Howard-Yana Shapiro, Chief Agricultural Officer of Mars, writes on Farming First about how orphan crops can benefit African farmers and the wider world. Africa has thus far missed out on having its own ‘green revolution’. One reason for this is that it has no large, homogenous ecosystem, such as India’s Deccan Plateau. Any approach to boost productivity and food security must fit Africa’s myriad, small and distinct ecosystems. The term agroecology refers to using ecological processes in agriculture, and maintaining balanced and healthy ecosystems. Pursuing an agricultural revolution that makes use of African crops that are already adapted, already grown…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has urged countries to ensure sustainable food policies and systems to safeguard the bees. FAO’s Director-General José da Silva, on Tuesday, during an official presentation on Bees in Rome challenged countries and individuals to do more to protect bees and other pollinators or risk a sharp drop in food diversity. The report made available in Abuja, noted that bees are under great threat from the combined effects of climate change, intensive agriculture, pesticides, biodiversity loss and pollution. “We cannot continue to focus on increasing production and productivity based on the widespread use of pesticides and…
More eruptions overnight from Hawaii’s Kilauea launched plumes of ash high over the Big Island, where lava from the volcano’s rifts was endangering housing districts and flowing into the ocean, authorities said on Tuesday. The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported a predawn explosive eruption from the Kilauea summit, with an ash plume rising over 2,000 metres high. The blast from the mountaintop was the third overnight and the fourth since early Monday. The island’s civil defence agency warned of ash blowing south-west of the summit toward small communities nearby. Residents were urged to avoid driving, stay indoors and…
A suspected cholera outbreak has claimed 12 lives in Mubi North and Mubi South local government areas of Adamawa state, according to an official of the state Ministry of Health. The Head of Emergency Operation Centre and Director Public Health in the ministry, Dr Bwalki Dilli made this known to newsmen in Yola on Tuesday. Dilli said about suspected 134 cases had so far been reported from the two local government areas. “For now we are in a period of suspected cholera outbreak in two local government areas of Mubi North and Mubi South. We quickly rushed to the local…
As a way of improving its Renewable Energy effort to deemphasize dependence on the national grid, the Centre for Renewable Energy Technology (CRET) of the Federal University of Technology, Akure has developed solar-powered generators- FUTA Solar Box I and FUTA Solar Box 2. The generators of various capacities which components include Lithium Polymer Battery, Inverter, Change Controller, Socket Outlet, Fuse and Switches can power Television set, fan and a number of bulbs for a minimum of five hours at a go. Presenting the generators to the University Management led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Fuwape, the Director of CRET, Prof.…
Here’s the story of its discovery—and its limitations By Emily Underwood *Update, 18 May, 10 a.m.: Yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administrationapproved the first in a new class of drugs designed to prevent migraines. This feature, originally published on 7 January 2016, describes the history of these drugs, the powerful relief they can bring some patients, and the limitations that still exist with them. As long as she can remember, 53-year-old Rosa Sundquist has tallied the number of days per month when her head explodes with pain. The migraines started in childhood and have gotten worse as she’s grown older. Since 2008, they have incapacitated…
The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) says it has created an online portal on animal genetic resources to improve scientific findings in the country. The Project Lead, Animal Genetic Resources at NABDA, who is also the Secretary, National Advisory Committee of Animal Genetic Resources in Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Popoola disclosed this in Abuja on Friday. According to him, many scientists in the country were doing different things in different parts of the country which was not documented anywhere. He said the decision to create the portal came at a stakeholders’ meeting where scientists insisted it was necessary to have an…
The Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Yola, Nigeria says it has successful separated a conjoint female twins. The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Auwal Muhammed disclosed this at a news conference on Friday in Yola. “We have a successful separation of conjoint female twins (Omphilopagus). The development is recorded following a team work from different medical units,’’ Muhammed said. He said that the surgery was conducted on May 14, adding that the chance of survival of the twins was “excellent’’. According to the medical director, it took four hours for the medical team to separate them and the separation…
The Katsina State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said on Friday that six persons were killed in Kastina metropolis and environs by a windstorm which occurred in the area Thursday evening. The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Aminu Waziri who disclosed this during a media briefing in Katsina, said 500 houses were also damaged by the disaster, adding that five persons sustained various degrees of injuries while properties worth over N100 million were also destroyed. “The areas affected were Shinkafi, Modoji, Ambassador, Makera, Kampany and Kambarawa, located at outskirts of the metropolis. The Army Barracks and the Air Force Base were…
Kenya on Thursday announced an elaborate plan to eliminate trachoma, elephantiasis, mother to child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis. The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Ms Sicily Kariuki said the government had formed teams to work on modalities of helping eradicate tropical neglected diseases. “The elimination of Guinea worm and smallpox in the country is an indication that these diseases to can be eliminated,’’ Kariuki told journalists in Nairobi. According to her, the teams would be officially announced in the next 10 days to start making modalities on elimination of the diseases, noting that Kenya was keen on eliminating trachoma,…