From agribusiness to subsistence: high-tech tools now available to all

Bimini1002015-01-20T16:55:37-04:00

Precision agriculture is closely associated with technology and its application to large-scale farms in developed countries. GPS-equipped sensors on tractors, for example, enable farmers to measure and respond to soil variability across vast tracts of land, and dispense the right amounts of fertiliser and water exactly where it's needed. For many years, this was widely seen as irrelevant to small-scale farmers in developing countries. How much variability can there be on a two hectare plot? And how could poor farmers [...]

January 23, 2015 ARTICLES Comments OffRead more...

New cellphone, tablet mounting brackets for the cab from John Deere

Bimini1002015-01-22T13:50:41-04:00

The proliferation of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices has made them popular and essential communications tools for today’s farmers and ranchers. As a result, John Deere is introducing mounting brackets and attachments to make it easier to have hands-free access and improved viewing of their mobile devices while operating equipment. “These brackets and mounts are designed to allow operators to access a wide variety of different mobile devices while in the cab of the tractor, combine, sprayer or [...]

January 21, 2015 ARTICLES Comments OffRead more...

Nigerian state to support farmers with modern farm equipment

Bimini1002014-12-28T10:07:08-04:00

Nigeria’s Delta State has announced that it would support the farmers of the region with modern tractor equipment worth US$5.5mn in 2015 TractorDelta State is rich in root crops such as cassava, coco yams, yam and potatoes. Emmanuel Uduaghan, governor of Delta State, said that the farming equipment would further boost mechanised agriculture and improve the productivity of farmers. “The Delta State government would also invest US$2.8mn for the Agricultural Youth Development programme in 2015. The programme would encourage the youth [...]

January 5, 2015 ARTICLES Comments OffRead more...

Uganda Earns Big From Organic Agriculture

Bimini1002014-12-13T20:48:38-04:00

The Agribusiness Development & Management Centre in Uganda Uganda, the pearl of Africa, has taken important steps in transforming conventional agricultural production into an organic farming system, with significant benefits for its economy, society and the environment. Organic Agriculture (OA) is defined by the Codex Alimentarius Commission as a holistic production management system, which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It prohibits the use of synthetic inputs, such as drugs, fertilizers and pesticides. [...]

December 31, 2014 ARTICLES Comments OffRead more...

Changing patterns of African agro-food exports and challenges of integration into global value chains

Bimini1002014-12-13T20:41:10-04:00

The 2014 African Economic Outlook (AEO) report has been published, covering both North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. The report, published by the African Development Bank (AfDB), OECD and UNDP, maintains that “there is significant scope for growth in intra-African trade in agricultural goods.” The report notes that in 2012, African agricultural exports were valued at US$57 billion, some 9.1% of African merchandise exports. Between 2005 and 2011 African agricultural trade grew at 14% per annum in value terms. By 2012, [...]

December 29, 2014 ARTICLES Comments OffRead more...

Growing interest in Irish potato production in East and Southern Africa

Bimini1002014-12-13T20:33:50-04:00

Production of Irish potato is on the rise in Ethiopia. According to a recent report in the Irish Times, “it is estimated there are one million potato farmers in Ethiopia, planting approximately 160,000 hectares annually.” Production mainly takes place on small plots in the highlands, without the application of fertilisers. According to the International Potato Institute, “Ethiopia may have the highest potential for potato production of any country in Africa, with 70 per cent of its 13.5 million hectares [...]

December 24, 2014 ARTICLES Comments OffRead more...

New generation agricultural scientist to propel food security in Africa

Bimini1002014-12-13T20:30:18-04:00

A new generation of agricultural scientists needs to be empowered towards a food and nutrition secure Africa. This would be achieved through a concerted effort in capacity building, knowledge generation and technology dissemination in major institutions of learning. This is what came out from the official opening of a three-day conference that ends today at the Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya. The conference brings together participants from three continents to deliberate on bridging the gap between society, science and industry in [...]

December 22, 2014 ARTICLES Comments OffRead more...

“New climate normal” poses severe risks to development in Latin America and the Caribbean

Bimini1002014-12-06T21:34:25-04:00

As the planet warms further, heat-waves and other weather extremes that today occur once in hundreds of years, if ever, would become the “new climate normal,” creating a world of increased risks and instability.  The consequences for development in Latin America and the Caribbean would be severe as crop yields decline, water resources shift, sea-levels rise, and the livelihoods of millions of people are put at risk, according to the World Bank Group report Turn Down the Heat III: [...]

December 17, 2014 ARTICLES Comments OffRead more...

New player in nitrogen management

Bimini1002014-12-06T21:09:30-04:00

Crop protection company BASF has a long history with nitrogen. The firm can reach far back in its history to two company chemists - Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch, without whom modern farming could have been set back for some time. The two chemists came up with the Haber-Bosch process that allowed them to harness nitrogen to create ammonia, which allows farmers to apply nitrogen-based nutrients. Without nitrogen getting top level yields in corn would be challenging. Now BASF is [...]

December 15, 2014 ARTICLES Comments OffRead more...

Africa: South Africa Opens Its Biggest Solar Plant

Bimini1002014-12-06T20:38:23-04:00

The new 96 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic solar power project in South Africa's Northern Cape province is now online and will help the country meet its critical electricity needs. The Jasper plant, near Kimberly, is the largest on the continent and can produce 180 000 megawatt-hours of energy a year for South African residents, enough to power up 80 000 homes. The project was completed two months ahead of schedule and is fully operational, SolarReserve, the developer, announced on 11 November. Jasper is [...]

December 10, 2014 ARTICLES Comments OffRead more...