A workshop was organised to align national fisheries and aquaculture strategies and agricultural investment plans with the PFRS. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The African Union's Policy Framework and Reform Strategy (PFRS) for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa aims to advance the continent’s blue economy

The initiative is a coherent continental roadmap for policy reform and investment in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. It has been instrumental in guiding AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities, and Fisheries Bodies to strengthen governance, institutional frameworks, and climate resilience in aquatic food systems.

A Stakeholder Consultation and Validation Workshop was hosted recently in Lusaka, Zambia, by AU-IBAR in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of the Republic of Zambia. The workshop seeks to align national fisheries and aquaculture strategies and agricultural investment plans with the PFRS, while integrating relevant global and regional instruments and addressing climate change adaptation.

"We aim to grow our annual fish output to 225,000 metric tonnes by 2026 by scaling up fingerling production and enhancing monitoring and surveillance systems," said Fred Mwila, acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. 

Representing the AU-IBAR Director, Patricia Lumba, said, “The PFRS and the Africa Blue Economy Strategy are not just policy tools—they are instruments of transformation for communities, economies, and ecosystems across Africa.”
Over the four-day workshop, stakeholders—including government officials, regional bodies, researchers, and consultants—are reviewing findings from national consultations on policy coherence with the PFRS. They are also making specific recommendations for the domestication of global instruments, such as those related to biodiversity, food safety, and small-scale fisheries. Discussions are being held in breakout sessions and plenary formats, focusing on improving national agricultural investment plans (NAIPs), ensuring climate-smart approaches, and identifying legal and institutional reforms needed to implement the PFRS effectively.

Ethiopex and ALEC back with new editions for 2025. (Image source; Ethiopex)

Ethio Poultry Expo Ethiopex is back for its 14th edition with the latest poultry inputs, technology, and solutions

The international trade show that will be hosted in Addis Ababa's Millennium Hall from 30 October - 1 November, will attract global players and key local stakeholders. 

Recognised as one of the fastest growing economies from Africa, the agricultural sector makes 34% of Ethiopia's GDP. 

Ethiopex is a trusted platform for exhibitors to reach out to market influencers. Exhibitors hail from a range of sectors in the poultry industry, such as equipment and accessories, feeding technology, housing installations, poultry health products, poultry feed and farm inputs, and much more. 

ALEC trade show 

The ALEC trade show which will also be taking place simultaneously with Ethiopex, will be back for its 10th session, uniting a vibrant livestock market. It will see exhibitions of animal health products, shed construction, breeding and reproduction technology, environment technology, husbandry and feeding technology, and much more. 

Ethiopia is known to have the largest livestock population in Africa, and ALEC will unite this community to facilitate investments and technology transfer.

The association is working to acquire skills in fodder production. (Image source; Adobe Stock)

The Nata-Gweta Block Beef Producers Association (NGBBPA) Farmer Field Day in Zoroga Village saw Carla Mucavi, FAO representative in Botswana, speak about the significance of generating awareness among local farmers regarding compliance to regional as well as international standards so that they can utilise the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

“The beef industry is not just about commerce; it is a symbol of national pride and rural resilience,” said Mucavi.

She commended the NGBBPA for uniting communal and ranch-based farmers into a strategic alliance that advocates for improved market access, enhanced animal health services, sustainable rangeland management, and the revitalization of Botswana’s cattle industry.

“Farmers must not be viewed merely as victims of climate change, but as proactive agents of transformation,” she said. “FAO remains steadfast in supporting Botswana’s transition to climate-smart agriculture, strengthening early warning systems, and promoting sustainable land and water management.”

Highlighting agriculture as an engine of youth empowerment and women’s inclusion, Mucavi said, “Agriculture must be repositioned as a pathway to entrepreneurship and wealth creation, not a sector of last resort.”

The association has recently secured an 18-hectare farm to establish a livestock feed production and packaging facility, which is anticipated to reduce dependency on external feed sources and enhance local production capacity.

The association is working closely with the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture and the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) to acquire skills in fodder production and innovative agricultural techniques. “We are also building strong networks with crop producers in the region and commercial farmers in Pandamatenga to source raw materials,” said NGBBPA Chairperson Gosata Mosweu. “We welcome FAO’s continued support as we strive to build resilience and sustainability within our block.”

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi. (Image source: Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Republic of Kenya)

Ahead of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation's (FOCAC) summit following the 2024 edition, the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, is in China, attending the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of Follow-Up Actions of the summit

Attended by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and representatives from all 54 African member states of FOCAC, the high level engagement is evaluating the progress since FOCAC 2024.

Mudavadi visited the Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center at the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (HUNAAS) in Mapoling, Changsha. Founded in 1984 by globally renowned Academician Yuan Longping—celebrated as the “Father of Hybrid Rice”—the center has made significant advancements in rice production through innovative research and technology. The hybrid varieties developed at HUNAAS can yield over 18 tonnes per hectare, marking a transformational leap in food production.

The visit presents an opportunity for Kenya to explore enhanced collaboration in agricultural innovation, aimed at strengthening national food security and sustainable agricultural development.