Category: Government Policy

Kenya is committed to facilitate adoption of new technologies and innovations to transform the agricultural sector and enhance productivity and capacity to feed the increasing population in the country, President Dr William Ruto said the government was keen to promote agriculture productivity as it offered one of the quickest payback periods for investments and had the great potential to generate higher returns and create employment opportunities. In a speech read on his behalf by Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi during the opening session of the African conference on agricultural technologies (ACAT), the Head of State said there was need to unlock the potentials of the sector through transformative technologies and innovations He said t it was critical to embrace new technology and innovations and this will not only be done through focusing on the technologies but will be encompassed with strategies to eliminate the barriers to technology development and transfer. ‘The current low productivity characterizing Kenya’s agricultural sector, and that of Africa can be transformed through the adoption of new technologies and innovations. These are essential for offering Africa resilience and global competitiveness. In pursuit of agricultural transformation, President Ruto said that the government is implementing a comprehensive blueprint, the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS 2019-2029). ‘This blueprint represents our unwavering commitment to reforming the sector by increasing output and productivity, boosting incomes, and, most importantly, ensuring the resilience and food security of Kenyan households,’ he said He acknowledged the effective application of science, technology and innovations in agriculture as a powerful tool to achieve two goals of improving productivity across value chains while at the same time building resilience to the effects of climate change. ‘There are remarkable innovations that can help farmers address the challenges of drought and pests through drought-tolerant and pest-resistant crops,’ he added. Kenya Government the President confirmed is committed to creating an enabling environment to advance the utilization of science, technology, and innovation to address agricultural challenges and ensure food and nutrition security. From left, Former President of the Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Kenya Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi, Crops PS Paul Ronoh and Dr. Canisius Kanangire, Executive Director, AATF This ensures that researchers, scientists, and farmers can develop and utilize advancements in agriculture for improved livelihoods. The Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan who graced the event said innovation is the bedrock of all evolutionary transformative change and therefore Africa must rapidly evolve by embracing innovation to foster resilience in its agricultural endeavours. He reiterated that innovation in agriculture is not optional but is necessary saying the world’s population is growing and with it is the demand for food. Climate change he said poses threats to the continents traditional agricultural practices and therefore there is need for innovations that will ensure continuous producing what we like in good volumes by making production systems more efficient, sustainable and climate smart. The former President said innovative technologies can bridge the current production gap and help the continent to fast-track the attainment of Self-sufficiency in food production. ‘Innovation must be part of our resolute course to re-shaping our agricultural outlook that should help our farmers to ably adopt new approaches to effectively withstand or overcome the myriad of challenges that currently bedevils the sector’, he added. He continued ‘It is being creative and innovative that we as a people and continent can bestow on ourselves a well secure food, nutrition and economic prosperity. Let us reflect on what this means ‘, he said Dr. Jonathan said the 5 day ACAT conference serves as a launch pad for new ideas, collaborations, good discourse and partnerships that will propel Africa to the forefront of agricultural innovations and resilience, ‘ Together we can create a brighter and more food and nutrition secure future for the generations to come’. African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) Executive Director Canisius Kanangire acknowledged Kenya’s dedication to an admirable goal-the eradication of poverty and hunger from the face of our planet by2030, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ‘We recognize that this aspiration can only be fulfilled by incorporating science, technology, and innovation into our national development plans and investment decisions’, Dr. Kanangire said. The Foundation whose headquarter is in Kenya has facilitated access to innovative agricultural technologies worth over USD650 million during its 20years in operation, benefiting4.8million smallholder farmers in 24countries including Kenya. This week’s conference running under the theme ‘ Agricultural Resilience through Innovation’, takes place at a time when most countries in Africa are grappling with the challenge of feeding a growing population, estimated to grow well over 1.4 billion by 2030.

Source: Kenya News Agency

WINDHOEK: The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) will as of 17 November this year, undertake a special Festive Season Crime Prevention Operation and Road Safety Campaign, to preserve road safety on national roads and prevent crime.

This was announced by the Inspector-General (IG) of NamPol, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo while addressing the 2023/24 festive season crime prevention and road safety operations preparatory meeting for all 14 regional commanders, here Tuesday.

Shikongo said the countrywide operation will run until 16 January, and that all police officers will participate in the operation with only a few to be left in the offices to attend to administrative matters.

“The majority of members should be deployed in the streets, location, hot spots and other critical areas. The operation is aimed at saving lives and the protection of properties,” Shikongo said.

He further said the operation will target identified hot spot areas, increase police visibility, improve response time, target alcohol and drug abuse, target excessive speed and drunk driving, road unworthiness vehicles and increase the number of fixed and mobile roadblocks.

“In order to achieve the objectives of the operation, there should be multiple intelligence-driven and heightened police visibility at all identified areas such as hot spots, areas where large numbers of our communities gather during holidays, the beaches, and tourist destinations; these include regular vehicular and foot patrols, sporadic roadblocks, search and tracing of wanted suspects,”Shikongo said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Addis Ababa, A 10-year strategy that aims to transform the country into a major leather and leather products exporter was launched today.

The new Leather Sector Development Strategy tabled by Ministry of Industry aims to address challenges in the sector and realize the potential to drive economic growth.

Industry Minister Melaku Alebel stated on the occasion that Ethiopia’s livestock provide immense opportunity. The country has Africa’s largest cattle population along with significant sheep, goat and camel herds.

While Ethiopia has over 165 million cattle and produces 41 million hides and skins annually, the country’s leather sector under-performs, he noted, adding that only 22 million hides reach tanneries each year.

According to the minister, the leather sector has the potential to be a major source of foreign exchange and to create jobs for millions of Ethiopians.

“With the implementation of this new strategy, we are confident that we can achieve our goals and make Ethiopia among the top leather and leather products industry.”

If implemented effectively, it will have a transformative impact on the sector and help Ethiopia to achieve its full potential as a leather and leather products exporter.

Leather Research Center Director-General, Mohammed Hussein said over the last few years weak demand, supply challenges, and low productivity have caused a major decline in exports and revenues.

In 2020/21 exports were 40 million USD, down from 133 million five years ago.

However, in a 250 billion USD global leather trade market, the new strategy aims to tap the potential through solutions like organizing the sector into clusters, training to improve quality, and connecting companies to international buyers.

The strategy was discussed by different stakeholder from the sector.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia has become self-sufficient in wheat for the first time in its history, African Development Bank (ADB) President Akinwumi A. Adesina said.

In a speech he delivered at the Norman Borlaug International Dialogue-World Food Prize 2023-Des Moines, Iowa, USA, the president said that Ethiopia’s wheat production has increased from 1.4 million hectares in 2022 by an additional 1.6 million metric tons in 2023.

“This has made Ethiopia self-sufficient in wheat and for the first time in its history it has become an exporter of wheat to neighboring countries,” Adesina noted.

According to him, African Development Bank’s flagship program Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) had distributed more than 100,000 tons of certified seeds of heat-tolerant wheat varieties.

“It expanded the cultivated wheat area under irrigated low land from less than 5,000 hectares in 2018 and 2019 to 1.4 million hectares in 2022 and 2023. Wheat yields (therefore) increased on average from 2 tons per hectare to 4 tons per hectare.”

The African Development Bank’s flagship program Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) has brought together the international agricultural research centers of the CGIAR, national and regional research centers, seed and fertilizer companies and agri-business to deliver climate resilient agricultural technologies at scale.

In just four years, the TAAT platform delivered heat tolerant wheat varieties, drought tolerant maize varieties and high-yielding rice varieties to 12 million farmers, and increased food production by an additional 25 million metric tons.

The president stated that TAAT is also boosting rice production. “New high yielding rice varieties from the program have been cultivated on 1.4 million hectares, impacting 3.2 million households.”

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa, The stage is now set for the 2023 African Economic Conference, jointly organized by the African Development Bank, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The conference will be held from 16-18 November in a hybrid format, with the physical location being the UN Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

According to ECA, this year, the largest research and economic gathering on the continent will focus on “Imperatives for Sustainable Industrial Development in Africa”.

African ministers, United Nations partners, and key development and private sector representatives will meet up to discuss some of the challenges and opportunities for Africa to boost green and sustainable industrialization.

The conference will also provide a platform for established academics and young researchers to present their solution-oriented research to decision-makers.

The 2023 African Economic Conference is centered on efforts to increase sustainable industrialization in Africa and meet the continent’s Agenda 2063 aspirations.

Participants will discuss the evidence of where sustainable industrialization has been successful, including in Africa.

Since its inception in 2006, the AEC series has fostered research, expert and policy dialogue, and knowledge sharing on a wide range of issues and challenges facing Africa.

The African Economic Conference is the leading pan-African forum for discussing emerging economic challenges and opportunities.

Past conferences have underscored the importance of adapting international policies, instruments, and agreements and building the local capacity of African states to better respond to Africa’s needs.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa, Leaders of the Horn of Africa nations have to consider discussing Ethiopia’s quest for having access to sea as it would increase the physical economic growth of the East African region, the American political-economic analyst Lawrence Freeman told ENA.

Prime Minister Abiy has given geographical, historical, economic backgrounds to initiate discussion about Ethiopia’s right to access sea through peaceful means.

The American analyst stated that access to sea not only reinforces the steadily growing import-export trade of the second Africa’s populous nation, but will also ensure development in the region.

For him, Ethiopia’s quest for coastal access to sea outlets “is essentially correct” as it would enable to increase physical economic growth of the people in the Horn of Africa.

“If people understand more about physical economic growth, they would understand that this is not only very reasonable, but it’s correct. If you want to raise the standard of living for 200 million people living in countries in the Horn, then you would benefit from the trade that could be increased in Ethiopia by having a port on the Red Sea.”

In this regard, the analyst urged leaders of the Horn of Africa nations to have discussion to consider Ethiopia’s quest for having access to sea.

Prime Minister Abiy has suggested potential areas like the Ethiopian Airlines, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and other offers for concession, Freeman stated.

This is perfectly reasonable for the growing Ethiopian economy, he noted.

“The Prime Minister is putting these issues on the table now. (He says) let’s discuss how we are going to bring this about. And I think that’s the approach of a statesman and I would agree with it.”

Access to port is critical to accelerate the growth trajectory of the country and contribute to regional physical economic growth.

“If we look at how we increase the physical economic growth of the people in the Horn of Africa, it is going to depend on Ethiopia. Ethiopia is going to be the dominant economic growth center. And this will benefit all the other countries.

“It’s (therefore) natural to work this out. And I believe this is now an important discussion that has been raised by Prime Minister Abiy. This will be worked out over the years ahead,” Freeman noted.

He also stressed the need for discussion about a regional economic approach since there are several ports in the Horn.

Mentioning about distorted media reports that Ethiopia is claiming access to sea using force if necessary, Freeman noted that this is a very divisive policy that has been used in Africa for hundreds of years.

“We need political leaders and statesmen who rise above this and understand that these are political operations. Some are carried out externally or internally. And the purpose is to prevent the development and sovereignty of African nations. I think the leaders of the nations in the region can sit down and discuss how the region will grow economically.”

“If we concentrate on putting forth the long-term economic growth program that benefits all the nations of the region, the leaders would come to agreement.”

We should also be able to counter those media and other internal and external enemies trying to create tensions between the neighboring countries.

There is no objective reason for countries in the Horn of Africa not to work together for common aims.

Discussions should, therefore, be considered among leaders, experts in the area, including economic experts, water experts and transportation specialists on access to the Red Sea, the analyst stated.

Freeman hopes that this can be done through discussion among sovereign leaders of nation states, including presidents and prime ministers, to deal with the problem

Source: Ethiopian News Agency