Tag: FAO

FAO forecasts bumper cereal harvest in 2021/22 despite poor weather

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GLOBAL – The food and agriculture organization (FAO) has projected global cereal production in 2021 to reach 2 821 million tonnes,  a 1.9 percent increase from 2020, led by a foreseen 3.7 percent annual growth in maize output.  Although a record high, the latest world cereal production has been lowered marginally since the previous report in June majorly due to concerns about coarse grains which FAO expects to be adversely impacted by adverse weather conditions.  Global maize production is expected to dip due to the prolonged drought period in Brazil which is one of the world’s…

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FAO Food Price Index falls for the first time in 12 months

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GLOBAL – The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) which is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities averaged 124.6 points in June 2021, down 3.2 points (2.5 percent) from May.  The fall has been attributed to declines in the prices of vegetable oils, cereals, and, to a lesser degree, dairy prices, which more than offset generally higher meat and sugar quotations.  Maize prices dropped by 5.0 percent in June as a result of increased supplies from recent harvests in Argentina, Brazil, and the United States.  Among other coarse…

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FAO, AUC, UNECA call for transformation of Africa’s agri-food systems to make healthy diets more accessible, affordable

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AFRICA – With Africa boasting of having 60% of the world’s arable land and diverse agro- ecological zones, it is a sceptical paradox that is genuinely disturbing, that nearly three-quarters of Africans cannot afford a healthy diet of fruits, vegetable and animal proteins. This is according to the latest Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition launched by FAO, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Union Commission (AUC), further indicating that, over half of all Africans (51%), cannot afford a nutrient-adequate diet which provides a…

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FAO adopts new strategic framework to drive transformation of agri-food systems

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GLOBAL – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has adopted a new Strategic Framework aimed at driving the Organization’s efforts to transform agri-food systems and address hunger, poverty, and inequality over the next decade.  FAO will now embark on implementing the strategic framework after FAO Conference, the supreme decision-making body that brings together all FAO Members – 194 countries plus the European Union endorsed it on the last day of the 42nd Session.  According to the FAO, the Strategic Framework 2022-2031 seeks to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by…

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FAO launches Green Cities Action Programme for Africa to promote sustainable food systems

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AFRICA – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has launched the Green Cities Regional Action Programme for Africa, aimed to apply innovative solutions and turn urbanization into an opportunity for cities to become more sustainable, more resilient, provide access to healthy foods and ensure a better life for everyone. The initiative will focus to scale-up fast-action measures for large, medium and small cities to be more resilient, food and nutrition secure, with pleasant natural environments, more integrated nutritious food production-and-distribution systems benefiting residents and farmers alike.…

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FAO, AU champion expansion of Africa’s intra-agricultural trade in new AfCFTA framework

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AFRICA – The African agricultural and food market is expanding quickly as indicated by World Bank projections that show that the value of the industry is expected to more than triple to reach USD 1 trillion by 2030, compared to 2010. This according to FAO provides an opportunity to not only boost trade in food and non-food agricultural commodities and services within the continent but also enhance food security in Africa. So far regional integration is gaining momentum as evidenced by progress in the creation of customs unions and the…

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World cereal production in 2021 to increase for the third consecutive year – FAO

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GLOBAL— The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has projected that the world cereal production in 2021 will increase for the third consecutive year thanks to sharp rebounds in key production markets in Europe, India and South Africa. According to the FAO, global wheat production is forecast to reach a new high of 785 million tonnes in 2021, up 1.4% from 2020, driven by a likely sharp rebound across most of Europe and expectations of a record harvest in India. Above-average outputs also are expected for maize, with a record harvest…

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Rwandan agribusiness ventures to receive backing from FAO, JR Farms through Green Agribusiness Fund

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RWANDA – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rwanda has signed an agreement with JR Farms Limited to promote youth involvement in agriculture and create decent work opportunities.  JR Farms is a Rwandan led agri-enterprise operating in Rwanda, Nigeria and Zambia in the areas of food processing and retailing, agro commodity trading and consulting. Its corporate goals are to ensure food security, end hunger in Africa and create decent jobs for Africa’s women and young people. FAO and JR Farms have joined forces with the…

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FAO welcomes US$48.4m from Germany to help farmers withstand unprecedented shocks

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AFRICA – Germany through the KfW Development Bank has issued €40 million (US$48.4m) to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization to support farmers and fishers in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and Yemen to withstand COVID-19, conflict, natural disaster and climate change shocks. The funding is aimed to boost agricultural production, reduce post-harvest losses, and create new income streams for the farmers by diversifying their activities, as well as nutrition interventions. “In light of violent conflicts, natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic, we are proud to deepen our…

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FAO seeks US$38m support to supplement continuing efforts of combating locust invasion

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EAST AFRICA – The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is seeking an additional US$38 million support to continue work of combating the locust menace in Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and Yemen. Without this support which will be channelled towards financing fuel, airtime, and pilot hours, the 28 anti-locust aircraft which are now patrolling the skies to spot and spray locust swarms could cease operations in March, indicates FAO. “Governments have built up capacity in record-time. Swarms have been massively reduced in number and in size. “It would be tragic to throw…

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