Welcome to the monthly newsflash of Idasa's Agriculture Expenditure Project, highlighting useful articles about Agriculture in Africa, including a focus on policy and small farmer participation.

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Harvests of Development in Rural Africa: The Millennium Villages After Three Years
The Millennium Villages Project was piloted in Kenya and Ethiopia in 2005. The goal is to show how an integrated approach to community-level development can translate the international MDG agreements into ground-level breakthroughs throughout rural sub-Saharan Africa. The Millennium Villages Project is a ten-year initiative and involves community-led delivery of interventions for agriculture, education, health, and infrastructure. Read more here.
 

Agric SA allies with military
A total of 650 soldiers were recently deployed to protect the Mozambican and Zimbabwean borders. Farmers had raised their concerns about crime on their farms as a result of unprotected borders. Read more here.

Farming from the ground up
Agricultural researchers throughout Africa are using the latest technology to develop a digital map showing the properties of soil across the continent. Farmers will be able to get detailed information on soil fertility in their area. The data will available on the internet and accessible from mobile phones. The project is part of an international effort to produce a global digital soil map. Read more here.

Destroying the World’s Peasantry? Criticism of Agricultural Investment principles
“Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investment” (from FAO, IFAD and UNCTAD) try to make sure that large-scale land investments result in “win-win” situations, benefiting investors and directly affected communities alike. This article suggests that the principles lack some oomph. Read more here.

Dairy Goats in Ethiopia
The central objective of FARM AFRICA’S Dairy Goat Development Programme is to increase rural incomes and the stability of those incomes in the highlands of Ethiopia by improving the productivity of goats managed by women in the areas of poor arable crop production and high population pressure. Read more here.

More articles

Africa and Brazil to collaborate on agricultural research

Farmers desperate as virus ravages cassava crops

East and West Africa in 10-year research on food security

Second Green Revolution taking root in Africa

Why crises persist in West Africa

EAC to approve 11 cassava, potato standards

Livestock farming unattractive in Africa

COMESA in deal to boost food output

Financial skills key to Kilimo Kwanza success

What are our priorities?

Manifesto calls for re-think on how we tackle poverty

Gendered Terrain: Women’s Rights and Access to Land in Africa

SMALL-SCALE FARMERS CAN BENEFIT BY WORKING WITH AGRICULTURE INVESTORS – UN REPORT

Farming First launches interactive food security guide ahead of G8/G20 summits

UN: Small-scale farmers can benefit by working with agriculture investors

International Food Policy Research Institute (Report on halving hunger- Meeting the First Millennium Development Goal through “Business as Unusual”)

Interactive food security guide ahead of G8/G20 summits

WFP declares Africa Agricultural investment forum a turning point

COMESA’s strategic goal with CAADP

Ghana agriculture projects to get $100-million from World Bank

Africa not spending enough on food

Uganda’s agriculture spending below population growth

New weapon for Africa’s farmers against armyworm

Call for free market in grains in East Africa

SA farmers’ plea to export surplus maize

Africa urged to support agri-business

Harvests of Development in Rural Africa: The Millennium Villages After Three Years