AGRA

AGRA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enhance the agricultural transformation in Africa to create jobs, boost trade, strengthen resilience, and transform economies.

Through the MOU, AGRA and USDA intend to collaborate across several areas including: coordinating research on seed, soil and water technologies; training to ensure farmers have the capacity to be effective producers; enhancing each other’s existing programs and activities.

The work aims to benefit Africa’s smallholder farmers, their families and the food and agricultural systems. AGRA and USDA under the MOU plan to promote the adoption, application, and uptake of science and technologies and enhance African farmers’ access to markets and participation in trade.

AGRA’s Board Chair, H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, former Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, said this is a significant partnership that aims to further improve smallholder farmers’ potential.

“USDA has a wealth of experience in the agricultural sector and together, we will further address the issues around food and agricultural systems that will enhance people’s livelihoods. Together we will respond to national and regional food security and trade priorities. I’m confident that our collaboration will accelerate employment, trade and strengthen resilience across the African continent.”

“We are pleased to sign this MOU with AGRA to support inclusive agricultural transformation in Africa, enhance economic success for African farmers, improve food security and climate change adaptation and preparedness, and increase regional and international agricultural trade,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We hope this partnership between USDA and AGRA will lead to increased tools available to farmers everywhere, but particularly on the African continent, to sustainably increase agricultural production.”

Smallholder farmers will significantly benefit by leveraging USDA’s expertise, commitment, and support for Africa’s agricultural sector and AGRA’s existing research, knowledge and network in Africa. The combination between two great agricultural-focused organizations will see a significant impact to smallholders across Africa. AGRA and USDA will seek to provide farmers access to USDA’s extensive work on plant and crop breeding; its tools, technology and data that will make food and agricultural systems more resilient under climate change; and its new technologies and resources to improve food safety and reduce food loss and waste.

Young men and women in agriculture and agribusiness are critical for the sustainable future of the industry and much of the continent. A critical element of the MoU will see the partnership promote involvement of young men and women along the entire value chain using the partnership’s wealth of knowledge, resources, and experience in incorporating youth in the food and agricultural sector.

The MoU shines light on the importance of more funding for agriculture in Africa to ensure African countries can sustainably feed people across Africa. USDA continues to invest and raise the profile of the issues surrounding agriculture in Africa, especially in the build-up to COP27 in Egypt late in 2022.

Originally posted on: www.ippmedia.com

BY PAUL POLMAN, AGNES KALIBATA, AND SHENGGEN FAN MARCH 24, 2022 2:00 AM EDTPaul Polman, Agnes Kalibata and Shenggen Fan are Co-Chairs of the Food and Land Use Coalition. Polman is Chair of IMAGINE; Kalibata is CEO of the African Green Revolution Alliance; and Fan is a Professor at China Agricultural University

The potentially disastrous implications of the war in Ukraine for global food security are clear. The equally bleak implications of the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report for the resilience of the food system are even starker. Billions of people are on a trajectory towards hunger, poverty, and instability, driven by conflict, COVID-19, climate change, and rising food costs.

The world does not need more dire warnings. The burning question is: what are we going to do? In addition to providing urgent humanitarian support to those in need, the international community can take five concrete steps to alleviate the food crisis in the short-term and build a more sustainable and resilient global food system for the years ahead.

First, we must work to maintain the open flows of trade on which every nation depends for their food supplies. Trade barriers and export restrictions are damaging to all sides, and particularly in times of crisis—as the world learned in early 2020 when nations reacted to the arrival of COVID-19 by hoarding vital medical supplies, undermining global solidarity.

The spectre of protectionism is once again on the rise, with states including Hungary, Serbia, Indonesia and Turkey already restricting exports, including of flour and cooking oil, as war drives up the price of grains and other staples. Egypt’s temporary ban on wheat exports could be devastating for Yemen. A strong show of unity from leading states can mitigate short-sighted tendencies. The G7’s call on all nations to “keep their food and agricultural markets open” sets the right direction and must be held firm; the G20 must follow suit.

Second, even if Ukraine’s farmers are able to sow this season’s crop in the coming weeks, which is uncertain, it is highly likely that the world will still face shortages. We need to increase production appropriately in other regions of the world, sustainably and without delay.

In the E.U. and the U.S., there is an opportunity to reallocate land currently used to grow crops for biofuels (for energy) to the production of crops for food. Currently, one third of U.S.-grown corn and 3-4 million tons of E.U.-grown wheat go into producing ethanol for fuel, while a large proportion of American soybeans and European rapeseed are used for biodiesel. An urgent shift from biofuels to food production—linked to a broader strategic effort to increase renewable energy and reduce dependence on oil and gas—would be a win for both food security and the climate.

In Africa, it is urgent smallholder farmers can access the fertilizer and infrastructure they need, as well as financial support to withstand turmoil in the market. And across the world, including in China, broader increases in productivity and yields could be achieved by investing in soil health, agricultural innovation, and restoring degraded land. All this should be done in ways which protect critical ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands and peatlands. It would be a further tragedy arising from the conflict if the world rowed back from hard-fought environmental protections. There is no need to do so.

Third, countries should work together in good faith to share data and explore when and in what circumstances to release food from national stockpiles and granaries. National stockpiles have an often vital role to play in food and nutrition security; they can also be used judiciously at times such as these to reduce food prices and to alleviate humanitarian crises.

Fourth, beyond providing urgent humanitarian funding, we must give the poorest communities around the world the safety nets they need to get through this crisis, including in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. This includes debt relief; cash transfer programmes; increased support to smallholder farmers, including through access to credit schemes, markets and nutritious food; investment in rural infrastructure; and a major package of support to the most vulnerable nations to assist them with adaptation and resilience to climate change. The Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank are an opportunity for the world to unite on this agenda.

Last, the current crisis must catalyse an urgent transition to a stronger, more sustainable and equitable global food system for the long-term. Such a system would dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss; be much less reliant on fertilizers and pesticides, and render the existing ones much more effective and less environmentally damaging; be more circular and regenerative in approach; waste far less; and be structured around delivering the healthy diets that the world needs. This would include major reductions in meat consumption in affluent nations, and a redirection of food and agricultural subsidies to support the transition.

The conflict caught many off-guard; the food crisis need not. In a spirit of solidarity and collaboration we can strive to ensure nutritious food for all, even in the face of the current crisis and without pricing out the poorest, by empowering the agricultural communities who feed us and by building a system better equipped to withstand future shocks. The perils of the hour require moral leadership and foresight of the highest order from heads of state, business leaders, and society at large.

Originally posted on time.com

The Alliance for a Green Revolution (AGRA) and Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) announced partnership to accelerate investments and support for climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation.

Launched at COP26, AIM for Climate is a UAE-US joint initiative. At its first Ministerial Meeting in Dubai, AIM for Climate agreed on a target of $8 billion from public and private-sector partners for climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation by November 2022 at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).

As a Knowledge Partner of AIM for Climate, AGRA supports the objectives of the global initiative and intends to create opportunities to enhance African countries’ agricultural sector readiness for investments and support smallholder farmers adapt to the effects of climate change.

This engagement flowed from a meeting with Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, who shared more about the AIM for Climate initiative, and its goal to catalyse solutions at the intersection of agriculture and climate.

The UAE Minister met with AGRA President Dr. Agnes Kalibata and a delegation of Ministers and senior government leaders from Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda during the Agriculture, Food and Livelihoods Week hosted at the Expo 2020 Dubai.

Dr. Kalibata said commitments and action will be needed if smallholders are to adapt to the changing climate. “If no action is taken, climate impacts will lead to overall yield reductions of up to 30% by 2050, while extreme weather events will result in higher losses of post-harvest quality and quantity. AGRA is proud to join the AIM for Climate as a Knowledge Partner and to engage with other participants to seek to accelerate adoption of solutions through its Innovation Sprints,” Dr Kalibata said.

During the Expo, the AGRA President also discussed important opportunities with the World Bank, the Committee on World Food Security, EAT Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Nourishing Africa to support African countries in financing their transitions to more sustainable food systems in the follow-up from the Food Systems Summit.

“Our aim at AGRA is to work closely with African governments to help them access platforms for mobilising resources to push their commitment to transform their food systems forward and translate them into concrete strategies and action. This involves setting targets and reforms to be effected,” she added.

“Together with our partners, AGRA is proud to launch the AGRF to be held in Kigali, Rwanda, in September 2022 to support building these implementation plans and bringing Africa’s voice together on food security and climate to COP27 in Egypt later this year”.

The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate / AIM4C) is a joint initiative by the United States and the United Arab Emirates. AIM for Climate seeks to address climate change and global hunger by uniting participants to significantly increase investment in, and other support for, climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation over five years (2021 – 2025).

Female leaders are calling for the prioritisation of the role of women in the fight against climate change and food insecurity on the African continent.

Speaking at a forum organized by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) to mark International Women’s Day on Tuesday, they noted the role of women in making the world a better place cannot be over-emphasized.

Josefa Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) observed: “most of the work in the agricultural food systems in Africa is undertaken by women. 79% of economically active women on the continent report agriculture as their primary source of livelihood.”

Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA said; “when it comes to climate change, we, the women, cannot be victims. We are equal partners.”

“Women are great entrepreneurs. We are working on building their entrepreneurial capacity to ensure they have enough incentive to work, and to do more,” Sabdiyo Dido who is head of Gender and Inclusion at AGRA said.

The webinar was on the theme “accelerating women’s leadership for climate action, resilient food systems, and family nutrition.”

“Stronger commitment is needed from all stakeholders including the women on the table to ensure that gender gaps are addressed in food systems”. – Ms April Redmond who is Global Vice President at UNILEVER noted.

Dr. Gerardine Mukeshimana, Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources said her country is showing the way in empowering women. “In Rwanda, we have established a policy that ensures equal land ownership rights, for men and women. This has helped to transform the sector significantly, and empowered more women to venture into agriculture,” she said.

“Rural women are the doers. We need to ensure that every policy and every decision within the sector has this as a key consideration at all times,” she added.

“Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli who is executive chair of Sahel Capital is Nigeria urged women to help and support other females. “I believe in opening doors for other women. I do not want to climb the ladder alone. It is important to empower each other. I also like to challenge women and to ensure that they are accountable,” she said.

Dr. Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture and Socio Development, African Development Bank (AFDB) said work is being done to make more resources available to women for their work. “$500m has been earmarked to support women agripreneurs in Africa under various programs. These, and many other positive efforts must be sustained, to ensure that the gender gap is addressed in the sector,” she told the forum.

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: March 2, 2022 – There is need to replicate the fast rate of technology adaptation in initiatives supported by the Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA) that is led by AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution) in Tanzania to enable more smallholder farmers move from survival to thriving.

Former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, who is also an AGRA Board Member, made the call at the end of a recent week-long whirlwind field tour of numerous PIATA initiatives across seven regions in Tanzania’s southern, western, and central zones. 

Dr Kikwete said, “Areas with high adoption of technology like Katavi had more produce, more processors, and more robust market activities, leading to a clear sustainable path in the agriculture value chain”.

Implementation of PIATA between 2017 and 2021 using the consortia model that combined support from government, private sector and development partners, led to sustainable gains in the agriculture sector. Together with Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Anthony Mavunde and a cross-section of public sector, private sector and civil society actors, Dr Kikwete witnessed first-hand agricultural enterprises changing the face of the rural areas and regional townships. 

The tour witnessed fast agriculture development, including agro-industrialization. While overcoming emerging challenges from the local, regional and global business environment, homegrown enterprises have made significant progress. They include farmers’ organizations, agro-dealers, aggregators, processors and innovative exporters, changing the way agriculture business is done in Tanzania. 

The success of the PIATA initiative lies in stakeholders, including smallholder farmers organizations working together as consortia, whose collective efforts in selected areas provided more gains for all parties involved, rather than working individually. The success also highlighted the need to implement flagship projects, bringing together diverse consortiums to take agriculture to the next level. 

AGRA, with other stakeholders, supported the government in developing Tanzania Agro-Industries Development Flagship (TAIDF) in 2020, characterized by promoting local agro-processing for the domestic and export markets.

PIATA’s consortium model involved a selected group of organizations and businesses working together to ensure critical components for agricultural transformation, including seed, fertilizer, agro-dealership, extension, markets, and agri-finance, work to benefit all in a locality. 

Mr Mavunde, appreciated contribution of all stakeholders involved in the agriculture value chain making a difference to improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers. He also thanked Dr Kikwete for his commitment and energy during the tour. He pledged the government’s commitment to address emerging challenges, working with the private sector and all stakeholders, to improve the business environment for more viable agriculture development, including growth of agro-industrialization.

The Deputy Minister called for the scaling up of the PIATA initiative to cover more regions, noting that the development partners’ support has led to more produce and improved livelihoods. PIATA’s partners include Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, United States Agency for International Development, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Mastercard Foundation and the International Fund for Agricultural Development were also key contributors.

During the implementation of PIATA, productivity (metric ton/hectare) of two key staples – maize and beans – increased by 230% (from an average of 1 metric tonne per hectare to 4 metric tonnes per hectare) and 100% (average of 0.7 metric tonne per hectare to 1.4 metric tonnes per hectare) respectively in Kigoma, Kagera, Katavi, and Rukwa regions,  playing a role in cementing Tanzania’s status as the regional food powerhouse.  

Ministry of Agriculture data shows that in 2020/21 Tanzania exported over 118,398 metric tonnes of maize, with Kenya as the primary market. In the same period, rice exports amounted to 232,909 metric tonnes, Uganda was the primary export market.

Publication download link: How Integration Enhances the Competitiveness of Agribusinesses and Smallholder Farming Systems: https://agra.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/How-Integration-Enhances-the-Competitiveness-of-Agribusinesses-Tanzania-case-study.pdf

Ends…

About AGRA

Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we catalyze and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation to increase incomes and improve food security in 11 countries.

More information: https://agra.org/|  Anthony Muchoki, amuchoki@gmail.com| +255784873793| Rebecca Weaver, rweaver@agra.org|

DODOMA, Tanzania; February 19, 2022 – Farmers in Tanzania were able to sell TSh153 billion (US$66.3 million) worth of produce in structured markets between 2017 and 2021, with combined support from the government, private sector and development partners, according to a new book that was launched today.

The book, titled How Integration Enhances the Competitiveness of Agribusinesses and Smallholder Farming Systems: The Tanzania Case Study, showcases how different organisations, businesses and government agencies worked together in the approach known as the Consortia Model supporting farmers in Southern Highlands, Western Highlands and Northern Highlands of the country. This support included providing funding, strategic support, access to market and financing and linkages to inputs and output markets.

Speaking when he launched the book, Former President of the United Republic of Tanzania H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, who is also a Board Member at AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) said: “Over the years, we have learnt that supporting agricultural systems in isolation does not guarantee scale and sustainability. This Consortia Model evolved as we worked with the government, private sector and development partners, building synergies to unlock more value and drive farmers’ adoption of technologies to catalyze sustainable agribusiness relationships and delivery models”.

AGRA has invested US$8.7 million to support consortia working in the four regions. The initiative reached 720,819 farmers, who not only accessed structured markets but also yielded 12% more rice and fetched 47% higher factory gate prices for their higher quality maize. In addition to this, beans export sales increased from US$239,130 to US$19.5 million; with US$13.3 worth of fertilizer sold to participating farmers; and US$16 million worth of seed produced and sold by seed companies and agro-dealers.

“This book provides an opportunity for all the stakeholders to learn from one another and to provide feedback and accountability on the performance of agricultural investments,” said Education Minister Prof Adolf F. Mkenda, who previously held the agriculture docket.

AGRA has been supporting Tanzania’s agriculture sector since 2006 to develop crop varieties, train scientists and research infrastructure, strengthen extension services, provide market, and finance linkages, supporting agro-dealers and policy reforms.

Over the last four years, the integrated approach has proved that synergies between agricultural systems create more value, leading to the adoption of technologies at scale while creating sustainable agribusiness relationships, delivery models, and practices.

The book was produced with support from the government of the United Republic of Tanzania through the Ministry of Agriculture, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mastercard Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, IFAD, UK Aid and USAID.

“Our partners under the Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA) have been the engine behind our integrated delivery model within the agro-economic zones and across value chains. This partnership enabled us to leverage public and private investments to build sustainable systems that will transition agriculture from subsistence into a profitable enterprise,” said Prof. Jean Jacques M. Muhinda, AGRA’s Regional Head for East Africa.

Meanwhile, H.E Kikwete’s week-long tour of agriculture projects supported by AGRA and partners has drawn to a close. The President covered over 3,000 kilometres on the road, traversing seven out of 25 regions of mainland Tanzania, spread across the Southern, Western and Central parts of the country.

Together with the deputy minister of agriculture Anthony Mavude and a cross-section of the public sector, private sector and civil society actors, the former president witnessed first-hand agricultural enterprises that are changing the faces of the rural areas and regional townships.

“Tanzania, with smallholder farmers at the centre, can transcend gains made in agriculture and agro-industrialization into a formidable individual and national development vehicle that will translate into a fast-developing and prosperous nation for the majority of citizens,” H.E Kikwete noted.

-ENDS

About AGRA

Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we catalyze and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation to increase incomes and improve food security for 30 million farming households in 11 African countries by 2021.

More information: https://agra.org/|  Anthony Muchoki, amuchoki@gmail.com| +255784873793| Rebecca Weaver, rweaver@agra.org|

Iringa, Tanzania: February 16, 2022 – Alliance for a Green Revolution (AGRA) lead Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA) initiatives in Tanzania has increased agro-led industrialization-drive momentum. Agro-dealers, farmers organizations, aggregators and processors have increased uptake of their respective activities and production along the agriculture value chain, according to testimonies shared to former President of the United Republic of Tanzania H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, by agriculture stakeholders in the Iringa Region during the first day of his week-long tour to PIATA partnership initiatives.

Dr Kikwete hailed self-made entrepreneurs along the agriculture value chain, who started small and steadily grew into bigger and formidable enterprises serving thousands of farmers. He attested that it was the way to take homegrown processing into huge and competitive enterprises.

Dr Kikwete, an AGRA board member, is accompanied by Hon. Anthony Mavunde, Deputy Minister for Agriculture. AGRA Tanzania Country Manager Vianey Rweyendela is hosting the delegation, including stakeholders drawn from the private and public sectors. With them also is Agnes Asiimwe Konde, Vice President, Program Innovation & Delivery.

The President expressed his satisfaction with using funds provided by AGRA and partners in Tanzania for beefing up the agricultural sector. The funds were provided in agribusiness consortia model.

“AGRA goals are being met, especially in improving the conditions of smallholder farmers,” he posited.

The President expressed his joy to see input suppliers and processors who have been supported by AGRA in one way or the other, taking their businesses to the next level and, in turn, helping thousands of farmers to improve their livelihood.

The President had a conversation with Mrs Magreth Aidan Sanga, an agro-input dealer trading as Iwawa General Supplies based in Iringa town. The business lady told Dr Kikwete in a season, she serves about 10,000 farmers directly and many others through 10 Village-based Advisors (VBAs) and about 15 retailers spread across Iringa and Njombe in the Southern Highlands.

“Every year, the business has been growing. I have managed to increase and improve my distribution channels thanks to PIATA partnership, which has brought the new challenges of growth, especially the need for more capital to supply VBAs,” she noted. PIATA’s resource partners include Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF); Rockefeller Foundation (RF); United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Mastercard and IFAD were also key contributors.

Then the delegation visited Super Seki Investments, the largest fortified maize processor in the Southern Highlands, serving local and export markets. The firm’s CEO Ms. Rita Sekilovele, told Dr Kikwete, the firm has grown from humble roots, where she used to grind maize into flour and sell in “debes’- 20 kg tin container. “Today Super Seki buys maize from over 5000 smallholder farmers in a season, we provide them with inputs,” she said. PAITA partnership has been instrumental in providing farmers education and capacitating her to expand her warehouse. “ I have opened a branch in Ruvuma,” she said.

President Kikwete commended the growth of the business but added it was paramount for the factory to become more modernized and acquire state-of-art-plant to grow into the next level.

The delegation then visited Green Valley Agro (GVA), GBRI Solution and Agriedo, where the firm’s CEO Hadija Jabiri, had the opportunity to brief Dr Kikwete about their activities along the agricuture value chain. The firms have been working closely with the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT), vital in PIATA partnerships in Tanzania.

GVA is producing hybrid seeds (tomato) that are exported to Europe. According to Hadija her firms revolutionized how agriculture business is done and provided education to smallholder farmers around their farm on transforming their farming activities into modern enterprises.

The delegation also visited Silverlands Tanzania, one of the most remarkable farms in the southern highlands, which is involved in the multiplication of maize, sunflower, and potato seeds but at the same time focus on poultry, poultry feed, day-old chick and livestock. In the implementation of PIATA AGRA had partnered with Silverlands to provide aggregator and off-taker services to smallholder farmers.

Johnson Mhavile, informed the President the farm has come up with a new chicken variety, suitable for mass production, and what was needed was advocacy for more Tanzanians to start consuming the delicacy.

According to the national five-year development plan 2021/22 – 2025/2, which is the final plan for Tanzania’s implementaion of Vision 2025 as the National overall development framework, at its heart is realising competitiveness and industrialization for human development. Increasing productivity in manufacturing using the resources available in abundance within the country is a key factor, and agro industrialisation drive is one of the nation’s low hanging fruit to take advantage of, noted private sector representative, Geoffrey Kirenga – Chief Executive Officer – SAGCOT.

Originally posted on issamichuzi.blogspot.com

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Kofi Annan Foundation say an initiative aimed at increasing the consumption of highly nutritious sweet potato varieties will help deal with malnutrition in Ghana.

The two entities have since 2021 embarked on a project to support increased availability and consumption of the orange – fleshed sweet potato (OFSP), which has high levels of vitamin A.

“At AGRA we are happy to contribute to strengthen the orange – fleshed sweet potato value chain and we are supporting this initiative with $800,000 grant to a consortium of 8 very dynamic implementing partners led by the Kofi Annan Foundation,” Programme Officer at AGRA, Regina Richardson said at a multi-stakeholder platform and awareness creation event on the OFSP in Accra. 

“Ghana is seeking to strengthen the integration of nutrition in health and increase women empowerment in agriculture and we know the role that the orange-fleshed sweet potato variety plays in ensuring some of these achievements to the benefit of the population. It is a versatile and climate resilient crop,” she added.

Mrs. Nane Annan of the Kofi Annan Foundation expressed concern in Africa, about 56 million children under 5 years are undernourished, whilst 30 million are acutely undernourished. “Vitamin A deficiency remains a major public health problem in many African countries making children vulnerable to infections and diseases and preventing them from developing fully,” she said.

“We are all united in strengthening rural economies on OFSD value chains as a way of tackling malnutrition and improving livelihoods. Fighting malnutrition is at the very core of this project,” Mrs. Annan added.

What is Orange – Fleshed Sweet Potato?

Sweet potato is a starchy tuber crop consumed widely across Ghana, Africa and the rest of the world. As part of efforts to improve the consumption of vitamin A in Africa, the orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) was developed. OFSP contains high levels of beta-carotene which gives consumers vitamin A. 

Research shows that just 125 grams of cooked OFSP is enough for children to meet their daily vitamin A needs. This helps avoid night blindness and other diseases in children.

The Kofi Annan Foundation, with funding from AGRA in 2021 rolled out the ‘Demand Creation and Impact Scaling Project for Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato’ project to promote the variety in Ghana. The project is working to create awareness about OFSP and mobilise political will and support for its use in combating malnutrition.

The Crop Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Ohumpong Investments Ltd, Dorothy Kani Company Ltd, Fresh Logistics, Veronica Ossei Frimpong Farms, Reputed Agriculture 4 Development and E. Darkey & Associates are the other partners on the project.

Fabian Lange, a senior programme Manager at the Kofi Annan Foundation told the event over the last quarter, the project has rolled out activities to engage a number of stakeholders to raise awareness about the OFSP. He said some training activities have also been undertaken by partners.

Originally posted on www.myjoyonline.com

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania: February 14, 2022 – Former President of the United Republic of Tanzania H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete has embarked on a week-long field tour of agriculture projects that are supported by AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) and partners in the country.

During the tour, Dr Kikwete, who is also an AGRA board member, will visit agro-dealers, food processors, aggregation and storage facilities, seed companies, demonstration plots, farmers as well as key public and private sector leaders in Iringa and Mbeya in Southern Highlands, Katavi and Tabora in Western Region and Dodoma in Central Tanzania. All these initiatives are making a difference in improving livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Tanzania and accelerating industrialization drive and export trade.

“Agriculture is a critical pathway to economic prosperity and poverty reduction in Tanzania, supporting livelihoods of approximately 65% of the population, accounts for about 27% of our GDP and contributes 24% of total exports. I am taking this tour as a member of the board’s projects committee which oversees delivery and have keen interest in agricultural transformation for the benefit of smallholder farmers in Tanzania and across Africa,” the former president said.

Dr Kikwete added that AGRA is currently consulting with the government, donors, and partners on the strategic priorities in Tanzania for the next strategy period.

AGRA has been supporting Tanzania’s agriculture, since 2006. This has seen significant investments made across the ecosystem to the tune of US$8.7 million. Work has included developing crop varieties, training scientists and research infrastructure, strengthening extension services, providing market, and financing linkages, supporting agro-dealers and the government’s policy reforms.

Dr Kikwete’s tour will culminate in the launch of a book documenting Tanzania’s implementation of the consortia model integrating government, partners, and the private sector to provide funding, strategic support, access to market and financing and linkages to inputs and output markets. President Kikwete is hosted by AGRA’s Tanzania Country Manager Vianey Rweyendela and is accompanied by stakeholders drawn from the private and public sector. 

“I am delighted to accompany the former president and the deputy minister as we take stock of how these projects have sustained the gains made, two years after AGRA’s exit,” Mr Rweyendela said.

Since June 2018, Tanzania has been implementing a 10-year Agricultural Sector Development Programme Two (ASDP II). AGRA has been supporting Tanzania’s agriculture around the programme, which is being implemented in two five-year phases and aims to increase agricultural growth to six per cent by the year 2022/23. 

AGRA, with other partners, supported the government in crafting Tanzania Agro-industries Development Flagship (TAIDF) in 2020, a multi-sectoral strategy augmenting and catalyzing past and existing efforts in agro-industrialization.

-ENDS

About AGRA

Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led and Africa-based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives. Together with our partners, we catalyze and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation to increase incomes and improve food security for 30 million farming households in 11 African countries by 2021.

More information: https://agra.org/|  Anthony Muchoki, amuchoki@gmail.com| +255784873793| Rebecca Weaver, rweaver@agra.org|