Agricultural Value Chains

Groundnuts are a vital source of cash income and a highly nutritious food for rural households in Malawi and Mozambique. However, groundnuts, along with maize and sorghum, suffer significantly from aflatoxin contamination, exacerbated by a poor understanding of the problem by many stakeholders, including farmers.

Frustrated at the lack of implementation of biotechnology opportunities in agriculture, farmers in Malawi have become the latest to add their voice to the call for practical steps leading to unlocking biotechnology. In essence, the policy framework for management of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has been developed in Malawi and is ready for use, but proposals to begin trials of GMO seed have not yet received approval by the regulatory authorities.

As a member of the of the Southern Africa Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU), the Farmers Union of Malawi has taken an active role in arguing that farmers need an option for improving productivity and reducing costs, especially for crops such as cotton. Biotechnology is one of the key options.

In providing feedback on their experience, the 52 delegates that participated in the 2011 NAMPO Harvest Day Agricultural show in May, estimate that a total of up to US$29 million in deals could be realized as a result of their participation. SATH coordinated regional participation from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique

Most of the deals involve irrigation equipment, inputs such as fertilizer, farming equipment (tractors), storage and grain handling equipment, farm fencing, implements, processing and animal feed manufacturing equipment.

This year 17 Southern African companies exhibited at the Summer Fancy Food show from July 10-12 in Washington D.C. USAID Southern Africa Trade Hub, USAID West Africa Trade Hub, COMPETE, and South Africa's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) partnered on the Taste of Africa pavilion that featured more than 30 African companies.

The Taste of Africa pavilion offered gourmet innovations and savory food sensations from across the continent. It showcased world-class companies such as Rozendal Vinegar – winner of the 2011 Gold Sofi Award for best vinegar – and Willow Creek Products innovator of the snap & squeeze sachets, a single serving sachets filled with 8ml of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. During the trade show, Willow Creek Products met with AMI about major airline opportunities for the snap & squeeze sachets. Also, the pavilion featured cooking demonstrations by celebrity chef and author Dominique Macquet of Dominique's On Magazine in New Orleans.

With the attendance of Wal-Mart and several other major global apparel sourcinghouses, this year's Textile and Apparel Business-to-Business (B2B) meeting was bigger and better than ever in its 7-year history. Over 420 pre-arranged and another 40 ad hoc meetings took place between the 56 companies in attendance at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on June 20 and 21.

On May 25-26, Kathleen Montgomery, Regional Integration Specialist, presented to the SADC Experts Group on Rules of Origin in Textiles and Apparel the preliminary results of a study on Textile Capacity in the SADC Region.

SATH and TechnoServe collaborated in organizing the launch of Sub-Saharan African Soy Alliance (SASA)on May 16, 2011. SATH facilitated the participation of 35 regional companies, including producers, seed companies, crushers, human and animal feed processors, in the SASA launch.

Close to a hundred stakeholders representing farmers, food security experts, seed traders, researchers, development agencies and regulators convened at Vereeniging, South Africa to deliberate various papers at the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) Policy Conference on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Agricultural Development – a perspective of farmers in Southern Africa. Topics covered included GMOs in the context of biotech in agriculture; pro-GMO and anti-GMO perspectives; market access/trade issues; consumer perspectives; existing policy frameworks; and, recent technological advances in the area.

To increase the uptake and usage of modern agricultural equipment and technology inthe southern African region, SATH facilitated the participation of 52 delegates from Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe in the NAMPO Harvest Day agricultural trade show in Bothaville, South Africa from May 17-18.

"The visit was really an eye-opener for what is available for the farming sector in Southern Africa," beams Rene Lourens, Commercial Manager of Livestock Services in Zambia. "In the two days we were there I met a lot of potential suppliers and currently I am making follow ups to start trading relationships with some of them. I am very positive these will result in new trading contacts which will ultimately benefit the Zambian farmer," he confidently continues.