Author: The Exchange

During the last decade much has been said about the urgency to develop the African agricultural sector to meet the increasing need for food security across the continent. Frequently it is stressed that Africa largely missed the “Green Revolution” since the continent’s agriculture sector did not transform into an intensive arena with modern technologies to increase the crop yield significantly¹.

Until today the East African agricultural sector is dominated for 75% by smallholder farmers that apply low farming inputs, traditional technologies and methods, while agriculture remains the backbone of the economy². This article discusses a reason for optimism, and how a circular economy (aims close the loop of resources through the establishment of restorative and regenerative systems), can contribute to food security and food productivity in East Africa.

Also Read: Food security: Opening markets for smallholder farmers  

Africa missed the Green revolution; an opportunity to implement …

South African billionaire Michiel Le Roux.
Michiel Le Roux is a South African entrepreneur and founder of Capitec Bank in which he owns about 11 percent stake.

Founded in 2001 the bank is listed and trades on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Capitec bank targets South Africa’s emerging middle class and is thus far one of Africa’s most successful banks.
Le Roux has served as the bank’s board chairman from 2007 to 2016 and now continues to be a board member and is renowned to be one of SA’s billionaires.
He is a seasoned banker and financial enthusiast having previously run the Boland Bank, a regional bank in Cape Town.

The Bank is now one of the most notable financial institutions in the country and according to the Solidarity Research Institute report of 2015, Capitec Bank is described as the cheapest bank in South Africa.
A good description of a targeted …

The Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam is inching closer to completion, rekindling the environmental and political controversies that have dogged the project from the start nearly 10 years ago. In addition, recent satellite images show a steady increase in the amount of water being held back by the new mega dam. Mahemud Tekuya explains what’s at stake.

The current dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is directly linked to colonial-era Nile treaties. During the scramble for Africa, controlling the source of the Nile was a major colonial goal for the British. In 1902, the UK and Ethiopia concluded the Anglo-Ethiopian Treaty in which Ethiopia agreed not to arrest or totally block the flow of the Nile.

Then there was the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty signed in 1929. This was between the British (on behalf of its colonies, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) and Egypt. The treaty prevented British East African colonies …

The impact technology has on our world is profound and, some might say, immeasurable. Outside our personal lives, it continues to change industries and global markets at a rapid pace every single day. Foreign exchange, or forex, is one of those financial institutions that are evolving with groundbreaking advancements. But before we can fully appreciate the effects of disruptive technology on forex today and possibly the future, we have to look at how it began.

How Forex Was Traded in the Past

Trading forex is as old as the history of civilizations. In ancient times, people exchanged goods and services for a price, even if that price was represented by raw materials or food. The problem was assigning value fairly — people disagreed on whether or not the items being bartered were equal to each other. To solve this, Thought Co. points out that early civilizations developed commodity money and …

“It’s getting better by the day,” said Minal Shah, who has two children that attend the Academy. “It took us a few days, in the beginning, to settle with the new routines and now it’s become a new way of learning for all of us.”

Most Academy parents have found that the best way they can help their child during online learning is to help them organise their time wisely, provide a good workspace and be there for them for moral support.

“We have been providing a quiet and conducive study location for our child,” said Colin Williams, a parent of an Academy student. “Lots of hugs and emotional support are also included, along with additional art supplies, books, and study materials. We’re also answering any questions our daughter may have and we help her with researching.”

With schools being shut, daily routines have become less structured. This has encouraged …

Whether we like it or not at some point we will have to say goodbye to this world we call home. Bad enough is that we do not know when it will be our last time on earth.

Due to these few facts, it becomes necessary to take up a funeral cover. Also known as burial insurance this is a form of insurance that pays a specified amount of money in the event of a death by ensuring that the costs of a funeral will be covered so that family members do not have to struggle financially at this difficult time.

A majority of families in Africa depend on relatives and friend’s contribution to manage a burial ceremony for their loved ones.

We can all agree that funerals are very costly and their expense can’t be carried by a single person. Funeral ceremonies in many major African cities can take …