2011
February
23 February 2011
FIPS-Africa establishes 240 cassava multiplication sites in Eastern Kenya
In December 2010, FIPS-Africa purchased 120,000 cuttings of four new and improved varieties of cassava from the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute's (KARI) Kiboko Research Centre. The cutting are being used to establish 240 secondary multiplication sites at village level in Nzaui, Machakos, Kilungu, Mbooni, Kibwezi and Mbeere districts, in Kenya's Eastern Province.
23 February 2011
120 community armyworm forecasters to boost Kenyan national system
Communities in Kenya who have been trained by an RIU-supported project to deploy traps to forecast armyworm outbreaks will soon be contributing the data they collect to supplement the official national forecasting system. The plan will increase the number of the traps used for forecasting armyworm by 30%.
21 February 2011
Term starts for 100 more cassava Farmers Field School participants: one million cuttings distributed
RIU Rwanda has scored a great success with the cassava Farmer Field School pilot in Gatsibo District The Cassava Innovation Platform has now made good its commitment to open up Farmer Field Schools in four new areas of Gatsibo District - Kiziguro, Gasange, Rwimbogo and Ngarama.
20 February 2011
RIU-supported rice projects to exchange learning
RIU supports two major rice projects: the NERICA rice project based in Uganda and RIU Zambia's rice value chain project. One has strength in seed production and the other in marketing, expertise they are about to swap during an RIU-facilitated exchange visit.
19 February 2011
Private sector set to bring conservation agriculture to 5,500 farms in Zambia
Currently the average size of a smallholding in Zambia is about 0.5 hectares. Research has proven that the conservation agriculture technique of using a ripper is two to three times faster than using a plough. RIU Zambia is encouraging private sector contractors to offer ripping services under its draft power programme and is supporting the purchase of oxen with a voucher scheme.
18 February 2011
Shujaaz messages 'made to stick'
An analysis of text messages received from ShujaazFM readers and listeners provides strong evidence that the comics continue to be read and have impact up to 10 months after publication.
18 February 2011
RIU-backed farmers and the banking sector
Last week Vera Mugittu, the RIU Tanzania country coordinator, has posted a new update setting out a security challenge associated with a contract farming system. Under the RIU-backed KuKuDeaL the farmers have transited from being mere chicken keepers to entrepreneurs rearing indigenous poultry as a serious business.
17 February 2011
Quality rice seed production manual produced
The Uganda-based NERICA rice project, funded by DFID through RIU, has recently published a comprehensive manual on rice seed production.
16 February 2011
Gender and RIU: reflections prompted by the recent gender and market oriented agriculture workshop
RIU was well represented at the recent International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) workshop on gender and market oriented agriculture, held in Addis Ababa from 31 January to 2 February 2011.
16 February 2011
50,000 farmers to trial Gro-Plus as network of stockists grows
In less than a month a further 20,000 farmers in western Kenya have signed up for the upcoming Gro-Plus trial, bringing the total to over 50,000. And with agrovets and hardware shops starting to stock this new seed priming product, it is a very busy time for the Real IPM Company.
15 February 2011
Kenya's first Aqua Shop opens for business
Friday 11 February 2011 saw the opening of Kenya's first ever Aqua Shop - a 'one-stop' shop providing the high-quality inputs and advice needed by Kenya's rapidly growing number of fish farmers.
14 February 2011
Shujaaz: one year old, 5 million agricultural stories and counting...
In just one year Shujaaz has become a phenomenon on the Kenya media scene.
11 February 2011
New early-maturing maize variety championed by RIU Rwanda
Recent poor rains in Nyagatare District mean that access to early maturing maize varieties is crucial, especially during season B (starting in March - see note below).
7 February 2011
Gro-Plus 'a-maizes' Kenyan farmer
This picture shows two cobs of maize, both planted in Kenya in November 2010. The one at the front was planted conventionally. The bigger one to the rear had the benefit of the seed being treated prior to sowing with the Real IPM Company's new product Gro-Plus.
3 February 2011
Hatchery loan scheme nets better fingerlings for fish farmers
The aquaculture platform, established by RIU Malawi, developed a revolving innovation fund for disbursing strategic investments to commercial fish farmers for upgrading hatcheries. Loans are made with the agreement that they pay back the initial capital after they start selling the fingerlings they produce.
2 February 2011
RIU Zambia 'crowding in' the private sector
RIU Zambia has started to broker a relationship with one of the working groups of the Private Sector Development Network.
1 February 2011
Malawi government to seek funding to copy RIU pig markets
When the RIU-funded pig market in Mulanje was launched, the Director of Animal Health and Livestock Development from the Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security, Mr Wilfred G Lipita, was the guest of honour.
February
23 February 2011
FIPS-Africa establishes 240 cassava multiplication sites in Eastern Kenya
In December 2010, FIPS-Africa purchased 120,000 cuttings of four new and improved varieties of cassava from the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute's (KARI) Kiboko Research Centre. The cutting are being used to establish 240 secondary multiplication sites at village level in Nzaui, Machakos, Kilungu, Mbooni, Kibwezi and Mbeere districts, in Kenya's Eastern Province.
23 February 2011
120 community armyworm forecasters to boost Kenyan national system
Communities in Kenya who have been trained by an RIU-supported project to deploy traps to forecast armyworm outbreaks will soon be contributing the data they collect to supplement the official national forecasting system. The plan will increase the number of the traps used for forecasting armyworm by 30%.
21 February 2011
Term starts for 100 more cassava Farmers Field School participants: one million cuttings distributed
RIU Rwanda has scored a great success with the cassava Farmer Field School pilot in Gatsibo District The Cassava Innovation Platform has now made good its commitment to open up Farmer Field Schools in four new areas of Gatsibo District - Kiziguro, Gasange, Rwimbogo and Ngarama.
20 February 2011
RIU-supported rice projects to exchange learning
RIU supports two major rice projects: the NERICA rice project based in Uganda and RIU Zambia's rice value chain project. One has strength in seed production and the other in marketing, expertise they are about to swap during an RIU-facilitated exchange visit.
19 February 2011
Private sector set to bring conservation agriculture to 5,500 farms in Zambia
Currently the average size of a smallholding in Zambia is about 0.5 hectares. Research has proven that the conservation agriculture technique of using a ripper is two to three times faster than using a plough. RIU Zambia is encouraging private sector contractors to offer ripping services under its draft power programme and is supporting the purchase of oxen with a voucher scheme.
18 February 2011
Shujaaz messages 'made to stick'
An analysis of text messages received from ShujaazFM readers and listeners provides strong evidence that the comics continue to be read and have impact up to 10 months after publication.
18 February 2011
RIU-backed farmers and the banking sector
Last week Vera Mugittu, the RIU Tanzania country coordinator, has posted a new update setting out a security challenge associated with a contract farming system. Under the RIU-backed KuKuDeaL the farmers have transited from being mere chicken keepers to entrepreneurs rearing indigenous poultry as a serious business.
17 February 2011
Quality rice seed production manual produced
The Uganda-based NERICA rice project, funded by DFID through RIU, has recently published a comprehensive manual on rice seed production.
16 February 2011
Gender and RIU: reflections prompted by the recent gender and market oriented agriculture workshop
RIU was well represented at the recent International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) workshop on gender and market oriented agriculture, held in Addis Ababa from 31 January to 2 February 2011.
16 February 2011
50,000 farmers to trial Gro-Plus as network of stockists grows
In less than a month a further 20,000 farmers in western Kenya have signed up for the upcoming Gro-Plus trial, bringing the total to over 50,000. And with agrovets and hardware shops starting to stock this new seed priming product, it is a very busy time for the Real IPM Company.
15 February 2011
Kenya's first Aqua Shop opens for business
Friday 11 February 2011 saw the opening of Kenya's first ever Aqua Shop - a 'one-stop' shop providing the high-quality inputs and advice needed by Kenya's rapidly growing number of fish farmers.
14 February 2011
Shujaaz: one year old, 5 million agricultural stories and counting...
In just one year Shujaaz has become a phenomenon on the Kenya media scene.
11 February 2011
New early-maturing maize variety championed by RIU Rwanda
Recent poor rains in Nyagatare District mean that access to early maturing maize varieties is crucial, especially during season B (starting in March - see note below).
7 February 2011
Gro-Plus 'a-maizes' Kenyan farmer
This picture shows two cobs of maize, both planted in Kenya in November 2010. The one at the front was planted conventionally. The bigger one to the rear had the benefit of the seed being treated prior to sowing with the Real IPM Company's new product Gro-Plus.
3 February 2011
Hatchery loan scheme nets better fingerlings for fish farmers
The aquaculture platform, established by RIU Malawi, developed a revolving innovation fund for disbursing strategic investments to commercial fish farmers for upgrading hatcheries. Loans are made with the agreement that they pay back the initial capital after they start selling the fingerlings they produce.
2 February 2011
RIU Zambia 'crowding in' the private sector
RIU Zambia has started to broker a relationship with one of the working groups of the Private Sector Development Network.
1 February 2011
Malawi government to seek funding to copy RIU pig markets
When the RIU-funded pig market in Mulanje was launched, the Director of Animal Health and Livestock Development from the Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security, Mr Wilfred G Lipita, was the guest of honour.
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