Completion of the Trans-Gambia Bridge will facilitate efficient movement of goods and people. (Image source: AfDB)

The African Development Bank’s (AfDB) investments in The Gambia’s energy sector have significantly improved access to affordable and reliable electricity

According to a recent Bank country progress report, at least 70% of Gambians are projected to have power by the end of this year, with 50% in rural areas. The report received approval by the Bank Group’s Board on 13 June. It reflects the results obtained halfway through the execution of the Bank’s 2021-2025 Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for the Gambia, highlighting remarkable achievements in the country’s energy, agriculture, and transport sectors.

The Bank's assistance to the agricultural sector has boosted productivity, increased production and attracted private investment. Rice yields have thus risen from 2.2 to 4 tonnes per hectare, thanks to the implementation of the Bank’s flagship Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative and the Rice Value Chain Transformation Programme (RVCP). 

Yields of maize, groundnut, cowpea and sorghum also improved during the first period of CSP implementation. Enhanced irrigation on 4,369 ha increased rice production by 27,828 tonnes, and support for local seed producers has ensured sustainable supplies of seeds.

In the transport sector, the Trans-Gambia Bridge and its ancillary road network link major routes and destinations, promoting the efficient movement of goods and people, supporting trade, raising incomes and improving livelihoods throughout West Africa.

“The AfDB has increased its support for economic diversification and resilience in the Gambia, taking into account the country's long-term development priorities and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and targeting factors of fragility," stated the Bank’s Deputy-Director General for West Africa, Dr Joseph Ribeiro.

China has become one of the primary importers of Ethiopian coffee. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

In recent years, Ethiopian coffee has been gaining widespread popularity in the Chinese market, mainly through platforms such as the China International Import Expo (CIIE) as well as cross-border e-commerce

While Roasted coffee beans from the Ethiopian coffee brand Gera was showcased at the third CIIE, Ethiopian highland coffee with vibrant orange packaging was showcased at an e-commerce live stream during the fifth edition of the expo. As the popularity of Ethiopian coffee kept growing, online sales of the product saw a surge of 300% during the expo’s sixth edition. 

Expressing great delight, Ethiopian ambassador to China, Tefera Derbew Yimam, noted that China has become one of the primary importers of Ethiopian coffee. "The embassy will continue to facilitate Ethiopian business participation in the expo," Yimam said.

Besides coffee, other products like sesame seeds and green beans from Ethiopia have also made their way to supermarkets, stores, and retail markets in China. 

The seventh edition of CIIE is scheduled to take place from 5-10 November this year in Shanghai, China. For more information, visit: https://www.ciie.org/

Gabriel H. Salee receives the Donated KR Food Aid Rice from Mochizuki Hisanobu. (Image source: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Liberia)

The formal handover ceremony of rice to the Government of Liberia (GOL) took place on 18 June at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia, and stands as a significant gesture of international cooperation and goodwill

The donated KR Food Aid rice is a vital food staple for many Liberians. It is expected to bolster food security and provide relief to vulnerable populations across the country. 

Noting that the donation aligns with the ARREST Agenda of the government, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gabriel H Salee, expressed deep gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for their unwavering support and solidarity. She further emphasised that Japan’s assistance reflected their commitment to international cooperation and humanitarian aid. 

"Today's donation is a testament to the strong and enduring friendship between Liberia and Japan,” stated Minister Salee. This generous contribution will go a long way in addressing the food needs of our people, particularly those who are most vulnerable.“

Mochizuki Hisanobu, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Liberia, presented the rice carrying a value of US$1.5mn, on behalf of the Japanese Government. According to him, the Food Assistance programme has been one of the sustainable means of raising revenue through the Counterpart Value Fund to tackle the Government of Liberia’s ARREST developmental initiatives and also address cross-cutting challenges to the survival, livelihood and the dignity of people. 

By elaborating the business case for banks and policy-makers, the projects helps to reorient policy and financial resources towards farmers. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

In April this year, a US$379mn initiative was launched to combat the devastating impacts of pesticides and plastics in agriculture

The project which involves a collaboration between the govenments of Ecuador, India, Kenya, Laos, Philippines, Uruguay, and Vietnam aims to address the significant risks that these chemicals pose both to human health and the environment. Highly hazardous pesticides and mismanaged agricultural plastics release toxic persistent organic pollutants (POPs) – chemicals which don’t break down in the environment and contaminate air, water, and food. These inputs being cheaper than sustainable alternatives, gives farmers little incentive to adopt better practices.

However, the five-year Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management (FARM) programme led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is projected to prevent over 51,000 tons of hazardous pesticides and over 20,000 tons of plastic waste from being released, while avoiding 35,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and protecting over three million hectares of land from degradation as farms and farmers convert to low-chemical and non-chemical alternatives.

By elaborating the business case for banks and policy-makers, the projects helps to reorient policy and financial resources towards farmers, thus helping them to choose low- and non-chemical alternatives over toxic agrochemicals, in turn facilitating a transition towards better practices. The FARM programme will support government regulation to phase out POPs-containing agrochemicals and agri-plastics and adopt better management standards, while strengthening banking, insurance and investment criteria to improve the availability of effective pest control, production alternatives and trade in sustainable produce.

“Food productivity and safety is reliant on identifying better practices and safer alternatives to highly hazardous pesticides,” said director of UNEP’s Industry and Economy division, Sheila Aggarwal-Khan. “Adoption is key to scaling these alternatives. There is no real option other than a strong, coordinated response to the pollution crisis.”