Yemen’s economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, representing about 90 percent of export earnings and income from oil production constituting 70 to 75 percent of government revenue. Agriculture is a vital sector in the Yemeni economy and is the main source of employment for about 37 percent of the...

In the Near East and North Africa region, Iran has the second largest economy (after Saudi Arabia) and population (after Egypt). Iran ranks second in the world in natural gas reserves and third in oil reserves.1 The agriculture and rural sector share in the GDP has declined in the last...

Pourquoi faut-il s’occuper de l’agriculture familiale ? Pourquoi un « changement de paradigme » est-il nécessaire ? Quelles nouvelles visions, politiques et coopérations trans-méditerranéennes et transsahariennes se donner ? Comment s’organiser, accéder aux marchés et créer de la richesse en milieu rural ? Comment assurer l’accès de l’agriculture familiale au financement ? Les questions abordées par...

There are few publications on the use and diversity of wild leafy vegetables (WLVs) in Morocco. In order to address this gap, we conducted ethnobotanical field work in Taounate, Azilal and El House regions.Ethnobotanical collections, free listing, qualitative interviews and a 7 day food frequency questionnaire.More than 30 species in...

The International Year of Family Farming was launched as part of a global campaign to reinforce awareness and support for small scale and family farmers around the world. The move to focus on family farmers for the international year was driven by strong advocacy from civil society, mainly the World...

lthough the role of agriculture in the national economy of Lebanon is declining in relative terms, it continues to play an important role in the rural economy and has a significant impact on rural livelihoods. In the areas most affected by the Syria crisis – northern Lebanon and the Bekaa...

This report presents the synthesis of case studies analysed by the action-research activity. The aim is to give a description of the practices carried out by farmers, individually or collectively, which can be considered as sustainable ways to use plant genetic resources with the purpose that these practices be spread...

The International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) has uncovered well-grounded resolve to place family farmers as protagonists in addressing a number of challenges we face, from eradicating hunger and poverty to conserving natural resources. Nothing comes closer to the sustainable food production paradigm than family farming. The diverse set of...

Approximately 2,000 participants received training under the project for Harmonized Support for Agriculture Development (HSAD). The project is a research for development initiative that aims to improve the competitiveness of selected Iraqi agricultural/ agribusiness value chains and raise incomes. Trainings reflected the main objects of the HSAD project: improving extension,...

As part of our larger strategy to adapt smallholders in drylands to climate change, ICARDA’s science has sharpened its focus on producing more with less in irrigated and agropastoral systems, and sustainably intensifying cereal-based rain-fed production systems through research platforms in Egypt, Ethiopia and Morocco.

In the Near East and North Africa (NENA), the role of women in agriculture and the rural sector has increased significantly. In many countries of the region, agricultural incomes no longer suffice to sustain the livelihoods of rural men and women. This has resulted, in particular, in massive migration of...

This  issue of Caravan – a collaborative effort with the CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Systems – focuses on gender related research being undertaken by ICARDA and national and CGIAR research partners across the world's dry areas, reflecting on experience and insights from Morocco to South Asia and beyond. Articles...

In constrained environments such as mountainous and Mediterranean areas the sustainable use of forage resources by domestic herbivores has to combine production, conservation of high environmental value areas and product quality. The sustainability of animal production systems relies on their ability to reconcile economic performance based on the added value...

Small ruminants are important for income generation and security, food supply and for development in rural Mediterranean areas especially in mountainous and marginal regions. Nevertheless, the adoption of cost-effective technologies and management practices for improving flock productivity and farmers' incomes is limited. This is largely due to socio-economic factors, such...

 The main message from the consultation is that family farming plays a crucial role in the region’s agriculture, fisheries and food security, and therefore measures to support family farming should be an integral part of all agriculture development and food security strategies. The consultation highlighted the importance of policy measures...

In November 2013, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) fielded an agriculture programme development mission to Jordan with the objectives of updating and expanding its “Agricultural Livelihoods and Food Security Impact Assessment and Response Plan for the Syria Crisis in the Neighbouring Countries of Egypt, Iraq,...

Innovation in family farming analyses family farms and the role of innovation in ensuring global food security, poverty reduction and environmental sustainability. It argues that family farms must be supported to innovate in ways that promote sustainable intensification of production and improvements in rural livelihoods. Innovation is a process through...

SOFI 2014 presents updated estimates of undernourishment and progress towards the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and World Food Summit (WFS) hunger targets

Governments and international agencies frequently boast that small farmers control the largest share of the world's agricultural land. Inaugurating 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming, José Graziano da Silva, Director General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), sang the praises of family farmers but didn't...

In the Near East and North Africa, population growth, urbanization, a fragile resource base, climate change and low productivity exacerbate the fight against hunger and malnutrition. But the introduction of ‘Farmer Field Schools’ in the Jordan Valley and across the country has helped family farmers boost their production, income and...