Industry Dynamics

SUGAR producer Hippo Valley recorded an 8% decline at 49 425 tonnes during the quarter ended June 2020 from 53 997 tonnes during the same period last year following a reduction in sugarcane milling caused by National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) logistical challenges.

Rains were mainly below average last week in most of Ivory Coast’s main cocoa-growing regions, but plenty of small and average pods were developing well for a strong start to the October-to-March main crop, farmers said on Monday.

The Nigerian power grid rose to 5,377 megawatts (MW) peak power generation on Saturday night, a feat attained 18 months after the previous record. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) disclosed this on Monday.

Presently, the number of items on the CBN’s ‘Not Valid for Import,’ has risen to 44, in the bid to boost domestic production and encourage import substitution.

Wheat production in North Africa is suffering due to recent regional droughts. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), wheat production has reduced by 60% in the region.

The rapid production growth of cashew in the country, especially within the forest-transition zone, is consuming sizeable farmlands and thus posing a threat to sustainable production of food crops in the country’s food basket.

The restrictions on movement and the limited social interactions will strain livelihoods and the agricultural supply chain as access to inputs and extension support services by the already vulnerable farmers and their communities is interrupted.

The minister believes the COVID-19 pandemic has shown Morocco can locally manufacture most of the products it usually imports and that its products can compete in international markets.

With the importation of some 520 multipurpose mini tractors, Farmer Based Organizations (FBO) across the country say they could increase yields by 25 percent in a year.