513 million tons of additional food production guaranteed- AfDB.

513 million tons of additional food production guaranteed- AfDB.The African Development Bank (AfDB) has developed a new initiative called the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative – a knowledge and innovation-based response to the recognized need of scaling up proven technologies across Africa. Already, 25 African countries have written letters to the AfDB confirming their interest and readiness to participate in TAAT, and help transform their agriculture. It will support AfDB’s Feed Africa Strategy for the continent to eliminate the current massive importation of food and transform its economies by targeting agriculture as a major source of economic diversification and wealth, as well as a powerful engine for job creation. The initiative will implement 655 carefully considered actions that should result in almost 513 million tons of additional food production and lift nearly 250 million Africans out of poverty by 2025. AfDB

3.4 Million People Suffer Malnutrition In North-east Nigeria – UN .

3.4 Million People Suffer Malnutrition In North-east Nigeria – UN. In a new report, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) says about 3.4 million people need nutrition assistance due to food crisis caused by the Boko Haram insurgency in North-East Nigeria. In the report for the month of September, UN-OCHA Humanitarian Situation Report revealed that 2.7 million people were targeted for immediate intervention, adding that only 936,200 people were reached with nutrition support within the period under review. The report indicates that three Stabilization Centres (SC) were set up at Damboa, Dikwa and Ngala Local Government Areas to enhance management of acute malnutrition. It says some 60 health personnel were also trained in Borno and Yobe States to enhance operations at the stabilization centers.UNITED NATION

Lagos Assembly okays establishment of Institute for Cancer and Disease Control .

Lagos Assembly okays establishment of Institute for Cancer and Disease Control. A law to establish a cancer institute in Lagos State has been passed by the State House of Assembly. The House, at plenary on Tuesday gave final consideration to the Bill for a Centre that would conduct researches into cancer and other diseases in the State which to be established by the State Government. The Bill titled: “A Bill for A Law to Establish the Lagos State Cancer Institute to Provide for the Promotion, Aids, and Coordination of Researches Relating to Cancer and Disease Control.” was initiated by the Speaker of the House Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa early this year and had passed through first and second readings as well as public hearing before it was eventually passed into law after the third reading Tuesday plenary.

First Bank supports Down Syndrome awareness for 8th consecutive year.

First Bank supports Down Syndrome awareness for 8th consecutive year. FirstBank has pledged its support for The 2017 Annual Awareness Week of the Down Syndrome Foundation, scheduled for Monday, October 23 – 27. The 2017 edition is not the first time the Bank is supporting this initiative, as the Bank has over the last 8 years partnered and participated in a number of initiatives of The Down Syndrome Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation that was founded 17 years ago. The Bank’s partnership and support to the Down Syndrome Foundation is in furtherance of its Hope Rising Initiative designed to provide various forms of interventions for persons living with disabilities as well as create advocacy and public enlightenment for them. The event themed; “Yes (I, YOU, WE) CAN… Make A Difference” is projected to feature activities such as press briefing, family fun fair & novelty match as well amongst others. First Bank supports Down Syndrome awareness for 8th consecutive year.

Manual oil extractor to save avocado farmers from losses.

Manual oil extractor to save avocado farmers from losses. Avocado farmers, who have poor access to markets, can extract cooking oil from ripe fruits for sale to save on rotting using a cheap manual pressing machine from Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation, KALRO. The machine extracts pure cooking oil from ripe avocados, which can be packaged and sold upon approval from regulatory authorities like Kenya Bureau of Standards. The Oil Press Manual Extractor does not require electric or fuel energy other than that of the farmer ‘crashing’ the ripe part of the avocado through the funnel-like chamber.

Production of Kales (Sukuma wiki) and Onions Using Bucket Drip Irrigation.

Production of Kales (Sukuma wiki) and Onions Using Bucket Drip Irrigation. Farmers can grow a variety of vegetables for their family and for sale using the bucket drip irrigation kit during the dry season by using only three buckets of water a day at most. This method is cheaper and effective as farmers can use readily available materials in their homesteads. The bucket drip kit consists of a bucket and two drip tapes of 15m in length with holes (emitters) at 30 cm spacing. The bucket is supported one meter above the ground. There are two main methods of preparing seed beds namely: double digging and planting on flat land. In dry areas (agro-ecological zones 4 and 5), practice double digging. In less dry areas (agro-ecological zone 3) you may use the conventional method of planting on flat land.

Village Industrial Power offering innovative clean energy for rural farmers.

Village Industrial Power offering innovative clean energy for rural farmers.Rural farmers can increase the value of their crops ten-fold by using a new technology – Village industrial mobile power plant. The technology which was introduced in Kenya in 2016 uses agricultural waste as fuel; it has 10 Kw engine which creates thermal, electrical and mechanical energy to transform crops into high value products. VIP’s pilot power plants are currently on trial in East Africa. The plant enables farmers shell 1 ton of maize in 2 hours for Ksh. 150 per bag. It thus reduces the chances of aflatoxin infection and improves the quality of maize. It also reduces unpredictable cost of manual labor used to dry maize in the sun. “VIP’s mobile power plant unit is robust, reliable, and on demand, enabling farmers to process their own crops and participate directly in the value chain, VIP’s carbon neutral engine is fuel flexible, using waste such as maize cobs, coffee parchment, mango pits, and bagasse to supply thermal, electric, and mechanical power” says Maggie Flanagan, the company’s Vice President for Business Development.