Food production in Kenya is closely related to smallholder agricultural production. Paradoxically, many smallholders suffer extended periods of food crises. This underscores the importance of understanding the multiple pathways smallholders use to deal with food insecurity. Participatory action research, using both qualitative and quantitative methods was undertaken to identify adaptation...

La colaboración entre España y la FAO se ha consolidado en el tiempo y ha experimentado un notable crecimiento, gracias a los criterios en los que se ha basado: la eficacia de las actuaciones, la mejora en la rendición de cuentas, la búsqueda de sinergias, un sistema de monitorización y...

This study assessed determinants of farmers’ access and use of new ICTS in the study area. Data obtained from 270 respondents through multi-stage sampling technique were subjected to descriptive and logit regression analysis. The results show that GSM is the only new ICT farmers have access to (mean= 2.66) and...

Informed decisions on ‘agricultural transformation’, the rapidly changing diversity of agricultural holdings, could play a decisive role in society’s response to several global challenges, including food security and environmental sustainability. Improved stakeholder access to information on the social, economic and environmental impacts of transformations and likely future trends is a...

 Increasingly, unpredictable weather poses challenges to livelihoods as it requires greater investment of time, energy, and resources in order to maintain crops and animals through dry spells. Vulnerability to climate variability induced hazards can be reduced successfully with an understanding of the most vulnerable to the impacts and how the...

This issue of Caravan looks to the field to present approaches and examples that have been developed through our research with partners in many dryland countries, and can be deployed to benefit smallholder farmers in many more locations. These technologies bring resistance to drought, temperature extremes, or diseases that damage and...

The CRP on Dryland Systems is all about integration: between different research disciplines, between biophysical and socio-economic factors, between crop farming and pastoralism, between research and development. The program aims to develop new technologies, new livelihood opportunities, stronger local institutions, enabling policies to support technology adoption, and ultimately higher incomes...

This manual is intended to support trainers who are helping Farmer Organisations (FOs) and their members in Sub-Saharan Africa to improve the quality of their grain. In so doing, it is expected that the income earning opportunities and the food security of the learners’households will be increased. Learning how to supply quality grain...

L'auteur mène une réflexion sur l'effet des crises alimentaires récurrentes en Afrique et sur la réaction  des États africains au Sud du Sahara, à la recherche de modèles de développement agricole capables d'en réduire durablement la fréquence. Il estime que le regain d’intérêt pour l’activité agricole pose, certes, des questions techniques mais...

Since October 2010, DAI has been implementing the Zimbabwe Agricultural Competitiveness Program (ZimACP), with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project is a 4.5-year initiative designed to support and facilitate the farming and agribusiness sector, through their representative bodies, to dialogue and arrive at consensus...

Smallholder farmers’ access to markets has traditionally been constrained by lack of market information. The desire to strengthen farmer access to market has seen the emergence of a number of projects that employ ICT tools in the provision of market information. This study assesses the conditioners of the use of...

GIAHS are found throughout the developing world, linked to centers of diversity.  Agroecosystems cover more than one quarter of the global land area, reaching about 5 billion hectares. Agroecosystems are ecosystems in which people have deliberately selected crop plants and livestock animals to replace the natural flora and fauna.  

The report stresses progress in linking research innovations to results in farmers' fields in a number of areas. These research-for-development initiatives are testing technology and policy packages with farmers in their production situations. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa ICARDA leads the wheat component of the regional initiative on Support to...

Communication faite au Colloque international genre et agricultures familiale et paysanne, regards Nord-Sud (Toulouse-France , mai 2012), concernant le Projet de Renforcement des capacités des femmes rurales pour éradiquer les Inégalités de Genre et améliorer la gestion des ressources dans l’agriculture familiale et paysanne au Cameroun – Cas des femmes rurales...

FAO is supporting a micro-financing scheme known as "warrantage" that is empowering smallholder farmers to make more money out of their crops and helping relieve food insecurity. (Ref.F0012/en)

This publication is one of FAO's attempts at providing support for viable community involvement in forest and wildlife management in Africa. It proposes key institutional, policy and legislative measures that need to be put in place for the sustainable engagement of local communities in forest management and development. Furthermore, the...

Welcome to Dimitra Newsletter 22. This issue places the spotlight on the Dimitra community listeners’ clubs, with a special dossier made up of several articles that focus on the impact of projects under way, the development of this approach and the launch of new initiatives.

Over 70% of the domesticated birds in Kenya are indigenous chicken (IC) providing meat and table eggs. They are frequently raised through the free range, backyard production system. Small flock sizes are characteristic of this production system and often, sales are mainly at the farmgate. Although IC production possesses enormous...

This issue focuses on particularly innovative activities that enable women to have better access to land in several African countries. In Niger, thanks to the debates that began in their listeners’ club, the women of Banizoumbou now have secure access to a large plot of land for 99 years. This...

During the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and United Nations launched a Global Partnership Initiative on conservation and adaptive management of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). The goal of the initiative is: to identify and safeguard GIAHS...