Global harvests strong but hunger persists amid chronic conflict zones.

Global food supply conditions are robust, but access to food has been dramatically reduced in areas suffering civil conflicts, while drought conditions are worsening food security across swathes of East Africa, according to the new edition of FAO's Crop Prospects and Food Situation report. Some 37 countries require external assistance for food, 28 of them in Africa as a result of lingering effects of last year's El Niño-triggered droughts on harvests in 2016. Yet, while agricultural production is expected to rebound in southern Africa, protracted fighting and unrest is increasing the ranks of the displaced and hungry in other parts of the world. Famine has been formally declared in South Sudan and the food security situation is of grave concern in northern Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen. “This is an unprecedented situation. Never before have we been faced with 4 threats of famine in multiple countries simultaneously,” said FAO Assistant Director-General Kostas Stamoulis, head of the Economic and Social Development department. “It demands swift action which should consist of immediate food assistance but also livelihood support to ensure that such situations are not repeated.” In South Sudan, 100,000 people were facing famine in Leer and Mayendit Counties, part of former Unity State, while there was an "elevated risk" that similar conditions existed in two nearby counties. Overall, about 4.9 million people across the country were classified as facing crisis, emergency or famine. That number is projected to increase to 5.5 million, or almost half the country's population, at the peak of the lean season in July. In northern Nigeria, 8.1 million people are facing acute food insecurity conditions and require urgent life-saving response and livelihood protection. That comes despite the above-average cereal harvest in 2016 and reflects the disruption caused by conflict as well as the sharp depreciation of the Naira. source

Northeastern Nigeria conflict intensifies Lake Chad Basin hunger crisis.

7.1 million people are now severely food insecure across Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria. . Among them are 515 000 children who are suffering from severe acute malnutrition - a condition which, if untreated, can lead to permanent damage to a child's development and even death. Violence related to the armed group Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria has spilled over to parts of neighboring countries in the Lake Chad Basin - specifically, Cameroon's Far North, western Chad and southeastern Niger - with devastating effects on food security and livelihoods. With the Lake Chad Basin approaching a critical period in the agricultural calendar, FAO is urgently calling for $30 million in immediate emergency support to help farming families in the four countries get ready to plant in the upcoming May planting season and prevent them from slipping into long-term dependency on food aid. Violence has driven millions across the four countries from their homes and hampered access to agricultural lands and assets, creating massive humanitarian needs in an area already struggling with food insecurity, poverty and environmental degradation. Host communities, in particular, have been struggling for several years now to feed the displaced as well as their own. more

How to use backscatter radio for soil sensor network.

The ever growing population and climate change has put pressure on food producers to come up with strategies to feed the populace using smart means so as not to disrupt the ecosystem. The internet of things has delved into agriculture,thus making it easy to monitor agricultural activities with sensors, radio frequency identification, drones and robots. The use of various gadgets to facilitate increased productivity has pushed technology into the agricultural land to ensure food security. One of such innovative method is the use of backscatter radio for soil sensor, the Soil Moisture Scatter Radio Networking with Low Power by Spyridon-Nektarios Daskalakis. The soil sensor switches half of an etched PCB bowtie antenna in and out of a circuit at a frequency proportional to soil moisture. A carrier signal from a separate transmitter is reflected off the alternately loaded and unloaded antenna, picking up subcarriers with a frequency proportional to soil moisture.

ICRA : Building agribusiness relations for sustainable profit .

Over the years, ICRA experienced that many business support services (BSS) face difficulties in offering services that have long-lasting impact. Most training events seem to have limited results and do not lead to the desired sustainable income increases and profitable businesses for their clients. As a result, BSS find it hard to attract new clients and projects. They need to invest a lot of time in search for new funding rather than in supporting small-scale producers and processors and doing the work they love and do best. Successful business support services not only assure that smallholder farmers and agri-entrepreneurs make substantial and sustainable profit, they also assist them in doing it more efficiently. Donors, business and governmental organizations line up to work with such successful service provides. ICRA is providing an opportunity to practical tips on how to secure a stable flow of income for your support services. more

Banaba Leaf Extract: A Natural Diabetes Remedy.

According to the American Diabetes Association, 25.8 million children and adults in the US have diabetes. That's 8.3% of the population and represents a 14-fold increase since 1960. This high growth has led to a growing number of pharmaceutical drugs attempting to treat the problem -- and with those drugs, a host of dangerous side effects, such as increased risk of heart failure. It's no wonder people are looking for safer, and possibly more effective, natural alternatives. Fortunately, there just might be a powerful natural alternative with banaba leaf extract. Banaba leaf, not to be confused with “banana” leaf, has been used for thousands of years in India and the Philippines to naturally treat diabetes and low blood sugar levels. It turns out these cultures were onto something -- banaba leaf and blood sugar control go hand in hand. The blood sugar regulating properties of corosolic acid, the active ingredient in banaba leaf, have been demonstrated in cell culture, animal, and human studies. In isolated cells, for example, it is known to stimulate glucose uptake. In fact, some studies have shown that it can help lower blood sugar within sixty minutes. It has also been shown to help correct leptin problems and food cravings that are typically found in overweight individuals who have elevated blood sugar. continue

3 people in Ontario contract Seoul virus spread by rats.

3 people in Ontario contract Seoul virus spread by rats.Ontario's chief medical officer of health says three people have contracted a virus linked to exposure to rats. Dr. David Williams says the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is investigating three human cases of Seoul virus among people who had prolonged contact with rats. Williams says no serious health problems have been reported. Seoul virus is a type of hantavirus that can be transmitted from rats to people through bite wounds or exposure to urine, feces, saliva or contaminated bedding. Officials say the health risk to Ontarians is considered low and Seoul virus is not spread from person to person.Rats do not show symptoms of disease when they are infected with Seoul virus. A person infected with Seoul virus may not develop symptoms or will only develop very mild symptoms. However, in some instances, more severe symptoms may include fever, severe headache, back and abdominal pain, chills, blurred vision, redness of the eyes, or rash. source

Lassa fever outbreak in Borno state.

Lassa fever outbreak in Borno state. Borno State has recorded its first victim of Lassa Fever as a 32-year-old lady, who resides in Zabarmari village of Jere Local Government Area, tested positive.Lassa Fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness of two to 21 days duration and is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia, said the victim fell sick last week and was admitted at a government hospital in Maiduguri, a sample of her blood was taken to Lagos for test and returned positive. Dr. Mshelia said though the situation is under control as the victim is responding to treatment, the ministry had to summon all stakeholders, including traditional rulers, to sensitise the public on the need to ensure proper sanitation and avoid eating rodents, especially rats. source