WRENmedia

Better in a bunch - banana marketing

Banana farmers in Uganda are being trained and helped to form business groups by TechnoServe, an international development organisation. As a result, they have seen their earnings from bananas rise by 70 per cent, not least through their improved skills in the marketplace. The organisation is also promoting a dairy programme, as well as poultry and fruit farming, to ensure that diets are improved as well as incomes raised. Erastus Kibugu, in charge of TechnoServe's Uganda office, explains the work which has transformed 11,000 subsistence banana growers into successful, commercial producers.

published: May 2009

WRENmedia

Foot and mouth - a kick in the teeth for livestock trade

An outbreak of Foot and mouth disease in seven districts of northern Uganda has threatened hundreds of thousands of livestock. A ban on movement and sale of animals and animal products, including milk, has cut farmers' incomes at a time when they urgently need money to pay for food, farm inputs and school fees. Pius Sawa finds out what the impact has been on local people in Apac - one of the affected districts - talking to farmers, householders, restaurant workers and a member of the local administration. Is the livestock ban in the best interests of the animals and their owners?

published: April 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

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

Neil Palmer (CIAT)

The role of biotechnology in fighting banana disease

Frank Shotkoski, Director of a Biotechnology Project, explains how transferring genes from one plant to another can increase resistance to certain diseases and viruses. Researchers in Uganda, for example, are trying to introduce resistance to Black Sigatoka, while others are looking at making bananas resistant to nematodes. He responds to some common criticisms of biotechnology - that it is too expensive for African countries and that it could have disastrous side-effects.

published: January 2009

IITA

Adding value - banana flour

In Uganda, the government has launched an initiative to support banana processing. Farmers are being taught how to dry their fruit, so that they can be made into flour, and this is now beginning to replace wheat flour in local diets. Pius Sawa talks to the director of the initiative, to a food processor, a chef, and to people on the street in Kampala, about this exciting development for banana growers, and tries some matooke-flour soup.

published: January 2009

Siegfried Modola/MSF

Community-based treatment of malnutrition

Severe malnutrition, particularly when combined with other medical complications, is best treated in a hospital. However, community-based therapeutic care for malnourished people is a good alternative, and may be the only affordable option in countries with very limited health facilities. Effective community-based care is greatly enhanced by the provision of ready to use foods. These, if used correctly, can ensure that the correct amounts of protein, vitamins, minerals and energy are being eaten by the malnourished person on a daily basis. Valid International has been developing and testing the efficacy of these foods in Malawi. In Community-based treatment of malnutrition Theresa Banda, head of Valid International in Malawi, explains some of the progress that has been made.

published: December 2008

WRENmedia

Beekeepers unite to reach world markets

Exports of honey from Uganda to markets in Europe and the Middle East have fallen dramatically in the last three years. Low honey production is the main cause, with beekeepers struggling to access credit that could fund expansion and improvement in their businesses. The Bunyagabo Beekeeping Community in the Rwenzori Mountains sources honey from over 500 beekeepers, which it sells in markets both locally and in Kampala. The organisation offers training and other support to its members. But community member Simplicio Masereka believes that building an even bigger union among Uganda's honey producers would give them access to lucrative world markets. He explains his view in Beekeepers unite to reach world markets.

published: December 2008

WRENmedia

Rwanda's women take the lead

In October 2008 Rwanda swore in a parliament with the highest percentage (48%) of women MPs in the world. One of those MPs, Rwanda's Minister in Charge of Agriculture, Dr Agnes Kalibata, believes that training and supporting women is key to ending hunger and malnutrition in Africa. Women farmers, she suggests, need subsidised inputs, access to credit, and equitable land laws. Girls must be encouraged to stay more years in school, both to reduce population growth and to ensure that they can bring up healthy children. In Rwanda's women take the lead she shares her belief that 'Train a woman: a nation trained.'

published: December 2008

FAO/Jon Spaull

Investment Opportunity - smallholder farming

In times of food crisis, people may be forced to ask for handouts. But begging for food damages our self-respect - it is not what anyone wants. The Africa Invest project has a different approach: it arranges finance for smallscale commercial farming as a profitable investment for lenders. The project is currently working with farmers in Malawi, who are now growing a number of high value crops, such as herbs and spices, and the benefits to the farming communities have been very impressive. In Investment opportunity - smallholder farming, Jon Maguire, who founded the project, and Jones Kampezeni who manages the Malawi outgrowers, explain why this new approach has been so successful.

published: November 2008