REPORT ON AFRICA

Research Topic: Productivity and Competitiveness, Consumer Demand and Demographics

Africa's collective GDP, at $1.6 trillion in 2008, is now roughly equal to Brazil's or Russia's. While Africa's increased economic momentum is widely recognized, less known are its sources and likely staying power. Among the key findings:
• Africa's growth acceleration was widespread, with 27 of its 30 largest economies expanding more rapidly after 2000. All sectors contributed, including resources, finance, retail, agriculture, transportation and telecommunications. Natural resources directly accounted for just 24 percent of the continent's GDP growth from 2000 through 2008. Key to Africa's growth surge were improved political and macroeconomic stability and microeconomic reforms.
• Future economic growth will be supported by Africa's increasing ties to the global economy. Rising demand for commodities is driving buyers around the world to pay dearly for Africa's natural riches and to forge new types of partnerships with producers. And Africa is gaining greater access to international capital; total foreign capital flows into Africa rose from $15 billion in 2000 to a peak of $87 billion in 2007.
• Africa's economic growth is creating substantial new business opportunities that are often overlooked by global companies RMGI projects that at least four groups of industries-consumer-facing industries, agriculture, resources, and infrastructure-together could generate as much as $2.6 trillion in revenue annually by 2020, or $1 trillion more than today.
• Today the rate of return on foreign investment in Africa is higher than in any other developing region. Early entry into African economies provides opportunities to create markets, establish brands, shape industry structure, influence customer preferences, and establish long-term relationships. Business can help build the Africa of the future.
• The rise of the African urban consumer also will fuel long-term growth. Today, 40 percent of Africans live in urban areas, a portion close to China's and continuing to expand. The number of households with discretionary income is projected to rise by 50 percent over the next 10 years, reaching 128 million. By 2030, the continents' top 18 cities could have a combined spending power of $1.3 trillion.
To understand the growth opportunities and challenges of individual economies, MGI developed a framework that groups them in four broad clusters: diversified economies, oil exporters, transition economies, and pre-transition economies. Though imperfect, this framework can guide business leaders and investors developing strategies for the continent and policy makers working to sustain growth.
Read the executive summary (PDF - 1.76 MB)
Read the full report (PDF - 4.49 MB)

MUGUSU GRAVITY FLOW SCHEME KICKS-OFF AGAIN

Stakeholders from Mugusu sub county who included among others the chairperson LC111, Speaker to council, sub county chief, community development officer, District water officer and Rweco members(IWDP and RIC-NET) on 3rd June 2010 organized a joint monitoring visit to the source of Mugusu gravity flow scheme.

The purpose of this visit was to establish how far the work had reached, the size of the source, the quality of the water, the workmanship at the source and quality of the pipes bee used as the scheme kicks-off again.

This scheme was started in 2008 but was not completed due to delay in release of funds by UNICEF for the pipes and the rest of the hard ware.
During the visit to source the stakeholders observed the following:
1. The source was already blocked by sand, thus a need to overhaul it
2. One the pipe at the source was not bring in water.
3. Pipes in the hilly places were left on the open thus exposing them to landslides.
4. The Cementatation tank near the source was already leaking and needed support.
5. Connectors at the source needed repair.
6. The source attendant was not facilitated to over see the source.
7. Community members who were involved in the digging of the trench for the laying of the pipes still demand their payment.
8. Communities were not sensitized on hygiene and means of maintaining of the gravity flow scheme.

The team thus recommended the following:
1. Train two scheme attendants already identified and the sub county should allocate funds to facilitate these people.
2. Cementatation tank should be repaired since it was leaking.
3. The contractor should be advised to make payment for those who laid the pipes.
4. District engineer should make an assessment of how many tap stands that can be on this scheme before illegal connectors start connecting their homes.
5. Sub county leaders should sensitize the community on hygiene and maintenance of the scheme.
By Timothy Balikenga

Kisangi primarily school in Bugaaki sub county Kyenjojo district finally gets a new latrine constructed

“It has not been easy but finally we are there” these were the words of the chairperson school management committee for Kisangi primarily school during a dialogue meeting organized by IWDP in collaboration with RIC-NET to discuss the issues surrounding the construction of pit latrine by BAKa contractors at the school and which was later demolished on the recommendations of the District engineer due to complaints from the monitors and SMCs members that the workmanship and the materials were shoddy.

On 18th/05/2010 the community based monitors of Bugaki Sub County Kyenjojo District together with the school management observed that a pit latrine under construction at this primary was being constructed not according to the required standards.
The community based monitors and SMCs observed the following:
 Half baked and already used bricks were being used.(they looked like those got from dismantled building).
 Used pieces of wood planks were used in the construction of the slub.
 Small size iron bars were also being used.
 The contractor had started constructing the wall just two days after finishing the slub without giving it time to settle.
 Half and quarter bricks were given the first priority in the construction of the walls.
 The name of the contractor was not established because on 24th /05/2010 he wrote in the visitor’s book of the school as KA’GO construction and 26th/05/2010 the names changed to BAkA.
The above reasons forced the community based monitors together with school management to write to the chief executive officer Kyenjojo seeking for assistance from the technical staff of the district.

However on 25th /05/2010 the Assistant District Engineer by the names of Kyomuhendo Edson visited the school and made the following comments:
 The workmanship is good
 Good quality materials on the site.
 The contractor should progress with the work.

The above comments of the Assistant District Engineer did not make the community based monitors together with the school management members pleased; they thus called for more technical advice from other stakeholders.

On 26th /05/2010 the District speaker who is at the same time the area councilor together with the District Engineer among others visited the site. On seeing the work that was being done by the contractor, they recommended that a pit latrine being demolished and a new one be excavated and back filling of the old one be done.

The above issues prompted IWDP and RIC-NET to organize stakeholders meeting at the school. During the dialogue meeting the head teacher of the school and chairperson school management committee reported that they had no information about the construction of the pit latrine at the school but they only saw a lorry bringing the materials.
Recommendations from the stakeholder dialogue
 District should always send information concerning the projects to be implemented to the target beneficiaries for easy monitoring and ownership.
 SMCs and citizens should always take their roles serious and ensure that contractors do not start the work before they show to them documents concerning the work to be done.
 Parents of Kisangi should organize themselves and back fill the two pit latrines that collapsed three years back at the school.
More in the newsletter for the quarter
By Timothy Balikenga-focal person

RDC Kasese congratulates CSO in Kasese for organising a World Environment Day in Kasese

The RDC- Kasese has congratulated CSOs organizations for successfully organizing the world environment day celebration in kasese.He said civil society organizations should continue partnering with government in organizing such events.
He then called upon all the citizens to protect the environment by planting more trees and living harmoniously with the wild life animals.
speaking at the same function,the chairperson LCIII Nyakiyumbu sub county thanked the citizens for willingness to plant more and participating in the protection of animals that destroy crops.

The Civil society representative Mr.happy Francis informed the members that a baseline survey has been conducted to establish the value of crop damage to wild animals.He said this report revealed that farmers lose about 1.2 billions shilling per year due to wild animal damage of crops.

BUSONGORA RURAL INFORMATION CENTRE KICKING HIGHER

Busongora rural information together with ORDISEF is now working in seven sub counties fully active, those are Kasese town council, Muhokya sub county, L. Katwe sub county, Rukoki sub county, Kilembe sub county, Bugoye sub county, Kyabarungira sub county.

With four parishes those are railway information point Kikonzo, Rwesande Parish point, Bugoye parish point, and Katoke parish point.

Busongora information centre’s membership is made up of sub county information centres who also their membership is made up by the parish information points and parish points also their memberships are the village points and village points are local people who are farmers, C.B.Os, N.G.Os, churches etc. And when we compile all those together we make a county information centre.


BRIC have one A.G.M. in a year with all sub county information centres and points

BRIC have also three executive meetings quarterly in a year.

BRIC since 2008 to date has these services.

1. computer training classes for both drop outs from school and students

2. secretarial work is also done at the centre

3. Internet café is done at the centre.

4. Television news on W.B.S, KBC, TBC and entertainment on video shows are also at the disposal.

5. Community library with good books, news letters from RIC NET, news papers from ORDISEF, some novels from Uganda community library, even pupils and students come to revise their books in the library the place is open from 8:00 am to 10:00pm. From Monday to Monday we have no weekends for the library, T.V and video showers. BRIC in conjunction with ORDISEF wish to inform every body in the region of Rwenzori that we have started the early literacy preparing children for reading success which will help our children learn how to read and know better their language. Right from 0-5year and above. This exercise started in this year, because we found that our libraries are more of old and learned people only yet our children those from UPE, Orphan, poor and younger ones do not Know anything in reading example a P.4 even P.6 child doesn’t know how to read and a S.4 even S.6 doesn’t know how to translate some words from English to the mother language it’s a pity.

BRIC also work with aged people in Kasese it has partnership with URAA Uganda Reach the Aged Association and KAFO which has done a grate deal of work in Kasese District to old persons on advocacy and BRIC also advocates for marginalized people for their rights. That one we work hand in hand with the government and politicians in the area.

Busongora Rural information centre currently have 147 individual farmers in Rukoki sub-county. 100 farmers in Bugoye sub county, 150 farmers in Kyabarungira sub county, 40 farmers in Muhokya sub county, 50 farmers in L. Katwe sub county.

In Busongora county, we mostly grow these food staffs as mentioned blow:

Coffee, Cotton, Maize, Beans, Soya bean, Ground nuts, Pineapples, Irish potato, sweat potatoes, Cassava, Bananas, Rice, Green paper, Mangoes, Egg plants, tomatoes, onions, sugar canes.


Out of all these food crops the main cash crops of Busongora County are as follows:

Coffee, Cotton, Rice, Pineapples, Maize, Ground Nuts, Sugarcane, Beans, Tomatoes, Onions, Egg Plants, Cassava Flour and bananas on small scale plus Irish potatoes and sweat potatoes.

Challenges in farmers:

· We have some crop diseases in banana plantations, coffee plantations, Irish potatoes and sweat potatoes.

· Lack of marketing our food crops.

· Lack of communication.

· Lack of adequate information about the season of when to plant and when to harvest.

· Thieves stilling food in gardens.

· In some other areas animals from the park eating also the food crops.

· Shortage of land most of the people hire the land for cultivation.

· Financial support towards the exercise of cultivation. e.g. hiring the tractor for ploughing .

· Buying of seeds.

· Labour when weeding.

· Shelling after harvest.(a shelling machine).

· In L. Katwe sub county lions have so far eaten 30 cows for cattle keepers and even people don’t cross during the night now starting at 6:00pm up to 8:00am. There is new information of lions who climb the trees so no way to hide from it.

This data was collected from the farmers during the exercise of registration of farmers in Busongora County .

This information has been sourced and compiled by the chairperson Busongora information centres Mr. John Patrick Isingoma and the information facilitator John Kiiza written by the secretary Asifiwe Phebis.

For more information contact

0772391521 / 0701 391521 / 0792 391521 / 0779777080 /0773294886

Email: ordisef@yahoo.ca

Floods hit Katwe salt lake, blame on Degradation.

FLOODS have ravaged Katwe salt lake in Kasese district, endangering the livelihoods of thousands of people and livestock that depend on the mineral.

John Tinka, the councillor for Katwe/Kabatoro, told the district council that the water from the incessant rains had submerged the salt pads. “The survival of thousands of people, who solely depend on the salt industry, is at stake,” he said.

About 10,000 people are in Katwe/Kabatoro, where the salt lake is located. The Kasese local government earns sh240m annually in taxes from the salt.

Business booms during the dry season when the water in the wells evaporates, leaving the salty rocks underneath the shallow lake.

The district wetlands officer, Augustine Kooli, blamed the floods on degradation of the hills surrounding the lake. “There is an unchecked run-off of rain water from the hills due to the destruction of vegetation in the catchment area,” he said.

The salt lake, the only one in Uganda, has been supplying the commodity to east and central Africa for hundreds of years. The lake produces three types of salt – kisura (edible salt), mahonde (rock salt) for human consumption and kihabule for animals.

The mishap is also affecting Rwanda, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo that have been importing the salt from Katwe.

Therefore, all Ugandans are urged to be responsible to our environment because this can also happen to your region. Conserve the environment, plant more trees. Keep Uganda green.

D.M.O
Sharon.M.

Quality and Standards gets introduced in the Civil Society Organizations operations - and RIC-NET was among participants.

Metadata is loosely defined as data about data. Though this definition is easy to remember, it is not very precise. The strength of this definition is in recognizing that metadata is data. As such, metadata can be stored and managed in a database, often called a registry or repository. However, it is impossible to identify metadata just by looking at it. We don't know when data is metadata or just data. Metadata is a concept that applies mainly to electronically archived data and is used to describe the a) definition, b) structure and c) administration of data files with all contents in context to ease the use of the captured and archived data for further use. Web pages often include metadata in the form of Meta tags. (Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metadata ).

It was a great meeting between DENIVA, RIC-NET, UBOS and other organization from other districts in the country. RIC-NET took a lead in laying standards on how to collect information on the usage of Public pay phones in rural places, Information about farm produce market prices and Standards on how to measure production in Agriculture. The meeting was all about going through the previous proposed Meta data structure by the different Civil Society Organizations.

Uniformity and Standardization are very important aspects especially when one subject is being conducted at the same time by various people. It leads to quality work and accuracy. To ensure this Meta data has to be defined so that data can be captured, processed and stored or disseminated uniformly and precisely. If Meta data is already defined, proper records can be captured which also help eliminate ambiguity in data keeping and lessens the process of data mining and results can be considered uniformly though it can be from different sources and by different persons but implementing same Meta data considerations.

By

Bwambale Edwin
I.C.T Officer, RIC-NET

UGANDA: Cassava disease threatens food supplies

KAMPALA, 20 May 2010 (IRIN) - Agriculture officials and researchers in
Uganda have warned of a serious threat posed by a new strain of Cassava
Mosaic Disease, saying it could wipe out at least 202,342ha of crops.

Farmers in the central district of Mukono have been hardest-hit by the
Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD), a devastating viral infection that
affects the edible parts - the tuberous roots and sometimes leaves - leading
to a total loss of yields in most cases. It is spread by white flies.

Mike Thresh, a consultant on cassava viral diseases, said the disease was
now occurring in areas previously believed to be immune, such as high
altitude areas away from the Indian Ocean coastal belt of Kenya, Tanzania
and Mozambique.

"[Initially] there was a sort of dogma that built up in scientists that
there is an altitude ceiling and that it [the disease] was not a problem
once one exceeded 1,000m above sea level," Thresh said. "The gravity of the
situation is that almost all varieties bred or selected for resistance to
Cassava Mosaic Disease [CMD] are susceptible to the 'new strain' of CBSD
occurring in Uganda, inland areas of Tanzania and Western Kenya.

"Unlike [the] case of mosaic disease where the plant is affected as well as
the yields, in the case of CBSD, the plant remains extremely vigorous and
you pass by it and conclude that it is okay, but the problem comes when you
look at the roots. What is more worrying is that it takes about 10 years to
develop a variety," Thresh said.

The symptoms include root constriction and a dry hard rot when the root is
cut. It also causes cracks and discolouration in the tubers while the
harvested roots have corky, yellow-brown necrotic spots. It also causes
patches of yellow mixed with normal green on the leaves, a phenomenon
commonly referred to as chlorosis.

Rapid spread

The disease can render susceptible varieties unusable if cassava roots are
left in the ground for more than nine months.

Stephen Mukasa, the district agricultural officer for Mukono, told IRIN
that almost all the cassava crop in the area, where 85 percent of residents
are farmers, had been affected by the disease, threatening the population's
food security.

"We have tried to sensitize farmers about the disease and how to halt its
spread - like destroying affected plants - but it keeps on spreading.
Materials that we thought could be resistant have turned out to be
susceptible to it. Even clean materials are very costly because it requires
five bags costing 25,000 shillings [US$12.50] each to plant 0.4ha and very
few farmers can afford this."

Anton Bua, an agricultural economist and team leader of the cassava
programme in the Ministry of Agriculture, said CMD in the early 1990s had
reduced to zero Uganda's cassava output of six million tonnes by 1990 from
some 202,342ha with a loss of $60 million per year.

"This had recovered to one billion tonnes of yield by 2005 but by 2009 the
area under production had not decreased but the production and the quality
had gone down [due to] a new strain of the brown streak disease," Bua said.

"We are faced with a more serious situation than we witnessed with the
mosaic disease," he added. "A recent tally indicates that over 70 percent of
Ugandans feed on cassava, with the populations in the east and west Nile
regions depending on cassava 100 percent."

Titus Alicai, a plant virologist with the National Agricultural Research
Organization, told IRIN that with funding from the government of Uganda, the
Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central
Africa, as well as the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture,
research for a cassava seed variety containing some level of tolerance to
CBSD was ongoing.

vm/js/mw[END]

The information is from Mr. Frans Kenis from BD