WRENmedia

Yoghurt making - adding value to milk

By making yoghurt, dairy farmers can add value to their milk and lengthen its shelf-life. And by adding sugar and flavouring, they can make products that will appeal to a wide range of people, from children to the elderly. In The Gambia, the Kombo North Dairy Cooperative is a group of cattle farmers who have set up a yoghurt making business, which is now supplying local supermarkets. Ismaila Senghore visited their dairy to learn from dairy specialist Matar Charreh about how yoghurt is made. He also spoke to one of the farmers who has improved his income thanks to the new business, and to a customer who buys yoghurt from the dairy. See Yoghurt making - adding value to milk.

published: March 2009

WRENmedia

Chemical fertiliser - food, not poison

Africa has some of the world's most degraded soils. It is now widely recognised that only by a concerted campaign to rebuild soil fertility can African agriculture be turned around. But what kind of fertiliser should African farmers be using? Chemical fertilisers, such as NPK, or organic fertilisers - manure and compost? The answer is probably both. Soils need organic matter to stay healthy, to hold water and resist erosion. But to improve yields sufficiently to feed Africa's growing population, most soil scientists agree that mineral fertilisers are needed as well. In Chemical fertilisers - food, not poison, two researchers from Ghana's institutes for crop and soil research give their views on the value of chemical fertilisers to African agriculture.

published: March 2009

Pius Sawa

Fuel, feed and fertiliser from vegetable waste

In Kasubi and Kawaala, two densely populated areas of Kampala, some enterprising residents are exploiting a little-recognised resource - vegetable peels. By collecting and drying the peels, Kiza James is able to make highly nutritious feeds for poultry and other livestock, which are much cheaper than standard feeds based on maize bran. Damaris Namusoke is growing vegetables for sale and home consumption, using fertiliser and liquid manure derived from the vegetable waste. Meanwhile Samuel Mawanda, who runs a restaurant and bakery, has cut his fuel costs by using briquettes made from banana peels. Pius Sawa went to meet them to find out more. Fuel, feed and fertiliser from vegetable waste is his report.

published: March 2009

WRENmedia

Grasscutter rearing - Ghana's new job opportunity

Grasscutters, or cane rats, are Africa's second largest rodent, after the porcupine. Their meat is a rich source of protein, and they are a popular food in many African countries. Up till now, grasscutters have generally been hunted in the wild, but rearing them is very straightforward. They are susceptible to few disease or health problems and can be easily maintained on a wide variety of foods. In Ghana, the agricultural ministry is now encouraging grasscutter rearing as an income-generating activity for young farmers like Joseph Prempeh. Joseph explains what is involved, and ministry director Eli Kumatse explains why grasscutter rearing is good for the environment as well as the young farmers.

published: February 2009

WRENmedia

Banana juice - a recipe for success

Mariam Asigri, a teacher from Kumasi, Ghana, used to make banana juice at Christmas time as a gift for friends and family. But her juice was so popular she decided to make it a business. Now the director of MASIG Natural Fruits Industries, she explains how the juice is made, and her marketing strategy.

published: January 2009

FAO/Giulio Napolitano

Community forest management - a Gambian success story

Deforestation is one of Africa's most serious problems, both in terms of environmental destruction and loss of livelihoods. The Gambia, which has some 400,000 hectares of forest, is leading the way in participatory forest management, giving local communities responsibility to protect forests from burning and destruction, while also allowing them to benefit from forest resources. The programme has proved hugely successful, promoting social integration and economic development among the forest communities, and allowing the government to divert funds to other needs such as health and education. In Community forest management - a Gambian success story, Kebba Sonko, head of the Community Forest Management Programme, reveals the secrets of that success.

published: November 2008

CREPA

Safe fertiliser from toilet waste

Human faeces and urine contain nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, the same ingredients as chemical fertilisers and animal manure. And while human defecation is a taboo subject in many areas, farmers in parts of Burkina Faso are learning that human manure is actually a rich resource. Under a pilot project in Ouagadougou, households have been given specially designed toilets which separate the solid and liquid elements of human waste. These are collected by a private sector organisation and converted into a safe, affordable fertiliser which is now proving popular with farmers. The pilot scheme may be extended across the country, and could also be introduced in Benin and Mali.

published: October 2008

AVRDC

Stronger together - Ghana's vegetable exporters

For vegetable growers in the developing world, selling produce to lucrative European markets can sound like a dream. Buyers demand very high standards of production and large volumes are needed on a regular basis for international trade. Could small-scale farmers ever hope to get involved in the export business? Yes they can, says Joseph Tontoh of the Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana. The Association of 200 farmers, including 130 small scale outgrowers, exports chillies, aubergines and other vegetables to wholesale vegetable markets in Europe. Many of the outgrowers are school leavers just starting their farming businesses. Hear their story in Stronger together - Ghana's vegetable exporters.

published: September 2008

FAO/Olivier Asselin

Urban horticulture - reducing health risks

In Accra, Ghana, 80 per cent of salad vegetables served in market restaurants and roadside stalls are grown within the city. They are typically irrigated using wastewater - a mixture of rainwater and sewage, containing high levels of human waste and some industrial effluent. This creates health risks, both for those who grow the vegetables and those who eat them. Given water scarcity, use of wastewater for irrigation will continue, and may become even more important in the future. So how can it be made safer, for farmers and consumers? In Urban horticulture - reducing health risks Accra-based water expert, Pay Drechsel, offers some practical answers.

published: September 2008

FAO/Giulio Napolitano

Senegal's award-winning agribusiness

Agriculture and agro-industry form the backbone of the African economy in terms of GDP, employment, food security and trade. And, as African business conditions become more favourable, producers, processors and traders are increasingly making an impact in exporting to Europe. At the Agribusiness Forum 2008, Mamadou Djite received the EMRC Agribusiness Award for his success in exporting fresh fruit and vegetables from Senegal to Europe. In Senegal's award-winning agribusiness Mamadou talks about the secrets of his export success, and Idit Miller, Vice President of the European Marketing Research Centre, explains why he was given the award.

published: September 2008