Rainbow Crops, a next-generation agtech company developing crop genetics with enhanced complex agronomic traits, has been awarded a $7 million grant from the Gates Foundation to advance climate-resilient crops research for global food security, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The funding will support the application of Rainbow Crops’ Trait Foundry™ platform to advance new genetic approaches for improving crop performance under heat and drought stress to meet the needs of small holder farmers. With the aim of progressing climate-resilient crops and improved germplasm delivery, the platform will develop innovative approaches for identifying and combining alleles to support germination…
Author: Newsdesk
Kenya has officially launched the Electronic Warehouse Receipt System Central Registry (eWRS-CR), a landmark digital platform designed to modernise agricultural commodity trade, reduce post-harvest losses, and unlock access to structured markets and financing for farmers and agribusinesses across the country. The platform was launched by the Warehouse Receipt System Council (WRSC) in partnership with TradeMark Africa (TMA) and funded by the British High Commission (BHC) in Nairobi. It is a secure, government-owned digital system that automates, centralises and manages warehouse receipts issued under the Warehouse Receipt System. By enhancing transparency, traceability and trust, the platform enables seamless participation by farmers,…
The African Export-Import Bank has announced a major expansion of its financial engagement with the Caribbean Community, increasing its regional financing ceiling to $5bn over the next three to four years. The commitment was unveiled at the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis, marking a significant strengthening of economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean. The new $5bn envelope represents a decisive step up from the previous $3bn limit. It builds on more than $750m already disbursed across Caribbean economies and a transaction pipeline exceeding $2bn currently under…
The Gambia has become the world’s leading consumer of rice per capita, underscoring the grain’s dominant role in national food security and everyday nutrition across the West African country. Gambians consume an average of 256.4 kilograms of rice per person each year, according to FAO Food Balance Sheet data cited in an IMF analytical report examining food security and staple-price trends. The figures place the country ahead of several traditionally rice-dependent Asian economies. Bangladesh ranks second globally with 246.9 kilograms per capita, followed by Vietnam at 228.1 kilograms and Thailand at 178.9 kilograms. Madagascar records annual consumption of 153.5 kilograms. Senegal…
The manager of soulful singer Simi has refuted online reports that the artist and her husband, Adekunle Gold, are getting divorced, calling the story untrue. According to Simi’s manager, Vincent, the story, which spread rapidly on social media, was based on a forged document presented as a divorce petition submitted allegedly by Adekunle Gold. The document, dated February 28, 2026, claimed that the couple’s marriage had “irretrievably broken down” and alleged prolonged emotional, financial and professional control. It also sought dissolution of the marriage and joint custody arrangements for their child. Some online reports suggested the petition had been filed…
A Development Communications Strategist, Feyikemi Adurogbangba, has urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to build on the legacy of previous agricultural programmes and stop implementing projects in silos. Adurogbangba made the call on Wednesday in Abuja while reacting to farmers’ complaints about heavy losses from price crashes in food produce. In a statement analyzing the situation, she expressed concern over the persistent cycle of challenges facing farmers despite multiple intervention programmes by government and development partners. She specifically called on actors across the value chain to build on the foundation of past programmes “instead of working in isolation or…
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 58-year-old fugitive drug lord Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya who has been on the wanted list of NDLEA and British authorities for over 15 years. This was made known in a statement to Ashenews on Wednesday signed by the agency’s Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi. Ilomuanya was apprehended at a location in Lagos on Monday, 23rd February 2026, following a high-stakes well-coordinated operation by officers of a Special Operations Unit of the Agency. His arrest ends a long-standing cat-and-mouse game with the law following his long history of drug related crimes across Nigeria…
Biotechnology experts on Wednesday described biotechnology as a critical tool for stabilizing food systems strained by climate change, pests, and rapid population growth. In separate interviews with reporters in Abuja, they emphasized that biotechnology is essential for food stability in developing countries, including Nigeria. Climate-smart crops and biofortification Prof. Charles Adetunji, a biotechnology researcher, said biotechnology enables the development of climate-smart crops. He noted that Nigeria faces unpredictable rainfall and increasing soil salinity in some regions. “Biotechnology helps develop drought-tolerant varieties of maize and rice that require less water or can survive dry spells,” he said. Adetunji added that biofortification…
Ecuadorean and United States forces have launched operations against designated terrorist organizations in Ecuador targeting illicit drug trafficking, the US military’s Southern Command said Tuesday. The Southern Command announced the action in a statement on X but did not provide additional details. The announcement came one day after Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa said the United States was among “regional allies” taking part in a “new phase” of Ecuador’s war against drug cartels. Sources gathered that Noboa says around 70 per cent of the world’s cocaine now flows through Ecuador’s huge ports, making it a lucrative location for drug trafficking gangs. Ecuador also borders Colombia and Peru, the world’s two largest cocaine producers. The latest operations come four months after…
Kano State Government has launched 25 emergency mobile ambulances to boost healthcare delivery and emergency response. Ashenews gathered through NAN reports that the Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, inaugurated the ambulances on Wednesday. He said that the ambulances, procured through federal, state and private sector collaboration, would be distributed to 25 local government areas, with plans to cover the 44 local government areasin phases. Labaran added that the deployment of the ambulances was aimed at ensuring effective service delivery, particularly in handling emergency cases that require prompt medical attention. He explained that the vehicles would provide free services for…