A PROFILE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN ONION MARKET VALUE CHAIN

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Agricultural Research and Development: SADC CCARDESA Opens

Merafhe opens Agric research centre

Below we run an edited version of a speech by Vice President MOMPATI MERAFHE at the ministers' meeting, and launch of the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development in Southern Africa (CCARDESA).

Undoubtedly, this institution will go a long way in assisting us to achieve our goal of food security in the SADC region.
 As you are all aware, the challenges of feeding more than 250 million people in the SADC member states is enormous, and the launching of this Centre could not have come at a more appropriate time.
Our Governments are committed to taking our people out of the dehumanising conditions of abject poverty and deprivation in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).It is now eight years since the SADC Heads of State and Government adopted the "Maputo Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security", which calls upon Member States to commit at least 10 percent of their national budgets to agriculture.  In this connection, we need to take stock of the progress we are making towards eradicating hunger and abject poverty.
For instance, Botswana has come up with a roadmap whose aim is to deal with issues of poverty eradication because we believe that there are no tolerable levels of poverty.
In this regard, Botswana Government has identified and funded backyard gardening, bee-keeping, small stock and nurseries as key areas in the agricultural sector in order to eradicate poverty in the country.
We cannot afford to ignore the fact that agriculture is the backbone of most SADC states as about 80 percent of our people depend on the sector for food, employment and income.
It is for this reason that the SADC Regional Indicative Strategy Development Plan (RISDP) has made sustainable food security its top most priority.
To further demonstrate their commitment, in 2004, the Heads of State and Government approved a short term Action Plan to address key issues to enhance the performance and efficacy of agricultural development in the region.
These issues include, amongst others, provision of key inputs, control of crop and livestock pests, improving crop, livestock and fisheries production, increasing market access for small holders, and promoting private sector participation in agriculture and rural development.
We should, therefore, pause and reflect on how much we are doing to meet these targets.  Put differently, have we made any meaningful contribution to our people or these were just unrealistic targets?   It goes without saying that we must act now as individual nations and as a regional bloc with a common purpose.
I have been informed that the theme for this meeting is "Research and Development:  Key to Food Security." I find the theme both timely and appropriate because in order to keep pace with the population growth and other life demands, research and technology development must remain focused and ahead of time.
In this regard, Africa must position herself to compete with the best in the global market. Subsequently, we must develop technologies that are appropriate for our traditions, culture and social norms.
Needless to say, we must trust our own agricultural researchers who have a rich traditional knowledge base to share their discoveries and inventions to make agriculture competitive and rewarding.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, as we celebrate the birth of this Centre, we must thank our leaders for their great vision in recognising that research is the life-blood of agricultural development.
The launching of this Centre is a clear testimony of the unwavering commitment of the Member States to agricultural research and their belief that country-based research is more relevant.
I am informed that the Centre recognises the critical roles and challenges facing both the public and private sectors in promoting the regional experiences and expertise.
I, therefore, invite everyone here to live up to our people's expectations by putting both regional and international resources to good use.  In order to achieve this, we must generate useful technologies to drive both the subsistence and commercial farming interests.
The research must be demand driven and not necessarily fill a professional gap for self recognition.
Let me take this opportunity to remind you that the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) aims at eliminating hunger and reducing poverty through agricultural-led growth of economies.
It is encouraging to learn that most SADC member states have embraced the ideas of this Programme. It is also commendable to note that our Secretariat has made good progress in leveraging resources to support member states going through the Programme.  As we all know, the Programme is being implemented through the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
We cannot afford to rest when millions of our people go to bed hungry, or not knowing where their next meal will come from, everyday! Therefore, we must reverse the cliche that "the green revolution bypassed Africa", through resolve, determination and actions.

Reproduced from: http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=325&dir=2011/July/Friday15

Photo and Essay Competitions - NEPAD Agency - CTA

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA) have joined forces in celebrating NEPAD’s 10th Anniversary. The two institutions are jointly organising within this framework two competitions:

• An essay competition on the theme “Looking at ICTs and entrepreneurship in agriculture and rural development through the eyes of women and the youth”. The competition is open to young African people, between 18 and 35 years. Students, journalists, and young entrepreneurs, are particularly encouraged to participate. Each winner will win EUR 1000 and participate in the celebration of NEPAD’s 10th Anniversary! For more information, read the announcement of the essay competition here.
• A photo competition on the theme: “Looking at ICTs, agriculture and climate change in Africa through the eyes of women and the youth”. This competition is open to amateur and professional African photographers. The winners will receive a prize trophy of EUR 800 and have the opportunity to join the NEPAD’s 10th Anniversary! More information are available on the announcement of the photo competition here.

Entries will be submitted in English or French. The Awards recognize excellence across a number of categories (one targeting particularly women). The competitions aim notably to contribute to reflecting over the advancement of  the African development agenda and to recognize young talents.

NB: Download the announcements in pdf directly here:

• Photo competition
• Essay competition

Source: ARDYIS-CTA

Légumes : intérêt grandissant pour la culture hydroponique

Il y a actuellement un intérêt grandissant pour la culture hydroponique. Les statistiques de la Banque de développement de Maurice (BDM) démontrent que le nombre de demandes d’emprunts pour démarrer la culture hydroponique est en hausse.

Les emprunts contractés à mai dernier totalisent Rs 12,85 millions pour le financement de 18 projets. Pour la période 2009-2010, seulement dix cultivateurs avaient soumis une demande pour des projets totalisant Rs 6 millions. Si la tendance s’accentue, cette institution financière prévoit que pas moins de 21 projets seront financés par elle d’ici la fin de l’année.

En quatre ans, la BDM a déboursé une somme de Rs 40 millions pour financer la construction de serres. A ce jour, pas moins de 281 fermiers sont engagés dans ce secteur. Ils cultivent plus particulièrement les produits suivants : concombre, tomate, laitue, fleur, poivron, entre autres. La plupart de ces produits sont vendus dans des supermarchés et des hôtels, entre autres.

Moins de pesticides

C’est la détaxe sur les équipements importés pour l’installation de serres qui a encouragé les producteurs à se lancer dans la culture hydroponique. De nos jours, les consommateurs optent de plus en plus pour des légumes sans pesticides.

Un planteur peut, par exemple, utiliser 50 % de pesticides à travers la culture hydroponique. Un autre avantage qui intéressant est que l’emprunt obtenu à travers le Biotechnolgy Loan Scheme est remboursable à un taux d’intérêt concessionnaire de 9 %. Le prêt maximal accordé à chaque planteur pour se lancer dans le domaine est Rs 1 million.

La DBM a lancé ce plan de financement depuis 1999. Le prêt est remboursable pendant une durée de sept ans avec un moratoire de deux ans. Le taux d’intérêt se situait à l’époque à 3 %. En mai 2007, le taux d’intérêt a été révisé à 9 % par an. Durant les cinq dernières années, 97 projets d’un montant de Rs 57 millions ont été financés à travers ce plan. Tous les projets financés bénéficient de l’expertise de l’Agricultural Research and Extension Unit (AREU) du ministère de l’Agro-industrie.

Pour encourager plus de planteurs à s’intéresser à ce type de projet, le ministère a décidé de mettre en place un village hydroponique à Beemanique, Cluny. Le projet s’étend sur une superficie de 15 arpents. Les terres appartiennent à Rose-Belle Sugar Estate. 31 lots de 990 mètres carrés ont été loués à bail à des promoteurs.

Depuis le mois dernier, 11 planteurs ont déjà complété l’installation des serres. 14 unités ont commencé à cultiver des tomates, entre autres. La fourniture d’électricité est disponible. L’eau utilisée pour les plantes est puisée des nappes souterraines.

Le nombre de serres depuis 2005 est passé de 250 à 498 actuellement, selon une réponse parlementaire du ministre Satish Faugoo.

Les fermiers sont spécialisés dans la production de tomate, poivron, concombre anglais, roses...

La production annuelle de légumes en 2010 était évalué à plus de 9 000 tonnes selon l’AREU et à travers la culture hydroponique la production de légumes est estimée à 3 350 tonnes.

Source: lematinal.com of 01.07.11