South Africa has signed an agriculture agreement with Argentina, extending the country’s programme of opening up markets with non-traditional trading partners.

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson signed a statement of intent with her Argentine counterpart, Norberto Yauhar, in Pretoria on Thursday.

The agreement aims to strengthen agricultural development and cooperation between the two countries at technical, operational and policy levels.

Speaking through a translator, Yauhar said the agreement would enhance South-South cooperation, particularly in improving agricultural production efficiencies, sharing technologies, and facilitating trade in agricultural products.

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THE 56th Copperbelt Mining, Agricultural and Commercial Show (CMACS) in Kitwe that took place from May 29 to June 2, yet again, showed some significant levels of growth in size and stature going by the increased number of exhibitors recorded.

This year’s show held; under the theme: ‘Mining and Agriculture for Continued Development and Prosperity’ lived to its expectations of creating a perfect platform for economic diversification, especially that the event saw more exhibitors taking part compared to last year.

More than 107 exhibitors took part in the trade exhibition with 27 of them being foreign companies who were mainly from South Africa.

While, the trade show is mining and agriculture, the exhibitors sprang from all sectors of the economy bringing with them to the fore, diverse interests and thereby creating a platform for sharing and exchanging of ideas.

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Zimbabwe is hosting the International Tobacco Growers’ Association Africa meeting which starts in Harare today.

More than 20 delegates from member countries – Zimbabwe, Kenya, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania – are expected to attend the meeting.

Zimbabwe is now Africa’s largest producer contributing over 45 percent of the continent’s production. The importance of tobacco to Zimbabwe’s total economic empowerment cannot be overlooked.

The meeting is expected to discuss countering national and international anti-tobacco growing campaigns, facilitate networking of tobacco growers worldwide, sharing of non-competitive information about tobacco and strategies to stabilise supply and prices and publicising the socio-economic importance of tobacco in terms of employment, agricultural development and national economic benefits among other things.

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A panel of experts explains what needs to be done to help Africa’s agricultural sector develop.

The story of agriculture in Africa today is largely one of massive but untapped potential. Agriculture can be a real driver of economic growth and poverty reduction.

It currently accounts for around one third of Africa’s GDP and almost 60% of its export earnings. Meanwhile, as much as 80% of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods.

However, at the same time, more than half the world’s unused fertile land is in Africa, agricultural growth rates over the past three decades have been meagre, African governments have not spent enough on agriculture to rectify infrastructural shortcomings, and over 200 million people on the continent are chronically hungry.

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Serengeti — FARMERS in Serengeti District in Mara Region have generated more than 8bnl/- after selling 2,520 tonnes of tobacco this season.

The Serengeti District Council Executive Director (DED), Ms Goody Pamba, made the revelation during a full council meeting on Wednesday. “Tobacco has earned Serengeti farmers 8.42bn/-from the 2,520.13 tonnes sold this season,” Ms Goody told the Serengeti District Council full meeting.

The meeting was chaired by Serengeti District Council Chairman, John Ng’oina. The district council, she said is keen on ensuring that tobacco farming does not have any negative impact on food security and environmental conservation in the wildlife rich district.

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