Archive for month: May, 2019

• 2nd All African Postharvest Congress and Exhibition, 17-20 September 2019, Addis Ababa
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  2nd AAPHCE(Self-Sponsored)

  Postharvest Loss Reduction and Agro-processing: Drivers of Agricultural Transformation in Africa
  September 17 – 20 2019 · African Union Commission

  Register

  BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

  Africa has remained the most food insecure continent in the world, with approximately one in four people undernourished. Over the years, most African governments have focused on increasing production to meet the food and nutrition needs of the ever rising population which is estimated to reach 2.5 billion by the year 2050. Indeed, most of the strategies for food and nutrition security (FNS) have been focused more on extensification (putting more land to production) and intensification (increased use of agro-inputs). However, these approaches to FNS are challenged by the limited and inelastic production resources (including land, water, energy, agro-inputs). Current food production systems are unsustainable and climate change poses additional challenge to sustainable agriculture in Africa.

  Historical over-emphasis on increased agricultural production without complementary interventions to ensure proper utilization of the food produced has contributed to the reported increase in postharvest food loss and waste over the years. Global food losses and waste is estimated at 1.3 billion metric tonnes (MT), equivalent to over 30% of the total food produced for human consumption, and it is estimated that global food wastage could feed up to 1.6 billion people annually. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, the total quantitative food loss has been estimated to be over 100 million MT/year. For grains alone, the value of postharvest losses is equivalent to approximately USD 4 billion/year (at 2007 prices), which could meet the annual food requirements of about 48 million people. The value of food loss exceeds the annual value of grain imports into Africa. These losses exacerbate food insecurity and have negative impacts on the environment through wasting precious land, water, farm inputs and energy used in producing food that is not consumed. In addition, postharvest losses reduce income to farmers and contribute to higher food prices.

  AGENDA

  Tuesday, September 17

  • • Pre-conference

      Excursions – Pre-Conference Meetings – Side Events – Partners Meetings

      8:00 AM – 2:00 PM

    • Event Start

      2:00 PM

    • Official opening

      Opening Remarks: H. E Amb. Josefa Sacko, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission, (AUC)

      2:30 PM – 6:00 PM

  Wednesday, September 18

  • • Plenary presentations on subtheme 1
      (Public sector initiatives in
      postharvest loss reduction and
      agro-processing: policy,
      strategies and regulations ).

      Rwanda – Netherlands

      9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

    • Panel discussion and interactive session.

      10:30 AM – 1:00 PM

    • Plenary presentations on Sub-theme 2: Financing models/options for agro-processing and postharvest managment .

      Damian Ihedioha (AfDB) – Rockefeller Foundation
      (Betty Kibaara)

      2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

    • Panel discussions and interactive session.

      3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

  Thursday, September 19

  • • Plenary presenation on Sub-theme 3: Science ,technology and innovation in postharvest managment and agro processing.

      Lead Speakers : Umezuruike Linus Opara, Bart Nicolai

      9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

    • Panel discussions and interactive session.

      10:30 AM – 1:00 PM

    • Plenary presentations on Sub- theme 4: Capacity development and outreach programs in postharvest managment and agro-processing.

      Lead Speakers : Lisa Kitinoja
      (Postharvest Education
      Foundation)
      , Wageningen University
      and Research

      2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

    • Panel discussions and interactive session.

      3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

  Friday, September 20

  • • Plenary presentation on Sub-theme 5: Youth and women empowerment through postharvest managment and agro-processing.

      Lead Speakers : AAIN (Alex Ariho)
      , Jemimah Njuki (IDRC)

      9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

    • Plenary presentations on Sub- theme 6: Private sector initiatives and public-private-partnerships (PPP) in postharvest managment and agro processing.

      Lead Speakers : Brett Rierson (WFP)
      ,Gerald Masila (EAGC

      11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

    • Reading of the communique.

      2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

    • Event End

      5:00 PM

    • Closing Ceremony.

      Award ceremony for Malabo
      PHL goal (Based on BR)
      , Closing remarks from the
      Commissioner/CP
      , Closing remarks from the
      Prime Minister Federal
      Democratic Republic of
      Ethiopia

      5:00 PM – 6:30 PM

  Sponsors

  

  

  

  

  

  

The review of the trade  ban placed on Nigeria by the European Union over excess levels of pesticide contaminant is on going in Abuja today 16 May 2019 . It will be recalled that the ban slammed on Nigeria because the dried beans contained dichlorvos at levels over and above acceptable limits

The critical meeting is assessing whether to let the ban expire or whether to extend it for another period.The federal Ministry of Agriculture and Nigeria Agric Quarantine Service are taking part in the review

Dele Fapohunda

May 16, 2019