Category: AFRICAN NEWS

Zimbabwe’s Delta Corporation invests US$1.1m in sorghum production to meet rising beer demand

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ZIMBABWE – Delta Corporation Limited, leading manufacturer and marketer of both international and locally produced beverages has invested US$1.1 million into sorghum planting under a strategy to secure inputs for its massive operation. The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange listed blue-chip, has recently been making fresh forays into domestic and foreign markets, unlocking opportunities for growth and higher demand for beer. The US$1.1 million injection, according to Zimbabwe Independent, will be channelled production of 13, 425 tonnes of sorghum to quench up the thirst of beer lovers as demand rises. “We have…

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Sahel Consulting champions development of Nigeria’s National Dairy Policy to foster sector growth

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NIGERIA – Sahel Consulting, a leading African agriculture platform in Nigeria has lent its input to the develop a National Dairy Policy prepared by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, aimed to foster growth of the sector, boost local milk production and in turn discourage the importation of dairy products. Africa’s most populous country spends US$1.3 billion yearly on the importation of dairy products as the sector faces challenges that limit production of high-quality raw materials to produce dairy products. Muhammad Sabo Nanono, minister of Agriculture has further highlighted that over…

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Avian flu spreads across Nigeria causing US$1.3m worth of poultry loss in Kano State

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NIGERIA – The highly pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 has wreaked havoc in Nigeria with cases of rampant out-breaks reported in Kano State, registering a loss of over N500 million (US$1.3m) worth of poultry. According to the Kano State branch of the Poultry Farmers Association of Nigeria, 223,695 chicken have been confirmed affected and depopulated, noting that each of the chicken costs not less than N1,800, and the amount of the loss is over N402 million (US$1.05m). The Chairman of the association, Mr. Umar Kibiya Usman, highlighted that there are thousands…

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Agricultural Finance Corporation supports Kenyan women farmers with US$9.3m financing

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KENYA – The Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) has extended a Ksh1 billion (US$9.3m) loan to women farmers as it seeks to empower women-led enterprises. The money, which is part of Ksh3 billion (US$27.95m) that AFC intends to loan women, has been disbursed over nine months, according to the agency’s board chair Franklin Bett. The institution last year started the Women Affirmative Access Window programme to drive financial inclusion in agricultural finance. Mr Bett said the loans have been made collateral free to attract women who would want to access funds…

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UAE manufacturing giant Agthia Group to acquire majority stake in Egyptian meat processor Atyab

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EGYPT – Abu Dhabi-listed food and beverage company Agthia Group has announced that its Board of Directors has approved a strategic acquisition of a majority stake in Ismailia Investments (Atyab), Egyptian producer of frozen processed chicken and beef products. The acquisition would see Agthia acquiring 75.02% in Ismailia Investments, giving it an enterprise value of 3.22 billion Egyptian pounds (US$205.6 million). Ismailia Investments has a portfolio of four brands – Atyab, Meatland, Shiketita and Furat – catering to the value, economy and premium segments of the Egyptian market, Agthia noted…

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Egypt’s local production of edible oil, meal to rise following expansion of crushing capacity

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EGYPT – Egypt to continue relying on oil seed imports as a result of expansion of its crushing industry and local production being far below demand levels. The main oil seeds utilized in the country for production of both edible oils and animal feeds are soybeans and sunflower seeds. In marketing year (MY) 2021/22, production of soybeans is expected to be 25,000 metric tons (MT), against local demand of 4.64 million metric tons (MMT), according USDA Foreign Agricultural Services in a GAIN report. The consumption rate is 2.2 percent up…

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South Africa’s edible oil imports to decline in 2021/22 resulting from rise in crushing capacity by 3%

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SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa’s oil seed sector is expected to witness a bumper harvest in Marketing Year (MY) 2021/22, which will result to a drop in edible oil imports to 940,000 tons. Soybean oil imports are forecast to be around 130,000 tons and for sunflower seed oil to be at about 260,000 tons. According to a GAIN report prepared by USDA Foreign Agricultural Services, the decline will follow a 3% rise in edible oil imports in 2020/21 MY to around 950,000 tons. South Africa imported an estimated 150,000 tons…

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Nigeria’s Eat’N’Go extend footprint across Africa, enters Kenyan market

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NIGERIA – Eat’N’Go limited, Nigeria’s master franchisee for Domino’s Pizza, Cold Stone Creamery, and Pinkberry Gourmet Frozen Yoghurt has announced its expansion into the East African market. The leading Quick Service Restaurant operator in the West African country, has successfully acquired the franchisee which operated Cold Stone Creamery and Domino’s Pizza in Kenya. Om Nom Nom Ltd, the master franchise holder of Domino’s Pizza and Cold Stone Creamery in Kenya, opened its first store in 2014 in a market with leading brands like Pizza Hut, Pizza Inn and Debonairs, among…

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Uganda Coffee Development Authority’s lab upgrades to new ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation

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UGANDA – The Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) has announced that it will be transitioning its Coffee Testing Laboratory in Lugogo to the new ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 standard issued by the International Standardization Organization (ISO) under the European Union funded Market Access Upgrade (MARKUP) project for the coffee and cocoa value chain development in Uganda. The International Standard ISO/IEC17025 is used for the accreditation of competence of testing and calibration laboratories worldwide. According to ISO, all accredited laboratories in the world are supposed to transition to the new standard which…

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World Animal Protection raises alarm on superbug contamination on meat sold in Kenya’s retail stores

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KENYA – Nearly two years after an expose by a Kenyan media outlet on the rampant use of chemicals and preservatives by some butcheries and retailers to extend the shelf life of meat products, UK-based World Animal Protection has revealed that, a significant portion of chicken and pork meat sold in supermarkets is contaminated with bacteria or superbugs. Superbugs according to WHO are strains of bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi resistant to most antibiotics and other medications commonly used treat the infections they cause. The World Animal Protection conducted a…

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