By Abdallah el-Kurebe President Macky Sall of Senegal has thrown his weight behind the adoption of agricultural biotechnology in the country. He made the declaration during the 2017 Annual Session of the Senegal National Scientific and Technical Academy (ANSTS) on the situation, implications and perspectives of GMOs in Senegal. At a session chaired by him, President Sall made it clear that he supported the implementation of biotechnology in Senegal providing that necessary measures to minimise risks, were taken. ”I must say very clearly that I am for the use of GMOs based on the precautions taken and based on a dynamic…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
Participants in Bangkok Bangkok: Delegates to the Smart Villages Initiative Closing Workshop for South and Southeast Asia in Bangkok March 7-9 agreed that a bottom-up approach involving villagers themselves is essential to catalyse energy access and spread its resultant development dividends in the large number of rural off-grid communities that still exist across the region with little chance of grid connection. Organised in conjunction with the Global Young Academy (GYA), the Thai National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), and the Thai National Science Museum, the workshop also stressed the need for more evidence of the impact of so-called technology…
By Dr. Hannah Nnadi Dear Editor, I’m writing the article below as a concerned Nigerian, who has watched how some activists have taken it upon themselves to smear the integrity of government agencies and individuals working for the good of the country. Nigerians should be aware and be on the alert for these activists in order not to be misled. The attitude of these so called activists to frustrate government agencies must be resisted as their actions are very unpatriotic and misleading. In light of ongoing discussions and debates on the issues raised, I would be grateful…
Cassava farm IBADAN, NIGERIA: The world’s top cassava experts will gather in Nigeria to report progress on developing new varieties of cassava with higher yield and nutritional content. The meeting will take place on March 14-16, at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), in Ibadan. “Africa produces more than half of the world’s cassava — about 86 million tons from over 10 million hectares,” said Chiedozie Egesi, IITA-based project manager of theNext Generation Cassava Breeding (NextGen Cassava) project, who also works to biofortify cassava with essential micronutrients. “But disease pathogens and climate change threaten cassava production and jeopardize the income…
Group of Almajiri children By Abdallah el-Kurebe Cruel happenings surrounding the child today have surged the calls for the respect of the rights of the vulnerable group. Globally, children suffer all manner of ill treatments; most are abandoned or ‘sold’ into slavery. Man’s inhumanity to the child has drawn the attention of the United Nations General Assembly as well as the adoption by it of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on November 20, 1989. In a manner of domestication, the OAU Assembly of Heads of States and Governments adopted the African Union Charter on the Rights…
Fantastic move
Dangote, President of Dangote Group Dangote Rice, a subsidiary of Dangote Group would launch it’s multi-million naira 25,000 hectares of rice outgrower scheme in Sokoto with a prospect of employment opportunities for the rural communities inhabitants. According to a release by the Africa Press Organisation (APO) issued on behalf of Dangote Group, President of the Group, Aliko Dangote disclosed at the weekend that the Company would flag off a pilot project of 500 ha by Gonroyo dam, in Goronyo local government of Sokoto state on Wednesday. The dam is the second largest in the country, after Kainji. To be performed…
Stakeholders at the annual ACAI meeting in Ibadan with Lawrence Kent of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation sharing his thoughts and expectations from the meeting By Abdallah el-Kurebe The African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI) has said that in the past year, it established 563 trials across Nigeria and Tanzania to help unlock the agronomy of cassava. A statement issued by the Communication and Knowledge Exchange Expert, Godwin Atser explained that the trials were part of the broader initiative by the research community led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) with its international and national partners to increase…
L-R: Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole; Director General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dr Nteranya Sanginga; and the Director of Policy and Program, World Food Programme, Mr Stanlake Samkange; during the launch of the “Synthesis Report of the Nigeria Zero Hunger Strategic Review,” in Abuja. By Abdallah el-Kurebe Nigeria is making gigantic plan to achieve zero hunger by the year 2030 as it launches a strategic plan and roadmap in that regard. The 60-page “Synthesis Report of the Nigeria Zero Hunger Strategic Review,” is an articulation of the needs of Nigeria needs for the achievement of the Sustainable…
Gasoline powered simple weeders adapted for weeding in cassava farms hold promise and may take off the burden of weeding faced by small-scale farmers in Africa. Initially acquired as tillers, these simple tools are being modified and adapted as weeders by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) led Cassava Weed Management Project. Last year, the machines were being tested on farmers’ fields across 58 sites in Nigeria. Following this progress, a team of Nigerian engineers and fabricators are also working on a local version with materials sourced locally for its construction. Demonstrating the machines during a field trip organised…