Browsing: UN-FAO

Rural businesses in Africa will benefit from an ambitious new financing programme launched by the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), as part of its broader efforts to address rising hunger and poverty levels in the world’s poorest countries.

In a statement, IFAD says the programme, dubbed ‘The Private Sector Financing Programme (PSFP)’, aims to spearhead an increase in private investment in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), farmers’ organizations and financial intermediaries servicing small-scale farmers, which are too often neglected by investors.

It will provide loans, risk management instruments (such as guarantees), and equity investments.

Commenting on the development, Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of IFAD said there is need to urgently stimulate more private sector investments to rural areas and unlock the immense entrepreneurial potential of millions of rural SMEs and small producers.

“With access to capital, they can attract more investors and partners, grow their businesses and create …

Africa is prone to hunger crises every so often when disasters strike and with the covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, it may not be different.

In East Africa, for instance, the pandemic hit when farmers are preparing their lands for planting making it a challenge for the region that is also battling a desert locust outbreak.

So, what does this mean to the region which has suffered the brunt of inadequate food supplies which keep dwindling by the day?

For starters, the UN-FAO has warned that the locust outbreak in East Africa is the worst to strike Ethiopia and Somalia for 25 years — for Kenya, in 70 years. Djibouti, Eritrea and Uganda have also been affected.

Coronavirus: African leaders stuck with neglected, outdated healthcare systems

“The situation is especially extremely alarming in East Africa, where 20 million people are already considered acutely food insecure. There, the swarms have laid eggs and …

The East African region is counting the cost with more than 35 million people more are at risk due to the locust invasion…

Liquid Telecom plans to equip 5,000 western Kenyan farmers with the sensors and app by the end of 2019…