Africa

A Struggling Land For Food: Where are her farmers?

A prosperous nation is a nation that can feed the majority of her populace well; in quality and in quantity at any given time.

Yam: A Game Changer for Food Systems Transformation in Africa

Aside from cassava, yam is the most important root and tuber crop in Africa with extensive potential to sustain food security in the regions of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, as well as the tropical Americas.

Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected

In commemoration of this year's World Food Safety Day, with the theme prepare for the unexpected. Let us be guarded, May Day can be anytime. The alarm is already triggered.

Farmers and Mental Health (1)

In the agricultural sector, we are witnessing unprecedented situations; little or no rainfall (early or late dry spell), increase in pest infestations, high cost of food production, high food inflation, insecurity amongst others. These events are...

Food Crisis: There is Hope that Yields Nothing (2)

Last week, I wrote about how short term strategies can cushion the effect of the food crisis; more or less survival mode activated. These strategies don't have a long term residual effect as they don't solve the root cause, it only gives a brief...

Food Crisis: There is Hope that Yields Nothing (1)

"Next season will surely be better for the farmers". I know in one way or the other, you have heard someone say the above statement to encourage the farmers or to renew their hope. Could you remember what happened the subsequent season after the...

Food Security: Passion alone is not enough, add Knowledge to it

Farming is a noble profession that requires a level of competency to be successful. As late Dr. IK would say, it requires 90% science and 10% art.

Food Fraud: Fighting for the Lives of Our Food!

According to FAO, food fraud occurs when a food supplier or producer intentionally deceives its customer about the quality, quantity or contents of the foods they are purchasing in order to make more profit. While food fraud is often motivated by...

Rethinking Agriculture: Leveraging on Communal Ties of Trust

A typical agrarian community is a rural area where people of similar cultural values live together; sharing ideas and information, producing similar crops and possibly carrying out similar agricultural practices. Dissemination of this information...

Food Inflation: Our Market Forces are Becoming Helpless

For every food sovereign nation, the market is a powerhouse that helps improve the food chains and its system, with a strong market structure that supports it and the market forces (the forces of demand and supply) that are self regulatory. Not...

Traceability: Building Transparency and Accountability into Our Food System!

In today's world, food production is no longer a hobby for the farmers but a business of wellness and satisfaction - where consumers have a preference for food that satisfies their needs (health, social and environmental needs). Thus, how food is...

Knowledge-Driven Agriculture: The Need for Private Agriculture Extension Services

Over the last 15 years working with smallholder farmers, I have come to terms with the increasing importance of private agricultural extension services after the demise of public agricultural extension services. This is necessary as farmers need...