Eritrea is a hot desert strip along the red sea coast with its mountains rising into the central highlands. The western plains extend to the border with Sudan, a vast arid area that receives little rainfall. The IFAD and GEF supported Catchment and Landscape Management Project (CLMP) is working in...

People enjoy cashew nuts, whereas cashew apples are less valued. Leaving cashew apples on the land is an enormous loss of money. However, cashew apples can be processed into a nutritious juice which can be consumed throughout the year.

El Niño conditions have caused the lowest recorded rainfall between October and December across many regions of Southern Africa in at least 35 years. Short-term forecasts from January to March indicate the high probability of continuing below-normal rainfall in the south, signaling that this could become one of the worst...

This report shares the findings, observations, and insights from the national survey of smallholder households in Tanzania. It begins with an overview of the research approach, core program objectives, research questions, preliminary phases of development, and topics included in the questionnaire. It then profiles smallholder farmers in Tanzania, including their...

The pilot projects of the Mitigation of climate Change in Agriculture (MICCA) Programme of FAO in Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania have promoted climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and have been integrated into ongoing development programmes. The objective of the pilot projects was to show that smallholder farmers can improve...

The aims of this paper are to share experiences and lessons learned from advocating pastoralism and improving the voice of pastoralists in policy-making processes in Ethiopia through a specific activity and process – namely the Ethiopian Pastoralist Day. The paper has been developed through a self- and peer-reflective process by...

Donkeys, mules and horses are important working animals, many diseases are transmitted by insects such as flies. Flies can transmit a parasitic worm called Habronema that causes several problems in horses and donkeys. There are many precautions which you can take to ensure that your donkeys and horses stay free...

This scoping report looks at key policies, legislation and programmes in South Africa with an emphasis on seed laws and considers the implications for small- scale farmer involvement in this sector and outlines a few projects on community seed production, indigenous crops and black-owned private sector seed production efforts.

Inspired by the ongoing process of decentralization and in an effort to inform local and national policy makers concerned with food security, this paper provides a descriptive but detailed geographical overview of Congo’s food markets as well as the nutritional status of its population. To do so, this paper will...

As countries design climate change adaptation policies, it is important to understand how workers alter behavior in response to changes in temperature. Nonetheless, the impact of temperature on labor markets is poorly documented, especially in Africa. We address this gap by analyzing panel surveys of labor choices by sector, contractual...

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) defines pulses as legumes with dry, edible seeds that have low fat content such as chickpeas, kidney beans, butter beans, black eyed peas, lentils, pigeon beans and cow peas among others. “Pulses are the key to food security and nutrition in Africa, taking...

Suite à la situation de sécheresse déclarée dans la région de Grand Sud de Madagascar, la vulnérabilité de la population rurale a atteint un niveau alarmant.  Un projet de relance d’urgence de l’agriculture auprès des ménages agricoles et des producteurs vulnérables a été mis en œuvre afin de leur permettre de...

L’activité agricole occupe 86% de la population rurale au Burkina Faso dont les pratiques demeurent traditionnelles et la production tributaire des conditions climatiques. Dans le contexte actuel de changement climatique, marqué par les irrégularités pluviométriques et la hausse des températures, le monde rurale est le plus exposé aux crises alimentaires...

Land degradation and soil erosion have emerged as serious challenges to smallholder farmers throughout southern Africa. To combat these challenges, conservation agriculture (CA) is widely promoted as a sustainable package of agricultural practices. Despite the many potential benefits of CA, however, adoption remains low. Yet relatively little is known about...

In the framework of efforts to fight extreme poverty and recognising the importance and need to protect the poor and vulnerable population, in 2007 Mozambique approved Law No. 4/2007 which structured social protection into three levels, including basic social security. In 2010 the first National Basic Social Security Strategy (ENSSB...

This video shows how the clubs in Niger have been crucial in ensuring women’s access to land and water, while contributing to nutrition, food security, gender equality and the reduction of rural poverty at the same time.  Access to Water and Land” is part of a series that illustrates the...

The video demonstrates the key role of the clubs in the Province of Tshopo (DR Congo) for improving food security and nutrition and promoting gender equality for men, women and youth.  “Food security and Nutrition” is part of a series that illustrates the impact of FAO-Dimitra Clubs, a successful gender-transformative...

European Commission - Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) support to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) towards revamping agricultural production in northern Uganda where the communities are rebuilding their livelihoods after two decades of civil conflict.

Ethiopia lacks knowledge and skills pertaining to CSA and conservation agriculture in particular. For purposes of knowledge dissemination, a comprehensive capacity development approach that builds on the sound assessment of the needs of all stakeholders is required. Within diversified extension service delivery there is a need to build the capacity...

Conservation Agriculture in Zimbabwe.