News briefs_May25_2007

Anti-bird flu project : Four African countries are among those to benefit from a $7.8 million food project launched by the International Food Policy and Research Institute (IFPRI) and the International Livestock Research Institute. The project aims to help poor farmers in developing countries deal with outbreaks of bird flu.
The two research institutions are spearheading the research in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Mali, and Nigeria, where experts will identify strategies, such as farmer compensation schemes, that can both control the disease and protect poor households from losing critical sources of income.
"Our goal is to help developing-country governments, civil society, and aid agencies make informed decisions so that the costs of controlling avian flu do not fall disproportionately on the rural poor, who consume their own poultry and rely on it for their livelihoods," said IFPRI research fellow Clare Narrod.
IFPRI is one of 15 centres supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, an alliance of 64 governments, private foundations, and international and regional organisations. The research is funded by the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID).
**********
Zimbabwe tobacco sales : A total of 9,500,000 kg of tobacco worth US$15 million has been sold at Zimbabwe's three auction floors since the start of the selling season four weeks ago, with prices firming from US$1,75 a kilogramme to US$1,95.
"Farmers are very happy with the move taken by the Government and since the beginning of May, deliveries have significantly picked up. Prices have also been very good, averaging US$1,95 per kg compared to US$1,72 per kg during the same time last year," said Tobacco Industry Marketing Board chief executive Andrew Matibiri.
He attributed the upsurge in deliveries to a clutch of new incentives announced by the government in April. Matibiri said the tobacco industry welcomed the policies unveiled by the country's central bank to boost production. Tobacco output has fallen from an all-time high of 220 million kg in 2000 to a projected 80 million kg this year.
**********
Agri-tech village_Uganda : Guided by the idea to take Makerere University to the community, the Ugandan institution's faculty of agriculture has launched a "technology village" to play the role of showroom for agricultural technologies. The technology village is located at Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute, Kabanyolo (MUARIK) in Wakiso district.
"It will add value to the extension and outreach programmes of the University, which will enable the communities to adapt to the changing demands of society," said Dr. Silver Rwakaikara, the head of the institute. Rwakaikara said the village has been developed as a result of the increased demand from students, farmers and industrialists, who flock the institute every day to learn about new technologies being developed at the institute.
**********
Pear-growing _Uganda : Farmers in Kabale have started benefiting from temperate fruits in the southwestern highlands of Uganda. At an altitude of 2100 metres above sea level, Kabale's climate and fertile volcanic highland soils encourage fruit growing. Growing of pears was introduced in Kabale in 2005, but today markets in Kabale and Kampala are flooded with the fruit, which has a ready market. A hawker said, "We never make any losses from selling pears because many people believe the fruit has medicinal values."
Unlike European or South African fruit trees, the pear orchards in Kabale have two harvesting seasons, in June and December. The orchards can accommodate over 200 trees, each of which yields over 1,000 fruits. The locally grown pears are cheaper than apples, although the two fruits belong to the same family. This has increased the local demand for pears.
**********
Organic cotton_Malawi : Taiwanese Ambassador James Chuang has said investors from his country were in Malawi in April to assess the prospects of growing organic cotton, which is in high demand. "There are many people in the developed world who believe in using organic products and we would like to help Malawi in taking advantage of that need," Chuang said.
Chuang said he supported President Bingu wa Mutharika's views that Malawi has a very big potential in maximising textile manufacturing. "Most of the vibrant economies at the moment based their development on textile production and Malawi has potential in that. As a partner in trade we will help in the growth of organic cotton on a large scale," Chuang said.
**********
Agric. ministry fire_Mozambique : Fire in the early hours of May 25 destroyed some Maputo offices of Mozambique's agriculture ministry , which oversees more than 30 percent of the nation's economy. It spread quickly due to the presence of flammable material and a shortage of water. Soldiers struggled to remove property from the building. There were no reports of injuries.The cause is under investigation, with authorities suspecting an electrical short circuit. Deputy Agriculture Minister Catarina Pajume said key offices in the heart of the building, including her own, were reduced to ashes in a few hours.
Although Mozambique has attempted to diversify its economy, encouraging oil exploration and development of a petrochemical industry, more than 75 percent of the country's 18 million people depend on agriculture.
**********