Co-published by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the CIHEAM, the Watch letter n ° 40 "Strengthening the role of women in rural and agricultural areas - Obstacles and opportunities" aims to show different perspectives of the situation in the Mediterranean region by analyzing the challenges and opportunities in the socio-economic, social, environmental,...

Given the many threats to the Earth’s water supply, the role of forests has never been more important. The role of forest ecosystems in preserving water quality is largely underestimated. To ensure healthy water, strategies for optimizing purification, regulating surface flows and controlling erosion will increasingly need to be a part...

An FAO workshop on 19 November in Yerevan, Armenia, provided an opportunity for the country to kickstart its efforts towards developing a national e-agriculture strategy. Nowadays, agriculture is much more than farming; it has become more and more integrated with other sectors, and this integration requires optimization through digitalization. E-agriculture is the...

Moldovan authorities and FAO have successfully implemented a four-year project to increase drought resilience amongst small-scale farmers by helping them adopt modern irrigation technologies and best practices. At the closing event, held today in Chisinau, FAO and the minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment brought together a variegated set of...

A number of positive changes – including improved rural policies, strengthened value chains, sustainable management of natural resources and environmentally friendly agricultural practices – are expected to help Georgia’s agricultural producers become more competitive while reducing the contributions of agricultural production to climate change. These are among the objectives of a...

Freshwater ecosystems accommodate 40 percent of the world’s fish species and contribute directly to the food security of rural households. With 11.47 million tonnes per year, inland fisheries account for 12 percent of the global fish catch, according to the latest numbers from the FAO. Still, the sector has not unleashed...

A one-week training workshop on organic production, certification and marketing starts today in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for selected extension specialists. It is part of an FAO project begun in April 2018 that helps public and private extension service providers in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan improve technical skills and enhance knowledge...

Social media networks are increasing in popularity and have been integrated into many aspects of daily life. Analysis of the ways in which individuals use social media is important for understanding social, cultural, and environmental issues. This study examines experiences of farmers’ market customers through their self-expression on social networks....

At the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovna  adopted in January 2018 a Proposal of the Strategic Plan for Rural Development of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2018-2021), which created  conditions for domestic agricultural producers to receive funds from the...

At the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovna  adopted in January 2018 a Proposal of the Strategic Plan for Rural Development of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2018-2021), which created  conditions for domestic agricultural producers to receive funds from the...

Hundreds of refugees from war-torn Syria receive agricultural training organized by a partnership of FAO, UNHCR and the Turkish government, helping them find the em-ployment needed to build futures in Turkey.

A logistics centre was opened today in northern Kyrgyzstan’s Kemin district to aid in supplying local schools with fresh agricultural produce. An initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the centre should improve the quality of school meals and secure a sustainable market for local...

Yunus is one of hundreds of refugees from war-torn Syria benefitting from training organized by a partnership between FAO, UNHCR and the Turkish government which trains them in skills needed to find much-needed work in Turkey’s agricultural sector.

African swine fever is one of the major animal health challenges worldwide, as demonstrated by recent developments in China and the European Union, where recent outbreaks have prompted health officials to take action. The disease first entered Europe through Georgia, back in 2007, in an unprecedented epidemic that would gradually spread...

Encompassed by the Caucasus mountains with heights of 5 000 meters – offering breathtaking views and, at the same time, damming them – lies Georgia’s Tusheti region. Its inhabitants are strongly attached to this remote area, but the natural beauty alone is not sufficient for a healthy life. The short movie...

A high-level conference in Belgrade  marks the first stage in a recently-begun four-year commitment on the part of FAO. A project worth US$3.75 million, financed by the Global Environment Facility, or GEF, is directed towards the long-term sustainability of forest ecosystems in Serbia. Main components and expected results of the project...

For the past two years, FAO has been working with Moldova to develop a national programme on Integrated Pest Management, or IPM. With more than 6 000 small-scale farmers now trained in techniques for minimizing pesticide use, project results were presented here today at a final workshop. Entitled "Support for adaptation...

Developing agriculture, forestry and natural resource management to enhance rural development are important components of a four-year cooperation agreement signed here today between Belarus and FAO. The FAO Country Programming Framework for the Republic of Belarus was signed in a ceremony at the Ministry of Agriculture by Deputy Minister of Agriculture...

The present paper is the product of research on cooperatives in Georgia carried out by Elkana from August to October 2016 in the framework of the AGROinform-led IFAD-funded project “Promoting inclusive horticultural value chains in Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Moldova” The goal of the research is to provide valuable information...

This fourth edition of Agrinnovation magazine gives you a round-up of EIP-AGRI news, events and stories from the past year. With food production and short supply chains as its main theme, this edition includes inspirational ideas from Greece, Estonia, Poland, the UK and many more. It also covers opportunities under...