Kenya NSA Report

NSA stakeholders met in Nairobi to discuss ways in which private sector can benefit from agricultural policies. Key among ways identified to adress issues affecting the private sector was the need to work with parlimentarians as well as boosting agricultural development through public private partnerships.... Read More

Putting farming first: encouraging an efficient, competitive agribusiness sector

In a time of food insecurity and at-risk rural livelihoods, the world cannot afford to ignore agriculture’s potential to achieve the triple goals of increasing food production, reducing poverty and ensuring environmental sustainability. These goals will only be achieved by growing more from less, or in other words, boosting productivity while using resources more efficiently and adaptably. Especially in countries where agriculture represents one of the primary sources of livelihood, appropriate policies and funding could drive improved productivity and more sustainable practices, changing the lives of millions.....Download full PDF

We will support you all the way, Kenyan MP assures Non State Actors

Representatives of Non State Actors meeting in Nairobi have been assured of legislation support for strengthening private sector involvement in the country agriculture.

The support includes lobbying in parliament as well at ministerial meeting to ensure policies developed factor in the contribution of the private sector as well as civil society....Read More

PanAAC plans to help rabbit farmers in Kenya access markets

Wazalendo Rabbit Stakeholders forum is a group of farmers, University of Nairobi and the Ministry of agriculture who meet regularly to discuss issues affecting rabbit rearing in Kenya.

One of the concerns faced by the farmers is lack of a dynamic market for their products and lack of free-flowing information on the best ways of rearing rabbits.

Read More

Jambo Fish: Rearing fish in a greenhouse

Cat fish lags behind tilapia, Nile Perch and trout in Kenya both as a farming activity as well as a delicacy.  Consumers often prefer the more available Tilapia and Nile perch to meet their needs.

However, a farm in Central Kenya is revolutionizing the manner in which the country sees and uses fish products. The Jambo fish farm, the only hatchery recognized by Kenya’s Ministry of Fisheries to breed cat fish, is also now venturing in full scale fish farming for domestic market.

Read more...

UNDP Commend PanAAC Role in Agribusiness Development in Africa

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has recognized the role PanAAC has played in the development and management of agribusiness initiatives in Africa.

Under a declaration released after the Africa Business Forum in Johannesburg, the UN organization noted that the role played by private sector and coordinating organizations has worked to meet the earlier declarations by heads of states in Maputo in 2003 which laid out a strategy of increasing funding of agriculture as well as enabling rural development.

In the same declaration, the UNDP and other players in the agribusiness sector have called for governments to incorporate private sector stakeholders in agriculture policy, design, development and programme implementation efforts – particularly to unlock private sector investments in regard to the implementation of CAADP investment plans and toward the development of value chains for strategic food commodities.

It also urged the private sector to engage in public private dialogues and platforms, at the pan-African, regional and national levels to explore and further public private partnerships and collaboration.

Download Full PDF Here

Ethiopia NSA zero on food insecurity

Private players involved in agricultural development have identified various issues that ail the growth of the sector and have worked on a plan to counter the persistent food shortage in the country.

During a meeting organized to come up with agricultural interventions as supported by the Comprehensive African Agricultural Program (CAADP), the experts noted over reliance of rain fed agriculture as a key reason of lack of food security in the horn of Africa region.

More...

CAADP Roundtable talks push non state actors

Players in the private sector in Africa are increasingly being involved in the development of the continents agriculture through their involvement in the ongoing national Non State Actors roundtables.

The forums which have recently been held in different countries in Africa are organized through the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Plan (CAADP), with an aim in tapping the knowledge and efficiency of the private sector.

The meetings are run by a NSA steering committee whose vice chair is PanAAC CEO Lucy Muchoki. The meetings are also being used to draw support for CAADP programmes as well as ensure the involvement of different players in the implementation of agricultural programmes in Africa......Read More

PanAAC supports Declaration for Famers Choice campaign

PanAAC has partnered with several organisations to support an initiative that aims to empower farmers around the world make informed agricultural decisions.

The Declaration for Farmers Choice is a campaign spearheaded by Croplife, International Seed Federation, PanAAC, International Fertilizer Industry Association and the Truth about Trade and Technology.

The campaign aims to ensure farmers have access to all agricultural tools and technologies so they may choose what is best for their land and livelihoods. These technologies must be sustainable, allowing farmers to be productive and farm in an environmentally-responsible way.

It also calls for governments to adopt predictable, innovation-enabling, and science-based regulatory frameworks that provide farmers with access to a full range of agricultural tools and practices.....Read More

PanAAC engages Murang'a Farmers

Murang'a County has had its share of challenges. From its hey days as the cash cow of Kenya due to its lucrative tea and coffee industry, the county has dimmed over the years as the prices of these products suffered due to neglect and international competitions.

It is the undergrowth of these two crops that saw the emergence of other crops and value chains in a desperate measure by farmers to stay afloat....Read More

PANAAC AND NEPAD FINALISING ENGAGEMENT PLANS

PanAAC is in the process of finalizing an agreement with New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) to develop strategies to involve agricultural based businesses and private sector in Africa in implementing CAADP projects.

The agreement will see the two institutions facilitate policy review and influence private sector support of existing CAADP initiatives and also organize agribusiness trade promotion through out the continent.  The partnership will identify and develop agribusiness value chains while still creating linkages among players in the agribusiness sector.....Read More

KAAA meets the Agriculture Secretary on ways to implement ASDS

Kenya Agribusiness and Agro-industry Alliance, the platform being mooted by Kenyan private sector in agriculture to provide a platform for address gaps in the industry recently held a discussion meeting with the country’s agriculture secretary Dr. Wilson Songa.

The meeting deliberated on avenues in which the private sector can be involved in implementing Kenya’s Agriculture Sector Development Strategy as well as achieving strategies laid down in other plans for enhancing agriculture development.....Read More