ALL AGRI #Africa Agriculture Update

KENYA – In a bold move to reduce Kenya’s staggering KSh 160 billion (US$1.25B) annual edible oil import bill, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has intensified efforts to promote the cultivation of oil-rich crops across the country.

Cocoa prices have seen strength in the past week from concern about dry weather in West Africa that threatens the region's cocoa crops. There has been little to no precipitation over the past few weeks in the cocoa-growing areas of the Ivory Coast and Ghana, which could negatively impact the development of flowers and cherelles on cocoa plants. According to the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, rainfall in the Ivory Coast and Ghana this season remains below the 30-year average, and combined with high temperatures, risks hurting cocoa pod development for the main crop harvest that starts in October.