Press release on the meeting of Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and the appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Zambia in Moscow, Shadrick Luwita

APO News from Africa:

Press release on the meeting of Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and the appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Zambia in Moscow, Shadrick Luwita:

On April 28, the Russian President’s Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikhail Bogdanov received the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Zambia in Moscow, Shadrick Luwita, who presented his credentials.

The conversation held included a substantive exchange of views on a range of issues for further development of the traditionally friendly Russian-Zambian relations. At the same time, they emphasised the solid potential for building mutually beneficial cooperation, expanding economic, humanitarian and other ties, and deepening the political dialogue and coordination of approaches to current issues on the international and African agenda.

Distributed by APO on behalf of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa

Syngenta and USAID/ Feed the Future Invest .8 million to help Smallholder Farmers in Zambia:

Syngenta (www.Syngenta.com) in Zambia, through its subsidiary MRI Seed, has partnered with the Feed the Future Partnering for Innovation, a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) programme implemented by Fintrac Inc. (www.Fintrac.com), to help smallholder farmers gain access to high-quality, disease-free horticultural seedlings, giving them the opportunity to become commercially viable vegetable farmers.

The programme aims to build a sustainable seedling distribution model for hybrid vegetables; provide access to market information and linkages; train farmers on good agricultural practices and business management; and introduce new technologies to help smallholder farmers dramatically improve their yields.

In 20 districts across Zambia, Syngenta will establish 20 seedling production sites, each owned and operated by an Entrepreneurial Young Plant Raiser (YPR). The YPR will provide business and technical training, as well as facilitate market linkages for the benefit of 12,000 smallholder farmers. Although the primary focus of the project will be on tomato and cabbage seedlings, Syngenta will also conduct trials and testing regarding the commercial viability of other crops with a high potential in Zambia such as kale (rape), cauliflower, broccoli, carrot, and potato.

Furthermore, Syngenta will help in promoting a pilot programme for YPR’s “Vegetable in a Bag” concept, where a small portion of YPR seedlings will be sold in reusable packaging, with no ground soil and minimal water, making them suitable for urban and peri-urban use.

“For Syngenta, smallholder farmers around the world and in Zambia are key to solving the growing gap between the supply and demand for affordable food. Our partnership with USAID focuses on testing the commercial viability of innovative business models designed to enable smallholder farmers in Zambia to increase their output and thus their profitability whilst using sustainable and safe agricultural practices. This is what Syngenta’s Good Growth Plan is ultimately all about, and one that we have proven through the Community Agro Dealer initiative in Zambia over the last years.” – Mark Stokes, Head of Customer Marketing for Syngenta Zambia.

Distributed by APO on behalf of Syngenta.

For further information contact Mark Stokes, Head of Costumer Marketing Syngenta Zambia (Mark.Stokes@Syngenta.com) and Kinyua MMbijjewe, Head of Corporate Affairs East and Southern Africa, Syngenta (Kinyua.Mmbijjewe@Syngenta.com). 

About the Partners:
Feed the Future Partnering for Innovation
Feed the Future Partnering for Innovation is a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded programme that helps the private sector to scale and market agricultural technologies and services for smallholder farmers through investing in technology commercialisation and knowledge exchange. Partnering for Innovation and USAID/Zambia aim to develop partnerships with private sector agribusinesses to support smallholder farmers in Zambia. USAID/Zambia, through Partnering for Innovation, has partnered and co-funded four investments with the private sector to address development and business challenges in Zambia. Through these activities and investments, smallholder farmers will benefit from new and/or expanded market opportunities, increased access to improved agricultural inputs and mechanization, and better quality technical advisory services. 

USAID
USAID is the lead U.S. Government agency working around the world to end extreme poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential.  In order to support these goals, President John. F. Kennedy created the United States Agency for International Development by executive order in 1961.  Currently active in over 100 countries worldwide, USAID was born out of a spirit of progress and innovation, reflecting American values and character, and motivated by a fundamental belief in doing the right thing.  Today, USAID staff work to further America's foreign policy interests in expanding democracy and free markets while also extending a helping hand to people struggling to make a better life, recover from a disaster or striving to live in a free and democratic country. 

Syngenta 
Syngenta (www.Syngenta.com) is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. 
Syngenta has been working in Africa and the Middle East for over half a century in more than 50 countries, and we understand the critical role farming plays in economic, environmental and social development across this diverse region.  Our ambition is to support the inclusion of farmers into viable value chains to increase their productivity so that they produce more of what local and global markets want. We strive to transform farmer yields at scale, in a way that creates sustainable value – motivated by the belief that successful farmers grow surpluses for sale, generate income, provide quality food and build vibrant communities. 
In Zambia, Syngenta is working to provide farmers in remote locations with last-mile access to inputs, know-how and market information. This is done through a system of Community Agro Dealers (CADs).Over 100 local entrepreneurs in remote locations whose small shops provide access to high quality seeds, crop protection products, serve as produce aggregation hubs, and offer agronomic training through adjacent demonstration plots. This approach overcomes market access barriers and builds local entrepreneur networks.
To learn more visit www.Syngenta.com  and www.GoodGrowthPlan.com. Follow us on Twitter® at www.Twitter.com/Syngenta.

Fintrac
Fintrac (www.Fintrac.com), a woman-owned and US-based consulting company, develops agricultural solutions to end hunger and poverty. For 25 years, it has worked with local and international partners to increase production, improve postharvest handling, add value, and develop markets and competitive value chains for the world's most vulnerable farmers and communities. By teaching farmers to view farming as a business, Fintrac increases yields to improve nutrition, generate income, and build industries.

Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa

President Zuma to lead Team South Africa to the World Economic Forum in Africa:

President Jacob Zuma will lead South African delegation to the World Economic Forum in Africa to be held from 03-05 May 2017 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, in Durban, under the theme “Achieving inclusive growth: responsive and responsible leadership.”

The World Economic Forum (WEF) in Africa will be attended by Heads of State and Government, global leaders from business, civil society as well as government to discuss important issues relating to the achievement of inclusive economic growth globally and with specific focus on Africa.

“South Africa is honoured to host this illustrious gathering of global leaders on behalf of the African continent and we look forward to sharing our insights and homegrown successes with the rest of the continent and the world.

As a host country, we look forward to a meaningful dialogue and innovative ideas from stakeholders across the continent and the world on accelerating partnerships and boosting regional integration for Africa’s inclusive and sustainable growth,” said President Zuma.

The President said he was pleased that WEF in Africa 2017 would focus specifically on issues that include education, skills and employment; entrepreneurship; energy; infrastructure and development finance; combating, adapting to and building resilience against climate change; and science, technology and innovation.

The President said the WEFA meeting has come to South Africa at the right time. “As a developing constitutional democracy that is defined by triple challenge of inequality, poverty and employment, South Africa believes that radical economic transformation is imperative to accelerating inclusive growth and eradicate these long standing challenges. Our international partners and investors appreciate this historical need as they know it is key to long term sustainable development for the South African economy,” said President Zuma.   

President Zuma will be accompanied by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and the following key members of the government delegation:

• Minister of Finance: Mr Malusi Gigaba
• Minister of International Relations and Cooperation: Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane
• Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation: Mr Jeff Radebe
• Minister of Trade and Industry: Dr Rob Davis 
•  Minister of Economic Development: Mr Ebrahim Patel
• Minister of Public Enterprises: Ms Lynne Brown
• Minister of Water and Sanitation: Ms Nomvula Mokonyane
• Minister of Small Business Development: Ms Lindiwe Zulu
• Minister of Energy: Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi
• Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services: Dr Siyabonga Cwele
• Minister of Environmental Affairs: Ms Edna Molex
• Minister of Arts and Culture: Mr Nathi Mthethwa
• Minister of Tourism: Ms Tokozile Xasa
• Minister of Health: Dr Aaron Motsoaledi
• Minister of Science and Technology: Ms Naledi Pandor
• Minister Higher Education and Training: Dr Blade Nzimande
• Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Sifiso Buthelezi

The President will also be accompanied by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Willies Mchunu; MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mr Sihle Zikalala; Executive Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Ms Zandile Gumede; as well as high delegation of business leaders.

Distributed by APO on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of Government Communication and Information.

Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa