Applications are now open for the second annual GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition.

Generation Africa, which launched the competition in 2019, provided support to young entrepreneurs in Africa’s agrifood sector by linking them with tools, knowledge, mentors and investors.

The competition was launched in partnership with Econet, a pan-African telecommunications, technology and renewable energy group, and Yara, a global crop nutrition company.

This year, the competition was being run in collaboration with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, Corteva AgriScience, the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions, and the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture.

According to a statement by Generation Africa, judges would consider new businesses embracing technology and innovation in the agrifood and agritech sectors for the 2020 competition.

Agripreneurs on the African continent required support, especially during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic, the statement said.

“Leadership and coordinated action are required at global, national and local levels to find solutions for agrifood systems that are responsive to, and supportive of, health measures. Africa’s youth agripreneurs have a huge role to play.”

The competition was open to agrifood entrepreneurs from across Africa, aged between 18 and 35. Ten finalists would be invited to compete in a live or online “pitching contest” during the Africa Green Revolution Forum Summit to be held from 8 to 11 September in Kigali, Rwanda.

The two ultimate GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize winners would each receive US$50 000 (about R952 000).

All 10 finalists would benefit from mentorship programmes and receive additional guidance to improve and manage their businesses successfully.

For more information or to submit an application, visit: http://gogettaz.africa.

With statistics prior to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic suggesting that one in five people in Africa suffers from hunger, it is important that agriculture be recognised as an “essential service” on the continent.

This was stated in a joint declaration issued following a recent meeting between agriculture ministers and representatives from all 55 members of the African Union (AU) and officials from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

READ Hire a farmer to grow your food

According to the declaration, the food and agriculture system in Africa was an “essential service that must continue to operate during periods of lockdown, emergency, curfew and other containment measures”.

Qu Dongyu, FAO director-general, said strategic action was necessary to lessen the impact of the pandemic on food security in Africa.

This came at the same time as the ‘2019 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World’ report revealed that the continent was the region with the highest prevalence of undernourishment in the world, with “one in five Africans going hungry”.

Dongyu stressed that pandemic containment measures, such as border closures, could negatively impact food security.

“Border closures restrict trade and limit food availability in many countries, particularly those dependent on food imports.”

He called for measures that did not lead to disruptions in food supply chains, which he said needed to be “kept alive”.

This sentiment was echoed by South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, who also participated in her capacity as chair of the AU’s Specialised Technical Committee.

READ Mitigating impact of COVID-19 on Africa regional trade

The FAO said in the declaration that Didiza had cautioned against any moves that would weaken inter-regional trade, and also highlighted the effects of lockdowns on a continent where most consumers depended on informal markets rather than supermarkets.

Supporting documentation and background briefs for the meeting dealt with issues ranging from the need for social protection to interventions aimed at supporting domestic markets and enabling trade channels on the continent to function.

The briefs also contained data related to crop calendars and an emphasis on the need to safeguard both upstream and downstream value chain linkages.

According to this data, it was estimated that smallholder farmers produced up to 80% of the food consumed in Africa, employed some two-thirds of the population, and worked about 62% of the land.

These farmers were already facing risks including climate shocks or disease or pest issues, such as the ongoing desert locust emergency in east Africa, for example.

It was emphasised that not acting now to secure input supply chains could have knock-on effects that made access difficult during the planting seasons in the various regions later in the year, thereby negatively affecting food production.

“This would be devastating in some areas of the sub-region that experienced cyclones and severe drought last year, and were already facing rising levels of food insecurity,” the brief stated.

With statistics prior to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic suggesting that one in five people in Africa suffers from hunger, it is important that agriculture be recognised as an “essential service” on the continent.

This was stated in a joint declaration issued following a recent meeting between agriculture ministers and representatives from all 55 members of the African Union (AU) and officials from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

READ Hire a farmer to grow your food

According to the declaration, the food and agriculture system in Africa was an “essential service that must continue to operate during periods of lockdown, emergency, curfew and other containment measures”.

Qu Dongyu, FAO director-general, said strategic action was necessary to lessen the impact of the pandemic on food security in Africa.

This came at the same time as the ‘2019 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World’ report revealed that the continent was the region with the highest prevalence of undernourishment in the world, with “one in five Africans going hungry”.

Dongyu stressed that pandemic containment measures, such as border closures, could negatively impact food security.

“Border closures restrict trade and limit food availability in many countries, particularly those dependent on food imports.”

He called for measures that did not lead to disruptions in food supply chains, which he said needed to be “kept alive”.

This sentiment was echoed by South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, who also participated in her capacity as chair of the AU’s Specialised Technical Committee.

READ Mitigating impact of COVID-19 on Africa regional trade

The FAO said in the declaration that Didiza had cautioned against any moves that would weaken inter-regional trade, and also highlighted the effects of lockdowns on a continent where most consumers depended on informal markets rather than supermarkets.

Supporting documentation and background briefs for the meeting dealt with issues ranging from the need for social protection to interventions aimed at supporting domestic markets and enabling trade channels on the continent to function.

The briefs also contained data related to crop calendars and an emphasis on the need to safeguard both upstream and downstream value chain linkages.

According to this data, it was estimated that smallholder farmers produced up to 80% of the food consumed in Africa, employed some two-thirds of the population, and worked about 62% of the land.

These farmers were already facing risks including climate shocks or disease or pest issues, such as the ongoing desert locust emergency in east Africa, for example.

It was emphasised that not acting now to secure input supply chains could have knock-on effects that made access difficult during the planting seasons in the various regions later in the year, thereby negatively affecting food production.

“This would be devastating in some areas of the sub-region that experienced cyclones and severe drought last year, and were already facing rising levels of food insecurity,” the brief stated.

There has been a slight uptick in trade on the African continent as some restrictions on the movement of food products have been lifted.

This was according to Dr Sifiso Ntombela, senior agricultural economist at the National Agricultural Marketing Council, who added that this trend was likely to increase as African countries seek to improve the levels of their food stocks.

However, he said restrictions on imports of key commodities such as rice, wheat and poultry could become a problem going forward.

“Countries such as South Africa and other [Southern African Customs Union (SACU)] members, which depend 100% on imported rice could find themselves in a situation of high domestic prices for these products.”

Ntombela said the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, however, had the potential to increase regional trade, particularly in processed products.

“This potential increase in processed products will likely exist beyond the pandemic, which suggest that countries that invest in agro-processing technology and infrastructure will benefit significantly in the medium- to long-term.”

In addition, he said the most serious barriers to regional trade were non-tariff measures such as poor trade facilitation and logistics, which cause delays at borders.

“Policies focusing on modernising custom procedures and electronic exchange of monies, as well as trade documents will enable better regional trade.”

Tinashe Kapuya, value chain analyst at BFAP said: “Generally, the African continent is a net food importer, and in the region, priority has been given to cross-border movement of food. Restrictions have mainly been on cross-border movement of people.”

He said any current slowdown in trade could be attributed to additional measures being implemented along the value chain, such as staff being tested to ensure that they were disease-free.

Kapuya explained that the pandemic was having a differential effect, with some countries being affected to a greater degree than others, and some governments applying stricter guidelines than others.

“The expectation, however, is that the economic slowdown in these countries will weaken demand for imported products. Moreover, we have seen devaluation/weakening of currencies, which is going to drive up the cost of imported food over the coming months.”

He added that this would exacerbate weak demand, which may reduce intra-regional trade.

“The potential for enhanced intra-regional trade lies in progressive government regulation. If [greater] priority is given to food inflows amid the crisis, and trucks take less time at the border, then there is a chance that the negative impact of COVID-19 on trade might be mitigated.”

Kapuya said the slowdown in exports due to an expected weak regional and global demand for products, may also result in farmers and packhouses hiring fewer seasonal labourers in the medium term.

“On the flipside, imports of chicken will likely fall in the future, and this could potentially allow the poultry industry to embark on import substitution.”

There has been a slight uptick in trade on the African continent as some restrictions on the movement of food products have been lifted.

This was according to Dr Sifiso Ntombela, senior agricultural economist at the National Agricultural Marketing Council, who added that this trend was likely to increase as African countries seek to improve the levels of their food stocks.

However, he said restrictions on imports of key commodities such as rice, wheat and poultry could become a problem going forward.

“Countries such as South Africa and other [Southern African Customs Union (SACU)] members, which depend 100% on imported rice could find themselves in a situation of high domestic prices for these products.”

Ntombela said the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, however, had the potential to increase regional trade, particularly in processed products.

“This potential increase in processed products will likely exist beyond the pandemic, which suggest that countries that invest in agro-processing technology and infrastructure will benefit significantly in the medium- to long-term.”

In addition, he said the most serious barriers to regional trade were non-tariff measures such as poor trade facilitation and logistics, which cause delays at borders.

“Policies focusing on modernising custom procedures and electronic exchange of monies, as well as trade documents will enable better regional trade.”

Tinashe Kapuya, value chain analyst at BFAP said: “Generally, the African continent is a net food importer, and in the region, priority has been given to cross-border movement of food. Restrictions have mainly been on cross-border movement of people.”

He said any current slowdown in trade could be attributed to additional measures being implemented along the value chain, such as staff being tested to ensure that they were disease-free.

Kapuya explained that the pandemic was having a differential effect, with some countries being affected to a greater degree than others, and some governments applying stricter guidelines than others.

“The expectation, however, is that the economic slowdown in these countries will weaken demand for imported products. Moreover, we have seen devaluation/weakening of currencies, which is going to drive up the cost of imported food over the coming months.”

He added that this would exacerbate weak demand, which may reduce intra-regional trade.

“The potential for enhanced intra-regional trade lies in progressive government regulation. If [greater] priority is given to food inflows amid the crisis, and trucks take less time at the border, then there is a chance that the negative impact of COVID-19 on trade might be mitigated.”

Kapuya said the slowdown in exports due to an expected weak regional and global demand for products, may also result in farmers and packhouses hiring fewer seasonal labourers in the medium term.

“On the flipside, imports of chicken will likely fall in the future, and this could potentially allow the poultry industry to embark on import substitution.”

Millions of family farmers across Africa are facing economic devastation as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts exports and global food supply chains.

This was according to the April 2020 report, ‘Impact of Coronavirus on Africa’s Agriculture’, released by the Selina Wamucii international agriculture trading platform.

The report examined the impact of COVID-19 on Africa’s agricultural production, and how legislation, regulations and restrictions were affecting agricultural markets, as well as the effect on supply and demand of agricultural produce in Africa.

According to the report, African countries were seeing lower demand for their produce across export markets, especially in the EU, where the largest drop in demand was evident in the fresh fruit and vegetable sectors, as well as the meat and seafood industries.

‘’Morocco tops the list of African countries whose agricultural exports face the highest risk largely due to the country’s over-reliance on the European market. In 2018, Morocco [exported] fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, seafood and cut flowers worth over US$3 billion [about R56 billion] to the EU.”

The report said that while agricultural production in South Africa had not been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, logistical challenges and border restrictions were likely to affect South Africa’s agricultural exports.

So far, 31 countries across Africa had imposed full border closures, while most of the others were only allowing access to basic goods.

South Africa had closed 35 land border posts and two seaports. Coupled with the fact that the county had also prohibited crew changes in all of its ports amid a looming container shortage, export volumes were expected to fall, especially for fish, seafood and fresh vegetables, the report stated.

“In 2019, South Africa’s fish and seafood exports [amounted to] over US$497 million [R9 billion] out of which more than US$362 million [R6 billion] was exported to markets that have been hugely disrupted by COVID–19, including Spain, Italy, and China.

“Fruit and nut exports [amounted to] more than US$3,4 billion [R63 billion] in 2019, 55,4% of which was exported to Europe and China.”

The report explained that the new restrictions also had an effect on the domestic prices of various products. A ban in Algeria was affecting the exports of various essential agricultural products including coffee, dairy products, fresh fruit and vegetables, pulses, meat and poultry.

In Morocco, the government had suspended customs’ fees on all soft wheat imports until the middle of the year.

In East Africa, the closure of the Kenya-Uganda border had resulted in the price of maize and eggs rising 15% and 5% respectively in Kenya, due to supplies from Uganda not being able to pass through.

Other African countries that would experience a significant decline in fresh fruit and vegetable, fish and seafood exports were, in order of projected severity, Tunisia, Senegal, Cameroon, Uganda, Mauritania, Tanzania and Egypt.

Millions of family farmers across Africa are facing economic devastation as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts exports and global food supply chains.

This was according to the April 2020 report, ‘Impact of Coronavirus on Africa’s Agriculture’, released by the Selina Wamucii international agriculture trading platform.

The report examined the impact of COVID-19 on Africa’s agricultural production, and how legislation, regulations and restrictions were affecting agricultural markets, as well as the effect on supply and demand of agricultural produce in Africa.

According to the report, African countries were seeing lower demand for their produce across export markets, especially in the EU, where the largest drop in demand was evident in the fresh fruit and vegetable sectors, as well as the meat and seafood industries.

‘’Morocco tops the list of African countries whose agricultural exports face the highest risk largely due to the country’s over-reliance on the European market. In 2018, Morocco [exported] fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, seafood and cut flowers worth over US$3 billion [about R56 billion] to the EU.”

The report said that while agricultural production in South Africa had not been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, logistical challenges and border restrictions were likely to affect South Africa’s agricultural exports.

So far, 31 countries across Africa had imposed full border closures, while most of the others were only allowing access to basic goods.

South Africa had closed 35 land border posts and two seaports. Coupled with the fact that the county had also prohibited crew changes in all of its ports amid a looming container shortage, export volumes were expected to fall, especially for fish, seafood and fresh vegetables, the report stated.

“In 2019, South Africa’s fish and seafood exports [amounted to] over US$497 million [R9 billion] out of which more than US$362 million [R6 billion] was exported to markets that have been hugely disrupted by COVID–19, including Spain, Italy, and China.

“Fruit and nut exports [amounted to] more than US$3,4 billion [R63 billion] in 2019, 55,4% of which was exported to Europe and China.”

The report explained that the new restrictions also had an effect on the domestic prices of various products. A ban in Algeria was affecting the exports of various essential agricultural products including coffee, dairy products, fresh fruit and vegetables, pulses, meat and poultry.

In Morocco, the government had suspended customs’ fees on all soft wheat imports until the middle of the year.

In East Africa, the closure of the Kenya-Uganda border had resulted in the price of maize and eggs rising 15% and 5% respectively in Kenya, due to supplies from Uganda not being able to pass through.

Other African countries that would experience a significant decline in fresh fruit and vegetable, fish and seafood exports were, in order of projected severity, Tunisia, Senegal, Cameroon, Uganda, Mauritania, Tanzania and Egypt.

The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic could worsen the food shortage currently being experienced in Zimbabwe.

In a recent statement, the WFP’s Zimbabwe country director, Eddie Rowe, called on the international community to help mobilise food supplies to prevent a catastrophe in that country.

READ Zimbabwe to import maize due to erratic harvest prospects

He appealed for US$130 million (about R2,2 billion) in aid to sustain an emergency operation to run until August to prevent millions of the most vulnerable in Zimbabwe from “plummeting even further into hunger”.

“With most Zimbabweans already struggling to put food on the table, the COVID-19 pandemic risks even wider and deeper desperation,” Rowe said.

“We must all do our utmost to prevent this tragedy turning into a catastrophe.”

In a recent report, the Zimbabwean government said that since the first case of COVID-19 in that country was reported on 21 March, a total of 395 suspected cases had been tested, of whom 11 tested positive, while three people had died.

The country was currently in the third week of a 21-day lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the disease.

READ Supply chains functioning, but farmers face lower prices

The pandemic came on the back of a food shortage that had so far affected 7,7 million people, with the number of people classified as “acutely food insecure” rising to 4,3 million, up from 3,8 million at the end of last year, the WFP said.

Zimbabwe harvested 776 600t of maize in 2019, less than half of the 1, 8 million tons needed for one year’s national consumption.

To overcome the food deficit, the government was importing maize from Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa and Brazil, while the WFP programme was providing further assistance to those in need.

The forecast for this year’s harvest prospects was yet to be released, but aid agencies warned that it could be poorer than that of the previous year.

The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic could worsen the food shortage currently being experienced in Zimbabwe.

In a recent statement, the WFP’s Zimbabwe country director, Eddie Rowe, called on the international community to help mobilise food supplies to prevent a catastrophe in that country.

READ Zimbabwe to import maize due to erratic harvest prospects

He appealed for US$130 million (about R2,2 billion) in aid to sustain an emergency operation to run until August to prevent millions of the most vulnerable in Zimbabwe from “plummeting even further into hunger”.

“With most Zimbabweans already struggling to put food on the table, the COVID-19 pandemic risks even wider and deeper desperation,” Rowe said.

“We must all do our utmost to prevent this tragedy turning into a catastrophe.”

In a recent report, the Zimbabwean government said that since the first case of COVID-19 in that country was reported on 21 March, a total of 395 suspected cases had been tested, of whom 11 tested positive, while three people had died.

The country was currently in the third week of a 21-day lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the disease.

READ Supply chains functioning, but farmers face lower prices

The pandemic came on the back of a food shortage that had so far affected 7,7 million people, with the number of people classified as “acutely food insecure” rising to 4,3 million, up from 3,8 million at the end of last year, the WFP said.

Zimbabwe harvested 776 600t of maize in 2019, less than half of the 1, 8 million tons needed for one year’s national consumption.

To overcome the food deficit, the government was importing maize from Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa and Brazil, while the WFP programme was providing further assistance to those in need.

The forecast for this year’s harvest prospects was yet to be released, but aid agencies warned that it could be poorer than that of the previous year.

Zimbabwe’s maize harvest is likely to differ substantially from region to region this season, with some areas realising a below-average harvest and others an above-average harvest, due to erratic rainfall during the growing period, industry officials have said.

As a result, the Zimbabwean government would have to import maize, with the UN being called upon to assist in securing more supplies to feed millions of people until April 2021.

Thomas Nherera, a local agricultural economist, said he expected the northern parts of the country to record an above-average maize harvest, but the southern regions to yield a below-average harvest.

“The crop in the Mashonaland provinces, [which make] up approximately the northern half of the country, is doing fairly well,” he said.

“However, in the drier southern provinces the crop is patchy. You get a good crop here and a poor one there. Therefore, there should be an above-average harvest in Mashonaland, but in other areas, the harvest will be below average.”

Rain arrived late, with showers only received in December last year and in small amounts, which was followed by a prolonged mid-season dry spell.

The hot and dry conditions lasted until the second week of January this year, when most of the country received substantial rainfall, which caused flash flooding in parts of western Matabeleland North province.

By then, said Nherera, most crops, especially maize, had permanently wilted in the south of the country so farmers had to replant.

Tobacco, which was mostly grown in the wetter Mashonaland region, as well as cotton that thrived in drier areas, were in good condition, he said.

Livestock, pastures and water sources also improved after the wet spell experienced during mid-January and February, he added.

The government has delayed releasing the crop and livestock assessment report, which is traditionally announced by the end of March. The report provides official figures for the anticipated harvest of major crops, condition of livestock and pastures.

However, pending the release of the document, President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched an international appeal for US$2,2 billion (about R37 billion) on 2 April to respond to the humanitarian needs of the vulnerable.

Of that sum, US$955,67 million (R16 billion) would be earmarked as a food insecurity response for 7,7 million people until April 2021.

Paul Zakariya, executive director of the Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union (ZFU), said the appeal was a planning tool, but also an indication that this year’s maize supply would not be adequate.

Last year, Zimbabwe harvested 776 600t of maize, which was considerably less than the 1,8 million tons needed for one year’s national consumption.

To cover the deficit, the country was importing maize from Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa and Brazil, among other countries.

Commercial millers were also importing the staple, according to the Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe chairperson, Tafadzwa Musarara.

“Maize is flowing into the country. Despite the lockdown [in response to the coronavirus disease pandemic], the borders are open for essential commercial cargo,” he said.