Winrock International’s Post

Fetsi Data Technologies, we are committed to improving the agricultural landscape through comprehensive skills training. As an end-user organization, we recognise the critical importance of equipping farmers with the knowledge and skills needed to adapt to the challenges posed by South Africa's ongoing water crisis and fluctuating rainfall patterns. Why Skills Development Matters: 🚜 Resilience in Adverse Conditions: With changing climate conditions and a lack of consistent rainfall, it's vital for farmers to adopt sustainable farming practices that conserve water and maximise crop yield. Our training programs focus on techniques such as drought-resistant farming, efficient irrigation methods, and soil management practices. 💧 Water Management Solutions: In a country where water scarcity is becoming increasingly severe, our training empowers farmers to implement effective water conservation strategies. By learning how to utilise resources wisely, farmers can maintain productivity and sustainability even in challenging conditions. Community Empowerment: We believe that skills development is key to building resilient communities. By equipping individuals with the necessary skills, we not only enhance their livelihoods but also contribute to the broader goal of food security in South Africa. 👩🌾 Support for Local Farmers: Our training programs are designed with the local context in mind, ensuring that farmers can apply what they learn to their unique challenges and environments. Together, we can promote sustainable agricultural practices that benefit everyone. Join us in our mission to empower the agricultural sector and build a more resilient future for South Africa! For more information about our skills development training programs, visit our website or contact us directly! #SkillsDevelopment #SustainableAgriculture #WaterCrisis #FetsuiDataTech #Empowerment #FoodSecurity

ZM: Zambia and USA Sign $458 Million “Farm-to-Market” Compact to Boost Agriculture and Agro-Processing The Governments of Zambia and the United States have signed the $491.75 million Zambia Farm-to-Market Compact, a partnership designed to strengthen Zambia’s agriculture and agro-processing sectors. The compact, supported by $458 million from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and an additional $33.75 million from Zambia, aims to address key challenges such as reducing transport costs for farmers, improving access to agricultural finance, and driving policy reforms to attract private investment.

At the recently concluded ICT4D in Accra, I shared a panel with thought leaders on sustaining local partnerships to accelerate and scale ICT tools for rural agriculture. Research, understanding the eco-system, user-led design and locally-led partnerships are core principles that should guide the development of ICT tools for rural populations. #ICT4D #ruralagriculture #principlesofdigitaldevelopment #viamo

https://lnkd.in/dxrwFmf4 The empowerment was carried out through 311 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) for smallholder farmers in Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Niger states. USAID USAID - Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance USAID/Zambia USAID/Zambia USAID Takunda USAID Agricultural Trade Diversification Program Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/ Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada Agriculture

Certainly! Agricultural development in Papua New Guinea (PNG) faces several challenges and trends. Let’s delve into some of the key issues: 1. Logistical Challenges: The poor transport network and lack of organized markets and market information discourage small farmers. High logistical costs hinder efficient agricultural operations. 2. Climate-Related Hazards: PNG experiences weather extremes and hazards due to climate change. Recently, frost brought by El Niño has affected one-third of the population, impacting agricultural productivity. 3. Subsistence-Based Agriculture: Although agriculture forms the foundation of PNG’s economy, much of it remains subsistence-based. The existing agriculture information system is fragmented and outdated, necessitating updates and user-friendly data. 4. Population Growth: With a growing population, there is increased pressure on agricultural resources and land. Balancing food security and sustainable practices becomes crucial. 5. Unrealized Potential: Despite its rich natural resources, subsistence agriculture has not reached its full potential. Addressing this untapped capacity is essential for PNG’s development. In summary, PNG’s agricultural sector grapples with these challenges, but strategic planning, investment, and sustainable practices can pave the way for improved agricultural development. 🌱🌿🌾

New Funding Competition🌱: Climate-Smart Agriculture Partnerships: UK-Brazil-Africa🌍 Apply for up to £30,000 to deliver a Scoping Project to build trilateral networks and identify opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing to promote climate-smart agriculture for sustainable food production systems in Ghana and Nigeria🌾 The trilateral partnerships identified in Scoping Projects will accelerate the development, adoption and scaling of technologies and practices that promote climate-smart agriculture for sustainable food production systems in Ghana and Nigeria🌿 🚨Apply by the 2 October 2024: https://ow.ly/2RZN50T2PBT Join the LinkedIn group to discuss this programme and competition further: https://ow.ly/3Ycc50T2PBS The Climate-Smart Agriculture Partnership: UK-Brazil-Africa is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and delivered by Innovate UK #ClimateSmartAgriculture

Read our session at the just-ended #ICT4D conference panel on Digital innovations in Agriculture. thanks to Joshua Mbai and the team at Development Gateway: An IREX Venture team.

Investing in farming in Africa can be a promising venture due to the continent's vast agricultural potential and growing demand for food. Here are some tips to consider: 1.     Research and Understand Local Conditions: Africa is diverse in terms of climate, soil types, and crops suitable for different regions. Conduct thorough research on the specific location you're interested in, considering factors like water availability, soil fertility, and climate patterns. 2.     Choose the Right Crop or Livestock: Select crops or livestock that are well-suited to the local environment and have a proven market demand. High-value crops such as fruits, vegetables, and cash crops like cocoa or coffee can be profitable. 3.     Invest in Infrastructure: Infrastructure such as irrigation systems, storage facilities, and transportation networks are crucial for successful farming operations in Africa. Improving infrastructure can enhance productivity and market access. 4.     Adopt Sustainable Practices: Sustainable agriculture not only conserves resources but also meets consumer demands for environmentally friendly products. Consider practices like organic farming, water management, and soil conservation techniques. 5.     Build Local Partnerships: Collaborate with local farmers, cooperatives, or agricultural associations to leverage local knowledge, access markets, and navigate regulatory frameworks effectively. By carefully considering these factors and seeking local expertise, investing in farming in Africa can contribute to sustainable development while potentially yielding attractive returns. #agricinvestments

Having traverse the Agric landscape of Nigeria, I and my team have come to four (4) main conclusions. That is: 1. We need a comprehensive private sector approach to make agriculture sustainable for small scale farmers. 2. We need to localized this comprehensive private sector approach as a food systems hub in every Local Government in Nigeria and Africa-wide. 3. We need to back this comprehensive approach up with a technology that will have 360° view on the network of comprehensive food systems. 4. We need to aggregate this smallholder farmers into a cooperative movement under a National Federation of AgricTrail Farmers' Cooperative Society Limited Our idea of a localized comprehensive food systems hub stems from a combination of several past initiative of successive government interventions in Agriculture development. These are: 1. Agriculture Development Project (ADP) with core approach as *Extension and Technical Services* 2. The Nigerian Agricultural and Cooperative Bank (NACB) of Nigeria with core focus on *funding agric cooperatives and promoting cooperative movement* 3. The commodity boards of the 70's focused on *standardising & regulating prices of farm produce* 4. DFFRI - Directorate of Food, Road & Rural Infrastructure focused on *construction of rural infrastructure such as schools, health clinics, and rural roads* 5. National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) focused on *acquiring Agricultural Land, developing it with agric infrastructure, and making it available to farmers.*

Africa is Far, Still... California Expertise Can Help #newyorktimes #nytimes #petercoy #africa #agriculture #california #sbalt Writing in the New York Times, Peter Coy observes an interesting anomaly in agri-development in Africa. While rate of growth of agri-output in sub-Saharan Africa has far outpaced the growth of agri-output in the world as a whole, certainly a very welcome statistic, the productivity of agri-labor, agri-equipment, agri-inputs in Africa has seriously lagged the world. Of course, the high-capital-and-tech-intensive agriculture in USA and California is different from Africa. Yet, there are lessons that can be transferred from California to Africa. We at SBALT hope such knowledge transfer will accelerate. https://lnkd.in/gYd7EEUD