south africa – B4FA http://theb4fa.org Biosciences For Farming in Africa Wed, 11 Oct 2017 11:23:57 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 South Africa: farmers speak out against new plant bills http://theb4fa.org/south-africa-farmers-speak-new-plant-bills/ http://theb4fa.org/south-africa-farmers-speak-new-plant-bills/#respond Sat, 30 Sep 2017 15:49:59 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=13670 “Seed is something that is sacred. Seed is life. In our tradition, it is about culture, identity; it’s about sharing … If everything is for sale, when will it stop?” asked Rifqah Tifloen at a public hearing on the Plant Improvement Bill and the Plant Breeders’ Rights Bill in Port ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/south-africa-farmers-speak-new-plant-bills/feed/ 0 Initiative to build African science journalism capacity http://theb4fa.org/initiative-build-african-science-journalism-capacity/ http://theb4fa.org/initiative-build-african-science-journalism-capacity/#respond Wed, 27 Sep 2017 15:52:41 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=13645 A two-year programme has been launched to build capacity of science journalists and improve science coverage in Africa.
It was launched this month (1 September) with the aim of recognising the important role of science journalism in promoting Africa’s socioeconomic development.
The project is being funded by the African Academy of Sciences ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/initiative-build-african-science-journalism-capacity/feed/ 0 Agric agencies need more resources to fight Armyworm – Scientists http://theb4fa.org/agric-agencies-need-resources-fight-armyworm-scientists/ http://theb4fa.org/agric-agencies-need-resources-fight-armyworm-scientists/#respond Tue, 29 Aug 2017 17:01:02 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=13482 The government has been urged to better resource agencies under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) if it is serious about avoiding another widespread destruction by the Fall Armyworm.
Dr. Audrey Vanderpuye of the School of Agriculture at the University of Cape Coast says the Plant Protection and Regulatory ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/agric-agencies-need-resources-fight-armyworm-scientists/feed/ 0 Zimbabwe and SA lose 1 million chickens to bird flu http://theb4fa.org/zimbabwe-sa-lose-1-million-chickens-bird-flu/ http://theb4fa.org/zimbabwe-sa-lose-1-million-chickens-bird-flu/#respond Wed, 09 Aug 2017 15:22:45 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=13354 Zimbabwe and South Africa have lost over one million chickens to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), it has been learnt.
The disease hit the two countries recently, threatening the livelihood and food security status of millions of families.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) confirmed the development in a statement after a ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/zimbabwe-sa-lose-1-million-chickens-bird-flu/feed/ 0 SA suffers from fragmented policymaking in agriculture and food security http://theb4fa.org/sa-suffers-fragmented-policymaking-agriculture-food-security/ http://theb4fa.org/sa-suffers-fragmented-policymaking-agriculture-food-security/#respond Mon, 15 May 2017 10:57:07 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=12773 One of the findings from the entre of Excellence in Food Security’s (CoE) Agro-food value chain, regulation, and formal and informal livelihoods project, coordinated by Dr Shane Godfrey and Dr Gareth Haysom from the University of Cape Town, is that, despite much of the power in the South African food ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/sa-suffers-fragmented-policymaking-agriculture-food-security/feed/ 0 Uganda: Armyworm – how prepared are we? http://theb4fa.org/uganda-armyworm-prepared/ http://theb4fa.org/uganda-armyworm-prepared/#respond Wed, 12 Apr 2017 11:02:53 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=12529 B4FA Fellow Michael Ssali writes:
Joseph Mayengo a smallholder farmer at Manja Village Kisekka Sub-county in Lwengo District suddenly discovered that his maize crop was under attack by strange looking caterpillars.
They had perforated holes in the leaves and in the stems, and it was clear that there was little chance for ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/uganda-armyworm-prepared/feed/ 0 Digital transformation in agri-business required to safeguard African food supply http://theb4fa.org/digital-transformation-agri-business-required-safeguard-african-food-supply/ http://theb4fa.org/digital-transformation-agri-business-required-safeguard-african-food-supply/#respond Mon, 27 Mar 2017 12:04:40 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=12416 African food security is under threat from a confluence of climate change, severe drought, water scarcity and a destructive fall armyworm invasion. But, says Lawrence Kandaswami, Managing Director, SAP South Africa, there are technology tools at hand to help solve Africa’s food security problems.
“Smart Farming solutions will become the cornerstone ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/digital-transformation-agri-business-required-safeguard-african-food-supply/feed/ 0 Plowing a new path for female farmers in South Africa http://theb4fa.org/plowing-new-path-female-farmers-south-africa/ http://theb4fa.org/plowing-new-path-female-farmers-south-africa/#respond Mon, 13 Mar 2017 15:42:28 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=12319 As the first South African to win the prestigious Nuffield Agricultural Scholarship, Thato Moagi is shattering the stereotypes of what it means to be a young black woman and a female African farmer. Women & Girls spoke to Moagi about her career, her expectations from the Nuffield Scholarship, and her ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/plowing-new-path-female-farmers-south-africa/feed/ 0 Fall armyworm threatens livelihoods in Africa http://theb4fa.org/fall-armyworm-threatens-livelihoods-africa/ http://theb4fa.org/fall-armyworm-threatens-livelihoods-africa/#respond Tue, 28 Feb 2017 17:42:51 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=12214 African plant and animal disease experts held a crisis meeting in Harare last week on the spiraling fall armyworm outbreak which is destroying maize crops and posing a major threat to food security and agricultural trade in east, central and southern Africa.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation together with the ...

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]]> http://theb4fa.org/fall-armyworm-threatens-livelihoods-africa/feed/ 0 Operation Phakisa to transform agricultural sector http://theb4fa.org/operation-phakisa-transform-agricultural-sector/ http://theb4fa.org/operation-phakisa-transform-agricultural-sector/#respond Tue, 28 Feb 2017 17:32:57 +0000 http://theb4fa.org/?p=12211 The government unveilled the Operation Phakisa segment that focuses on agriculture, land reform, and rural development. This segment is meant to enhance and transform the agricultural sector while accelerating land reform.
The programme will review existing producer support models and develop finance models aimed at fast-tracking land reform, given the ...

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