TANZANIA - The government of Tanzania has proposed changes to its Cashewnut Industry Act (Cap, 203), scrapping the 65% of the crop export levy remitted to farmers through the Cashewnut Board of Tanzania (CBT). Amendment to the law will see the export levy collected in the consolidated fund, instead of the current situation where some…
EGYPT - The government of Egypt has announced the decision to import milled and paddy rice to increase supply of the commodity as well as prevent potential price shock to consumers. A June 13 USDA report indicated that grain hoarding, which resulted in the decline in the volume of rice being offered to the country’s…
GHANA - Ghana has established a new plant, Aspuna Flour Mill and Processing Factory in Duwasu, Kombo, West Coast region that will process cassava into flour and starch, reported a Ghana Newspaper, Foroyaa. While the cassava flour produced will be sold in the local market and surplus exported, the starch will be exported to attract…
USA - Gotham Greens, a leading urban greenhouse developer and grower of locally and sustainably grown produce, has announced the closing of US$29 million in Series C equity funding last month. According to the company, the new round brings the company's total funding until date to US$45 million, not including bank debt. Since its pioneering…
BOTSWANA - Botswana continues to import 170,000 metric tonnes of maize annually as it has always run out of corn due to insufficient local production, according to an article by AllAfrica. Speaking in an interview, Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) chief executive officer, Mr Leonard Morakaladi noted that on annual basis the country needed 190…
KENYA - The European Union has launched a US$2.37 million cashewnut and sesame value chain project to revive the ailing industry after the collapse of the sole processor at the Kenyan Coast, Kenya Cashewnuts Factory. Revival of the new factory, now under the management of the Millennium Nuts Company, brings hope for 15,000 farmers in…
USA - Seaboard Triumph Foods (STF), a joint venture between Seaboard Foods and Triumph Foods has announced that it plans to increase production with a full second shift at its pork processing facility in Sioux City, Iowa by mid-October. The second shift has been running since May but on a limited basis, with continued hiring…
WORLD - Global tea production and consumption will continue to increase over the next decade driven by rising demand in developing and emerging countries especially India and China which have seen accelerated growth, according to a May report by FAO. The report suggests the upward trend is attributable to a combination of higher incomes and…
NIGERIA - The African Development Bank Group has revealed plans to invest US$120 million over the next two to three years in the production and transformation of cassava among other important commodities. As part of a strategy to achieve agricultural diversity, the funding will also boost production of maize, sorghum/millet, wheat, livestock, aquaculture, high iron…
ITALY – Barilla, an Italian food company, has invested US$1.2 billion over five years to expand production and launch new products as the world’s biggest pasta maker responds to shifting demand. According to Reuters, Barilla’s pasta and sauces have grown faster than its bakery business in recent years, and now account for almost 60% of…
