Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki plants a tree to mark the dissemination of Medium Term Plan IV (MTP-IV) 2023-2027 for Marsabit County at the Catholic Conference Hall in Marsabit.
Source: Kenya News Agency
Farmers Embrace Upland Rice Varieties
The government has been collaborating in a public-private sector partnership with the support of development partners to revive irrigation schemes and enhance upland rice products.
Rice is the third most important staple crop in Kenya after maize and wheat and is grown in 23 counties in the country, with the government’s National Rice Development Strategy of 2019-2030 gearing towards self-sufficiency and increasing paddy rice from 156,000 MT in 2018 to 1,301,000 MT by 2030.
Last year, the country spent Sh54.7 billion to import 937,098.5 metric tonnes of rice in order to plug the rice deficit.
In view of this, a joint initiative between Kilimo Trust, the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), and Egerton University has seen the adoption of high-yielding upland rice varieties quickly take root in Meru, Embu, and Tharaka Nithi Counties.
Designed to thrive under rain-fed conditions, the adoption of the rice varieties has helped increase the incomes of small-scale farmers and promote su
stainable agricultural practices.
Dr. Birungi Korutaro Kilimo Trust Chief Executive Officer says that upland rice farming is an important initiative in attaining the goal of rice sufficiency not only in Kenya but across Africa.
‘The adoption of upland rice farming in East Africa marks a significant step towards achieving food security and mitigating the effects of climate change in the region,’ Dr. Korutaro said.
He explained that by reducing dependence on imported rice, countries can lower their food import costs and strengthen their local economies.
‘Our commitment to promoting upland rice farming aligns with our vision for a food-secure East Africa that is economically and environmentally sustainable,’ Dr. Korutaro added
In the past two years, over 3,800 small-scale farmers in the region have received training, with more than 800 successfully adopting the drought-tolerant upland rice varieties, which are regarded as a potential solution to Kenya’s food security problem.
Grown on well-drained soils ra
ther than flooded rice paddies, upland rice takes between three and four months to mature, and the cost of production is slightly lower when compared to lowland rice.
Prof. Paul Kimurto of Egerton University said that unlike paddy rice, upland rice also plays a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as improving soil health by allowing easy incorporation of legumes as rotational crops by the farmers during the subsequent seasons.
‘The upland rice can also be intercropped with other plants, making it suitable for small-scale rice farming,’ Prof. Kimurto added.
Experts in the sector have said that intercropping upland rice, especially with forage grasses, is a potential strategy for enhancing the sustainability of agriculture in the tropical region by increasing food production as well as land use per unit area.
Simon Mbai, a farmer in the Nkui area of Meru County, says the introduction of new varieties has been a game-changer for them, as most of them have switched from maize to rice far
ming.
‘My income has nearly doubled, and every day more farmers are coming to ask me to teach them about these rice varieties,’ he added.
Beyond the economic benefits, the adoption of the crop has also ensured a stable food supply for their families and improved overall nutrition.
‘Our daily diet has always revolved around maize because rice is expensive in the market. With rice, we have both an alternative staple and a cash crop,’ Adelina Munyua, another farmer in Meru, added.
The upland rice initiative is part of Kilimo Trust’s Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Rice Initiative for Climate Smart Agriculture (R4iCSA), which aims to increase production and promote sustainable rice production practices among 10,000 smallholder rice farmers in Kenya and Uganda in order to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Funded by the IKEA Foundation, the R4iCSA project is in line with both the Kenya National Rice Development Strategy (KNRDS 2019-2030) and the East African Community’s (EAC) partner states’ EAC Rice Development
Strategy (ERDS), which seeks to boost rice production and reduce reliance on imports, all while tackling climate change.
Last year, KALRO released a total of nine improved rice varieties for both upland and lowland agro-ecologies.
Rice consumption in Kenya is increasing rapidly, driven by changing consumer habits, especially by the growing urban population in the country. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), annual rice consumption in Kenya is estimated to be over one million metric tonnes, while the production capacity is approximately 230,000 metric tonnes.
Source: Kenya News Agency
Mechanisms to reopen Ras Jedir border crossing discussed
Tunis: Mechanisms to re-open the Ras Jedir border crossing to allow the free movement of passengers and goods in both directions took centre stage as the Director General of the Tunisian Customs and the Director General of the Border police met Sunday with their Libyan counterparts, reads a Tunisian Customs press release.
President Kais Saied and Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity of Libya Abdul Hamid Dbeibah
held a phone call on June 7 during which they reaffirmed the common concern to remove all obstacles to the reopening of the Ras Jedir border crossing.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
ARP partakes in 2nd session of AOHR’s Board of Trustees, June 8-9 in Cairo
Tunis: The Assembly of People’s Representatives (ARP), represented by Assessor to the ARP Speaker in charge of major reforms Riadh Jaidaine, took part in the first meeting of the second session of the Arab Observatory for Human Rights (AOHR)’s Board of Trustees, held on June 8-9 in Cairo, Egypt.
The meeting turned on several issues, including the Board of Trustees’ internal motion, the choice of a vice-chairman of the Board of Secretaries and the Observatory’s 2024-2028 strategy, reads a ARP press release.
Emphasis was also placed on the need to organise the first Arab Human Rights Congress in Cairo next September.
The AOHR is one of the Arab Parliament’s mechanisms to support the Arab human rights system and promote its culture.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Nabil Ammar meets with UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations
Tunis: United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, welcomed Tunisia’s valuable contribution to the various UN peacekeeping missions.
Lacroix, who is making a working visit to Tunisia on June 10 and 11, expressed the consideration of the UN side regarding the responsiveness and flexibility of the Tunisian authorities in processing requests for cooperation in maintaining security and peace, reads a press release of the ministry.
During his meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Nabil Ammar in Tunis, he commended the professionalism, the initiative spirit and the degree of discipline shown by Tunisian employees who have currently joined five United Nations peacekeeping missions deployed in Africa.
He called for increasing the presence of Tunisians in management positions, particularly Tunisian women.
The Foreign Minister underlined the importance Tunisia attaches to its participation in UN peacekeeping operations in order to respect the objectives and principles of the Un
ited Nations in maintaining security and of international peace.
The minister warned of the threats facing peacekeepers in several conflict zones around the world.
He recalled that “Tunisia will always remain a country of peace which seeks to provide solutions and foster dialogue,” urging the international community to stop the aggression of the Zionist entity against innocent civilians in Gaza.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Hajj2024: ‘Zamazemeh’ Company produces 40 million bottles of Zamzam water
Tunis: For decades, pilgrims have been supplied with water from the Zamzam Well by water carriers from Meccan families hired by the Ottoman sultan.
With this historical introduction, Dr Yasser bin Suleiman Shushu, Managing Director of the Zamazemah Company, began his presentation on the history and birth of this miraculous water source.
During a meeting at the company’s headquarters on Sunday with a delegation of journalists from several Muslim countries, the managing director presented photos, maps and an old model showing the Zamzam long before it was modified.
‘Our business, which was established about 43 years ago, is to provide Zamzam to pilgrims during the Hajj period,” he said.
He added: “For this year, we will produce about forty million bottles, which is about the same as the factory’s production for the current year.’
In a statement to TAP news agency, the Saudi official explained that the company operates a 100% automated system, using the most sophisticated sterilisation and filling mechanism
s for 200ml plastic bottles.
Referring to the old human methods of fetching water from the well on the esplanade of the Holy Mosque and storing it in earthenware containers, Yasser Shushu said that the holy water is now transported directly from the source to the company’s headquarters in large metal tanks carried by GPS-equipped trucks.
‘To ensure traceability, bottles of Zamzam water are marked with a QR code so that pilgrims can find out where the water comes from,’ he said, adding that a platform called ‘Zamzam’ has been developed to facilitate the purchase and delivery of water.
Regarding the means of distributing water to pilgrims, he said that some countries, such as Tunisia, receive their quotas directly, adding that there are other means of distribution in the hotels where pilgrims stay, which are linked to the official ‘Nusuk’ platform.
The ‘Zamazemah’ company has made 6 service centres available for this Hajj season and has drawn up an action plan to supply one million 800,000 pilgrims with Zam
zam water.
Around 11,000 Tunisians are performing Hajj this year.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
SNJT calls for immediate and unconditional release of detained journalists
Tunis: The National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) has called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of imprisoned journalists pending the outcome of appeals.
In a statement issued on Monday, the union reiterated its call for the repeal of Decree-Law No. 54, which it described as “unconstitutional.” It argued for the enforcement of Decree-Law No. 115, which it described as “the only mechanism for prosecuting journalists in court”.
The SNJT condemned the systematic prosecution of journalists for their opinions, stating that such prosecutions “create an anti-democratic climate and put pressure on the media.”
The union also criticised the current regime for refusing to scrutinise public policies on pressing issues.
It accused the ruling regime of curtailing the social responsibility of the media in an electoral context that requires a minimum of transparency and openness in access to information.
Regarding trials of journalists, the union noted that Ghassen Ben Khelifa, editor-in-chief of the I
nhiyaz website, is due to appear before the Tunis Court of First Instance on Tuesday in a case brought against him under the anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering law.
The SNJT also reported that columnist Sonia Dahmani, who has been in detention since May 13, is due to appear before the investigating judge on Tuesday in connection with several cases brought against her under Decree-Law No. 54.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Interior Minister meets UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations
Tunis: Minister of the Interior, Khaled Nouri, met on Monday in Tunis with United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, and his accompanying delegation.
The two sides discussed the long-standing cooperation between Tunisia and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations in the field of peacekeeping, which dates back to 1960.
They also reviewed the Tunisian Ministry of Interior’s contribution to supporting the UN’s efforts to establish peace, security and stability in the world through its participation in several UN missions, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior.
The Minister of Interior expressed the Ministry’s keenness to increase the participation of its members in UN missions, especially within the framework of UN leadership plans.
In the same context, the Minister stressed the need for the UN to play a greater role in protecting the Palestinian people, especially innocent and unarmed civilians, from the genocide that is currently targeting
them.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Turkana Approves Climate Change Funds
The Turkana County Climate Change Fund Management Board (CCCFMB) has approved the expenditure of Sh 382 million to accelerate locally led climate change initiatives.
Chaired by Fr. Joseph Ekomwa, the board meeting followed Turkana’s legal framework for managing climate change.
Board members Ejore William Emoru and Eunice Mwajuma, along with members drawn from the county, attended the meeting.
The County representatives included Audan Leah Lokaala (County Executive for Climate Change), Joseph Ekalale (Chief Officer for Climate Change), George Emase (Climate Change Director), Benedict Mukoo Lochili (Disaster Management Director), and Kevin Ojiem (County Environment Officer).
Fr. Ekomwa stated that the approval was long overdue, as projects had already been identified and the compliance assessments were also satisfactory.
He expressed optimism that the funds, supported by the World Bank and the County Government under the Financing Locally Led Climate Change Action (FLLocCA) initiative, would be effectively
utilised.
Audan stressed the urgency of releasing the funds to empower communities to mitigate climate change impacts and enhance their resilience.
She noted that the general public, through the 30 Ward Climate Committees, had identified water provision, rangeland reseeding, and irrigation agriculture as priority areas.
The Chief Officer for Climate Change said the approval would enable phased disbursement of funds.
Ekalale emphasised that due diligence was followed in creating grievance response mechanisms and action plans.
This approval aligns with the county’s five-year Climate Change Action Plan (2023-2027) and Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai’s nine-point agenda.
Source: Kenya News Agency
Murang’a Records A One Billion Mark In Own Revenue Collection
Murang’a County has collected over Sh1 billion of own source revenue, during this financial year ending June 30.
The County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Finance, Prof. Kiarie Mwaura, while celebrating the milestone, said that as of Sunday, the county had for the first time surpassed the Sh1 billion mark in its own revenue collection.
‘We are celebrating as a county because for the first time we have been able to collect over Sh billion,’ Mwaura said, noting that the previous county government was collecting about Sh500 million.
The county executive attributed the remarkable progress in revenue collection to the automation of revenue collection, where residents pay for all services electronically, thus sealing off all loopholes that previously led to loss of revenue.
He stated that in the 2022-2023 financial year, the county had collected about Sh700 million in revenue, an amount that has almost doubled this financial year, and yet the county has not increased the charges for any services since 201
8.
‘We have managed to collect this much without necessarily increasing any taxes that could overburden the taxpayers,’ he noted.
The Department of Health is leading in revenue collection, having collected Sh360 million in 2023-2024, up from Sh120 million in the previous financial year.
Prof. Mwaura also noted that there has been a shift in the culture of county employees, and they are now working more diligently.
‘The officers on the ground are now more vigilant and work with integrity because they can see how the money they collect is being used by Governor Irungu Kang’ata for the benefit of all residents of the county,’ he said.
The county executive explained that the money collected buys medicine and employs medics for all the health facilities in the county, funds the Smart City programme that is tarmacking urban areas and improving drainage, and is also used for the subsidy for farmers under the Inua Mkulima programme.
The money also funds porridge for 42000 children in the Early Childhood Develop
ment Education (ECDE) centres Uji programme, the free healthcare for the vulnerable known as Kang’ata Care, and is also used for bursaries.
Prof. Mwaura commended all those involved in the revenue collection chain, including the sub-county revenue officers and parking attendants, for their stellar performance.
He stated that the county intends to continue improving revenue collection and sets the target for its own source of revenue for the 2024-2025 financial year at Sh1.5 billion.
Source: Kenya News Agency