Agricultiva (Water & Food Security Sector)’s Post

🚜 Beyond Agriculture: Farmer Sphere’s Impact on Post-Harvest Loss Reduction 🌍 In Kenya, 40% of all food produced is lost post-harvest, representing not just a waste of valuable resources, but a missed opportunity for improved livelihoods. Farmer Sphere is here to change that. We are redefining how agriculture works, extending our impact across multiple sectors: 🐟 Aquaculture: Keeping fish and seafood fresher for longer with solar-powered vacuum packaging. 🍗 Poultry: Ensuring meat products maintain their quality from farm to market. 🍅 Vegetables and Fruits: Addressing one of the biggest challenges for smallholder farmers—spoilage, with solar drying, cold storage, and smart packaging. We focus on cross-cutting solutions that have wide-ranging applications across agriculture, tackling the critical issue of post-harvest loss not just in Kenya but with a vision for Sub-Saharan Africa. Our technologies provide clean energy-powered preservation, making them accessible, affordable, and sustainable. But it’s not just about technology—it’s about people. Farmer Sphere empowers smallholder farmers, particularly women farmers who represent a significant part of the agricultural workforce. By giving them the tools to preserve, package, and access new markets, we are helping to uplift communities and create long-term economic resilience. 💡 The Bigger Picture: Farmer Sphere is part of a broader movement to reshape food systems. By reducing losses, we create more food security and boost incomes for farmers, all while building an ecosystem that can be scaled across Africa’s diverse agricultural environments. 🌍 A Vision for the Future: The future of agriculture is collaborative, sustainable, and inclusive. At Farmer Sphere, we’re proud to play a key role in driving this transformation, one innovation at a time. Join us as we build a more resilient, food-secure future for Africa. #FoodSecurity #PostHarvestSolutions #SustainableFarming #AgriTech #Aquaculture #PoultryFarming #Vegetables #Fruits #Kenya #Africa

Unlocking the Power of CEA: A Case Study As we prepare to launch our cutting-edge controlled environment agriculture (CEA) operations in Kenya, we're inspired by success stories demonstrating the transformative potential of this farming method. One standout case study comes from the greenhouse capital of the Netherlands - where CEA technology is revolutionizing agricultural productivity. Certhon, an industry leader in greenhouse solutions, helped establish a state-of-the-art semi-closed greenhouse facility for Lans Tomaten, a premier tomato grower. By leveraging CEA, they overcame common farming challenges: 🌡 Climate Control: Precise regulation of factors like temperature, humidity and CO2 levels created optimal growing conditions year-round. 💧 Water Efficiency: Their recycled water system reduced freshwater consumption by a staggering 35%. 🌱 Higher Yields: Data-driven growth recipes and sustainable crop management increased tomato yields by over 20%.  🍅 Superior Quality: Removing external factors like pests enabled production of premium, residue-free tomatoes for export. Through CEA, Lans Tomaten could grow more food using fewer resources in a climate-resilient manner. This model is a harbinger for the future of food production worldwide. At Green Planet Agritech, we're inspired to replicate such sustainable successes here in Kenya. Our advanced hydroponic facilities will similarly leverage CEA principles and technology to cultivate nutrient-rich "green gold" crops like microgreens and basil efficiently. The time is ripe for an African-led agritech revolution! We're excited to pioneer this game-changing approach and contribute to domestic food security and economic growth sustainably. Follow our journey at: https://lnkd.in/eaHQMNX8 as we strive to feed future generations sustainably. #CEAKenya #CEAFarming #GreenhouseAgriculture #FoodSecurity #SustainableAg #Microgreens #Basil #FarmingForTheFuture #GlobalImpact #GreenPlanetAgritech

How can small-scale farmers in Africa thrive in the face of extreme weather events? In our latest study, we explore how agroecological farming practices can protect smallholders in #Tanzania from #droughts and #floods. Our findings show that indigenous crops like sorghum and traditional diversification strategies—such as crop-tree integration, intercropping, and crop-livestock systems—help improve food availability and dietary diversity after extreme weather events. The full article is available here: https://lnkd.in/dPYg8xZw Roos Haer Marcel Birules Niklas Hänze #ClimateResilience #FoodSecurity #Agroecology #TraditionalAgriculture #SustainableFarmingSystems

The Importance of Weedicides in Sri Lankan Agriculture 🌱🌾🌴 Weeds are one of the biggest challenges faced by farmers in Sri Lanka, particularly in cultivating key crops like rice, tea, and vegetables. Weedicides play a vital role in ensuring sustainable and efficient agricultural practices. Here's why: 1. Improved Crop Yields: Weeds compete with crops for essential nutrients, water, and sunlight. Effective use of weedicides ensures higher productivity by eliminating this competition. 2. Time and Labor Efficiency: Manual weeding is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Weedicides provide a quicker and more efficient solution, reducing costs and efforts for farmers. 3. Prevention of Pest Habitats: Weeds often serve as breeding grounds for pests and diseases. By controlling weeds, farmers can minimize the spread of crop-damaging infestations. 4. Environmental Conservation: Properly applied weedicides help maintain soil fertility and prevent the excessive use of water resources by reducing weed growth. This is crucial for Sri Lanka's agricultural sustainability. 5. Ensuring Food Security: By enhancing crop health and reducing losses, weedicides contribute to food security, supporting the livelihoods of millions of Sri Lankans who depend on agriculture. A Balanced Approach - While weedicides are essential, it’s important to use them responsibly. Farmers must follow safety guidelines, use the correct dosages, and prioritize eco-friendly options to minimize environmental impacts. By incorporating weedicides wisely, Sri Lanka can boost agricultural productivity and ensure a greener, more prosperous future for its farming communities. #agriculture #weedicides #srilankafarming #sustainablefarming

As the #CBD #COP16 came to a close in Cali, Columbia, I was in Kisumu, Kenya at the #FRNconvening on #agroecology and farmer-led research, learning about biodiversity-abundant food and farming systems. Seeing is believing, and here are the insights I gleaned from farmers like Ruth (pictured here) whose t-shirt says it all: 🌻 Biodiversity-abundant farming systems protect nature, are more resilient, and increase food and nutrition security  🌻 Farmers, researchers and their organizations are working together to build healthy soil, create bioprotection solutions and bioinputs, and reject peddlers of expensive, harmful agrochemicals  🌻 Farmer-led research results in practical on-the-ground and in-the-field solutions to solve real problems in collaboration with researchers. Bioinput trials, seed improvement and varietal trials, erosion control have resulted in higher yields, more self-sufficiency, and bigger vegetables and more resilient crops 🌻 Farmer-to-farmer leadership and training spreads information and new approaches through communities 🌻 Agroecological markets are developing, and prices are matched to their conventional counterparts to increase access to healthy food and value-added products 🌻 Connecting agroecology, integrated landscapes, permaculture, and natural farming principles and approaches results in biodiversity-abundant food systems 🌻 Networks-of-networks and deep partnerships are transforming the future of food #AFSA #HealthySoilsHealthyFood #APCMNF Agroecology Fund PELUM Kenya Association McKnight Foundation  #Eldoret #KALRO #BioGardeningInnovations(BIOGI)

🌾 Climate-Resilient Crops: A Game-Changer for Kenya's Food Security 🇰🇪 As a food scientist deeply invested in Kenya's agricultural future, I'm thrilled to share some groundbreaking insights on climate-resilient crops and their potential to revolutionize our food security landscape. 🌱 Recent research from the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) has unveiled promising results: ➡️ High-yielding, drought-tolerant varieties of pearl millet, sorghum, and pigeon peas have shown a staggering 55% increase in yield compared to local varieties. ➡️ These resilient crops are producing an average of 1,037 kilograms per hectare, even in Kenya's challenging drylands. For our small-scale farmers, who form the backbone of our agricultural sector, this is nothing short of a breakthrough. Here's why: 1️⃣ Increased Resilience: These crops can withstand unpredictable rainfall patterns, ensuring a stable food supply even in tough times. 2️⃣ Improved Livelihoods: Higher yields translate to better income for farmers, fostering economic stability in rural communities. 3️⃣ Nutritional Security: Diversifying crop options enhances dietary diversity, a crucial factor in combating malnutrition. But adopting these crops is just the beginning. To truly secure Kenya's food future, we need a holistic approach: ✅ Enhance seed distribution networks ✅ Provide comprehensive training on best practices ✅ Implement supportive policies for small-scale farmers ✅ Ensure gender-responsive approaches in agricultural initiatives As we navigate the challenges of climate change, embracing these innovative solutions is not just an option – it's a necessity. Let's work together to build a resilient, food-secure future for Kenya. What are your thoughts on climate-resilient crops? How can we accelerate their adoption across the country? #ClimateResilientAgriculture #FoodSecurity #KenyanAgriculture #SustainableFarming #DroughtTolerantCrops

The African agricultural industry is evolving, and 2024 has been a year of groundbreaking innovations in tomato and pepper cultivation. At PSF Vegetables, we are proud to be part of this movement. Here are the top trends that defined the year: 1️⃣ Precision Agriculture: Farmers are leveraging data-driven tools to monitor soil, water, and crop health for optimized yields. 2️⃣ Hybrid Seeds Dominance: Resilient tomato and pepper varieties combat pests, diseases, and climate challenges. 3️⃣ Greenhouse Farming Expansion: Protected cultivation is increasing productivity and quality across Africa. 4️⃣ Post-Harvest Innovation: Cold chain solutions and sustainable packaging reduce spoilage and extend shelf life. 5️⃣ Sustainability Focus: Composting, drip irrigation, and reduced chemical use drive eco-friendly practices. At PSF Vegetables, we embrace these innovations to ensure high-quality produce while preserving the planet. Which of the trends were you aware of in 2024? What trends are you excited to see grow in 2025? Let’s continue shaping Africa’s agricultural future together! #HorticultureInnovation #AgricultureInAfrica #PSFVegetables Belkis Abisola Akanbi, M. Olusola Sowemimo, Chidinma Ezeh, Jean Claude NIYOMUGABO, MICHAEL OLAYEMI PMP®, B.Agric, M.Agric, MIAN

Feeding 10 billion people by 2050 demands a radical rethinking of how we grow food. In the developing world, where populations are growing the fastest, the challenge of meeting basic nutrition needs is compounded by shrinking arable land and limited resources. Intensive farming emerges as a crucial strategy, optimising yield per unit area and leveraging modern techniques to produce more food with less land. Nutritional requirements in third-world populations require a diverse set of crops that provide essential vitamins and minerals. Intensive farming systems can incorporate crop rotation, intercropping, and fortified crops to address micronutrient deficiencies, which remain a persistent issue in many underdeveloped regions. Land scarcity adds another layer of complexity. Urbanisation and industrial expansion are consuming fertile lands at an alarming rate. Vertical farming, hydroponics, and precision agriculture can serve as scalable solutions, enabling high-yield crop production even in confined spaces. These methods minimize land use while enhancing productivity, making them particularly relevant for densely populated regions. On a global scale, hunger affects over 800 million people today. Intensive farming offers a path to sustainable food production by integrating data driven techniques such as soil health monitoring, pest control optimization, and efficient water use. Large-scale adoption of these practices can significantly reduce food insecurity and bridge the gap between supply and demand. While intensive farming is not without its challenges, it is a solid strategy to combat hunger in a world with finite land and growing populations. #GlobalHunger #Agriculture

Reimagining Africa’s Agricultural Future: A Call for an Agroecological Revolution Africa's worsening food crisis demands a new approach to agriculture, one that goes beyond the conventional methods that have failed to deliver food security across the continent. According to... [...] #AgricultureFuture #AgroecologicalRevolution #ReimaginingAfrica Read more... https://lnkd.in/dKhQS4y9

From Forest to Feast: Witness the Victory Rice Farms Journey Witness the remarkable transformation of a pristine swampy forest in Okobo Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State into a thriving rice farm at Victory Rice Farms. Our video showcases the meticulous process behind cultivating high-quality rice, prioritizing sustainable practices that benefit both our consumers and the planet. At Victory Rice Farms, we believe in responsible farming. Our journey emphasizes: Environmental Stewardship: We carefully considered the environmental impact of our farming practices, minimizing disruption to the local ecosystem. Sustainable Cultivation: We employ eco-friendly methods that nurture the soil, conserve water, and reduce our carbon footprint. Quality Assurance: From seed selection to harvest, we adhere to rigorous quality control measures to ensure our rice meets the highest standards. Consumer Focus: We are dedicated to providing our customers with the finest, most flavorful rice while upholding ethical and sustainable farming principles. Join us as we share the story of Victory Rice Farms and our commitment to producing exceptional rice that nourishes both bodies and the environment. #VictoryRiceFarms #FoodSecurity #ZeroHunger #GlobalFood #SustainableAgriculture #AkwaIbomAgriculture #BackToFarm #SustainableFarming #HealthyEating #MadeInAkwaIbom #NigeriaRice #LocalFood #SupportLocalFarmers #ClimateSmartAgriculture #Agritech #FarmToTable #RiceCultivation #FarmingLife #HarvestSeason #RuralLife #Countryside #NatureLovers #FAO #Agriculture #ClimateAction #RuralDevelopment #IFAD #EndHunger #SustainableDevelopmentGoals #SmallholderFarmers #AfricanDevelopmentBank