The graphite mine in Ancuabe, in the Northern Mozambican Province of Cabo Delgado, is to resume operations by 2009 in response to the rising price of graphite on the world market. A tender was launched two months ago for bids for the operation of the mine, and the government's intention is to have it in production again by 2009. The bids are due to be opened in Maputo on Friday. The deputy national director of mines, Obete Matine, said there are now conditions for the mine to resume activities, because the prices of graphite are recovering in the international market, particularly due to the development of the electronics industry. The mines stopped operating in 1999 because of high production costs. At that time the only source of power was diesel-fired generators. On top of the enormous electricity cost came a 50 per cent tumble in the international price of graphite. When sales of graphite could not cover the costs of production, the mine closed.

UN Has No Influence on ICC, Ban Tells Sudanese President

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has emphasised to Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir the independence of the International Criminal Court, amid reports that ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo is preparing to seek an indictment against the African Head of State. During a telephone conversation with Mr. Al-Bashir, Ban stressed that the UN Secretary-General does not have any influence on the ICC Prosecutor. He also indicated to the President that he was concerned by a declaration made by the Permanent Representative of Sudan which linked the initiative of the ICC Prosecutor with the two UN peacekeeping operations deployed to Sudan. 

FAO Initiative to Counter Soaring Food Prices 

To help small holder farmers and vulnerable households lessen the negative effects of rising food prices and agricultural inputs, the Food and Agriculture   Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have approved a series of projects in 54 countries for a total value of US$ 21 million. The effort is to make available agricultural inputs, such as seeds and fertilizers, to increase food production. FAO said that increased food production would help cushion small farmers, who often have to buy a part  of their food from markets with rising food prices. This would lead to a surplus production that could be sold, thus helping to bring price back down.       

 Burkina Faso Officially Joins Biotech Countries          

After many years of confined and open field trials, Burkina Faso has finally commercialized Bt cotton making it the third African country after South Africa and Egypt to join the ranks of biotech crop countries. Egypt recently commercialized Bt. maize (MON 810) and South Africa has been growing biotech crops (Bt. maize, Bt. Cotton and GM Soybean) for about 10 years.   Burkina National Agricultural Research Institute (INERA) and Monsanto recently signed a commercial agreement paving way for the importation of Bt cotton seeds to be grown for seed multiplication. There is widespread optimism in the country that Burkinabe farmers will finally enjoy the economic and agronomic benefits of Bt Cotton that South African, Chinese and Indian small scale farmers have been enjoying for many years. With Burkina Faso (West Africa) and Egypt (North Africa)  joining the ranks of biotech countries, the challenge is now on Eastern and Central African regions to stop dragging their feet on the technology.      

Kenya Launches Multi-million Agriculture Fund          

In response to the World Bank's recent calling for increased funding to the agriculture sector to boost food production, the Kenyan government plans to launch a multimillion dollar special fund for farmers. Agriculture minister William Ruto said the proposed Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) targets to raise half a billion dollars from the government, private sector, foundations and donor agencies. Currently, agriculture sector and related ministries including Livestock, Fisheries, Cooperatives and water are jointly seeking views from stakeholders on how to start the fund and sustain it. Economists, however, say that  agriculture sector related ministries require about US $1.3 billion while the estimated credit need by Kenyan farmers is about One Billion USD. This will be used to fully revive following the massive   losses they incurred due to chaos that rocked the country early this year as a result of disputed presidential elections.