News & Events
Cassava breeders call for new varieties' quick release
SciDev.NetCassava Virus
Accra Mail (Ghana)African Cassava Breeders Network Moves to Derail Spreading Epidemic of Devastating Crop Virus [Français]
A meeting of Africa's leading cassava breeders zeroed in on actions needed to stop the rapid spread of cassava brown streak disease (CBSD). The resurgent crop disease has already caused a low-grade famine in northern Mozambique, and led farmers in Zanzibar to largely abandon cultivation of the critical food crop. Breeders from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique all noted the rising threat of the disease to small-scale farmers in their areas.
Cassava breeders plan new breeding strategies
Uganda BusinessTop Maize Breeders in Southern and Eastern Africa Urge Governments to Speed Approvals of New Crop Varieties Needed by Farmers [Français]
A statement released by the Maize Breeders Network says that the slow regulatory approval of new, conventionally bred crop varieties is harming African regional food security and impeding efforts to eradicate rural poverty. The network warns that countries with slow approval processes are putting their farmers at risk by denying them access to more resilient maize varieties that can withstand periods of drought and resist pests and crop diseases plaguing small-scale farmers in eastern and southern Africa.
Maize breeders urge govts to speed new varieties’ approvals
Africa Science News ServiceAgra takes certified seeds to farmers in war on hunger
Business Daily (Kenya)Speech by Dr. Akin Adesina
Presented in Washington, DC at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference
Ghana: Breeding Plant Breeders
New York Times120 phytogénéticiens africains seront formés pour une amélioration des cultures du continent
Wal Fadjri L'Aurore (Senegal)Programme aims to keep African crop specialists home
ReutersAs Schools Begin, Unique African Partnership Announces Launch of Critical PhD Program for Crop Breeding in Africa [Français]
AGRA announced that it is partnering with the University of Ghana, Legon, to launch the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), to train the next generation of African crop scientists. AGRA will also strengthen a programme piloted at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, the African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI). Together, the two programmes will train approximately 120 PhD plant breeders over the next ten years, helping to create the critical mass of crop breeders needed to end Africa's food crisis.
Conference mulls African agriculture
Associated PressFarmers and researchers: Annan urges stronger links
SciDev.NetKofi Annan, Chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, Meets with President Kibaki; Holds First of Fact-finding Missions with African Smallholder Farmers to Boost Agriculture
At a press briefing held in Nairobi, Kenya, on 16 July 2007, Kofi Annan reported on his visit with smallholder farmers, plant breeders and entrepreneurs in Western Kenya, and on his meeting with Kenya's Pres. Kibaki.