Ginger is one of the many cash crops that is grown on the fertile soil of Africa. We drink, spice our food, bake our cookies, and benefit from its antioxidant and medicinal properties. It contains Gingerol, an active ingredient in the treatment of inflamed arthritic joints, infections, high cholesterol, stomach cramps, cold, fever, diarrhoea, etc.  

Background 

Ginger is one of the strongest spices in the world, dating back to 5000 years AD. The earliest mention was in the writings of Confucius, an ancient Chinese philosopher, and the Romans. It was first discovered among the Austronesia people in South-East Asia before it graced the East African soils.  

The Austronesians used it for rituals, for healing, and in blessing their ships. In the first millennium, it was later carried in voyages to the Pacific Islands, India, and off to Madagascar and Comoros. The 14th century holds the earliest records of trade and barter; a pound of ginger in exchange for a sheep.  

Cultivation 

Ginger is a herbaceous perennial crop that is cultivated in the humid tropics. There are about 50 known species of ginger in Africa. It is a root crop with trumpet-shaped and scented flowers that appear in lilac, pink, pale yellow, or white variants. It has small, berries-like fruits, and its leaves smell like the crop. Ginger grows well on fertile, well-drained soil, and humid environments. It grows between 300m and 900m high, and 30cm depth.  

The seed or rhizome is first treated before planting to prevent pest infestation and diseases. The soil is cleared and ploughed 12 inches deep and 24 inches apart. The preferable planting season is between May and June where there is low rainfall.  

The farmer then weeds, applies fertilizer, and spreads green leaves on the plant beds, 45 to 90 days after planting. This process is defined as mulching and it is done to conserve soil moisture. The crop should be rain-fed or irrigated every two weeks to ensure high-quality yield. Harvest takes place between 4 to 5 months after planting.    

Nigeria is the largest producer of ginger in Africa and the third-largest exporter in the world after India and China.  South Africa, DR Congo, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia, and Ghana. 

Written by Joy Ejere Uche 

The post Where this is found in Africa: Ginger  appeared first on MTFC | Meet The Farmers Conference - Nov 2019 - Dubai UAE.

Africa consumes a total of 11.6 million tonnes of milled rice yearly. About 8.3 million of this farm produce is gotten locally while 3.3 million tonnes are imported. The partnership was spurred by the inability of Africa to become self-sufficient in rice production and concurrent demand grew at 6% yearly.

IRRI was founded in 1960 to combat hunger and improve the health of rice farmers and consumers. It also provides advanced rice research and gives lasting solutions to challenges.

IRRI will leverage AATF’s technological expertise and reach 23 Africa countries to deliver innovation to African farmers. It will accelerate the distribution of high-yielding rice varieties, good agro-practices, digital technologies, farm mechanization, crop care, etc. It will create awareness for rice farmers and also promote food security in the African agro-economy.

See also: NARO Invents Anti-tick Vaccine for Livestock Farmers

Both bodies will meet regularly to develop joint projects for rice production and the seed industry. AATF’s network would expand by joining other Agri-organization like Hybrid Rice Development Consortium (HRDC) and Direct Seeded Rice Consortium (DSRC). On the other hand, IRRI will become a member of the AATF-led Alliance for Hybrid Rice in Africa (AHyRA).

African Agricultural Technology Foundation Rice Project Manager, Kayode Sanni expressed his satisfaction on the partnership with IRRI. He noted that Rice is an important staple food for Africans. Thus, the need to upgrade the continent’s technologies and rice cultivation is key.

IRRI’s Head of Tech Transfer, Remy Bitoun also described the partnership as a good way to accelerate the distribution of better rice varieties and good agronomic practices. It will improve food security and the economic sustainability of rice-based agri-food systems.

Before the partnership with AATF, IRRI had made significant strides in uplifting the productivity and livelihoods of farmers in Asia.

The post AATF partners IRRI to Scale Hybrid Rice Production in Africa appeared first on MTFC | Meet The Farmers Conference - Nov 2019 - Dubai UAE.

Photo Credit: cabi.development (Facebook)

Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), funded by the UK Space Agency’s International Partnership Programme (IPP), is working on a Pest Risk Information Service (PRISE) to fight against crop-devastating pest outbreaks in Kenya.

The service was launched at a Plantwise plant clinic in Manyatta in Kenya’s Eastern Province.

Cambria Finegold, global director for knowledge management, said, “It is vital that we use the very latest in technology and work in partnership to bring the best insights on pest population behaviour right to the farmer’s door.”

PRISE builds upon the UK Department for International Development (DFID)-funded Plantwise programme which works globally to help farmers lose less of what they grow to plant health problems.

The project was launched in Zambia in December and will be launched in Ghana later this month.

Also See: Rabobank, FAO Renew Partnership To Help African Farmers

Ray Fielding, Head of the International Partnership Programme at the UK Space Agency, stated, “Innovation is essential to provide new solutions to the problem of pest outbreaks, and this project combines novel EO technology, satellite positioning, plant health modelling, and on-the-ground real-time observations to deliver a science-based service for sub-Saharan Africa.”

The project consortium includes UK partners from Assimila, Kings College London, Centre for Environmental Data Analysis. The technology being deployed better places CABI’s Plantwise plant clinics to give timely alerts and advice to farmers, in person and by tablet or smartphone so they can respond more efficiently to the risks posed to their crops.

Source: africanfarming.net

The post CABI Launches Space-Age Technology to Fight Crop-Devastating Pest Outbreaks in Kenya appeared first on MTFC | Meet The Farmers Conference - Nov 2019 - Dubai UAE.