The latest Africa CEO Trade Survey Report 2023, led by the Pan-African Private Sector Trade and Investment Committee (PAFTRAC), indicates strong optimism within Africa’s private sector about the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The third edition of this report, a collaborative effort involving entities like African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank), African Business, Botho Emerging Markets Group, AfCFTA Secretariat, and others, gathered over 1000 responses from senior executives across the continent. These responses revealed that 56% expect the AfCFTA to significantly benefit their businesses, while 24% anticipate a moderately positive impact. Despite this optimism, the survey found a notable gap in awareness about the AfCFTA, with 72.9% of respondents having low to moderate knowledge about the trade agreement.
According to Africa News Agency, Moreover, many participants were unaware of critical operational instruments like the Pan-African Payment and Settlements System and efforts to reduce non-tariff barriers. Professor Patrick Utomi, Chairperson of PAFTRAC, emphasized the need for more information and support for African companies to fully leverage the AfCFTA’s potential.
Murang’a, Kenya – targeting sustainable agricultural practices like organic farming for environmental management. This initiative underscores the critical role of academic institutions in transforming food systems and agroecological practices nationwide.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kenya has experienced a significant rise in food insecurity, increasing from 15 per cent between 2014-2016 to 28 per cent in the period 2020-22. Agroecology, a method emphasizing resilient organic farming, is seen as a key solution to counter these challenges and boost food security.
The curriculum, developed with support from Murang’a County Government and in partnership with the Institute of Culture and Ecology (ICE) and Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Kenya, is tailored for extension service providers. It aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of the challenges in current food production systems and promote the application of agroecology principles.
During the launch at Murang’a University, Prof. Benson Mwangi, Director for Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Mariira Campus, emphasized the program’s objective to transform the mindset of agricultural extension service providers and farmers towards sustainable farming methods. He highlighted the importance of indigenous knowledge and organic farming techniques in addressing lifestyle diseases and environmental challenges.
The training course in Applied Agroecology comprises five modules, each lasting one week, for a total of 150 hours. It encompasses various learning methods, including face-to-face lectures, practical demonstrations, field studies, and online lectures.
Murang’a CECM Member in Charge of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Livestock, Kiringai Kamau, stressed the curriculum’s role in guiding extension service providers and farmers towards identifying appropriate seeds, soils, and practices for sustainable organic farming. He linked proper food practices with reduced incidences of lifestyle diseases.
Additionally, County Director of Agriculture Daniel Gitahi and ICE Program Officer Dr. Elijah Kamau spoke at the event, underscoring the curriculum’s potential to drive changes towards ecologically sustainable agrifood systems and the global need for sustainable agriculture and food systems education.