Welcome to the Product Platform for Agricultural Solutions routine for accessing information from its submitted solutions. Users are first required to register with the database and to log onto it during each session. This opens access to the Product Platform for Agricultural Solutions database where users are provided with information based upon their specified needs. This information may be downloaded in an electronic format as a catalog in printable pdf format. Registered users are also provided opportunity to make short comments on the solutions that they access.
Please click on the solution that meet your requirements. Note that only one entry can be accessed at a time and that information on that entry can be downloaded on electronic and hardcopy format.
Poor nutrition, including deficiencies of iron and zinc, is a major concern across Sub-Saharan Africa. Iron deficiency is expressed as anemia, impaired motor and cognitive development, elevated risk of maternal death and premature births, and low birthweight. Zinc deficiency results in weakened immune systems, more frequent infection and stunting. Eating biofortified varieties of beans results in higher micro-nutrient uptake and …
Heat and drought stress are forming two of the main environmental constraints on wheat production in Sub-Saharan Africa. For example, in Sudan temperatures often exceed 41°C and this severely undermines the flowering and grain-filling stages of wheat, leading to low national average of only 2 ton/ha, and often total crop failure. The increasing occurrence of extreme heat and drought spells …
Common species of the soil-dwelling fungus Aspergillus flavus infest crops that are grown on farmer fields and produce a highly toxic, cancer-causing poison called “aflatoxin”. There is widespread and severe aflatoxin contamination of key staple crops, animal feeds and processed foods across Africa owing to conducive weather conditions, presence of extremely potent fungal strains, and substandard post-harvest handling and storage. …
For maize to achieve high grain yields there is need of applying the right fertilizers at the right rate and at the right time following best agronomic practices. Shortages of nutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) result in a weaker root system, crop stunting, disease vulnerability, low photosynthetic activity and efficiency, fewer numbers of cobs and kernel …
A growing number of service companies and private owners in Sub-Saharan Africa offers mechanized agricultural equipment like sensors, robots and tractors for rental to farmers. Yet, such contracted use of modern technologies has remained very limited for small-scale producers because businesses face major challenges to inform and onboard low-income communities, and minimize costs and risks of operations. Phone applications and …
Improved maize varieties often do not reach the hands of farmers in Sub-Saharan African countries due to limited investments in the seed production sector close to communities growing this key staple food. The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) has successfully overcome this challenge by setting up public-private ventures for commercial multiplication of high yielding drought-tolerant TEGO® and TELA® maize. Enterprises …
Threshing is the process of separating rice grain from the chaff that surrounds it, and polishing is where the outermost bran layers are removed. Both these operations are of great importance to enhance the cooking quality and palatability of rice which pushes up its value when sold on markets. Most rice farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa use traditional methods where the …
The pod borer Maruca vitrata (Fabricius) causes extensive damage to cowpea, not seldom reaching up to 80% yield loss. Recent advances in its control are based on releases of two specific parasitic wasps which were supplied by the World Vegetable Center labs in Taiwan. Introductions across Benin and Burkina Faso have indicated a reduction in the pod borer population greater …