New Agriculturist

New Agriculturist podcast 2010-4

Few would dispute that private sector investment is essential if African agriculture is to fulfil its potential. In the podcast we hear from some of those who are championing a greater private sector role in shaping Africa's farming future. From the discussions on how to awaken the 'sleeping giant' of the Guinea savannah, Gem Ardwings-Kodhek and Maja Slingerland offer strong views, including on the 'land grab' issue of foreign investment. The development of export horticulture to meet European quality and environmental standards is advocated by consultant Peter Keniarariti, and Brenda Wandera from the International Livestock Research Institute describes an innovative approach that is enabling livestock farmers in parts of Kenya to insure their animals against the risk of drought.
Audio link: http://wrenmedia.jellycast.com/files/audio/new-ag10-4.mp3
Article: Editorial , Livestock insurance: reducing vulnerability, Sharing belief in LEAF, Africa's agricultural future - large-scale or small?

Grain amaranth - quick maturing and nutritious

Despite being commonly regarded as a weed plant, amaranth species are seen by some as a crop for the future. Like many weeds, they can thrive in poor soils and arid conditions, and they produce large numbers of seeds - up to half a million on one seed head. The grain has higher levels of protein and iron than found in wheat or rice. Pius Sawa visits western Kenya to meet farmers who have recently started to grow grain amaranth, both for home consumption and for sale. He finds them upbeat about a crop which is helping them cope with a challenging climate.
Audio link: http://www.agfax.net/radio/detail.php?i=322
Article: Grain Amaranth - the drought-beater

New Agriculturist podcast 2010-3

This podcast highlights what can be achieved through partnership. From a forest that is home to over 400 species of butterflies, Dr Paul Bosu explains how the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana is partnering with local schools to instil respect for trees and forests among children. In Uganda, Dr Godfrey Asea describes the work of the WEMA partnership, which includes private company Monsanto and international research institute CIMMYT, in developing Water Efficient Maize for Africa. And from the Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development, Sharmila Karki and Namanga Ngongi reflect on the role of farmers in driving the research agenda, and the need for research programmes to have a strong local focus.
Audio link: http://wrenmedia.jellycast.com/files/audio/new-ag10-3.mp3
Article: Editorial , Small steps towards a greener Ghana, Public-private partnerships, The future of agricultural research for development

Agriculture could end poverty in Africa

Hartmann, director general of IITA, has an exciting vision for farming in Africa. Young people are not interested in farming like their parents and grandparents did. But agricultural products can find a good market in many industries, so increased production can mean higher incomes. This in turn gives the potential for agriculture to modernise, making use of sophisticated equipment and supporting many other jobs. But higher education in Africa needs to change, to produce a new generation of well-trained young entrepreneurs who can drive the modernisation of African farming. He explains his vision to Busani Bafana in Agriculture could end poverty in Africa.
Audio link: http://www.agfax.net/radio/detail.php?i=331
Article: The future of agricultural research for development

New Agriculturist podcast 2010-2

From a warm evening in Ghana and the chirpy accompaniment of cicadas, Susie Emmett and Mike Davison reflect on the success that has resulted from the introduction of an appropriate, affordable and manageable technology that is serving dairy farmers in central Kenya. Highly nutritious fodder shrubs have enabled those farmers to keep their milk production going even during the country's long, recent drought. And from India, three development specialists offer their points of view on how to achieve last mile delivery - bringing information, ideas and inputs to the rural communities that need them.
Audio link: http://wrenmedia.jellycast.com/files/audio/new-ag10-2.MP3
Article: Editorial , Fodder shrubs deliver dairy success, Reaching the last mile

Extending the reach of radio to farmers

Millions of people in the world's most remote communities live beyond the reach of radio. And for those who don't read and write, getting information is even more difficult. In the past, government extension services may have provided support, by actually visiting and advising farmers. But such services are now very thin on the ground, so finding other ways of spreading information is vital. Pius Sawa reports now from Apac district in northern Uganda, where an information centre and a local radio station are working together to give rural communities the farming advice they need.
Audio link: http://www.agfax.net/radio/detail.php?i=314
Article: Reaching the last mile

Plant your own fertiliser factory

The leaves of the Faidherbia albida tree are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and other nutrients. Plants that grow beneath the trees benefit from their annual leaf fall, which fertilises the soil and counteracts soil acidity. In Zambia, the Conservation Farming Unit is encouraging farmers to plant 100 of the trees per hectare, at 10 metre intervals, as a long term means of boosting soil fertility. Over 160,000 farmers have already begun to do so.
Audio link: http://www.agfax.net/radio/detail.php?i=305
Article: Faidherbia - Africa's fertiliser factory

New Agriculturist podcast 2010-1

From the excitement and passion of a football match in Kumasi, Ghana, Susie Emmett introduces some of the highlights of the first edition of New Agriculturist in 2010. We hear from Alex Coupy, head chef at the 5 Star Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia, who now sources 70 per cent of his fresh fruit and vegetables from local smallholder farmers. Collins Nkatiko and Lillian Phiri explain how a unique African acacia tree can transform soil fertility, while Dorothy Dieudou offers a potted guide to perfect compost making. Some good news and inspiration for the new year from New Agriculturist.
Audio link: http://wrenmedia.jellycast.com/files/audio/new-ag10-1.mp3
Article: Editorial , Pineapple waste not, want not, Zambia: meeting a tall order

Community science understanding drought

In East Africa, drought has caused terrible losses, with cattle dying in large numbers. Now, some livestock keepers have decided to conduct a drought survey, to find out what they could have done to be better prepared. Kofi Adu Domfeh visited some of those who took part, to find out how useful such community-driven research can be.
Audio link: http://www.agfax.net/radio/detail.php?i=287
Article: Coping with drought: A community-led response

New Agriculturist podcast 2009-6

From Sampu Camp, on an escarpment overlooking Kenya’s South Rift Valley, journalists Busani Bafana and Geoffrey Onditi enjoy a spectacular view, whilst mourning the losses to livestock and livelihood inflicted by a two year drought in the region. Maasai leader John Kamanga, author of this edition’s Perspective, explains how local people are preparing themselves to cope better with future droughts, and learning lessons from pastoralist groups from around the world. Meanwhile, in Brussels, five participants at an international conference give their points of view on the role of the media in promoting agricultural development.
Audio link: http://wrenmedia.jellycast.com/files/audio/new-ag09-6.mp3
Article: Editorial , John Kamanga, Role of the media in agricultural development