Category: News

Biovision Africa Trust Partners with Standard Group Limited

The African farmer  is at the crossroads of frequent shocks to agricultural production stemming from climate unpredictability, pest attacks, and rising concerns about food safety. These challenges underscore the need to scale-up information and knowledge on agricultural technologies that can provide solutions and build resilience and secure food sovereignty. Against this background Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT) is one of the few nongovernmental organizations working with African governments through the Ministries of Agriculture and line ministries in bridging the information gap between scientific knowledge generators and the farmers the producers. Through its communication pathways, BvAT downscales for Kenyan farmers the scientific information which is disseminated through its pillar communication channels – The Organic Farmer (TOF) Magazine, The Organic Farmer (TOF) Radio, Outreach extension services, the Infonet web-based platform and The Mkulima Mbunifu Magazine for Tanzanian farmers. Currently BvAT is implementing three programmes in Kenya and Africa: Biovision Farmer Communication Programme (FCP) supported by Biovision Foundation of Switzerland is implemented in Kenya and Tanzania. This consists of the Farmer Radio programmes; Farmer […]

Biovision Africa Trust partners with Smart Farmer Africa to produce the TOF Magazine

With a focus in making the Year 2020, the year of deepening partnerships for increased reach, impact and sustainability, Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT), an organisation dedicated to alleviating poverty and improve the livelihoods of small-holder farmers in East Africa and other African countries through ecological development initiatives entered an agreement on 9th January 2020 with Smart Farmer Africa Ltd. The partnership brings on board  Smart Farmer Africa Ltd to support the production of BvAT’s monthly publication; The Organic Farmer Magazine. The partnership aims to revamp the publication which has been running for 15 years, with a reach of over 60, 000 farmers monthly. Smart Farmer Africa is a consultancy firm dedicated to supporting the agricultural sector in Africa in general but with a current major focus in East Africa. It prides itself in being the market leader in content management and dissemination services to the sector and offers rural farmer financial trainings and business advisory services. Under the partnership agreement, Smart Farmer will undertake content development, design and the editorial […]

EOA-I Continental Secretariat Coordinator participates as a panelist at the SWITCH Africa Green Regional Sector Meeting on Sustainable Agriculture at the United Nations, Nairobi-Kenya

The EOA Initiative Continental Secretariat Coordinator, Mr. Alex Mutungi featured as a panelist at the just concluded SWITCH African Green Regional Sector meeting organized by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in Nairobi. The Coordinator was among panelists discussing policy recommendations for an enabling environment to strengthen regional and national mechanisms for uptake of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) practices in the agriculture sector. The panel discussion revolved around the role of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and partners in implementing the recommendations to strengthen regional and national mechanisms for uptake of SCP practices in the agriculture sector. Speaking about the role of the EOA Initiative in creating strong partnerships to drive the EOA agenda in Africa, Mr. Mutungi noted that the RECs are key strategic elements of the mainstreaming strategy for EOA uptake by the five economic regions in Africa. He noted that the 12th Continental Steering Committee (CSC) meeting of the EOA-I was held in Accra, Ghana in November and its Chair tasked the Secretariat to ensure that RECs […]

The AU EOA Initiative Continental Steering Committee Holds the 12th Meeting in Accra, Ghana

The 12TH Continental Steering Committee (CSC) meeting of the African Union led Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative (EOA-I) was held on 11th and 12th November 2019 at the Mensvick Grand Hotel in Accra, Ghana. The CSC, chaired by the Head of Agriculture and Food Security Division at the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) of the African Union Commission, is the apex governance body of the AU EOA-initiative which is mandated to implement the AU Heads of States and governments Decision on Organic Agriculture in Africa, endorsed in 2011. The CSC is supported by a Continental Secretariat hosted by Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT) in Nairobi. In his opening speech on behalf of the Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union Commission, Her Excellency, Amb. Josefa Correia Sacko and on his own behalf, Dr. Nouala underscored the need to align EOA implementation to the Agenda 2063, SDGs and singled out the need to develop and have EOA indicators integrated within the national CAADP PP biennial review process. This […]

Ms. Anne Onyango, former Agriculture Secretary, joins the Board of Biovision Africa Trust

Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT) is guided by a lean Board of Trustees with wealth of experience in different fields. Ms. Anne Onyango former Agriculture Secretary, State Department for Crop Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation, Kenya joined the Board this year.  Ms. Onyango was introduced to the BvAT staff during a courtesy call on 30th October 2019 by Mr. Andreas Schriber, the Chair of the Board and Founding Trustee. The other Trustees of the Board are Prof. Judi Wakhungu (Kenya’s Ambassador to the French Republic, Portugal, Serbia and Holy See), Prof. Onesmo ole-MoiYoi and Prof. Christian Borgemeister (Director of the Department of Ecology and Natural Resources Management Bonn University). Dr. David Amudavi BvAT’s Executive Director is Ex-Officio member to the Board. Ms Anne brings on board a wealth of experience acquired for the last 38 years that she has worked in the agricultural sector. Part of her work life has been at the Ministry of Agriculture in Kenya where she worked and climbed through the ranks to the […]

The BvAT Executive Director attends the launch of iGrowers InfoHub in Subukia, Nakuru County, Kenya.

Partners in agricultural development continue to work on strategies and methods of enhancing small-scale farmers’ access to farming information and emerging issues. Dr. David Amudavi attended on Thursday 12 September 2019 one such effort of a community-based farmer information Hub project supported by the Australian Government and Duff Engineering company in Nairobi.  The facility hosted at the Subukia ICT Centre and Sub-County Ministry of Agriculture, aims to increase the impact of agriculture and improve the lives of small-scale farmers, with an onsite, interactive and user-friendly touch screen information booth. This will give farmers access to up-to-date farming information and solutions relevant to their region, their crops and their farming issues. In particular the hub will enhance correct recognition of pests and diseases and relating these to emerging information on pests and diseases and recommending the most suitable pesticide solution and linking farmers to nearby input providers. The project team has been engaging with key stakeholders in the project area of Subukia, including the Nakuru County government, farmer group leaders and […]

The EOA Initiative Presented at the ALGOA+4 International Summit on Organic Agriculture Policy, in Goesan County, South Korea

The BvAT Executive Director, Dr. David Amudavi, attended a 3-day IFOAM World Board meeting and IFOAM Action Group Networking meeting and thereafter raised the flag of the African Union-led EOA Initiative at the 3-day Asian Local Governments for Organic Agriculture (ALGOA)+4 International conference (18-20 September 2019) which brought together more than 150 participants from over all the continents- the first time ALGOA has gone global. ALGOA is a sub-organization of IFOAM Asia and works with over two hundred local governments in Asia to promote the expansion of organic agriculture. The ALGOA project was first initiated by IFOAM Asia in 2013 under the concept of linking bio-villages / eco-villages in India, Korea and the Philippines. ALGOA was officially inaugurated on September 19th, 2015, in Goesan County, Chungbuk Province, South Korea. The annual ALGOA Summit is a gathering of representatives from local governments, IFOAM members and other stakeholders in the region to share and exchange best practice and to discuss ways to enhance government action, support and policy to foster growth in […]

BvAT to collaborate with PAFID in improving the livelihoods of the smallholders

Biovision Africa Trust to start working with PAFID (Participatory Approaches for Integrated Development). In an MoU that was signed by BvAT’s Executive Director Dr. David Amudavi and PAFID’s Programme Manager Colin Gunson, the two organizations agreed to work together in improving the livelihoods of the smallholder farmers in Kenya. At BvAT, we believe that working with other like-minded organizations in the field of sustainable agriculture is what we need to succeed in increasing our reach and help our farmers access more services that will improve their livelihoods and empower them. While BvAT is an irrevocable Trust registered in the Republic of Kenya dedicated to contributing to alleviation of  poverty and improving the livelihoods of poor small-holder farmers in Kenya and other African countries, through supporting ecologically sound and environmentally friendly initiatives by supporting the generation and dissemination of knowledge and information to improve human, plant, animal, and environmental health and pays attention to the multi-functionality of agriculture including assuring the provision of ecosystem services. PAFID on the other hand is […]

Ecological Organic Agriculture national platform officially launched in Kigali Rwanda, On 9th August 2019 at Grand Legacy Hotel, Kigali Rwanda

The Rwanda Organic Agriculture Movement (ROAM) in collaboration with Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) officially launched the EOA-I National Platform for Rwanda on 9 th August at Grand Legacy Hotel Rwanda in a ceremony that attracted 35 stakeholders from various organic sectors in Rwanda. Among other key stakeholders in attendance were various Governmental institutions among them the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MINAFFET), the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) and National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB). Private sectors were represented by the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) and the City of Kigali. Some of the key learning institutions that attended were the University of Technology and Arts of Byumba (UTAB). Other delegates included the French Embassy, a delegation of the European Union to Rwanda, Action Aid, Regional Research Center for Integrated Development (RCID Ltd), Gardens for Health International, Horizon-AGROPY Ltd, Horizon-SOPYRWA, PELUM RWANDA, APPE/ESAFF Rwanda, SORWATHE, Cooperatives of organic tea growers among them ASSOPTHE, Hillside Organic Tea Cooperative and the […]

Biovision Africa Trust officially signs the contract with GIZ for the Eastern Africa Knowledge Hub Project

Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT), the Lead Coordinating Organization for the Knowledge Hub FOR Organic Agriculture in Eastern Africa signed the contract on 14th August in the presence of GIZ officials led by Ms. Sari Max and Ms. Beate Kunz who had come to Nairobi Kenya for the Finance and Contract Management training for GIZ implementing partners on 12th and 13th August 2019 at Azure Hotel. The training was attended by BvAT’s Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) team comprising of Ms. Venancia Wambua, the EOA Initiative Project Manager and Mr. Robertson Nyikuli, the Finance Manager. The contract was signed by Dr. David Amudavi, the Executive Director of BvAT and Prof. Onesmo ole-MoiYoi representing the BvAT Board of Trustees. Biovision Africa Trust will coordinate the implementation of the project in four east African countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda in its first phase of implementation from 2019-2021. Key partners involved in Phase 1 at country level include Pelum Uganda who are also co-hosting the project with BvAT in Uganda, Pelum Kenya for […]