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Category: Agri Business

  • BRICS countries back grain exchange idea, Russia says

    BRICS countries back grain exchange idea, Russia says

    The BRICS group of countries have supported an initiative to set up a grain exchange, Russian Minister of Agriculture Oksana Lut said on Friday.

    The exchange would allow buyers to purchase directly from producers and has been backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of a BRICS summit to be held in Russia in October.

    “We will work together with our colleagues on creation and development of this platform and the development of the possibility of settlements in national currencies of the BRICS countries,” Lut said after a meeting of BRICS agriculture ministers held in Moscow.

    BRICS nations’ food exports

    The BRICS grouping, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and new members – Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia and Iran, accounts for more than 30 per cent of global agricultural land, according to Russian export centre Agroexport.

    It also accounts for more than 40 per cent of global cereal and meat production, nearly 40 per cent of dairy products and more than 50 per cent of total fish and seafood production.

    “Last year, the association accounted for more than a third of Russia’s exports of agro-industrial products – that’s $15bn,” Lut said regarding BRICS countries.

    SOURCE

    GULF BUSINESS 

  • ‘Nigeria spends $600m annually on palm oil importation’

    ‘Nigeria spends $600m annually on palm oil importation’

    The National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) has revealed that Nigeria spends $600 million annually on  palm oil oil importation.

    This was stated by Mr Alphonsus Inyang, the National President of the association, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Inyang criticised these expenses as detrimental to national development, suggesting that the funds could be better utilised within the economy if the  palm oil oil sub-sector received adequate attention from successive governments

    He highlighted Nigeria’s historical self-sufficiency in palm oil production, contrasting it with the current situation where a substantial portion of the country’s palm oil is imported.

    “In the 60s, Nigeria was the leading global producer and exporter of  palm oil oil, controlling over 60 per cent of the world’s supply,” Inyang said.

    “Now, more than 50 per cent of our consumption is met through imports.” Currently, Nigeria ranks fifth among  palm oil-producing countries, trailing Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Colombia.

    Inyang warned that Nigeria might lose this position to smaller countries investing heavily in the sector.

    According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Nigeria produces 1.4 million metric tons of  palm oil oil annually, accounting for 1.5 per cent of the world’s total output.

    This production level is significantly lower than the leading producers: Indonesia at 50 million metric tons, Malaysia at 19 million metric tons, Thailand at 3.28 million metric tons, and Colombia at 1.9 million metric tons.

    SOURCE

    WEEKLY AGRICULTURE DIGITS,NIGERIA

     

  • Factoring Urban Gardening into African’s Built Environment

    Factoring Urban Gardening into African’s Built Environment

    …. As ACEACFMS 2023 holds in Accra

    Story: Mohammed Abu

    Science, Technical and Mathematics (STEM) students from the Kumasi Academy Senior High School, in Ghana’s Ashanti Region excited participants with a great presentation on the science of urban gardening and vertical farming concept at the. maiden event of the African Continental Sustainable Built Environment Summit(ACEACFMS)held at East Legion in country’s capital of Accra, on Thursday, December, 14.

    The science based urban gardening concept combines science and innovation that seeks to offer opportunity especially for vegetable crop production under an urban environment, where arable land and water meant for farming is virtually non-existent.

    It was therefore not surprising that Kumasi Academy Senior High Schools was among the award winners in the Technologies and Innovation category during the awards segment of the summit that registered a total of nineteen (19) awardees under eight categories with 20 awards.

    The school also clinched a major deal as the GM Bamboo Eco-City Ltd, the Principal. Consultant and partner of the African Continental Sustainable Built Environment Industry Summit(ACEACFMS-23) decided on the sidelines of the event to sign an MOU with it to work closely on a 166-acre Bamboo Eco-Tech-Industrial Garden City Projects in the Central region where 3,500 Sustainable Smart Infrastructure will be developed with integrated Smart Gardening Technologies.

    An 80-feet x 160 feet plot has been given to the Kumasi Academy STEM Team by GM Bamboo Eco-City at the Bamboo Eco-City-2 to build the prototypes of their smart House and Urban Technologies.

    The Bamboo Eco-Tech-City is located near cape Coast at Abankrom, Afenakrom & Damang in the Anomabo Traditional Area within the Mfantsipim Municipality in the Central Region of the Republic of Ghana.

    GM Bamboo City will Partner with Kumasi Academy Senior High School to develop grant winning proposals to access fund to develop their technologies.

     

     

  • African Development Bank approves $66 million loan for equity enhancement of Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank

    African Development Bank approves $66 million loan for equity enhancement of Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, December 10, 2023/ — The African Development Bank Group’s (www.AfDB.org) Board of Directors has approved a $66 million loan to the government of Tanzania for additional equity in Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB). The financing will enable TADB to strengthen its capital and enhance the structure and effectiveness of financial and non-financial services it offers to entrepreneurs in the agriculture and related value chains.

    The Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank Phase II project will also receive $950,000 in technical assistance from the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative to boost access to finance and related support to women in identified agriculture value chains. Additional technical assistance of $250,000 will come from the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), a joint initiative of the African Development Bank and the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA).

    This will go toward climate risk management support and to assist TADB in assessing the climate risk profile of its portfolio and developing the tools, methodologies, and capacity to mainstream climate resilient lending practices.

    The project, approved on 5 December, is expected to enhance inclusive access to finance in the agriculture sector, improve yields and productivity and raise household income and create jobs, contributing to broad-based economic growth in Tanzania.

    The Bank Group’s Acting Director for Financial Sector Development, Ahmed Rashad Attout said, “We are excited to finalize this second intervention with the Government of Tanzania to support the consolidation and expansion of TABD’s operations and in supporting the transformation of Tanzania’s agricultural sector.”

    Bank Group Director General for East Africa, Nnenna Nwabufo, added, “through this intervention, the African Development Bank reiterates its commitment to support efficiencies and competitiveness of agricultural enterprises, expansion of agricultural value chains and bolster the financing of the agriculture sector, with enhanced support to women entrepreneurs in this sector.”

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    Media Contact:
    Romaric Ollo Hien
    Communication and External Relations Department
    African Development Bank
    email: media@afdb.org

    Technical Contacts:
    Grace Kyokunda
    Chief Investment officer
    Financial Sector Development Department

    Mkola Tambwe
    Principal Investment officer
    Financial Sector Development Department

  • Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security: Zambian Vice President underscores role of grey matter infrastructure development

    Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security: Zambian Vice President underscores role of grey matter infrastructure development

    LUSAKA, Zambia, November 7, 2023/ — African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN), a platform for high-level political engagement to advance nutrition in Africa, has joined two crucial forums for advancing policy dialogue on agriculture and nutrition in Africa.

    ALN representatives attended the commemoration the 14th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS) and 19th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Partnership Platform (PP).

    These platforms are crucial forums for advancing policy dialogue on agriculture and nutrition in Africa. The African Union Commission and its economic development agency AUDA-NEPAD jointly convened the 19th CAADP event to emphasize the interconnectedness of agriculture, nutrition, and trade.

    Hosted by the government of Zambia from the 30th of October to the 2nd of November 2023 in Lusaka Zambia, the two events were held under the theme: “Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement in the context of CAADP Commitments for Safer and Healthier Diets”. This builds on the African Union’s 2023 Year Theme – “Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)”.

    In her keynote remarks during the opening, Zambian Vice-President Mutale Nalumango called for urgent action to address hunger and malnutrition in Africa to help advance the continent’s socio-economic transformation.

    “Human Capital investment starts with good nutrition,” Vice President Nalumango said.

    The AU’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Josepha SACKO, highlighted the prevalence of hunger on the continent, saying around 280 million people, or one out of five people, face hunger on the continent.

    She advocated for a non-conventional approach to address inefficiencies in the food system to provide access to nutritious and safe food for all. Noting that food businesses account for 75% of inter-Africa trade, she said adopting a single market under the African Continental Free Trade Area will boost trade, alleviate poverty, and improve nutritious food supplies.

    Further reiterating the nexus between trade and nutrition, Ambassador Minata Samate Cessouma, African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, said: “The African Continental Free Trade Area agreement is a game-changer for the continent, offering the opportunity to promote economic growth, boost intra-African trade, and improve food security and nutrition.”

    Similar sentiments were shared by the African Union Special Envoy on Food Systems, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki. He advocated for farmers producing about 80% of the food in Africa to be at the centre of an ‘agriculture revolution’ to reduce the continent’s current food import bill of about 60 billion dollars annually.

    He stressed: “We need to re-think our approach to long-term planning. To plan for the long-term, we need to plan in the short-term; that is why the short-term goal of regional integration is crucial – many of our long-term goals depend highly on that”.

    African Leaders for Nutrition co-hosted one of the sub-themes on financing agri-food and nutrition on the 1st of November to explore the role of the private sector in financing and advancing agri-food and nutrition initiatives in Africa. This aligns with the African Development Bank’s drive to make private sector development one of its key priorities for reducing poverty and supporting sustainable growth on the continent through improved investment.

    In his opening remarks at the side event, African Leaders for Nutrition Coordinator George Ouma said, “We need a paradigm shift that opens space and opportunities for actors within the food and nutrition security ecosystem. We need the private sector to drive that change through innovations, investment, and strategic partnerships.”

    More than 300 participants from African Union member states, regional economic communities, continental bodies, United Nations agencies, development partners, academic and think tanks, civil society, and the private sector, attended the four-day session.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    Media contact:
    Natalie Nkembuh
    Communication and External Relations
    |media@afdb.org

    SOURCE
    African Development Bank Group (AfDB)
  • At the DRC Agribusiness Forum, Democratic Republic of Congo shares its ambition to feed Africa and announces $6.6 billion in investments in agriculture

    At the DRC Agribusiness Forum, Democratic Republic of Congo shares its ambition to feed Africa and announces $6.6 billion in investments in agriculture

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, October 15, 2023/ — The Democratic Republic of Congo aims to invest $6.6 billion over ten years in its Agriculture Transformation Programme (PTA) to fulfil its commitment to becoming Africa’s breadbasket. The announcement was made at the “DRC Agribusiness Forum”, held on 4 and 5 October 2023 in Kinshasa.

    The investment is evidence of the commitment of Congolese President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi to develop the country’s agricultural potential and ease the economy’s dependence on the extractive sector.

    “With its 80 million hectares of cultivable land, its four million hectares of irrigable land, its varied climate allowing year-round agriculture, its having 7 to 8% of the world’s exploitable fresh water, and its approximately 125 million hectares of grazing land, sufficient for 40 million head of livestock, coupled with the size of its population, especially young and female, DR Congo incontestably has the means to be the breadbasket of Africa, the epicentre of the continent’s agricultural industry and an incubator of prosperity,” said Solomane Koné, Deputy Director General of the African Development Bank for Central Africa and Country Manager for the DRC.

    The Forum, held at the initiative of the DRC Government with the support of the African Development Bank and the International Finance Corporation, aimed to stimulate private sector investment in agricultural value chains and boost agribusiness in the agricultural-resource-rich Central African country. The opening ceremony was chaired by Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde.

    More than 700 people from 28 countries took part, including government officials, representatives of technical and financial partners, heads of public and private companies, investors and actors in the agricultural sectors.

    At the event, the Democratic Republic of Congo presented its National Food and Agriculture Pact (https://apo-opa.info/46I0Bwg), made at the Food Sovereignty and Resilience Summit held in January 2023 in Dakar. The Pact is a product of the PTA.

    Serge N’Guessan, African Development Bank Director-General for Central Africa, said at the request of Democratic Republic of Congo, the African Development Bank will devote all of the country’s available allocations during the 2023-2025 Afrian Development Fund (ADF)-16 cycle to operations in support of the Agriculture Transformation Programme, which is the backbone of the Bank’s Country Strategy Paper for DRC over the next five years.

    The Bank’s delegation, led by Mr N’Guessan, included senior officials and several executives from the various areas of operations. The experts enriched discussions on the involvement of the private sector and of technical and financial partners for giving agribusiness a new impetus in DRC.

    Other topics discussed included approaches for sustainable and resilient agriculture, operational challenges to improve the resilience of the agriculture industry, the financing of agricultural value chains, the potential of the cassava sector, strengthening agribusiness, and the role of public-private partnerships and of energy and transport infrastructure for agribusiness development.

    Five main recommendations were made for developing agricultural value chains:

    1. Adopt a sectoral and project-based approach, with real support from government (tax and administrative facilities, availability of basic socio-economic and energy infrastructure, etc.) for the revival of the agricultural sector.
    2. Limit all charges, fees and taxes to a maximum of 25% of value for production and export activities.
    3. Set up a sovereign wealth fund to support agriculture and agriculture hubs to support and advise small agricultural investors.
    4. Strengthen the capacities and roles of decentralized territorial entities in the governance of the agricultural sector, ownership and effective application of the value-chains approach and sustainable agriculture, risk guarantee and mitigation mechanisms and access to finance.
    5. Harmonize the regulatory framework for Special Economic Areas (ZES), Law on Basic Principles for Agriculture, Law on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

    The DR Congo Government reaffirmed its commitment to making agricultural transformation a key driver of development in the country, particularly through the necessary reforms and the establishment of a taskforce bringing together a number of ministerial departments and stakeholders to monitor implementation of the Forum’s recommendations.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    SOURCE
    African Development Bank Group (AfDB)
  • Africa Business Heroes Spotlight

    Africa Business Heroes Spotlight

    INVESTIV-AFRIQUE PHYTO PLUS  Join Hands

    By: Mohammed A. Abu

    INVESTIV, a pioneer and leader in drone technology in West Africa, recently raised $800,000 (approx. 500 million XOF) from UK impact fund AGDEVCO and RAJ GROUP Holding to set up precision agriculture service centers for rural populations.

    One of the company’s main challenges is to make its technologies available to small and medium-sized farmers for the production of food crops and perennial crops. To meet this challenge, INVESTIV, in partnership with AFRIQUE PHYTO PLUS, West Africa’s leading distributor of agricultural inputs, has developed a concept called Agrohub.

    An Agrohub is a center offering precision farming services and a range of agricultural inputs. It is set up in villages and production zones in partnership with agricultural cooperatives and has a demonstration plot of around 2 hectares.

    Precision agriculture uses information technology (IT) to ensure that crops and soil receive exactly what they need for optimum health and productivity. This also ensures profitability, sustainability and protection of the environment.

    Precision agriculture (PA) is the science of improving crop yields and assisting management decisions using high technology sensor and analysis tools.

    PA is a new concept adopted throughout the world to increase production, reduce labor time, and ensure the effective management of fertilizers and irrigation processes.

    It uses a large amount of data and information to improve the use of agricultural resources, yields, and the quality of crops (Mulla, 2013). PA is an advanced innovation and optimized field level management strategy used in agriculture that aims to improve the productivity of resources on agriculture fields.

    The Africa Business Heroes is a Jack Ma Foundation’s flagship philanthropic programme in Africa to support entrepreneurs. Its mission is showcase and grow local talent who are creating positive impact in their communities and beyond and inspire a movement of African entrepreneurship.

    Over a ten-year period, the programme will recognize 100 African entrepreneurs and provide grant funding, training programmes and broader support for the broad African entrepreneurial system.

     

    Africa Business Heroes Spotlight

    Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) is the Jack Ma Founda

  • First Nebraska-Ghana Trade & Investment Mission in Pictures

    First Nebraska-Ghana Trade & Investment Mission in Pictures

  • Ghana-Nebraska Captains of Industry Identify Areas for Mutual Collaboration

    Ghana-Nebraska Captains of Industry Identify Areas for Mutual Collaboration

    The Nebraska-Ghana Trade and Investment Program and Husker Harvest Days event, which saw the participation of twenty-two (22) Ghana Government officials and Private Businesses, has ended successfully in Lincoln, Nebraska.

    The event, held from 11th to 14th September 2023, UNDER THE THEME – FACILITATING OPPORTUNITIES, has been described by participants as one of the most well-organized Trade and Investment Programs, which is poised to make significant impact, in establishing and building relevant and much needed partnerships.

    Senator Ken Schilz, the Lead and Co-founder of Nebraska GhaNeb LLC, expressed his satisfaction, with the quality of the Ghanaian delegates, their understanding of the sectors, in which they operate, and most importantly, their desire to establish long term and profitable business partnerships.

    Both GhaNeb LLC and Agrihouse Foundation have positioned ourselves to support to facilitate the opportunities and relationships, that have been established.

    We are confident, that creating this platform will help businesses expand their operations and contribute to economic development of both Nebraska and Ghana. Senator Schilz added.

    Speaking to some participants, Cecil Sunkwa-Mills of T & C Farms, said, what stood out for the me, was the Business Presentations, where they learnt from the various Nebraska State legal practitioners, policy makers and farmers on focused issues, that addressed, the Legalities of Doing Business in Nebraska, Regenerative Agriculture, Digital Marketing for Retail Sales and Data Mining.

    Dr. Solomon Gyan Ansah, the Director of Crop Services at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, expressed his deep admiration for the extensive array of machinery and equipment utilized by farmers in Nebraska. He noted that these advanced tools have significantly contributed to enhancing crop productivity in the region.

    The Chairman of the Ghana Federation of Livestock Inter-Professionals (GHAFLIP), Alhaji Akakade Moro, also shared similar sentiments about the event.  Describing it as not only insightful but also an eye-opener to the agricultural sector in Ghana.
    The delegates, who also met with leaders of Kreikemeier Farms, Lincoln Premium Poultry, RWH Energy, EZ Politix, Sandhills Global and Certified Piedmontese, expressed their satisfaction with the detailed business discussions, they had.

    ‘’We have together identified areas of Trade collaborations. There are meaningful technologies and enhanced equipment, that we will need. Talks and negotiations have already begun, and we are hopeful to seal some deals soon’’. Mashud Mohammed, Ghana’s 2021 National Best Farmer added.

    A pivotal highlight of the program for the Ghanaian delegates, was the visit the Husker Harvest Days event grounds, the renowned and illustrious showcase, acclaimed as the largest irrigated agriculture exposition in the United States.
    All the delegates spoke about the positive interactions they had with Exhibitors and vendors, their appreciation of cutting-edge technologies. They are positive of future collaborations.

    The delegates also had the opportunity to meet with Southeast Community College and Nebraska State University, who are looking at having Ghanaian students, enrol in their institutions in the immediate future.

    Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, the Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, enthusiastically expressed her excitement about the impactful and meaningful partnership, Agrihouse Foundation, has established with GhaNeb LLC, which has made the organizing  of the 1st Nebraska-Ghana Trade and Investment Program possible.

    I am excited about the future and the important role, we are playing with GheNeb LLC, in facilitating these relationships established. I am happy we have showcased our potential to support in driving innovation and growth in the agricultural sector, creating new avenues for both regions to prosper, she added.

    “The partnerships formed during this program are not just agreements on paper; they represent the fusion of expertise, resources, and visions from two different regions. These collaborations will drive innovation, promote sustainable practices, and ultimately contribute to the growth of our agricultural sectors. It’s incredibly exciting to witness the potential these partnerships hold for both Ghana and Nebraska,” stated Mad. Alberta.

    This symbolizes the collective commitment of both GhaNeb LLC, Agrihouse Foundation, and the participating regions to work hand in hand in augmenting the agriculture value chain.

    The Ghanaian delegation who participated in the 1st Nebraska-Ghana Trade and Investment Program and experienced the Husker Harvest Days included; Hon. Yaw Frimpong-Addo, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture (Crops), Mr. Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, representing former President John Dramani Mahama.

    The rest were,  Dr. Ansah Solomon Gyan, Director of Crop Services at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and Michael Kofi Akoto, Trade Promotion and Commercial Officer at the Embassy of Brazil, Mr. Mohammed Mashud, Chief Executive Director of Cudjoe Abimash Farms, Nana Osuman Abdulai, Managing Director of A.N.O Enterprise/Nana Atta Akara Co. Ltd, Al-Ayadi Fares Mohammed Khear, Irrigation Service Manager at Interplast and Alhaji  Akakade Moro, Chairman of the Ghana Federation of Livestock Inter-Professionals (GHAFLIP).

    Others included, Mashud Mohammed, Operation Manager at Agripower, Dorothy Opoku, General Manager of Agricultural Manufacturing Group Limited, Kwabena Danquah, General Manager of Operations at Agricultural Manufacturing Group, Seidu Abubakar, Project Specialist for Commercial Agriculture at Savannah Zone Agricultural Productivity Development Project (SAPIP), and Sunkwa-Mills of T&C Farms.

    Fidelity Bank’s Head of Agribusiness, Patrick Opoku, and Real Estate Investors Monica and Collins Atta Oteng, of Collinmon Investment Limited, were also present.

    SOURCE

    AGRIHOUSE FOUNDATION

     

  • Hunger Projections in Mauritania, Sahel Region Alarming!!!

    Hunger Projections in Mauritania, Sahel Region Alarming!!!

    DREF Operation Final Report Reveals

    ,,,,,,,As Climate Change Impact Cited

    Story: Mohammed A. Abu

    The International Federation of Red Cross Societies(IRFC) in its sixteen-page Disaster Response Emergency Fund(DREF) Operation-Final Report on Mauritania Food Insecurity, has noted that, the food crisis and hunger projections in the Sahel have become increasingly alarming over the past decade in all Sahelian countries, including Mauritania.

    According to the projected situation for the next lean season (June-July-August 2023): five (5) wilayas(regions) are projected to be classified in the “Pressure” phase (IPC 2), namely Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, Adrar, Assaba and Inchiri the report hinted.

    The six-month Operation which started on July 5, 2022 and ended on December 31, assisted 5,740 people among which were 2,927 males and 2,813 females out of a total 440,765 affected people.

    The Host National Society, the Mauritania Red Crescent Society (MRCS) was supported by Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners currently actively involved in the operation: Mauritanian Red Crescent, British Red Cross, French Red Cross, ICRC, IFRC, Kuwaiti Red Crescent, and Livelihoods Resource Centre

    Other partner organizations actively involved in the operation: Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania through the CSA (Almaouna Programme) and WFP.

    The report also notes the contribution of the Canadian Government to replenish the DREF for this operation. “On behalf of Mauritania Red Crescent Society (MRCS), the IFRC would like to extend gratitude to all for their generous contributions””.

    Like other countries in the region, the report notes, food and nutrition insecurity is persistent in Mauritania despite the good spatial and temporal distribution and excess rainfall in most parts of the country during the 2022 rainy season.

    In the latest period of 2022, it continues, (October-November-December 2022), one (1) wilaya (region) (Dakhlet Nouadhibou) was classified in the “Minimum” food security phase (IPC 1); two (2) wilayas (Gorgol and Guidimakha) were classified in the “Crisis” phase (IPC 3), and the country’s ten (10) other wilayas were classified in the “Pressure” phase (IPC 2).

    “The size of the food insecure population was estimated to be 440,765 people, or 10% of the total population of Mauritania. Of this, 12% are in the “Emergency” phase (IPC 4) and 88% are in the “Crisis” phase (IPC 3).

    “The food insecurity situation is taking a bigger scale with joint factors include economic challenges faced by households and overall market, climate changes, agricultural challenges, scarcity of rainy seasons, the migration challenges in the sub-regions etc. In addition, the rainfall of 2022 during the food security intervention of Mauritania Red Crescent has caused massive flooding that has affected crops and will impact agricultural production in these areas, which are mainly arid, with a higher level of drought compared to other countries in the Sahel.

    “According to the projected situation for the next lean season (June-July-August 2023): five (5) wilayas are projected to be classified in the “Pressure” phase (IPC 2), namely Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, Adrar, Assaba and Inchiri.

    “The eight (8) other wilayas are projected to be classified in “Crisis” phase (IPC 3). During the next lean season, the food insecure population is estimated to be 694,612 people, or 16% of the total population of Mauritania. Of this population, 17% are projected to be in the “Emergency” phase (IPC 4) and 83% are projected to be in the “Crisis” phase (IPC 3).” the report added.

    The major donors and partners of the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) include the Red Cross Societies and governments of Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, as well as DG ECHO and Blizzard Entertainment, Mondelez International Foundation, Fortive Corporation and other corporate and private donors.

    Photo: Credit: Françoise GUICHARD/Laurent KERGOAT/CNRS Photo Library