Category: AFRICAN NEWS

Kenyan government teams up with farmers to up potato quality, meet KFC standards

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KENYA – The Kenyan government has teamed up with farmers from the three largest potato-producing counties in the country, setting aside Ksh 100 million for the production of new varieties (USD 880,564) to reduce the importation of potatoes subsequent to the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) controversy. In the pilot phase, the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya revealed that the Ministry is working with farmers from Nyandarua, Meru and Marakwet who are the largest potato-producing counties to cultivate the variety of potatoes needed by the market. “This is piloting before we…

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Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute aims to boost agricultural sector through certification

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TANZANIA – The Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) has certified at least 482 plant varieties in the period between January and November 2021 in a move aimed to heighten the agricultural sector performance in Tanzania. The certified plant varieties were based on a total of 79 crops. According to TOSCI Director General, Mr. Patrick Ngwediagi, the development is part of on-going interventions by the seed regulatory organ to ensure the indigenous farmers are adopting the use of improved seeds for better yields. The Director expressed that the state- owned…

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Seychelles launches new alcohol testing facility

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SEYCHELLES – The Seychelles Bureau of Standards (SBS) has expanded its testing scope through the opening of a new testing facility that will aid in analyzing the content of alcoholic beverages to ensure it’s in line with standards and regulations. SBS is the national Quality Infrastructure Service provider in Seychelles and is designated by the Public Health Authority as the main official laboratory for the testing of alcoholic beverages. The gas chromatograph (GC) room was purchased through funding made available under the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)…

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Zimbabwe to export fresh citrus fruits to China

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ZIMBABWE – Following the penning of the citrus phytosanitary protocol,  Zimbabwe can now export fruits to China, in a development expected to broaden export destinations for the fruits and remove overdependence on South Africa and the European market. The phytosanitary protocol requires that a cold chain system for the export of fresh citrus fruits to China be put in place like any other country including the European Union (EU) for the management of False Codling Moth and other pests. This cold chain is required to commence at the port as…

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Tanzania Bureau of Standards sensitizes business people on need to provide quality goods

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TANZANIA – The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has sensitized business people and importers in Zanzibar on the need to observe quality standards of goods to get rid of counterfeits in the domestic market. The TBS Marketing Officer Rhoda Mayugu made the remarks in the just ended 8th Mapinduzi Trade Fair launched by the Second Vice-President Zanzibar, Othman Masoud Othman. Mapinduzi is a Kiswahili word for “Revolution.” The trade fair is held annually in January as part of activities marking Zanzibar’s 1964 revolution that toppled the sultanate rule. Rhoda said…

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Nestlé Ghana rids shelves of defective products

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GHANA – Nestlé Ghana Limited has announced the temporary removal of all IDEAL Evaporated Milk and CARNATION Tea Creamer off the shelves following the recent recall of some batches of the coagulated products, as instructed by the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), Ghana. A number of Ghanaians complained on social media after buying the two milk brands and finding out that the contents have been coagulated, that is the liquid has turned into solid. The numerous consumer complaints got to the quarters of the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) and…

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FDA Ghana reminds staff not to compromise Ghanaians lives

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GHANA – The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana, has reminded staff of the agency the need to be diligent with their work in order not to compromise the lives of the Ghanaians. Mrs. Mimi Delese Darko, Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, said their core duty as staff of the FDA was about the health and safety of Ghanaians, hence they could not afford to slip. “That is the seriousness of the work that you do. Let us remember that everything that we do is to protect public health…

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KEBS nods standards for hermetic grain storage bags

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KENYA – The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has given a nod to two new standards that will guide quality and safety requirements for hermetic bags designed for grain storage. Through the new standards, KEBS has addressed the use of hermetic storage for woven polypropylene bags and rigid plastic silos for the storage of dried food commodities, derived products and seeds without the use of pesticides as a preservative in storage. “As part of our contribution to food security, these standards will go a long way in ensuring that grains…

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Kenyan quarantine experts contented with Pakistan’s Tangerine quarantine facilities

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KENYA – Kenyan quarantine experts have expressed satisfaction on the standards of quarantine facilities in Pakistan following a visit to evaluate the possibility of importing of Pakistani kinnow (tangerine) and mango into the country. During Pakistan-Africa trade conference in January 2020, a delegation of Pakistan Fruits and Vegetable Exporters Association (PFVA) had meetings with Kenyan importers and officials of the quarantine department. According to Waheed Ahmed, the Patron-in-Chief of the association,  they mutually agreed to explore the opportunities of export of Pakistani Kinnow to Kenya and agreed to finalize the…

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Tanzania Bureau of Standards appeals to entrepreneurs to obtain quality mark for products

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TANZANIA – Tanzania’s standards watchdog, the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), has urged entrepreneurs to acquire the quality standard mark for their products that will enable them to easily penetrate the East African market. The call was made by the TBS Marketing officer Rhoda Mayugu at the just ended 21st Jua kali/Nguvu Kazi (literally meaning manpower) micro, small scale entrepreneurs (MSMEs) exhibitions held in Mwanza, Tanzania. The exhibitions that started on Dec 2, 2021, attracted exhibitors from Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. “Entrepreneurs should acquire TBS quality…

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