‘Jolly Frier’ promises healthy future for garri makers

By Davis Weddi | 26 February 2025
Researchers in Nigeria have developed Jolly Frier, a gas- and solar-powered device to automate garri frying and reduce health risks.

[LAGOS] Nigerian researchers have created a hybrid gas- and solar-powered device that automates the production of the Nigerian staple garri, improving efficiency and reducing health risks for producers. Garri, a granular flour made from cassava, is usually produced using a wood burning stove. This puts those who make it – mostly women and girls –…

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Fly poo boosts Malawi crop yields

By Davis Weddi | 25 February 2025
Black soldier fly farming can be done within a backyard, says lead researcher Elija Wanda. Photo credit: sukarman (CC BY 2.0). This photo has been cropped.

[LILONGWE] As Fanny Ndhlovu and nine other farmers in her village watch their banana crop flourish, they also feel their dying farming practices rejuvenating. For years, these farmers in Mzimba District in Northern Malawi have experienced steady decline in yields. “Here, growing bananas and maize is our life but it has been hard in recent…

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What it takes to build adaptive and resilient Councils: A Conversation with Anicia Peters, Namibia

By Titilope Fadare | 10 February 2025

Professor Anicia Peters, CEO of the National Commission on Research Science and Technology in Namibia was interviewed during the 2024 Annual African Science Granting Councils Meeting in Gaborone, Botswana. Professor Anicia Peters, CEO of the National Commission on Research, Science, and Technology (NCRST) in Namibia, underscores the importance of flexible research funding that adapts to…

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