Category: AFRICAN NEWS

Zambia to register bumper corn harvest in 2021/22 increasing export volumes to 700,000 tons

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ZAMBIA – Zambia’s production of its single most important crop, corn, is set to reach an all-time high record in the Marketing Year (MY) 2021/22 reaching 3.6 million tons. The bumper harvest follows its production of 3.4 million tons in 2020/21 and 2 million tons in 2019/20. The steady rise in production is attributed to increase area put under production and productivity courtesy of availability and adoption of improved production technologies like higher-potential hybrid seeds and fertilizer. However, the cultivation of genetically engineered corn is still prohibited in the country.…

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SA’s Pioneer Foods recalls LiquiFruit, Ceres apple juice brands due to mould contamination

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SOUTH AFRICA – Pioneer Foods, one of the largest food and beverage manufacturer in South Africa (SA) owned by PepsiCo, has announced a recall of several LiquiFruit brands and Ceres apple juice products sold outside the homeland country, following detection of elevated levels of mould toxins in them. This comes barely a week after Appletiser, a sparkling apple juice brand produced by Coca-Cola South Africa announced a recall of six batches of its product over the same concern. More than 37,000 cases of Appletiser, both cans and glass bottles, were…

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Distributor of petroleum products RUBiS Energy diversifies offering with launch of Brioche restaurant

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KENYA – Multinational oil and gas marketing company, RUBiS Energy has opened a restaurant franchise dubbed Brioche in Kenya, as part of its retail and marketing strategy to provide world-class quality products, and convenience to motorists on the go, saving time and money. Brioche is known to be a high quality, affordable, convenient bakery and restaurant brand inspired by the French cuisine tradition. The outlet is currently in five RUBiS branded stations in the capital, Nairobi, with more expected to be unveiled within the RUBiS network of service stations, reports…

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Chinese donkey processing company recommences operations in Ethiopia after 7 years of closure

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ETHIOPIA – Rhong Chang, a China-based company, has resumed operations at its donkey slaughterhouse in the Oromia Regional State, after seven years hiatus due to public outroar. The facility which was built with an investment of over Br 60 million (US$1.3m) was closed by authorities following public affront for the business perceived as offensive to societal values and norms. Rhong Chang resumed operations following consultations with religious and community leaders in the area as well as security and Assela Town Administration officials. As part of the deal, the company cannot…

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Uganda’s full year coffee exports attain highest volume in 30 years registering 22.9% rise

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UGANDA – Uganda is continuing to exhibit an upward trend in its coffee export volumes and earnings, attaining a 34.89% rise in quantity to 700,990 60-kilo bags in August, compared to the same month last year. The month’s output is higher compared to the 700,035 bags exported the previous month in July and 618,388 bags sold in June. During the period under review, the East African country fetched US$ 75.09 million from the exports of the month, 63.06 % higher compared to the corresponding period in 2020. Meanwhile, coffee exports…

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Kenya Tea Development Agency board names Wilson Muthaura as group CEO

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KENYA – The Kenya Tea Development Agency Holdings board has announced the appointment of Wilson Muthaura as the group CEO with effect from October 1, 2021. Until the appointment, Mr. Muthaura has been the acting Group CEO of KTDA Holdings Limited, taking over the position from Lerionka Tiampati, who resigned as the head of the agency in September. Prior to his tenure at KTDA, Mr. Tiampati was a banker before moving to Ketepa, a subsidiary of KTDA, as Chief Executive Officer in 2001. Four years later, in 2004, he moved…

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Heineken extends dominance in Nigeria beer market with potential Champion Breweries takeover

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NIGERIA – Heineken NV, the world’s second-largest brewer has launched a mandatory takeover bid for Nigeria based Champions Breweries, seeking to buyout the remaining 15.3% equity stake. The Dutch brewing company, made the offer through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Raysun Nigeria Limited, Heineken N.V, and plans to purchase up to 1,196,799,164 ordinary shares from the other shareholders of Champions Breweries. This is according to a recent notice signed by the Chairman of Champions Breweries Plc., Dr Elijah Akpan, and filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), reports Nairametrics. The move comes…

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Kakuzi taps into expertise of PR guru Gina Din-Kariuki to be member of its Human Rights Committee

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KENYA – Kenyan integrated agri-business firm, Kakuzi Plc, has named Mrs Gina Din-Kariuki, a respected and leading businesswoman, philanthropist and champion of Women’s rights, as a member of its newly formed Independent Human Rights Advisory Committee (IHRAC). The appointment of Mrs Din-Kariuki to the IHRAC marks the finalizing of the constitution of the IHRAC committee chaired by former Attorney General Prof Githu Muigai. “The Board of Kakuzi Plc is pleased to announce the entry of Mrs Din-Kariuki to the Independent Human Rights Advisory Committee. “Her entry, following an in-depth selection…

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Nigeria consents open cultivation of genetically modified TELA maize with drought, pest resistance attributes

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NIGERIA – The Federal Government of Nigeria has granted environmental approval for evaluation and open cultivation of TELA maize, a new maize variety genetically modified to tolerate moderate drought and resist the fall armyworm and stem borer. This development now places Nigeria one step closer to commercializing the biotech maize following in the footsteps of South Africa and Egypt. The TELA maize project builds on progress made from a decade of excellent breeding work under the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) Project.  WEMA’s purpose was to develop drought-tolerant and…

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Low sugar output to nick South Africa’s sugar export in 2021/2022

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SOUTH AFRICA – Troubled South Africa sugar industry expects a 7% fall in raw sugar production to 2 million MT in the 2021/22 Marketing Year (MY), from 2.1 million MT in the 2020/21 MY. This is attributed to reduction in the quantity of cane delivered to the mills, limited crushing capacity due to the closure of two sugar mills, and a decline in mill efficiencies. According to a semi-annual report by USDA, production of sugar cane crop is forecasted to fall by 2 percent to 17.9 million MT in 2021/22,…

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