Compost is more powerful than manure. What is less known is that the micro-organisms in compost attack striga seeds in the soil. Compost also decreases the amount of striga that will sprout, and reduces its negative effect on cereal crops. Let us look at how farmers in northeast Mali make...

The Haller Foundation, a Kenya based sustainable agriculture best practice organisation is famous for its resource efficient, holistic approach to sanitation, agriculture and livelihoods development in rural communities. They have now broadened their scope to include urban poor and have been adapting state of the art sustainability to the urban...

Land grabbing is a serious issue that affects the environment, economy, social welfare and human rights. Despite the global reach of land grabbing, there is no definition that fully captures the issue. Here, Eco Ruralis presents not only its complete definitional framework, but also an overview of other definitions and...

In September 2015, countries adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This will shape their development programmes in a transformational way for the next 15 years. At the last FAO Regional Conference for Africa, held in Abidjan in April 2016, many delegates asked the organization to assist countries in their...

Livestock plays an important role in food security and nutrition as well as the economies of countries in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region, supporting rural livelihoods and employment, and ensuring access to animal source foods (ASFs). Between 1993 and 2013, while global livestock numbers expanded by 16...

The FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC), like the rest of the regional Conferences, meets once every two years to discuss priority issues for agriculture and rural development in the region. The upcoming event will be the thirty third session of NERC (NERC33) will be held in Rome,...

The revised Common Market Organisation (CMO) is a great opportunity for small-scale fisheries (SSF) producers to better access the market and to compete successfully with imported fishery products. The aim of intervention is to give the consumer the opportunity to buy a fresh, safe, and environmentally-friendly product, and to guarantee...

Aquaculture covers the farming of aquatic organisms (finfish, molluscs, crustaceans, algae…). It takes place in both inland and marine areas. The Commission is helping EU Member States to simplify administrative procedures, implement spatial planning and promote sustainable aquaculture. Aquaculture is a key component of both the Common Fisheries Policy and the...

Indigenous Engineering Techniques on Diary Farming - Success story of Tinson, State Ksheersree Award Winner, Aiswara Diary Farm , Kollam 

The benefits of establishing mixed-species agroforestry in Pacific island countries are widely recognised. There is some underutilised land in western Viti Levu in Fiji, including in areas marginal for sugarcane where planting has ceased due to low profitability, and in areas where unproductive grasses are subject to regular burning. Two...

At its 58th session held in Mostar on 16 June  2016, the Government of Federation of BiH considered the Rural Development Program of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2016-2020.

Driven by urbanisation and income growth, the West African food economy has radically changed over the past 60 years. The food economy, including all activities involved in producing food, from production to processing, transport and distribution totaled USD 178 billion in 2010, equal to 36% of the regional GDP. Forty...

En el marco de la III Reunión Ministerial de Agricultura Familiar la Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños (CELAC), realizada del 9 al 11 de noviembre en El Salvador, la FAO presenta acciones en marcha y áreas estratégicas de la Iniciativa Regional Agricultura familiar y sistemas alimentarios inclusivos para el...

Association of private farming of the Czech Republic organized an International Conference on family farms and Common Agricultural Policy of EU. The event was held in Brno on 4 - 6th of April 2016. 10 European countries attended the conference. Herewith volume 3. Presentation of Italy

El equipo de género de la Oficina para América Latina y el Caribe de la FAO ha escrito una serie de notas de política, con el ánimo de aportar datos objetivos de la situación de las mujeres y el género en la región sobre las temática específicas del trabajo de...

2015 was a landmark year for the future of the planet and therefore for the future of every woman, man, girl and boy, in all four corners of the world. Two important events - the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015 and COP21 on development and climate change, led to...

About 60 million people across Southern Africa and the Horn, Central America, and the Pacific face worsening hunger and poverty due to droughts and crop failures in 2014/5 that have been exacerbated by the El Niño weather system in 2015/6. This number is likely to rise. This short report gives...

Strong and secure forest tenure for forest dependent communities is a necessary condition for improved income and sustainable livelihoods. However, in many Asian countries community tenure is generally weak and contested. This commonly results in conflict. Strengthening the forest tenure systems is necessary if forest dependent communities are to benefit...

La mégalopole du Caire compte aujourd'hui près de 20 millions d'habitants. En son cœur et dans sa périphérie subsiste une activité agricole organisée sur une base familiale. Ce chapitre éclaire la situation des exploitations, qui contribuent à l'approvisionnement alimentaire du Caire en particulier en produits laitiers et maraichers. Les données...

A través de la iniciativa de estudiantes y docentes de la facultad de Ciencias Agrarias de la Universidad Nacional de Rosario, se inció el proyecto Enredándonos, a fin de establecer un vínculo participativo y de reconocimiento mutuo de la Facultad y de la comunidad de Zavalla, desde la necesidad de...