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THE REVIVAL

Saving the ankole longhorns of UgandaIn many places around the world, introduced breeds and varieties are promoted with the promise of high yields. But when a community reflects on their past and their opportunities, they are likely to see…
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KENYA’S CROP ACT: A HIDDEN AGENDA?

The Crops Act of Kenya, 2013, regulates which crops can be cultivated for commercial purposes and what the regulatory burdens are, for those that want to enter the commercial market. This creates an exclusive commercial market for only the elite…

GHANA SAYS NO TO THE ADOPTATION OF PLANT BREEDERS BILL

Farmer, labour unions, religious, political and civil society organisations took to the streets of Accra on 28th January 2014 to demonstrate against the adoption of the Plant Breeders’ Bill that is before the Parliament. The Bill is based…
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USING THARAKA CULTURE TO PROTECT INDIGENOUS LIVESTOCK VARITIES

Back in the day, a hunters could never shoot an animal while it was mating; he had to wait until the animals finished mating in order to try his luck, kill a suckling animal either alone or together with a young one as this was an abomination…
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REVIVING LOST SEEDS AND CROPS

Indigenous crops have provided communities with a nutritious diet for thousands of years. The Institute for Culture and Ecology (ICE) has been working with small holders farmers in reviving indigenous and traditional crops variety in order to…
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THE NEW SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA

The second scramble for Africa is definitely with us. Africa is being shared up once again, a perfect replay of the Berlin Conference held between 1884 and 1885. However, there are salient differences between the two scrambles for Africa, both…
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ACKNOWLEDGING THE CONTRIBUTION OF SMALL SCALE HOLDER FARMING

Agriculture, particularly in a situation where it is dominated by smallholder farming, is the twine that interweaves the fabric of  every day social relations and activities FASSIL GEBEYEHU  explores.The importance of explaining the leading…
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SAVE THE SEED, FEED THE FUTURE

t the heart of the ‘green revolution’ is SEED. The seed diversity of many African countries including Ghana is seriously under threat. They are being replaced by the more preferred ‘certified and hybrid’ seeds and thus many indigenous…
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THE QUEEN OF ARROW ROOTS

In Ngurumo village, Ntakira Location in Meru Eunice Ngoki is known as the queen of arrow-roots. Eunice is a member of Meru Jitegemee group, started to work with the Institute of Culture and Ecology (ICE) in 2008. After trainings on agro-ecological…