers’ incomes,” says Mrs Anne Mbaabu, Director of AGRA’s Market Access Program.

During the summit, the first ever Structured Trading Systems Handbook will be launched and is envisioned as being a game-changing tool in grain trade in Africa and beyond.

This year’s Summit has received support from the Alliance for Green Revolution in Agriculture (AGRA), the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA), the Agribusiness Initiative Trust (ABI), the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), The East Africa Trade Hub (formerly known as USAID COMPETE), CARANA Corporation, Seaboard Overseas and Trading Group, Tradiverse Kenya Limited, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Bunge East Africa Limited, Capital Reef Kenya Limited, the East Africa Breweries Limited, Cimbria East Africa, Intertek Commodities Ltd, Lesiolo Grain Handlers Limited, Cereal Growers Association, Mama Millers Ltd, Post-Harvest Services Limited, Farm Concern International, Uplands Rice Millers and the recently established East Africa Exchange (EAX) based in Kigali, Rwanda.

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of Alliance for the Eastern Africa Grain Council – EAGC.

For more information on the summit please contact;
Janet Ngombalu
Regional Manager, Marketing Information Systems and Communications
Eastern Africa Grain Council – EAGC
Tel: +254 712 733418 or +254 737 804104
Email: jngombalu@eagc.org, africagraintradesummit2013@eagc.org

About Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC)

The Eastern Africa Grain Council (http://www.eagc.org) is a regional organization with membership drawn from across the Eastern and Southern Africa. Members of the Council cut across the Grain value chain and include all the key players in production, trade and processing in nine (9) countries across Africa including Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, South Sudan, and Ethiopia.

Some of our key services include warehouse receipting systems, market intelligence systems and evidence-based policy advocacy for an enabling policy environment. The Council works very closely with governments in the region, regional economic blocs like the EAC, COMESA and SADC and also development partners to address the various challenges in food security.

http://www.eagc.org – http://www.ratin.net – http://www.graintradesummit.com

About the 5th Africa Grain Trade Summit

The Africa Grain Trade Summit is a premier biennial premier international event organized by the East Africa Grain Council and brings together key grain industry stakeholders over 25 African countries, and both regional and global organizations.

SOURCE
Eastern Africa Grain Council – EAGC

Policy Brief on Agricultural Finance in Africa

From: Yona Maro

The policy brief builds upon the analysis of policy issues and the formulation of recommendations emanating from the Making Finance Work for Africa (MFW4A) Zipping Finance and Farming in Africa Conference held in Kampala, Uganda in June 2011. The document provides a set of policy recommendations designed to help promote the expansion of agricultural finance in Africa. The brief focuses on specific agricultural finance policy measures that can make the biggest difference in expanding access to financial services for producers, agribusinesses and other agricultural value chain participants within the African context.

Link:
http://www.ruralfinance.org/fileadmin/templates/rflc/documents/Policy__Brief__mfw4a.pdf

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Agricultural Innovation Systems A Framework for Analysing the Role of the Government

From: Yona Maro

This report reviews recent trends in agricultural innovation systems (AIS) and discusses the impact of a wide range of policies on the creation and diffusion of innovation in the agricultural and agrifood sector. It suggests a framework for analysing the role of governments in fostering increased innovation, with a view to helping to identify practical actions that governments could take to improve productivity growth, sustainable use of resources, and resilience to future market developments in national and global agriculture and agri-food systems.

OECD, June 2013

Also available in: French

Link:
http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/agriculture-and-food/agricultural-innovation-systems_9789264200593-en

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