National Policy Makers

The compendium is a compilation of stories about project activities (research and development, agricultural extension, trainings, project management and monitoring) implemented under APPSA Lesotho. It is the mandate of the Communication Working Group (CWG) to manage project communication and technology dissemination for visibility and awareness, knowledge sharing and collaboration among stakeholders. The roles of Technology Dissemination Office; and Information Technology and Knowledge Management are responsible for ensuring the functionality and delivery of the objectives of the CWG.

The Government of Mozambique will invest around US$50 million in agricultural research over the next three years. This feat was announced by His Excellency Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique in his opening speech of the First Agricultural Research Symposium held in KaTembe, Municipality of Maputo, from 31 August to 1 September 2022. The investment aims to stimulate and improve agricultural research in Mozambique through the improvement and operation of research and vaccine production laboratories, reinforcement of the multiplication of pre-basic and basic seeds, support in the operationalization of the Rice Research and Leadership Center and impact assessments of agricultural production.

The Resilient Agriculture and Market Activities Project in the Beira Corridor (RAMA_BC) in partnership with the Centro Zonal Centro (CZC) of the Institute of Agricultural Research of Mozambique (IIAM) has been introducing and promoting various practices of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) aimed at reducing the vulnerability of small producers and dealing with climate change and its impact.

This presentation gives an Overview of CAADP/Malabo Declaration Implementation in Botswana

This study aimed to investigate the effect of age at weaning of calves on non‐ esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and reproductive parameters of beef cows. Animals (n = 65) were randomly assigned to three treatments after calving: hyper‐early weaning (W30) at 32 ± 0.89 days, early weaning (W75) at 77 ± 0.95 days, and conventional weaning (W180) at 183 ± 0.82 days. Body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) were evaluated at parturition (AP) and at 30, 45, 64, 81, 100 and 115 days postpartum (dPP). Blood samples were collected to analyze NEFA levels and progesterone (P4) at 30, 45, 64 and 81 dPP. Higher BW and BCS were observed from 64 to 115 dPP in W30 cows than W180 ones (p < 0.05). Cows subjected to W30 condition had higher levels of NEFA at 30 dPP compared to 64 and 81 dPP (p < 0.05). We also observed that cows from W180 group showed decreased levels of NEFA at 30 dPP compared to 45 (p < 0.01) and 64 dPP (p < 0.05). The highest P4 level was observed at 64 dPP in W30 cows compared to W75 and W180 (p < 0.05). We also observed higher CR of W30 (86%) compared to W180 (47%) at 45 dPP (p < 0.05). The overall pregnancy rate (PR) was higher for W30 (95.5%) than W180 (73.9%). In addition, higher BW at calving and P4 levels at 30 dPP were positively correlated with the possibility of pregnancy (p < 0.05). Improvement in BW and BCS were observed in cows subjected to hyper‐early weaning management. However, levels of NEFA decreased as the postpartum period progressed. We concluded that cows who weaned calves hyper‐early have greater chances of increasing cyclicity and PRs.

Climate change is now known to be a key threat to achieving sustainable development and poverty reduction targets, as well as attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in Africa. Climate change is altering rainfall patterns, water availability, and sea levels; it is increasing droughts and the frequency of bushfires, and increasingly impacting on human health, agricultural productivity, forests and biodiversity. In this way, climate change will negatively affect the social, economic and environmental dimensions of human livelihoods in Africa.

The study looks at  (i) Main Substantive Elements and Commitments and (ii) Reporting, Review and Compliance. The IPCC recognizes Land-Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) hence its significant role in the NDCs . The study also highlights the challenges, opportunities and strategies for improving the implementation of nationally determined conditions in the Eastern and Southern Africa regions.

Study on Improving Existing Policies to Support Cross Border Trade in Agricultural Inputs and Commodities and National Trainings on Agricultural Innovation System Policy Practice Index in the SADC Region Inception Report

Regional Knowledge, Information & Data Capture Guidelines Regional Training Workshop Report:

SADC Futures: Developing Foresight Capacity for Climate Resilient Agricultural Development Final technical report