Cocoa farmers in these countries suffered low yields as a result of inadequate access to appropriate agro inputs, including fertiliser.

Through its African Cocoa Initiative (ACI) and Cocoa Livelihoods Program (CLP), the World Cocoa Foundation’s 18 month project, “Improving fertilizer delivery to cocoa famers: from supply to last mile,” was set to ease current bottlenecks in the sourcing and distribution of, as well as access to, fertilisers.

The project also aimed to understand the dynamics of the fertiliser value chain from the supply side, assess the last mile fertiliser delivery, identify and train hub-agro dealers and identify and train retailers.

“We are very excited about this new partnership with AFAP as we believe it is a sure way to utilise their expertise in building capacity of agro dealers in the two countries,” said Suzanne Ndongo-Seh, WCF’s CLP programme director and Cote d’Ivoire country director, in a statement.

“If farmers can improve their yields [through this programme] in a manner that would translate into incomes for them to be better off, access to the required agro inputs cannot be over-emphasised.”

Poor soils and high fertiliser costs hindered cocoa production in Ghana and Cameroon, which annually produce over 830 000t and 270 000t of cocoa respectively.

Weak fertiliser distribution value chains, in addition to a lack of inputs, poor weather, pests and diseases, impeded the cocoa industry, negatively impacting on smallholder farmers’ incomes.

It was expected that AFAP would be responsible for training 350 hub-agro dealers and retailers, and mentoring 120 retailers/last mile delivery stakeholders.

“The outcome of trained agro dealers will not only impact cocoa farmers, but also trigger a potential increase in income and job creation in the distribution of appropriate fertilisers and agro-chemicals,” said Pierre Brunache Jr, chief agribusiness officer at AFAP.

By the end of the project, AFAP would have mapped over 4 000 sales points across the two countries, and given smallholders access to information on wholesale and retail stores by publishing an agro input dealer directory.

The directory would be distributed to about 7 000 smallholders.

Cocoa farmers in these countries suffered low yields as a result of inadequate access to appropriate agro inputs, including fertiliser.

Through its African Cocoa Initiative (ACI) and Cocoa Livelihoods Program (CLP), the World Cocoa Foundation’s 18 month project, “Improving fertilizer delivery to cocoa famers: from supply to last mile,” was set to ease current bottlenecks in the sourcing and distribution of, as well as access to, fertilisers.

The project also aimed to understand the dynamics of the fertiliser value chain from the supply side, assess the last mile fertiliser delivery, identify and train hub-agro dealers and identify and train retailers.

“We are very excited about this new partnership with AFAP as we believe it is a sure way to utilise their expertise in building capacity of agro dealers in the two countries,” said Suzanne Ndongo-Seh, WCF’s CLP programme director and Cote d’Ivoire country director, in a statement.

“If farmers can improve their yields [through this programme] in a manner that would translate into incomes for them to be better off, access to the required agro inputs cannot be over-emphasised.”

Poor soils and high fertiliser costs hindered cocoa production in Ghana and Cameroon, which annually produce over 830 000t and 270 000t of cocoa respectively.

Weak fertiliser distribution value chains, in addition to a lack of inputs, poor weather, pests and diseases, impeded the cocoa industry, negatively impacting on smallholder farmers’ incomes.

It was expected that AFAP would be responsible for training 350 hub-agro dealers and retailers, and mentoring 120 retailers/last mile delivery stakeholders.

“The outcome of trained agro dealers will not only impact cocoa farmers, but also trigger a potential increase in income and job creation in the distribution of appropriate fertilisers and agro-chemicals,” said Pierre Brunache Jr, chief agribusiness officer at AFAP.

By the end of the project, AFAP would have mapped over 4 000 sales points across the two countries, and given smallholders access to information on wholesale and retail stores by publishing an agro input dealer directory.

The directory would be distributed to about 7 000 smallholders.

Speaking during a debate in Parliament on 13 July, the minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Joseph Made, said that the revolutionary method, named ‘rocket barn’ curing, could cut firewood usage drastically, thus helping reduce deforestation.

“We must admit that tobacco is the biggest culprit [in causing deforestation],” Made said.

“[… We] have to look at different methods.  The Tobacco Research Board has been experimenting with […] rocket barn curing. It uses less energy or wood, particularly for the smallholder farmers. However, the cost of putting that infrastructure [in] is what we must support the farmers with at the end of the day. There are also other trials that we have been doing with paraffin-powered curing systems from China.”

Large-scale farmers use coal to cure their crop, but Hwange Colliery Company Limited, the country’s largest coal miner has been unable to meet demand.  In addition, these farmers face high transportation costs to move coal from Hwange to the tobacco-growing districts some 800km to the north-east. Like smaller producers, these farmers have therefore been forced to turn to firewood.

In addition, these farmers face high transportation costs to move coal from Hwange to the tobacco-growing districts some 800km to the north-east. Like smaller producers, these farmers have therefore been forced to turn to firewood.

In a bid to regenerate plantations, the government set up a dedicated fund in 2015. In that year, US$14,2 million (R183 million) was raised and spent on planting eucalyptus.  Between January and May this year, US$7,9 million (R102 million) was raised.

A farmer burns between 10kg and 20 kg of firewood to cure one kilogram of tobacco, but a 2008 study undertaken in Malawi showed that the rocket barn reduces firewood consumption to between 2kg and 3 kg for the same output.

According to GIZ, a German development agency that funded the research in 2008, the rocket barn has two new features that contribute to more efficient fuel use.

“The improved flue pipe transfers the heat more efficiently into the barn. The double chimney induces an effective airflow system, which draws pre-heated air horizontally through the barn, curing and drying the leaves efficiently. This ensures equal heat distribution with improved airflow minimising the risk of barn fires. It also enhances the quality of the tobacco through a controllable curing process,” the GIZ stated in its report.

In addition, the rocket barn reduces curing times and maintenance costs, as the curing barn is more durable.

Speaking during a debate in Parliament on 13 July, the minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Joseph Made, said that the revolutionary method, named ‘rocket barn’ curing, could cut firewood usage drastically, thus helping reduce deforestation.

“We must admit that tobacco is the biggest culprit [in causing deforestation],” Made said.

“[… We] have to look at different methods.  The Tobacco Research Board has been experimenting with […] rocket barn curing. It uses less energy or wood, particularly for the smallholder farmers. However, the cost of putting that infrastructure [in] is what we must support the farmers with at the end of the day. There are also other trials that we have been doing with paraffin-powered curing systems from China.”

Large-scale farmers use coal to cure their crop, but Hwange Colliery Company Limited, the country’s largest coal miner has been unable to meet demand.  In addition, these farmers face high transportation costs to move coal from Hwange to the tobacco-growing districts some 800km to the north-east. Like smaller producers, these farmers have therefore been forced to turn to firewood.

In addition, these farmers face high transportation costs to move coal from Hwange to the tobacco-growing districts some 800km to the north-east. Like smaller producers, these farmers have therefore been forced to turn to firewood.

In a bid to regenerate plantations, the government set up a dedicated fund in 2015. In that year, US$14,2 million (R183 million) was raised and spent on planting eucalyptus.  Between January and May this year, US$7,9 million (R102 million) was raised.

A farmer burns between 10kg and 20 kg of firewood to cure one kilogram of tobacco, but a 2008 study undertaken in Malawi showed that the rocket barn reduces firewood consumption to between 2kg and 3 kg for the same output.

According to GIZ, a German development agency that funded the research in 2008, the rocket barn has two new features that contribute to more efficient fuel use.

“The improved flue pipe transfers the heat more efficiently into the barn. The double chimney induces an effective airflow system, which draws pre-heated air horizontally through the barn, curing and drying the leaves efficiently. This ensures equal heat distribution with improved airflow minimising the risk of barn fires. It also enhances the quality of the tobacco through a controllable curing process,” the GIZ stated in its report.

In addition, the rocket barn reduces curing times and maintenance costs, as the curing barn is more durable.

The trials are the result of a 2016 agreement between the Scottish and Kenyan governments to test 10 potato varieties expected to thrive in hot, dry conditions.

These included four free varieties – Hermes, Atlantic, Cara and Russet Burbank – and six commercial varieties.

The trial seeds need to be tested and grown over two seasons in at least three areas in Kenya before going on the market.

There are two growing seasons annually in Kenya, and the UK Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) hopes to reach the end of the trials and approvals, and open the market fully, by early 2018.

Jackie Gibson, export liaison officer for Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), said:

“We sent over 1 200 tubers per variety, 400 of which underwent laboratory testing for soft rots; they passed with flying colours.”

The tubers were planted on three farms in late April/early May. The final 400 are in cold storage and will be planted out in the second season in October.

As the season progresses Kenyan government officials will inspect the produce, and conduct a final inspection after harvest. Any variety that makes it successfully through the two seasons will be added to Kenya’s national list and can then be imported from UK growers.

According to SASA, once British varieties are approved in Kenya, it could open access to neighbouring markets. This would include the 19-country Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), of which Kenya is a member.

“If a variety is approved in two of those countries it can be marketed in all 19,” Gibson said. “As we already have varieties being exported to Egypt, getting approval in Kenya could open many doors.”

Potatoes are the second most important food crop in Kenya after maize, with up to three million tons grown annually. Most farmers use poor-quality home-saved seed and grow only around ten tons of potatoes per hectare. The home-saved seed is often the source of late blight, bacterial wilt and viruses.

The AHDB said the UK seed should not only be healthier, but produce 40 to 50t of potatoes per hectare.

The trials are the result of a 2016 agreement between the Scottish and Kenyan governments to test 10 potato varieties expected to thrive in hot, dry conditions.

These included four free varieties – Hermes, Atlantic, Cara and Russet Burbank – and six commercial varieties.

The trial seeds need to be tested and grown over two seasons in at least three areas in Kenya before going on the market.

There are two growing seasons annually in Kenya, and the UK Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) hopes to reach the end of the trials and approvals, and open the market fully, by early 2018.

Jackie Gibson, export liaison officer for Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), said:

“We sent over 1 200 tubers per variety, 400 of which underwent laboratory testing for soft rots; they passed with flying colours.”

The tubers were planted on three farms in late April/early May. The final 400 are in cold storage and will be planted out in the second season in October.

As the season progresses Kenyan government officials will inspect the produce, and conduct a final inspection after harvest. Any variety that makes it successfully through the two seasons will be added to Kenya’s national list and can then be imported from UK growers.

According to SASA, once British varieties are approved in Kenya, it could open access to neighbouring markets. This would include the 19-country Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), of which Kenya is a member.

“If a variety is approved in two of those countries it can be marketed in all 19,” Gibson said. “As we already have varieties being exported to Egypt, getting approval in Kenya could open many doors.”

Potatoes are the second most important food crop in Kenya after maize, with up to three million tons grown annually. Most farmers use poor-quality home-saved seed and grow only around ten tons of potatoes per hectare. The home-saved seed is often the source of late blight, bacterial wilt and viruses.

The AHDB said the UK seed should not only be healthier, but produce 40 to 50t of potatoes per hectare.