Unilever Joins Better Than Cash Alliance, Embraces Digital Finance Across Value Chain.

Unilever Joins Better Than Cash Alliance, Embraces Digital Finance Across Value Chain.In an effort to advance the goals outlined in its Sustainable Living Plan, in which it aims to positively impact the lives of 5.5 million people by 2020, consumer goods giant Unilever has announced a new partnership with the Better Than Cash Alliance. By teaming up with the UN-based organization, Unilever has committed to transition away from cash throughout its value chain and instead embrace digital finance. The move, which marks a significant step forward towards integrating social benefits into business strategy, will allow Unilever to advance transparency and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), increase income for farmers, retailers and workers across the value chain and generate new economic opportunities for women and smallholder farmers.

Lion Kills Curator in Nigerian Zoo.

Lion Kills Curator in Nigerian Zoo. The Oyo State Government has ordered the immediate closure of Agodi Zoo over the killing of an attendant by one of the lions in the zoo. A statement by Yinka Fatoki, Executive Secretary, Bureau of Investment Promotion, BIP, in Ibadan on Saturday said the decision was to safeguard the lives of patrons. Mr. Fatoki added that government had also taken the decision based on a report received from AM & C, the company managing the Zoo. He quoted the report as saying: "one of the lions at the Zoo had accidentally attacked one of the attendants, Mr Hamzat Oyekunle popularly known as Baba Olorunwa. Lion Kills Curator in Nigerian Zoo.

Nigeria Now Second World's Leading Producer of Sorghum.

Nigeria Now Second World's Leading Producer of Sorghum. Nigeria's agribusiness in the sorghum cultivation is now amongst world's leading position at number two after the United States of America, USA, which is the number one world's leading producer. A breakdown of the data, obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), showed that USA's output is projected at 8.4m metric tonnes while Nigeria is following with 6.4m metric tonnes and Mexico in the third position with 6.0m metric tonnes.

Chinese Firm to Invest U.S. $1 Billion in Cassava in Tanzania.

Chinese Firm to Invest U.S. $1 Billion in Cassava in Tanzania. The country has signed a partnership with a Chinese firm to commercialize cassava farming and processing, raising hopes for growers who have been grappling with the challenge of accessing reliable markets. Tanzania

AfDB, Brazil to Train African Youth in Cassava Processing.

AfDB, Brazil to Train African Youth in Cassava Processing. The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Brazil-Africa Institute (BAI) have launched the Youth Technical Training Program (YTTP) - an initiative that aims to train young African professionals in research and technology transfer, contributing to local capacity development. The YTTP initiative is sponsored under the South-South Cooperation Trust Fund (SSCTF) and will consists of an array of professional development schemes to meet diverse needs of African countries by utilizing Brazil's technology, skills and knowledge. Focus areas include agriculture and rural development, health, education, information and communication, infrastructure, and the creative industry.

Nigeria plans national dialogue on revival of agricultural marketing boards.

Nigeria plans national dialogue on revival of agricultural marketing boards. The Federal Government says it is planning a national dialogue to consider the re-establishment of marketing boards. The Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, disclosed the plan in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja on Sunday. Mr. Ogbeh who was speaking on the country’s 57th Independence anniversary, said that although marketing boards facilitated exportation of agricultural produce in the past, there was need for stakeholders to deliberate on their revival. Nigeria plans national dialogue on revival of agricultural marketing boards;OGBEH

Driving agriculture through export competitiveness.

Driving agriculture through export competitiveness.For Nigeria to diversify its economy through agriculture, its products must be competitive enough to compete with other products in the international market. This will help accelerate the development of the agricultural sector and provide foreign exchange for the country, experts say. Diversifying the Nigerian economy away from oil would require paying more attention to the making of agriculture and value-adding manufacturing export more competitive. more