Ruto Jets Out to Tanzania for Food Security Summit

On September 7th, President William Ruto travelled to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to attend the 13th Africa Food Systems Summit.

The summit which began on September 4 aims to bring together various groups involved in food systems including government officials, scientists, farmers, and the youth to discuss practical solutions for improving food security and livelihoods in Africa. More than 3,000 attendees along with over 350 speakers from over 70 countries are envisioned to partake in the summit. President Ruto’s visit to Tanzania follows the conclusion of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit hosted in Nairobi the previous day.

At the summit, leaders stressed the need to follow through on earlier pledges and assist the continent in addressing the effects of climate change. They urged the world community to endorse the introduction of universal levies to fund climate action. Additionally, they requested that the international community pledge to honour commitments to a just and expedited transition away from coal and the elimination of all subsidies for fossil fuels.

Meanwhile, the maize seed market in Kenya is about to undergo a significant transformation due to a seven-year research project that has resulted in the development of high-quality hybrid seeds. The research known as the ‘Seed Production Technology for Africa (SPTA)’ provides farmers with improved crop yields while reducing the cost and complexity of producing the seeds. The Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) plans to distribute these seeds to farmers after they have been mass-produced by companies in the coming year.