A new FAO project , funded with nearly $500 000 from the Government of
Sweden in response to the 2005 UN Consolidated Appeal for the country, is
helping farmers resume crop production through distribution and multiplication
of good quality cereal seeds. "Yields can be reduced by up to 90 percent from using
the same suckers on multiple farms, and this of course, means a major income
loss for farmers.
"The success of both of these projects makes them a model for other
sustainable agricultural and developmental projects that can benefit many more
communities and farmers throughout Kenya, Africa, and the developing world,"
says Holliday.C.

barley trigo

In parallel, the European Commission Humanitarian Office has agreed to
fund an $800 000 FAO project to support similar activities, as well as
livestock through animal feed distribution.

Harvesting Hope: Kenyan Farmers Celebrate First Banana Harvest Using New Growing Technology

"Along with developing agribusiness to
improve the economy of Chura and the surrounding areas , the tissue culture
program helps to increase sustainable incomes and alleviate hunger and
poverty .

millet rra

"
Additionally, land scarcity limits the opportunity for rotational
production, so many crops are planted in infected soils further perpetuating
disease and pest problems."
Wambugu further explains that bananas were chosen for the tissue culture
project because of the crop's ability to provide income for farmers, with
small pieces of land, over a prolonged period of time -- usually about 10
years.

barley crops

"Promoting local production of quality seeds is the only way out of
the current situation, particularly given the rather fragile agro-ecology of
Eritrea, the non-availability on the international market of adapted varieties
and the current poor quality of local seeds.org/reliefoperations /en/appeals/51466/highlight_51535. "It is important to understand that the difference tissue
culture bananas make is far beyond the field.

rothamsted sugarcane

Many households could be forced to consume their
limited stocks of seed and sell or eat their breeding animals.
The FAO Emergency Unit in Eritrea has rehabilitated 12 veterinary clinics
inside the temporary security zone along the border with Ethiopia, which were
seriously damaged during the conflict.,
DuPont Chairman and CEO. "Africa Harvest provides the local expertise, and
DuPont enables the worthy effort with their financial support.

fonio rothamsted

Contacts: Stephanie Jacobson Daniel Kamanga
800-247-6803 254 20 712 1652
DuPont Africa Harvest
dkamanga@ahbfi .

spelt mejoramiento

FAO has also supported improvement of forage land and has distributed
veterinary drugs, dairy feed, cereal seed and tools to drought- and war-
affected farmers.
Although Eritrea and Ethiopia signed a peace agreement in December 2000,
tensions remain over their still-disputed border.
Assistance includes seeds, tractor services for land preparation,
fertilizer, training and technical support to 500 farmers. She adds that for the typical Churan
family, which can average up to 10 individuals , increased production
translates to a climb in income from the current average of $1 per day, per
family to as much as $3 per day, per family.
DuPont is a science company.org

fonio millets

"In some areas, more than 50 percent of households are headed by women,
who are often barred from agricultural activities such as ploughing," said
Marco Falcone, FAO Emergency Coordinator for Eritrea .

millet millets

To reduce dependency on emergency food assistance and
improve the ability of rural populations to adapt to recurrent drought
conditions, agricultural inputs such as seeds, farming tools, animal feed and
veterinary support are also needed, according to the UN agency.org/reliefoperations/en/index . - Africa Harvest, DuPont Help African Farming Community Reap the Benefits of
Tissue Culture Bananas -

CHURA COMMUNITY, NAIROBI, Kenya, African village
farmers are harvesting hope along with their banana crop.
"DuPont is proud to partner with Africa Harvest in bringing tissue culture
banana technology to the Chura community," said Charles O.

rothamsted oats

More Than 60 Percent of Population Depends on Food Aid - Seeds and
Livestock Support Needed

WASHINGTON and ROME, Five years of severe drought
in Eritrea, coupled with the ongoing border dispute with Ethiopia, have
exhausted the coping mechanisms of vulnerable farming families throughout the
country, contributing to widespread poverty and food insecurity, FAO said
today.

No war, no peace
This year FAO has distributed 400 tonnes of wheat bran for animals
belonging to around 2 300 families displaced during the 1998-2000 conflict
with Ethiopia who have now returned to their villages in the border region of
Gash Barka.

'Only way out'
FAO is currently procuring seeds for the June planting season for
distribution to 27 000 poor, drought-affected families in the main crop
production regions of Gash Barka, Debub and Anseba.
"For these families, this additional income can mean the difference
between sending their children to school or being forced to keep them home,"
said Wambugu."

Kenyan Banana Production
Wambugu, a plant pathologist, explains tissue culture propagation is the
process of growing tissue culture for plant shoot-tips in a laboratory until
they are ready for transplant into the field. With headquarters in Des Moines,
Iowa, Pioneer provides access to advanced plant genetics, crop protection
solutions and quality crop systems to customers in nearly 70 countries .

oats fonio

These activities have been funded by
the Governments of Sweden, the Netherlands and the United States .fao., CEO of Africa Harvest.
The project includes agronomic and crop management demonstration and
training by Pioneer representatives; it also provides farmers with access to
credit for purchasing inputs.
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.

understood trigo

"But importing seeds only solves the problem for a year or two," said
Falcone."
FAO is supporting conservation and promoting multiplication of locally
adapted varieties of wheat, sorghum and pearl millet in order to refresh the
germplasm of the most common crops in Eritrea.fao.

graingenes barley

Because of the highly controlled
starter environment, tissue culture propagation significantly reduces disease
and dramatically improves yield when coupled with good agronomic practices she
says. In Chura, 150,000 tissue culture banana plants have been distributed to
date.

crops millet

, a subsidiary of DuPont, is the
world's leading source of customized solutions for farmers , livestock
producers and grain and oilseed processors. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by
creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life
for people everywhere .

maize arable

Last year's meagre harvest has already been exhausted and the hunger
season, which arrived two months early in March, is expected to continue until
the next harvest in November.D.
"Banana production in this country has been in decline over the last 10
years," said Wambugu.
"However, many of these issues can be avoided by using tissue culture
propagation, and that is why we eagerly collaborate with DuPont on this
effort," said Wambugu.

millet sorghum

Recurrent drought and the volatile security situation make this region
particularly vulnerable, and animals are facing a severe shortage of feed as a
result of the depletion and degradation of traditional rangeland areas .
With large numbers of men doing compulsory national and military service
requirements, there is a shortage of skilled manpower."
Creating new markets to accommodate increased banana production is one way
this project will benefit the community for years to come, he said. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a
wide range of innovative products and services for markets including
agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection,
home and construction , transportation and apparel.

graingenes barley

More than 60 percent of the population -- 2.
"Many of the families in Chura face hunger and poverty," said Florence
Wambugu, Ph. An estimated 50,000
people will be positively impacted as the program continues, she adds. -- is working with Africa
Harvest to demonstrate to Kenyan farmers the value of hybrid maize seed and
the importance of applying the best agronomic practices in maize production. It has its
headquarters in Kenya and operational regional offices in Johannesburg, South
Africa and in Washington D.

millets graingenes

The goal of the maize partnership is to further
contribute to food security through increased production of a staple food
crop.

rothamsted millet

"We are especially enthusiastic about this project
because it goes beyond simply increasing productivity . In addition, Africa Harvest uses a strategic whole value chain approach
with tissue culture banana technology, which includes: awareness creation and
information outreach, access to tissue culture banana seedlings, agronomic
best practices, post harvest banana fruit handling best practices and linkage
to competitive markets.

crops sugarcane

phenotypic maize

FAO will buy seed
from these farmers after harvest to distribute in the area during the 2006
planting season to more than 13 000 other farming families.

Links:
FAO 2005 appeal for Eritrea:
http://www."
Tissue culture technology in Africa has increased banana productivity from
20 to 45 tons per hectare, Wambugu said.
Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International (AHBFI or Africa Harvest)
is incorporated in the United States as a nonprofit foundation.

trigo millet

html

FAO emergency relief and rehabilitation:
http://www.
Tissue culture propagation contrasts with the current African practice of
transferring banana suckers between farms. While reflecting a long-standing
heritage, this traditional approach increases the risk of transmitting pests
and spreading disease among the banana crops.

Beyond Bananas: Sustainability for Kenyan Maize Production
In addition to the tissue culture banana project, DuPont -- through its
subsidiary, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.

trigo grains

Protracted Hunger Season Expected in Eritrea

html

It is truly
sustainable. Also,
extra income for farm families means more business for local merchants and
added opportunities for everyone in the community, Holliday adds.

millets trigo

Marking a two-year culmination of a partnership between Africa Harvest --
a Kenyan-based agricultural nonprofit organization -- and DuPont, this year's
harvest in Chura is the first in the community to include bananas grown via
tissue culture propagation.
With a goal of increasing sustainability among the local community, 2,500
farm families -- or 25,000 individuals -- have benefited from the Churan
tissue culture banana project to date, said Wambugu., United States.

understood cereals

3 million people -- are
dependent on food aid. Holliday, Jr.

rothamsted spelt

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- - kjjkjk

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