Rural Electrification, Sustainable Farming and Other ReportS

Every week, RuralReporters.com collate reports on development issues in rural Africa and its environs.

This report includes some of our top picks from recent must-read research, interviews, blogs, and in-depth articles, carefully selected to help you keep up with global issues.

Here are some of the updates you may have missed from the previous week:

 

UN wants rural farmers to double their yields by 2028

In December 2017, the UN announced a “decade on family farming” next year to help small holder farmers across the world and mainly in developing countries.

The declaration, which will be implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, could be key for family-run farms who are the basic food producers in Africa

“And 2019 will mark the beginning of the UN Decade of Family Farming, drawing more attention to the people who produce more than 80 per cent of the world’s food but whose own members, paradoxically, are often the most vulnerable to hunger,” FAO said in a statement.

Rural electrification has destroyed our livelihood – residents

Over 200 households in villages of Nabigasa sub-county have protested the destruction of their plantations and property, including houses, pit-latrines and graveyards to pave way for installation of electricity.

This began in December last year during the installing electricity poles to join the three-phase power lines in the ongoing rural electrification project.

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) contracted UMEME to carry out the project and UMEME sub-contracted City Harvest (U) Limited to do the job in Nabigasa. Agitated residents said that surveying of their land and destruction of properties took them by surprise.

Why Gender Is Key to African Off-Grid Solar Energy Sales

Gender equality could have a significant impact on rural electrification moves in sub-Saharan Africa, new data suggests.

Fenix International, which sells off-grid solar kits in Uganda and Zambia, has uncovered a gender difference: Although only 20 percent of its kits are purchased by women, they bring in more new clients than men.

Digging deeper into the data, though, it is clear the women are better ambassadors for rural electrification. On average, women can be expected to refer four new customers, compared to three for men. Fenix customers get a small commission for each referral.

Lack of power fuelling poverty in Nigerian communities—Imo stakeholder

A stakeholder in Imo State, Perry-Uchenna Ekwunazu, yesterday, observed that lack of electricity supply had increased the level of impoverishment in the Nigerian communities.

He said: “Nigerian political leaders have not been mindful of the strategic challenges and developmental expectations which include the provisions of electricity supply to our rural areas. “I believe that it will go a long way in addressing the myriad of problems we have in our communities as well as address the issue of poverty.”

In rural South Africa sport provides an education in sustainability

The adage that one should think globally, but act locally is particularly true for sustainability and conservation.

And one local environmentalist in South Africa decided to take this idea on board and use sport as a way to educate locals about sustainable practices. Raymond Langa, living near St Lucia on the country’s east coast was so concerned with the environmental problems in his community that he decided to take matters into his own hands.

“I am always frustrated by the environmental degradation activities taking place in areas of significance for conservation”, said Mr. Langa

 

Busayo Sotunde is a prolific writer with special focus on Business, Entrepreneurship, Reproductive Health and other development issues in Africa. Her articles have been published by different outlets including Investing Port and Ventures-Africa.com. She has a penchant for reading and sustainable development. Follow Busayo on Twitter @BusayomiSotunde
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