In the News

Uzo Aduba may be a household name now, but she wasn’t always so proud of that name as a child.

At Glamour’s “The Girl Project,” the actor shared that she grew up in a “small New England town” where her Nigerian family stood out. Her full name “Uzoamaka,” which means “the road is good” in Igbo, was always mispronounced at school. One day, she asked her mom if she could go by “Zoe” instead. 

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Theba Lolley from THV11 traveled to Heifer Ranch in Perryville to get a “peep” at their newest arrivals.

Solving poverty requires us to tackle root causes rather than rely on charity. In the agriculture sector, where the falling value of coffee has led to inhumane working conditions, we can harness consumer interest to tackle poverty’s root causes, writes Heifer International’s Pierre Ferrari.

Livestock markets in Kathmandu Valley are making a jubilant comeback in the run-up to Dashain after restrained celebrations last year dampened sales. People have been on a goat buying frenzy for the animal sacrifices and feasting that are the highlights of the festival as if to make up for missed merrymaking, traders said. Nepal imported more goats in the first two months of this fiscal year 2021-22 than in the whole of the last fiscal 2020-21, officials said.

Youth leaders are advocating for increased funding for the agriculture sector to reduce the escalating unemployment in the country. According to Nateza Viola, an advocacy champion at Katikamu Nyimbwa youth multipurpose cooperative society, it is now time for the government to start encouraging the youth to treat the agriculture sector as a business avenue that can be used to employ the youth.

Agriculture accounts for approximately 23 per cent of Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP. Smallholder farmers account for more than 60 per cent of the region’s population. Yet, Africa’s full agricultural potential remains untapped due to several factors ranging from a lack of investment to low tech adoption and poor youth participation.

Heifer International helps break the cycle of poverty by supporting smallholders with the tools, training and raw materials they need to earn a living income. Chris explains that the idea of a living income is fairer and more practical than typical UN metrics for baseline poverty. A living income includes not only the bare essentials, but also the cost of good quality food, healthcare and an education. This ensures productivity in a far more realistic and sustainable way.

As communities in Africa start to rebound from the initial impacts of coronavirus pandemic and look ahead, the importance of creating millions of jobs for the continent’s booming youth population cannot be overstated. This will require concerted efforts across myriad sectors, but one that is brimming with vast and untapped resources is agriculture.

Two young technology innovators who have weathered the challenges of COVID-19 are planning to expand their businesses to serve the needs of Africa’s farmers through a $1.5 award. The non-profit organisation, Heifer International recently announced the inaugural winners of its AYuTe Africa Challenge, one of the most ambitious agriculture competitions anywhere on the African continent.

In the bustling Ogere Market in Ogun State, Nigeria, the race is on to sell fresh produce early in the day. By noon, the sun is at its peak, and with temperatures soaring, food spoils fast. As the day wears on, food can sell at less than half of its original value, slashing profits for retailers and farmers.