[UgaBYTES] WEEKLY NEWS ROUND UP- AFRICA (WEEK 28)

[Mwathi Francis]

*New investment monitoring tool aims to boost business in Africa – UN agency
*

9th July 2009

 The United Nations and the African Union today launched a new tool,
designed in partnership with the Microsoft Corporation, to help map
investment flows on the continent and provide business leaders the
information they need to make sound decisions.

The Internet-based Investment Monitoring Platform will “provide data and
information on the characteristics of foreign and domestic investors, as
well as their motivations, actions, perceptions, intentions, and impact,”
according to a news release issued by the UN Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO).

http://www0.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=31416&Cr=unido&Cr1=



*Using a mobile phone to reduce farming cost*

8th July 2009

 What used to be an expensive and time consuming feat for farmers to access
inputs and market for their products has now been allayed. The increased use
of a mobile telephone among large and medium scale farmers practicing modern
systems for high yields has helped them save on the expenses they incur.
Lawrence Lubanga. a mixed farmer says the use of a mobile telephone in
accessing inputs and market rates has helped him increase his profits as
well as reaching distant people in the shortest time. “We used to travel
distances ranging from five miles to look for feeds and afterwards we would
go back again and we could even go further distances in searh for markets.
But today, what we use to call is a mere fraction of what would be spent on
transport,” says Lubanga a resident of Naminya, Wakisi Sub County in Mukono
District.

http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/features/Using_a_mobile_phone_to_reduce_farming_cost_87676.shtml



*Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique to get US$151 Million from World Bank to
Lower ICT Cost*

6th July 2009

 Tanzania will receive $100 million credit from the International
Development Association to extend its access to affordable communications
services. The country is one of three in sub-Saharan Africa that will
benefit from the credit, amounting to $151 million, approved last week by
the World Bank's board of executive directors.  Others are, Malawi which
will get $20 million and Mozambique $31 million in this third phase of the
Regional Communications Infrastructure Programme (RCIP3). The $424 million
regional programme will increase availability of reliable communication
services for citizens, businesses and governments. Despite considerable
development in information and communication technology (ICT) sector in
Africa over the past 10 years, the region has the world's lowest and most
expensive telephone and Internet user penetration.

http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke



*How Internet brings in tourists*

6th July 2009

 According to the Kenya Tourist Board (KTB), about 80 per cent of tourists
visiting the country do so as a result of Internet and Communication
Technology referrals. In an earlier interview with the CEO of e-tourism
Africa Damian Cook, travelling still leads in online sales. It is generating
more than $110 billion.

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=1144018639&cid=4&



*Cassava disease monitoring goes mobile*

8th July 2009

Mobile phones are the unlikely weapons being used to fight cassava disease
in Tanzania, in collaboration between scientists and farmers. As part of the
Digital Early Warning Network (DEWN) farmers from ten districts in the Lake
Zone region of Tanzania will be trained to recognise the symptoms of Cassava
Mosaic Disease (CMD) and Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD).  They will
then send monthly text messages to the researchers about disease incidence —
and receive disease control advice in return.

http://www.scidev.net/en/news/cassava-disease-monitoring-goes-mobile.html



*More rural schools to benefit from e-learning in South Africa*

9th Jul 2009

Fifteen more schools in Mpumalanga are to benefit from an initiative
enabling children from different schools to be taught maths and science at
the same time. Through video conferencing technology and the use of
interactive whiteboards, the initiative of the Ligbron Academy of Technology
in Ermelo has already linked three schools in 2008."The Ligbron e-Learning
project allows for the sharing of SMART interactive educational technology
between five schools in the region. Expansion to a further 15 schools also
being planned," said Frans Kalp, technology teacher and project manager. Mr
Kalp said the programme was piloted at Camden Combined School and Umzimvelo
School outside Ermelo as well as Ermelo Combined School which is in the
city.

http://www.buanews.gov.za/news/09/09070909251001



*Oceanic Bank Launches Toll Free Lines for Farmers in Nigeria*

5th July 2009

 In a bid to enhance the development of agriculture across the country,
Oceanic Bank in partnership with Admiral Environmental Care Limited has
launched toll free lines for farmers to enable them make free calls to get
professional advice on how to improve their yields. Speaking at the
launching of the lines in Kaduna at the weekend, Group Managing Director of
the bank, Mrs Cecilia Ibru, who was represented by the bank’s executive
director, north, Mr. Charles Mekwunye said, the free lines would make it
easy for farmers to get professional advice and other relevant information
that would enable them enhance their output. She said: “The farmers’ toll
free lines are dedicated phone lines on the MTN network that farmers can
call to seek counsel on any issue related to their farming activities at no
cost at all. The cost-free nature of the project gives farmers across the
nation a strategic platform to enhance their yield and competitiveness in
global markets. The lines will link farmers up with market demand/supply
trends, emerging techniques in modern farming, and eradicate the
‘middle-man’ syndrome, among others.”

http://www.leadershipnigeria.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3324:oceanic-bank-launches-toll-free-lines-for-farmers&catid=18:business-news&Itemid=77


-- 
Francis Mwathi
Support Community Facilitator
UgaBYTES Initiatives (www.ugabytes.org)
Telecentr.org (www.telecentrecommunity.ning.com)
Tel: +256 414 370163
Mob: +256 783 010269
Skype: francis.mwathi
E-Mail: mfrancis at ugabytes.org