Agritech

The AGRF’s agriculture matchmaking platform initiative links some 4,000 actors in the agriculture sector to investment and networking opportunities

The African Development Bank’s (www. AfDB.org) incoming Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Dr. Beth Dunford, and Director for Agricultural Finance and Rural Infrastructure Development Atsuko Toda joined development leaders online to launch this year’s African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) Agribusiness Deal Room. The AGRF’s agriculture matchmaking platform initiative links some 4,000 actors in the agriculture sector to investment and networking opportunities.

In her first public engagement since her appointment, Dr. Dunford gave keynote remarks at a virtual session that drew more than 200 participants on Tuesday, 29 June. Dr. Dunford said that across Africa, there is a growing class of “agripreneurs” who are looking for investment, partnerships, technical knowhow and financing to scale up their business.

“The African Development Bank is excited to grow its partnership to this initiative. The Agribusiness Deal Room compliments our efforts to expand finance for agribusiness to enable small and medium enterprises to grow and attract new and innovative sources of sustainable capital,” she told the online audience.

Organized by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, this fourth edition of the Agribusiness Deal Room will be featured at the annual AGRF Summit that convenes stakeholders to facilitate partnerships and investments in African agriculture. The Agribusiness Deal Room specifically supports governments and companies with access to finance and partnership opportunities. Dr. Dunford told session attendees that the platform aligns with the Bank’s Feed Africa Strategy (https://bit.ly/3hCzaMr), which seeks to ensure that the growth of the agricultural sector includes food security, and encourages inclusive growth by involving more women and youth. She also said Bank support of the Agribusiness Deal Room signals a commitment to a collective vision to accelerate Africa’s food system transformation.

“In my new capacity with the Bank, I’m looking forward to working with the AGRF and so many partners with us online, to see these food systems become more sustainable and more resilient,” Dr. Dunford added.

This year, the AGRF Agribusiness Deal Room will focus on addressing the challenges in agricultural lending to small and medium enterprises, or SMEs.

“The huge potential of the agricultural sector on the continent remains unmet, with agriculture potentially the engine of African economies. We designed the Deal Room to build the capacities of SMEs while at the same time connecting them with sources of financing. We are looking for investments and partnerships that will unlock the sector’s potential,” said Dr. Fadel Ndiame, Deputy President, AGRA.

The Bank is one of 24 Agribusiness Deal Room partners that bring complementary capabilities, resources, and networks to the platform. Toda served on one of two discussion panels at Tuesday’s launch, the first focused “Investments for resilience, public and private sector strategies,” the latter, themed “Building SME capacity to mitigate risks for a sustainable African food system.”

Speaking to the theme of building SME capacity, Toda said that these often under-the-radar businesses play a key role in delivering food to African tables and in generating employment. “SMEs are the engine of growth for food supply chains. If you look at any food supply chain, between 65 – 90% of the food supply is actually through small and medium enterprises,” Toda said. “For people to have jobs in Africa – it is very difficult to get into the formal sector. So, the informal sector - the small, medium enterprises - are so important for creating jobs on the African continent,” she added.

Dr. Dunford will be responsible for the Bank’s strategy, lending and other activities in agriculture, as well as in water and sanitation, education, health, and Bank-wide work on employment and gender equity.

America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves antioxidant DHQ made from apples

In a move that will benefit apple growers around the world, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has Generally Recognised As Safe (GRAS) Dihydroquercetin (DHQ), a product now available for sale in the USA. “DHQ is a powerful antioxidant that has a greater antioxidant capacity when compared to vitamin C, and it is ideal in a variety of on-trend food applications, including beverages, yogurt and chocolate products,” says Dr. Linda May-Zhang, research, science and innovation officer at Blue California, the company marketing Taxifolin BC-DHQ®.

According to South Africa’s largest exporter of South African apples and pears and a company wholly owned by its growers, Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, what is especially good news about this move is that there is another potential customer for a large volume of fruit.“While also found in olive oil and red onions, Taxifolin is found in red apples in the highest concentrations,” says Tru-Cape’s Quality Manager Henk Griessel.

According to May-Zhang, immune health will remain a top priority for consumers as 64% of global consumers are looking to improve their immunity over the next 12 months, reported

by FMCG Gurus, Top Ten Trends for 2021, December 2020.

“DHQ seeks and neutralises free radicals in the body, and its unique molecular structure makes it especially effective at preventing cellular damage. It can also play an important role in skin health since it protects cells and stimulates collagen and elastin production in the skin. Taxifolin BCDHQ has much to offer as a powerful antioxidant in food and beverages as it provides improved colour stability for beverages, extends shelf life, and enhances flavour,” said May-Zhang.

“Not only is DHQ regarded as a promising ingredient to immune health, it may also be used in cosmetic applications for anti-aging and UVprotection.”

AfDB and Italian Technical Cooperation Fund extend €990,000 grant to boost agricultural value chains in Mozambique

The African Development Bank (www. AfDB.org), with financing from the Italian Technical Cooperation Fund, has provided a €990,000 grant to help smaller agro-processing enterprises boost production and quality control. The project will enable the businesses to better tap into national and regional markets and capitalize on the opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area. The Confederation of Business Associations of Mozambique is the implementing agency.

“We are pleased to receive this grant from the African Development Bank and the Italian Technical Cooperation Fund, which will benefit about 300 agro-processing and agribusiness Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) associations in Mozambique, particularly youth and women-led SMEs operating along the development corridors of Nacala-Beira-PembaLichinga,” said Dr. Agostinho Vuma, President of the Confederation of Business Associations of Mozambique, at the ceremony to hand over the grant funding.

“The grant is apt to further step up the intense bilateral relations in the agriculture area built through the many projects financed by the Italian cooperation and that it can act as a catalyst to extend it to the private sector where it exists a huge and largely untapped potential,” underlined the Italian Ambassador Dr. Gianni Bardini.

African Development Bank country manager Dr. Pietro Toigo noted that the grant would provide critical support to Mozambique, especially amid the socioeconomic challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. “We are pleased to partner with the CTA and the Government of Italy to support Mozambican SMEs recover from the COVID pandemic and scale up their competitiveness, as part of the African Development Bank’s commitment to help Industrialise Africa and Mozambique,” he said.

The project supports the goals of Mozambique’s Country Strategy Paper (2018-2022), which focuses on two strategic pillars: infrastructure investments that enable transformative inclusive growth and job creation, and agricultural transformation and value chain development.

The Minister of Industry and Trade, Dr. Carlos Alberto Fortes Mesquita, highlighted the importance of such initiatives and their catalytical role in promoting Mozambique’s agriculture modernization and the industrialization of critical sectors of the economy.

Recently the Bank approved a $1 million grant to boost local content and the development of initiatives of small and medium enterprises.

US $1.2M granted for agroprocessing in Mozambique

Mozambique has been granted US $1.2million from African Development Bank (ADB) and the Italian Technical Cooperation Fund to help small agro-processing enterprises boost production and quality control. Confederation of Mozambican Business Associations (CTA) President Agostinho Vuma, spoke durng the grant signing ceremony and said the funds will be channelled under a program implemented by them set to help businesses enter into the national and continental markets and capitalise on the opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area. About 300 businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises led by women and young people operating along the Nacala, Beira and PembaLichinga development corridors will benefit from the program.

The project will address one of the major problems faced by small scale producers and processors who wish to trade beyond their local markets which is their lack of certification. According to the Italian ambassador to Mozambique, Gianni Bardini, it will act as a catalyst to extend the private sector which has “a huge and largely untapped potential”.

“we are pleased to partner with the CTA and the government of Italy to support Mozambican small and medium-sized enterprises recover from the Covid pandemic and scale up their competitiveness, as part of the ADB’s commitment to help industrialise Mozambique and Africa,” said to Pietro Toigo, the ADB representative in Mozambique.

Mozambique’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Carlos Mesquita, welcomed the initiative, stressing its catalytic role in promoting Mozambique’s agricultural modernisation and the industrialisation of critical sectors of the economy.

Africa Agri-Food Development Programme opens for applications

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney T.D., today jointly announced a call for applications to the Africa Agri-Food Development Programme (AADP). The AADP is a collaboration between the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Agriculture, Food and the Marine, under which Irish agri-food companies are eligible for matching funding of up to €250,000 to develop commercial projects in Africa which are of benefit to local communities. The AADP also supports feasibility studies.

“I am delighted that my Department is once again providing support to the Africa Agri-Food Development Programme. The AADP enables Irish agri-food companies to leverage their agriculture expertise to partner with African companies in the development of sustainable local food enterprises; to support the growth of markets for local produce; and to facilitate mutual trade between Ireland and Africa,” said Inviting applications, Minister McConalogue.

“The purpose of Africa Agri-Food Development Programme is to encourage Irish and African agri-food companies to work together in new, innovative partnerships. Agriculture is the key to unlocking Africa’s huge economic potential, just as it did in Ireland. I have seen how the AADP delivers commercial success while contributing to the sustainable development of local communities, for example in Kenya where it is supporting a revitalisation of the seed potato industry. It is to our mutual benefit to share lessons we learned in the transformation of our agriculture with partners in Africa. I believe that Irish agribusiness, which has grown to world class over the past few decades, has a particular part to play in this, and the AADP is our way of supporting this,” Minister Coveney added.

Applications for AADP support must be submitted online. Details on the programme can be accessed at: https://www.dfa.ie/our-rolepolicies/international-priorities/africa/ AADP/

The closing date for receipt of applications is 30 July 2021.

Biovision to train more farmers on organic farming

Biovision Africa Trust is seeking to empower and have more smallholder farmers adopting agroecology organic agriculture practices especially women and youth.

Speaking during the launch of the organisation’s Strategic Plan 2021-2024, Dr David Amudavi, Executive Director, Biovision Africa Trust said the programmes are already being implemented in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Rwanda. In line with changing consumers preferences, Dr Amudavi noted that more farmers are now thinking of alternatives of pesticides and chemical fertilisers.

“Our approach contributes towards more sustainable farming, a healthier diet for citizens, reducing the pace of climate change and minimising its negative impacts. We see ourselves as an agent of change that helps to alleviate poverty and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers particularly women and youth in Africa,” said Dr David.

“The information we share with farmers is informed by research. We work very closely with researchers and trusted information sources like Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation and International Centre of Insect and Physiology and Ecology that promotes technologies we share with farmers,” explained Andreas Schriber, Board Chair, Biovision Africa Trust.

Dr Amudavi lauds Biovision Africa Trust saying its the institution that is now being recognized to support the comprehensive agriculture development programme of the African Union Commission on the side of ecological sustainable agriculture. The ecological organic agriculture is supported by the Swiss government and African Union. The German government through GIZ is also establishing hubs which are centres of providing information, training and linking farmers to markets.

Upon completion of the training, a farmer will be able to make own manure from materials within the farm and will be able to mix various crops come up with strong chemicals that kill and keeps away pests and diseases.

Ms Anne Nyaga, Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, lauded Biovision Africa Trust for becoming a Pan African Organisation working in Africa and in Kenya advancing ecological organic agriculture in Kenya and African continent.

“We are happy to see Trust’s remarkable recognition by the African Union Commission as its official host of the continental Secretariat to the Continental Steering Committee overseeing the coordination of mainstreaming ecological organic agriculture in food systems in Africa,” she said.

Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank, AGF ink US $20 milllion pact

The African Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (AGF) and Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) have inked a US $20milli0n Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for agribusinesses in the country. The commissioner for financial sector development from the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Dr Charles Mwamwaja witness the signing ceremony and said the the partnership was a boon to Tanzania’s Third Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP-III).

The Plan seeks to increase the country’s capacity for production; building a competitive economy that would stimulate Tanzania’s participation in trade and investment; and stimulate human development. According to the agreement the disbursed loan will enable the bank to guarantee SMEs in the agri-value chain in applying directly for loans at the bank.

Despite the fact that SMEs constitute 95% of all businesses in Tanzania and between 35% and processing, transportation and markets,” he said.

50% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - they were still finding it difficult to access bank loans.

“Most traditional banks and financial institutions require collateral valued at between 125% and 150% of the loan amount being applied for. The MoU will help agri-SMEs to access more financial support at affordable cost and, ultimately, contribute to the transformation of agriculture, the economy and the lives of Tanzanians,” said Dr Mwamwaja. AGF Group CEO Jules Ngankam said the MoU signalled a strategic partnership between the two organisations in achieving significant impact within the SME sector in Tanzania.

TADB managing director Japhet Justine said the partnership gives his bank room for lower interest rates and lending conditions that are affordable and, therefore, friendly. “Our Integrated ValueChain Finance (IVCF) model that we have adopted also ensures that a wide-range of agriSMEs are compatible for this loan product. Our bank aims at empowering the SMEs involved in different stages of the agri-value chain, including inputs, infrastructure, production, storage, “While this partnership is of great importance to SME owners and prospects in Tanzania, it is also a trailblazing opportunity for women-led or owned businesses. Through the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) partnership that my organisation has with the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), AGF will also be able to extend the AFAWA Guarantee Facility to TADB in helping to increase financing of Tanzanian women-owned agri-businesses,” he noted.

Funds released for agroecology and marine biodiversity in Senegal

US $65million has been released by the French development agency (AFD) for agroecology and the protection marine biodiversity in Senegal.

The investment is earmarked for the development of sustainable agriculture in 13 communes in the north-west of the country and for the preservation of marine protected areas. It is intended for the implementation of the programme for economic and local development and agro-ecological transition in the Senegal River Valley/Delta.

“The agro-ecology programme aims to strengthen the economic performance of agro-pastoral systems, improve resilience in the face of climate change and contribute to more sustainable management of the territory’s resources,” said Amadou Hott, Senegal’s Minister of the Economy, Planning and Cooperation.

Senegal had early on subscribed to the agroecological approach by hosting the first Pan-African Symposium on Agroecology in November 2015. The West African country has also subscribed to the “FAIR Sahel” project. An initiative launched in June 2021 by AFD and the European Union (EU) Commission for the agroecological intensification of agriculture in the Sahel region.

The funds will also see the implementation of the second phase of the project to extend and support the protection of four marine areas in Casamance and Sine-Saloum in southern Senegal. With the Saloum and Casamance deltas, Senegal has a wetland ecosystem of global importance with a large mangrove forest and a diversity of marine species. However, strong human pressure on natural resources and wetland ecosystems, and climate change, are endangering the balance of these fragile environments.

To address this situation, AFD’s approach is to pursue the principles of community-based management to reduce pressure on natural resources through the creation of incomegenerating activities for women.

Farmers in Uganda decry low prices of vegetables

Farmers in Uganda who grow vegetables at Bumusse Irrigation Scheme in Manafwa District, have decried low prices of their products. The farmers attributed the drastic fall in prices to closure of weekly markets and the ban on inter-district travel. The government early this month imposed the restrictions in a bid to contain the surging cases of coronavirus in the country.

Mr Fred Wekesa, a farmer, said they currently sell a sack of cabbage at Shs15,000 down from Shs30,000.

“The prices have dropped for instance, we are selling tomatoes at Shs 500 a kilogramme yet we used to sell them at Shs1,500,” he said.

The Bumusse Irrigation Scheme, which sits on 15 acres of land in Bumusse Village in Bukusu Subcounty, was established in 2018 by the Ministry of Water and Environment to promote commercial agriculture.

The scheme was lobbied for by area woman MP, Ms Mary Goretti Kitutu and currently provides a stable water supply for growing vegetables throughout the year even in the period of dry spell. Ms Kitutu said the farmers were zoned in specific projects as part of the government programmes to fight poverty and unemployment. “The farmers’ income levels are much better than they were six years ago. They are now more organised and enterprising,” said the MP.

Ms Kitutu also noted a total of 2,000 women entrepreneurs in the district are also organised in associations and are growing passion fruits, irish and sweet potatoes, cabbage, avocado, watermelon, among others. “Other groups are specialised in crafts making, tailoring, catering services but all this in bid to improve on their household income,” she said.

Despite the low prices, some farmers hailed the scheme and said it has improved their livelihoods. According to Mr Gideon Nate Israel, a pump operator and farmer, before the scheme started, he used to grow cabbages and tomatoes, which would fetch him not less than Shs900,000 a year. But now he earns more than Shs1 million just in one season and about Shs12 million in a year.

CMGP, CAS merger completed

African Development Partners II (ADP II), a fund advised by Development Partners International (DPI), and AfricInvest have announced the completion of Compagnie Marocaine de Goutte à Goutte et de Pompage’s (CMGP) merger with Comptoir Agricole du Souss (CAS), creating a new champion in Moroccan and African agriculture, which will be known as CMGP-CAS.

The merger brings AfricInvest into the partnership alongside ADP II through an investment targeting the expansion of efficient irrigation and agricultural water management technologies to enable greater output and sustainability in agricultural production. and operational model and great progress has already been made in executing the merger.”

Jacques Alléon, CEO of CAS, said: “The interactions between our teams have confirmed to us that our businesses share the same values of excellence, integrity, and care for our people. This merger will accelerate the growth of our businesses and allow us to become a partner and employer of reference for Morocco and the continent.”

Sofiane Lahmar, Partner at DPI, said: “We are thrilled that CMGP has achieved this key milestone and look forward to continuing to work with Youssef, Jacques, and the CMGP and CAS teams on implementing this new and exciting strategy. With the combination of CMGP and CAS, we have created a major player in the sector, that will focus on innovation to better serve our clients and improve farmers’ income and quality of life. Integration of the new business is underway, and we are confident that the close cultural fit and shared ambitions of the two companies will enable a smooth transition, and help accelerate the growth aspirations across the continent, with plans to reach all major West African markets by 2024.”

CMGP and ADP II were advised by Derenia Capital, Smyle Finance, PwC and Allen & Overy. CAS was advised by BMCE Capital Conseil and Norton Rose Fullbright. AfricInvest was advised by DLA Piper.

Through its involvement, the AfricInvest team also aims to support the growth of CMGPCAS’s partnerships across the African continent, mobilising its own network, especially in East and West Africa.

Brahim El Jai, Senior Partner at AfricInvest, added, “AfricInvest is excited to be partnering with CMGP-CAS in the next stage of its development, accelerating best-in-class irrigation and fertilization solutions for its partners to maximize food production with less water usage. Moreover, we are pleased and proud to help deliver on our impact promise through supporting the growth of irrigation solutions that improve living conditions, and through bringing infrastructure for water adduction and sanitation that enables access not previously in place.”

Agriculture is a critical industry in Morocco, employing 40% of the workforce, and accounting for 14% of GDP. Leveraging a combined 100 years’ experience in the sector with a focus on innovation, the new business, with combined sales of MAD 1.7 billion, will work to pioneer solutions in irrigation, fertigation, crop protection and solar energy to combat key challenges in Africa such as water scarcity and food security.

CMGP and CAS also bring a complimentary focus in terms of product range and distribution channels, that will enable the combined business to become a world-class partner to farmers across the region, creating a one-stop-shop in the Moroccan and African agricultural sector.

Youssef Moamah, Founder and CEO of CMGP, said: “This is an historic day for our two companies. Together we are a clear Moroccan leader in irrigation, agricultural supplies, solar energy, and water infrastructure. We’ve been working closely to define in detail our strategy

AKILIMO digital platform improves potato yields in Rwanda

Adigital platform has improved potato yields in Rwanda. The AKILIMO digital platform was launched in 2020 by CIP, RAB, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the One Acre Fund to address low yield challenge in the country.

The platform was brought to serve cassava and potato farmers. To date, the digital platform operates in three counties where it has undergone nearly 200 trials to evaluate variations in fertilizer use among sites. These data will be used to calibrate AKILIMO for crop and spatial models.

AKILIMO considers fertilizers that are commonly available to potato farmers and provides recommended use for those fertilizers to the individual farmers. Based on last year’s data, recommended fertilizer use rates exceed the government’s recommended rate 300 kilograms of NPK fertilizer per hectare but did have small differences across districts. A second season of multilocation trials has begun in the same districts along with a set of farmermanaged trials to compare blanket fertilizer recommendations with the tailored fertilizer recommendations provided by AKILIMO.

T he A K I LI M O - t ail o r e d fertilizer recommendations can be delivered to farmers using a variety of tools, such as smartphone apps, printable guides, and/or IVRbased messages directly to farmers. It is expected that AKILIMO will be extended to cassava in the near future and possibly to rice (in collaboration with the Africa Rice Center) over the next five years. Potatoes are cultivated across Rwanda and they are growing in popularity. The majority of the crop is produced in the northwestern region of the country in the districts of Burera, Musanze, Nyabihu, and Rubavu.

For this reason, the International Potato Center (CIP) and Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) are focusing their efforts in this area to release varieties that are high-yielding, pest and disease resistant, and climate-resilient.

Land disputes resolutions in Zimbabwe begins

Land disputes resolution in Zimbabwe has begun. The Mashonaland West land committee is sorting out long-standing disputes to bring order to the farming sector. National Lands Commission chairperson Mrs Tendai Ruth Bare recently reported that her commission received over a thousand land dispute cases, mostly involving things like boundaries, a majority being in Mashonaland West. Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Affairs Minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, who is spearheading the fact-finding mission together with district lands officers, said that the government has adopted an alternative dispute resolution mechanism.

“We are going to find lasting solutions to these challenges as some have been on farms for over 20 years. As the Government, we have to follow the existing laws so that we don’t end up affecting the farmers who have made these areas their homes. There are various options that we can explore including replanning but we will be guided by His Excellency, President Mnangagwa,” said Mary.

As a way to discourage corruption, Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said the committee was also going to address issues of farmers awarded land but were failing to use it so that the province becomes more productive.

“There are farmers who are failing to maximise on their land. It is an option on the table that the size is reduced so that we benefit other land seekers. As Vision 2030 touches on the welfare of people including allocation of titled-land to people, which is key to production and productivity as farming is business, we intend to empower farmers by giving them lease agreement forms.

“The Lands and Agriculture Ministry is currently working to address these challenges. There were chaotic land distributions in the previous years in which other officials demanded bribes. However, the exercise is going to benefit only those that are on the original list of land applications,” said Minister Mliswa-Chikoka who also chairs the provincial lands committee.

Zvimba East Legislator, Tawanda Tungamirai noted the double allocation of land and offer letters was a major problem in the constituency since the beginnings of land reform. Zvimba district lands officer Mr Harinangoni concurred with Cde Tungamirai saying: “Various political leaders in the previous administration have tried to address the challenges but never yielded any results. The problem is that all these farmers were given offer letters to regularise them which has resulted in physical attacks and destruction of property and livestock.”

The Government, through the fast track land reform programme, resettled over 300 000 people in a space of five years which was bound to create challenges that the commission is addressing now. Other land disputes in the province include acquisition of indigenous-owned farms, double allocation of land where you get two people on the same land and offer letter withdrawals, inheritance and divorce cases.

Rwanda mulls adding fish farming to agriculture insurance scheme

The government of Rwanda has announced plans to incorporate fish farmers in the agricultural insurance scheme to help these farmers avoid making such losses in the future.

This follows successive incidents where thousands of fish suffocated due to lack of oxygen leading farmers to count losses in millions. The latest incident took place in Eastern Province where thousands of fish died on Lake Muhazi following depletion of oxygen due to water turnovers that triggered a deadly ‘algal bloom’ for mature fish.

A similar incident occurred on the same lake in January, leading to the death of thousands of fish of the Tilapia variety. At the time, more than 3,700 tilapia fish died. According to findings, the water turnover that triggers a deadly algal bloom phenomenon for mature fish is most likely to happen during the night because of oxygen competition between fishes and algae.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources said they will include fish farming in the subsidized insurance product dubbed ‘Tekana’ which usually caters to dairy cows, pigs, poultry and crops dubbed, ‘Tekana’.

“Fish farmers are advised to place cages at a depth of more than eight metres far from the shores, to put enough space between cages and clean them regularly to allow access to enough oxygen. Farmers should also have portable oxygen meters to test the amount of dissolved oxygen. Fish that weighs more than 500 grams should also be fished out because they are at high risk in case of depletion of oxygen,” said Solange Uwituze, Deputy Director-General in charge of Animal Resources, Research and Technology Transfer at Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB).

Affordable bicycle-wheel wood-frame handcart developed in Malawi for Agri transport

An affordable bicycle-wheel wood-frame handcart has been developed in Malawi for agriculture rural and urban transport. “The Malawi Cart” has been designed for smallholder farmers and by city dwellers for whom animal drawn carts are unaffordable or impractical or both. The cart derives from existing bicyclewheel-handcart designs, most of which have until now been executed in steel, plywood, or some combination of the two. (Sullivan, 1983; Hathway, 1985; Barwell et al. 1985; Dennis & Smith, 1995; Doran, 1996; Stiles & Stiles, 1998).

All of these earlier designs however, have only limited potential for widespread adoption in SSA due to their use of these expensive, difficulttowork and/or hard-to-find building materials. The Malawi Cart was designed to require only common lumber and two ordinary bicycle wheels.

Fasteners are common nails, along with a few wood screws and small bolts. Several large (8mm x 15mm) bolts were used in the prototype, but when such bolts were found to be unavailable in the nearest large town, widely available and cheaper bicycle rear axles were substituted for them in all later models.

The Malawi Cart rides on two 28-inch bicycle rear wheels (see photos on page 8 for details). Rear wheels were chosen over front wheels because of their greater strength. They have 40 spokes (as against a front wheels’ 36), their axles are longer and thicker and their ball bearings larger. In Malawi, the cost of a rear wheel differs from the cost of a front wheel merely by the price of the four extra spokes. The rims commonly available in Malawi are of the archaic and inherently weak Westwood pattern.

Where available, the far stronger Westrick (or Endrick) pattern rims should be employed. The Malawi Cart was designed so that its body four sidewalls and most of the floor--can be easily removed without tools (it is fastened in place by four wooden swivel catches) to facilitate the carriage of long poles and planks. The design also allows for alternative, purpose-built cartbodies to be dropped in place on an existing cart chassis.

Kirinyaga farmers in Kenya to benefit from four more markets

Kirinyaga farmers in Kenya are set to benefit from additional four markets being constructed in the county. These will bring to 15 the number of modern markets that Governor Anne Waiguru’s administration has built in a span of three years.

The main beneficiaries of the markets that are under construction in Githure, Gathoge, Karumandi and Makutano are avocado and tomato farmers. Some of the markets that have been completed and in use are Kagio, Kutus, Kerugoya, Makutano, Wang’uru, Kagumo, Kianyaga, Kiamutugu, Sagana and Kibingoti.

The new markets are meant to offer a conducive environment for farmers to aggregate their crop for marketing purposes. These markets have come at a time when the county government, through the Wezesha Kirinyaga economic empowerment programme, is supporting farmers’s groups to increase agricultural production with the aim of improving their livelihoods.

The farmers are being supported to undertake various projects in poultry, avocado, tomato and dairy value chains, hence the market have become an integral part of the entire agricultural value chain. Governor Waiguru noted that the new market will allow them to store their produce there overnight.

The governor also revealed that plans to establish an avocado collection and packaging center are underway. Avocados grown in the county will be processed, packaged and branded at the processing plant in readiness for local and export markets.

She added that a tomato factory will also be constructed to enable processing of the produce for the local and export markets. The factory will enable farmers earn more money from tomato products and save them from post-harvest losses.

To boost production, farmers have been supported to establish nurseries where they are propagating quality tomato and avocado seedlings for sale to other growers within and outside the county.

Hides and Skins manufacturing plant to be built in Kenya

Kenyan livestock farmers are set to benefit from a Hides and Skins manufacturing plant to be constructed in Athi-river – Machakos County.

Principal Secretary Ministry of Agriculture – State Department for Livestock Mr Harry Kimutai said the move aims to avoid wastage of skins and hides after animals are slaughtered. He noted that livestock farmers in the country were losing millions of shillings due to the wastage and loss of hides and skins after they slaughter their animals as a result of lack of a government tannery.

“Livestock farmers in the County should not throw away their hides and skins after slaughtering their animals since the government will soon provide a market for their products and it will be beneficial to the livestock farmers and pastoralists,” said Mr Kimutai.

The hides and skins finished products inform of tanned leather would no longer be imported since local industries that manufacture leather products like shoes, belts, hand-bags, wallets among others will easily source the materials within the country, hence encouraging buyKenya build Kenya.

Livestock farmers in Kericho Count would also immensely benefit as a result of the development and construction of the tannery factory in AthiRiver since they will have a place to market their hides and skins.

Bosch projects UCL sugar factory expansion

UCL - Strike Receivers UCL - condensate vessel

Bosch Projects was appointed by UCL Company (Pty) Ltd to undertake three major projects for the recent expansion at its sugar factory in Dalton, KwaZulu-Natal. These projects comprised Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) services for the raw house expansion, chainless diffuser widening and process equipment supply.

“A major challenge was to complete the work necessary at the factory for UCL to meet its 2021/22 season requirements, with sufficient capacity to process the increased sugar cane crop,” explains Steve Rosettenstein, Sector Director: Sugar, Bosch Projects, a member of the Bosch Holdings group of multi-disciplinary consulting engineers. “In spite of tight time constraints during difficult COVID-19 conditions and the short two-month plant maintenance shutdown period, Bosch Projects successfully implemented these three projects simultaneously, between July 2020 and March 2021.

“Following a four-month feasibility study undertaken by the Bosch Projects team to evaluate the potential increase in factory crush capacity from 150TCH to 175TCH, the company was commissioned to provide EPCM services to address the expansion project’s technical, commercial and contractual requirements.”

Services undertaken by Bosch Projects during the EPCM project, included project management, programming and scheduling, procurement and contract administration, construction management, commissioning, quality assurance and cost control.

UCL - inside view of the chainless diffuser

UCL - Lowering of continuous vaccum pan Detailed integration engineering and design encompassed full process, mechanical equipment, piping, civil, structural, electrical and control systems engineering, commissioning and close out.

Because of COVID-19 implications, coupled with the fast-paced nature and congested brownfield factory environment, the Bosch Projects team needed to be innovative and creative in its approach to detailed engineering solutions and the application of expertise.

Effective solutions were achieved for the client by utilising cloud-based multi-user design collaborative tools, specifically designed for remote working. Advanced technology enabled frequent online 3D model reviews and provided state-of the-art technology for site data gathering and meaningful interaction with site staff.

The utilisation of the latest technology – an advanced augmented reality 3D model tool – enabled the construction teams to visualise the new plant integration live on site.

In addition, the team was responsible for a world first widening of the Bosch Projects chainless diffuser, to increase cane throughput by approximately 25%. The team undertook the manufacture, supply, installation and commissioning of a 1m width extension to the factory’s moving screen diffuser, to handle the increased crushed cane required to justify the back-end factory expansion. This chainless diffuser was initially designed and installed by Bosch Projects for UCL in 2006.