New Agriculturist

Land registration in Tanzania

In Tanzania, the government has recognised the importance of secure land ownership in rural communities. Having legal title to land gives people the confidence to invest in it, thereby supporting many development activities. In 1999, the Village Land Act was passed, creating a process of land registration specifically aimed at smallholders. Until now, however, very little land has actually been mapped or registered, and few people are aware that any process exists. In response, the NGO Concern Worldwide is working in four districts, informing people about the Village Land Act and providing training and equipment to local authorities, to support the registration process. The impact on farming communities has been impressive, as programme manager Aswani Adams explains, in Land registration in Tanzania.
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Article: Domino effect - from land rights to human rights

Urban horticulture - reducing health risks

In Accra, Ghana, 80 per cent of salad vegetables served in market restaurants and roadside stalls are grown within the city. They are typically irrigated using wastewater - a mixture of rainwater and sewage, containing high levels of human waste and some industrial effluent. This creates health risks, both for those who grow the vegetables and those who eat them. Given water scarcity, use of wastewater for irrigation will continue, and may become even more important in the future. So how can it be made safer, for farmers and consumers? In Urban horticulture - reducing health risks Accra-based water expert, Pay Drechsel, offers some practical answers.
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Article: Coming clean on wastewater irrigation

Potato chips - feeding an infant industry

Potato chips are an increasingly popular food in Africa. Many of these chips are imported, cut and frozen, from European manufacturers. But why can't Africa produce its own packaged chips? One reason is the poor availability of the right varieties of potato. There are also very few processing units in Africa that can make chips. But, according to Dr Berga Lemaga in Potato chips - feeding an infant industry, potato chips represent a real income-generating opportunity for African farmers and processors, especially now that organisations such as his own are working to increase the availability of clean potato seed of the right varieties.
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Article: Cashing in on chips

The New Agriculturist podcast 2008-4

Download this edition of the New Agriculturist podcast to hear the international brewer sourcing local sorghum to make beer in West Africa; the Caribbean flower farmer keeping up with the rocketing demand for exotic blooms, the potato scientist who is passionate about the third-most important staple food on the planet and Kofi Annan promoting a uniquely African Green Revolution. The theme, as always, is agriculture and its ability - with the support of science - to transform lives for the better, even for the poorest farmers. So join us in Rome, London, Salzburg and Peru for some inspiration on how to meet the challenge.
Audio link: http://wrenmedia.jellycast.com/files/audio/new-ag08-4.mp3
Article: Editorial , Competing on a world stage, Pushing for potatoes, Sorghum beer: a sustaining brew

Home gardens from recycled materials

The theme of London’s Chelsea Flower Show this year was gardening for climate change. One of the most impressive exhibits was a backyard garden constructed by the Durban Botanic Gardens. The garden is constructed from recycled plastics, scrap metal and car tyres. It may sound messy, but Susie Emmett discovered that in reality, the backyard garden is a beautiful and relaxing place, as well as being highly productive. In Home gardens from recycled materials designer, Christopher Dielle, gives her a tour, and explains some of the other work that the Durban Botanic Gardens is doing to bring greenery and vegetable crops to South African schools.
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Article: Competing on a world stage

Technology and trade for African bananas

In recent years, banana farming in East Africa has had its fair share of troubles. Diseases like Black Sigatoka have decimated harvests and the spread of banana bacterial wilt threatens to be even more devastating. But, according to Andrew Kiggundu of Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organisation, there is better news in the pipeline. The government in Uganda is now supporting trials of disease-resistant GM bananas which, Kiggundu believes, could have a major role in protecting banana harvests. And in October 2008, exciting new marketing opportunities for Africa’s banana growers will be under discussion at the Banana 2008 conference in Mombassa. In Technology and trade for African bananas he explains more.
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Article: Africa's banana jamboree

African Green Revolution: supporting the private sector

Private sector entrepreneurs are essential to translate new technologies into profitable businesses, says Josephine Okot, founder and chief executive officer of Victoria Seeds in Uganda. Small companies are also well placed to respond to the market demands and opportunities, compared to large multinationals. But, she argues, they need better support. Banking arrangements, for example, should be more supportive of businesses that are working on behalf of the poor. They also need to recognise how adverse weather, such as drought or floods, can impact on yields and profits. And research must also be more market driven. She shares her strongly held views in African Green Revolution: supporting the private sector.
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Article: Reaping what you sow: developing a seed industry in Africa

Malawi subsidises seed and fertiliser

Since 2004, the Malawi government has been funding a programme that provides subsidised maize seed and fertiliser to around half the smallholder farmers in the country. Despite some problems, for example with corruption, the scheme appears to be succeeding. The maize harvest in the 2006/7 season was the highest on record, with over 1 million tonnes of surplus grain produced. Ephraim Chirwa of the University of Malawi recently offered an analysis of the subsidy programme to the Salzburg Global Seminar. In Malawi subsidises seed and fertiliser he describes how the programme has been implemented so far, and the challenges it now faces.
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Article: Going against the grain: Malawi's fertiliser subsidy

Annan's African Green Revolution

As chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Kofi Annan believes passionately in the capacity of Africa to feed itself. But achieving his vision of a uniquely African Green Revolution will demand much greater coordination of effort, particularly among the big agencies that are currently working to boost productivity in Africa’s farmlands. It will also mean changing the ways that Africa’s farmers produce food, through technologies such as improved seed and better land and water management. In this interview, recorded in May 2008 at the Salzburg Global Seminar, he outlined his vision to Susanna Thorp.
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Article: Editorial

Not just popcorn

The Matayos Self-Help Youth Group from Busia in western Kenya has developed a machine to 'pop' a range of grains, including sorghum, rice and millet. These are now being marketed as healthy snacks. Group coordinator Francis Oundo explains more about this successful use of some neglected crop species to Pius Sawa.
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Article: More than just popcorn