Miller Magazine Issue: 131 November 2020

32 NEWS MILLER / November 2020 Japan plans to send delegation to Russia to explore grain import Kenya launches climate information tool for grains Japan is planning to send a delegation to Russia to explore the possibility of importing grain, the Japane- se Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries told Sputnik. "Together with the Russian side, we have been considering sending a joint delegation of the public and private sector to Russia next year in order to find op- portunities for Japan's business to start the import of Russian grain," the ministry said. It added that the delegation might arrive anytime from August to November, 2021. Japanese business- men would visit agricultural objects, grain stores and seaports, including the port of Zarubino, to understand what Russia might offer to Japan and to learn about the Russian quality standards and quarantine measures. In July, Russian Deputy Agricultural Minister Sergei Levin told his Japanese counterpart that "Russian grain export potential is growing rapidly, so, due to geograp- hical proximity of our countries, we consider expanding trade in grain and leguminous crops as fairly promi- sing." According to the Russian Agricultural Ministry, in 2020 Russia exported grain worth $6,706 billion. SPUTNIK The Nairobi based Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) launched a digital platform to enhance access to climate information among key players in the cere- als' value chain. A statement from EAGC released in Nairobi said the launch of Climate Information for Gra- ins (Ci4G) tool will strengthen the response to extreme weather events that have impacted negatively on the cereals business. "The digital platform will facilitate collection and dis- semination of climate information to key players in the grains value chains especially small-holder farmers," said Gerald Masila, the CEO of EAGC. He said that ac- cess to timely weather information is key to boost the resilience of small-holder farmers involved in producti- on of key cereals like maize, beans, sorghum and green grams. Masila said the new climate information digital tool will complement ongoing climate resilience prog- rams for the regional grains value chains being imple- mented by EAGC and partners. According to Masila, EAGC with support from Climate & Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) has been implementing a project aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and boost grain production through minimizing climate change impacts in Kenya and Uganda. He said that a value chain needs assessment conduc- ted at the start of the project revealed that there was a pressing need for climate information that includes pre- cipitation, temperatures and wind speed to be availed to actors in the grains value chain on real-time basis. Suzanne Carter, CDKN Africa's senior program ma- nager said the launch of a digital climate information tool for the region's grain value chain players will boost food security and rural incomes. "The climate informa- tion for grains will further empower farmers and ot- her value chain players to better plan their activities by knowing what weather conditions will be in the future," said Carter. She said that optimal use of weather information is key to ensure production of cereals is resilient to clima- tic shocks like long dry spells and floods. XINHUA