Panagrimedia’s Post

In 2021 in #Tanzania, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) & Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (#TARI) released 4 improved hybrids of “matooke” cooking banana, known as TARIBAN 🍌 3 years later, farmers of the Kazinga village in Kagera region share insights on the changes brought by these varieties: ✅ TARIBAN bananas mature and bear fruit in just 6 months, compared to a year for traditional, local varieties 🍽️ They taste just like local bananas and are equally sweet and suited for cooking 🌞 These varieties thrive under challenging conditions while also resisting pests and diseases like banana black leaf streak, which can cause severe yield losses 📈 Farmers report steady and reliable production rates, with yields ranging from 18 to 35 tons per hectare per year, against 7 with old varieties With over 49,000 seedlings distributed by #TARI to date, demand for TARIBAN continues to rise, driving the establishment of new nursery facilities across Tanzania 📹 Watch the full story here: https://lnkd.in/dzqz2EZm #AcceleratedBreeding CGIAR #FoodSecurity #SustainableAgriculture

Burkina Faso Farmers Face Yield Challenges Amid Unsustainable Practices In the heart of Burkina Faso, market gardeners are grappling with a dual challenge: boosting their crop yields while navigating the pitfalls of unsustainable agricultural practices. A recent study led by Issouf Zerbo from the University Center of Ten https://lnkd.in/edBkM7nr

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐯𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 🌱☕️ Saidi Athumani and Elizabeth Mwazembe, a young couple and farmers from Itaka Ward in the Songwe region, Tanzania, have experienced a remarkable transformation thanks to our project. Initially relying on unproductive vegetable and tomato farming, they struggled to make ends meet with a coffee field yielding less than 60 kg of parchment coffee annually. Living in a rented house with minimal surplus from their harvests, their situation was challenging. 🥕🍅🏠 In 2019, they joined the Tunaweza Youth Group and participated in agronomy training. These sessions inspired them to improve 100 coffee trees on their farm, increasing their yield to over 300 kg in just three years. This boosted their annual income from 120,000 Tsh in 2020 to 1,380,000 Tsh in 2023. 📈💰 With the additional income, Saidi and Elizabeth built their own house and expanded their coffee plantation. 🏡🌳 Beyond coffee farming, they diversified their income sources. Saidi assists Elizabeth in her tailoring business, having purchased a sewing machine and fabrics. They run a thriving vegetable garden, practice composting and mulching, and invested in a water pump to support their crops. 🌽💧 The ICP project has profoundly impacted their lives, supporting them in transforming their farm and significantly improving their livelihood. Their journey demonstrates the power of agricultural training and innovation in achieving success. 🚀 👏 #Tanzania #Songwe #FamilyBusiness #Youth #Agriculture #Sustainability #YouthEmpowerment #CoffeeFarming #SuccessStory

Burkina Faso Farmers Face Yield Challenges Amid Unsustainable Practices In the heart of Burkina Faso, market gardeners are grappling with a dual challenge: boosting their crop yields while navigating the pitfalls of unsustainable agricultural practices. A recent study led by Issouf Zerbo from the University Center of Ten https://lnkd.in/edBkM7nr

The fresh produce export industry in Kenya is a million-dollar industry, with vegetables, fruit and nuts accounting for over USD266.3-million worth of export revenue in 2020. In the same year, Kenya exported 314 thousand metric tons of fresh horticultural products. The sector is largely led by off-takers and exporters registered under the Horticultural Crops Directorate, who mostly contract small-scale farmers across the country. While most of the challenges faced by aggregators are related to the shortcomings and inefficiencies in the small-scale structure of the Kenyan agricultural sector, other significant constraints include the low adoption of cold storage. Read about it here: https://lnkd.in/dpa2KA4A #ColdLinkAfrica #FreshProduceExportIndustry #Kenya #ExportRevenue

Namibia Can Produce 800 Tons of Avocados Annually, Saving N$16 Million! By Gabriel Nghiinomenwa-vali Lamanguluka Erastus Namibia has the potential to produce over 800 tons of avocados annually, which could save the country approximately N$16 million each year in avocado imports. This significant insight comes from the 2024 Market Intelligence Report by the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB). Investing in local avocado production not only supports our economy but also promotes sustainable agriculture practices within our nation. Let's leverage this potential and reduce our reliance on imports! Read the full article for more details. https://lnkd.in/dYr9K22k #Agriculture #SustainableFarming #Namibia #AvocadoProduction #LocalEconomy #GreenHorizonsNamibia

As global demand for processing potatoes surges, the Rural Development Administration

🌹 🇰🇪 Kenya's floriculture market is a critical segment of its agricultural sector, valued at USD 861.6 million in 2018 and projected to grow annually by 4.7% between 2020 and 2025. In 2020, the country produced 142,477.8 metric tons of fresh flowers, generating an impressive USD 1.09 billion. This vibrant industry not only boosts Kenya's economy but also provides direct employment to over 150,000 people and indirectly supports more than 500,000 through related goods and services. To sustain this growth, a robust plant variety protection system is essential. https://lnkd.in/dp9UUAi5

Exciting findings from a recent study on vegetable advisory services for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia! The research pinpointed the essential features that farmers are eager to pay fees for. The pre-print not only identified the preferred services but also estimated the Willingness to Pay (WTP) using a DCE approach. Valuable insights for enhancing agricultural support in the region.

We work closely with our partners both in government and private sector to ensure enhanced business for our members. Dr. Jackline Oseko of the Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD) earlier today discussed market access with specific focus on market expansion. We capture her presentation in below points: - In 2023, flowers accounted for 47% (by value) of horticulture commodities exported in 2023 compared to 71% in 2022 - Our traditional market is Netherlands. 41% of our flowers are exported to Netherlands and 2% to Australia. Other markets include the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Germany, Norway, Kazakhstan, and Switzerland among others. - Kenya is still a global player in floriculture, ranking among the top 3 flower producers globally Issues affecting the industry and trade: - Increased controls - High airfreight costs - Recent floods - The war along the Red sea - Stringent market requirements - Value add opportunities and products diversification #Sustainability #BoldBeautifulKenyanFlower