kenya – B4FA http://theb4fa.org Biosciences For Farming in Africa Tue, 03 Dec 2019 08:15:44 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 Nile water monitoring project launched http://theb4fa.org/nile-water-monitoring-project-launched/ http://theb4fa.org/nile-water-monitoring-project-launched/#respond Tue, 03 Dec 2019 08:15:42 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=18289 A US$5.5m (Approximately UGX20bn) project that will monitor water levels and flows in lakes and rivers across nine member countries of the Nile Basin has been launched in Kenya. It will be implemented and coordinated by the Nile Basin Secretariat based in Entebbe, Uganda. Experts from different institutions have hailed ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/nile-water-monitoring-project-launched/feed/ 0 Reality TV shapes up young farming in Eastern Africa http://theb4fa.org/reality-tv-shapes-up-young-farming-in-eastern-africa/ http://theb4fa.org/reality-tv-shapes-up-young-farming-in-eastern-africa/#respond Thu, 28 Nov 2019 14:07:15 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=18256 In Kenya, as in other African countries, young people often do not possess the collateral or adequate financial knowledge needed to venture into agricultural enterprises, deterring them from seeking and acquiring financial support for the development of agribusinesses. Further issues regarding the storage, transportation and market access of farm produce, ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/reality-tv-shapes-up-young-farming-in-eastern-africa/feed/ 0 What must be done to get toxin out of Kenya’s food supply http://theb4fa.org/what-must-be-done-to-get-toxin-out-of-kenyas-food-supply/ http://theb4fa.org/what-must-be-done-to-get-toxin-out-of-kenyas-food-supply/#respond Wed, 27 Nov 2019 14:00:09 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=18244 An exposé in Kenya has revealed that there are high amounts of a poisonous substance, known as aflatoxin, in many of Kenya’s popular maize flour brands. This is particularly worrying as maize flour is a staple food for most Kenyans. Part of the problem is in how maize is processed and distributed in ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/what-must-be-done-to-get-toxin-out-of-kenyas-food-supply/feed/ 0 FAO underlines role of forests in food security http://theb4fa.org/fao-underlines-role-of-forests-in-food-security/ http://theb4fa.org/fao-underlines-role-of-forests-in-food-security/#respond Mon, 30 Sep 2019 11:36:52 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=17970 The role of forests in supporting food security and nutrition in Africa remains largely under-researched, the Food and Agriculture Organization said.

FAO country representative Gabriel Rugalema said adequate attention has not been given at policy level to the link between forests and food security and nutrition.

“With food security and nutrition high ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/fao-underlines-role-of-forests-in-food-security/feed/ 0 Farm animals are the next big antibiotic resistance threat http://theb4fa.org/farm-animals-are-the-next-big-antibiotic-resistance-threat/ http://theb4fa.org/farm-animals-are-the-next-big-antibiotic-resistance-threat/#respond Fri, 20 Sep 2019 10:57:55 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=17897 Across the world, the antibiotics that farmers use to prevent illness in their animals are losing effectiveness as bacteria develop antibiotic resistance. According to new research, it’s a huge problem, one that’s been masked by a longstanding focus on the risk that resistant bacteria pose to humans instead.

This trend in the animal world carries a double ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/farm-animals-are-the-next-big-antibiotic-resistance-threat/feed/ 0 Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda utilize Kenya’s biotech research, while nation still bans GMOs http://theb4fa.org/ethiopia-nigeria-rwanda-utilize-kenyas-biotech-research-while-nation-still-bans-gmos/ http://theb4fa.org/ethiopia-nigeria-rwanda-utilize-kenyas-biotech-research-while-nation-still-bans-gmos/#respond Wed, 18 Sep 2019 10:43:32 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=17874 Countries like Ethiopia, Nigeria and Rwanda are increasingly using Kenya’s biotechnology research findings to guide their food security plans as strict laws discourage GMO crops at home.

The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) scientists said Kenya has become a testing ground for technologies that end up benefiting other nations.

They ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/ethiopia-nigeria-rwanda-utilize-kenyas-biotech-research-while-nation-still-bans-gmos/feed/ 0 Kenya launches Pan African research initiative to boost climate smart farming http://theb4fa.org/kenya-launches-pan-african-research-initiative-to-boost-climate-smart-farming/ http://theb4fa.org/kenya-launches-pan-african-research-initiative-to-boost-climate-smart-farming/#respond Tue, 17 Sep 2019 11:40:26 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=17862 Kenya has launched a Pan African initiative to train the next generation of scientists who will support ongoing efforts to boost climate resilient farming in the world’s second-largest continent.

Kenya-based Africa Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) in partnership with foundations inaugurated the first cohort of African scientists who will ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/kenya-launches-pan-african-research-initiative-to-boost-climate-smart-farming/feed/ 0 Ban on GM technology, biggest obstacle to food security, scientists say http://theb4fa.org/ban-on-gm-technology-biggest-obstacle-to-food-security-scientists-say/ http://theb4fa.org/ban-on-gm-technology-biggest-obstacle-to-food-security-scientists-say/#respond Mon, 16 Sep 2019 16:02:06 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=17855 The Kenyan government should embrace the use of biotechnology in order to boost food security.

According to scientists, the ban of Genetically Modified (GM) technology imposed in the country in 2012 has been the biggest obstacle to food sustainability.

The scientists have for the last ten years been carrying out successful Confined ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/ban-on-gm-technology-biggest-obstacle-to-food-security-scientists-say/feed/ 0 Poor seeds affecting food production, say experts http://theb4fa.org/poor-seeds-affecting-food-production-say-experts/ http://theb4fa.org/poor-seeds-affecting-food-production-say-experts/#respond Tue, 09 Apr 2019 16:40:25 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=17463 Director general  Eliud Kireger said the recycled seeds yield less than the newer hybrid seeds which the organisation has produced.

Research done by Karlo indicated that only 47 per cent of farmers were using the recommended seeds while fertiliser was being applied at 40 per cent of the accepted rates. Read ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/poor-seeds-affecting-food-production-say-experts/feed/ 0 Kenya farmers lose over Sh150 billion in post-harvest losses http://theb4fa.org/kenya-farmers-lose-over-sh150-billion-in-post-harvest-losses/ http://theb4fa.org/kenya-farmers-lose-over-sh150-billion-in-post-harvest-losses/#respond Wed, 27 Feb 2019 11:52:44 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=17346 Post harvest losses in Kenya are startling as revealed by recent stats from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS)

In 2017, Sh150 billion worth of food went to waste, tossed out or left to rot, a report that tries to track food waste has said. According to the National Bureau ...

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