insert_link Namibia Census report to guide policy and development The Namibia Statistics Agency has officially launched the main report of the 2023 Census, providing an in-depth view of the country's population demographics, housing conditions, and essential statistical indicators. This comprehensive release will support informed decision-making for policies and resource allocation across various sectors. Speaking at the launch event, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamhata, Chairperson of the Statistics Board Committee, highlighted the importance of the report in driving evidence-based policy. […] todayOctober 30, 2024 33
insert_link Africa Ghana is Africa’s largest gold producer, but it has an illegal mining issue: 5 essential reads By Godfred Boafo, The Conversation Ghana is one of the world’s gold hotspots. It is Africa’s largest producer of gold and it ranks sixth globally. In 2023, 4 million ounces were produced. It is essential to Ghana’s economy, contributing around 7% of gross domestic product. Ghana’s gold mines are found in most parts of the country, and the mining history can be traced back hundreds of years. However, […] todaySeptember 11, 2024 18
insert_link Africa Sierra Leone’s women farmers use a custom called bora to access land – but it’s making them more vulnerable By Bankolay Theodore Turay, University of Lagos Bora – a type of thank you gift – is a Sierra Leonean custom of respect that is often used in relation to land. For instance, informal farmers pay bora to landowners to be able to farm on their land. But bora has changed over the years and is having a negative impact on women, who are responsible for much of […] todayAugust 21, 2024 27
insert_link Africa South Africa’s new agricultural leadership should focus on getting things done, not designing new policies By Wandile Sihlobo, Stellenbosch University South Africa’s primary agriculture sector accounts for nearly 3% of GDP and about 8% when considering the value of agro-processing. But it can contribute even more to economic growth that delivers benefits fairly across society and creates jobs. This can’t happen, however, if new policies and plans keep getting introduced. Fortunately, the views of the new agricultural minister, John Steenhuisen, may […] todayJuly 3, 2024 30
insert_link Environment Wildlife migratory “corridors” set to grow, Africa-wide By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Wildlife, particularly roaming species, exhibit remarkable mobility, covering vast distances in pursuit of essential resources such as water, grazing land, mates or favourable conditions like ideal calving sites. Estimates by the Tsavo Trust, a Kenyan conservation nonprofit, reveal that elephants within the Tsavo conservation area undertake daily journeys of between 50 and 150 kilometres, following distinct migration routes and pathways. In […] todayApril 5, 2024 29
insert_link Africa Kenya’s wildlife conservancies make old men rich, while making women and young people poorer By Joseph Ogutu, University of Hohenheim Kenya once had an exceptional abundance and diversity of wildlife. But as the country’s population boomed, wildlife lost space to people, buildings, roads and agriculture. Since 1948, Kenya’s population has surged by 780%, from 5.4 million people to 47.6 million people in 2019. This was accompanied by a 70% drop in wildlife numbers, between 1977 and 2013. This massive loss of wildlife […] todayApril 5, 2024 12
insert_link Entertainment This is how President Ramaphosa got to the 25% figure of progress in land reform in South Africa By Johann Kirsten, Stellenbosch University and Wandile Sihlobo, Stellenbosch University Nearly three decades into democracy, land reform remains central to South Africa’s transformation policies and agricultural policy. We have over the years pointed out that the progress on land reform has been incorrectly reported. It’s been consistently understated. We have argued that, if the statistics are treated carefully, the progress has been much better than politicians […] todayMarch 22, 2024 24
insert_link Namibia Government’s N$2.4 billion land acquisition benefits thousands The government owns about 3.5 million hectares of freehold agricultural land acquired at more than N$2.4 billion, which makes up 494 commercial farms allocated to about 5480 beneficiaries as of July 2023 through the Resettlement Program. Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform spokesperson, Jona Musheko says that farming units have been allocated to beneficiaries. todayFebruary 6, 2024 70