Extending over 624 million hectares (ha), covering 20.6 percent of the continent’s land area and representing 15.6 percent of the world’s forest cover, Africa’s forests have a unique role in contributing to the attainment of the aspirations of the Agenda 2063, the Africa We Want. This is a picture of...

The following provides some basic technical explanations for the correct utilisation of animal power including harnessing and implements. The advantages and disadvantages of this practice are also explained, which include labour saving, livelihood diversification, livelihood resilience strengthening, equipment, costs, skills, and risks. Description Cattle, particularly oxen are by far the most common...

The following explains the methodology behind the utilisation of the agricultural tools of Draught Animal Power (DAP) planters and weeders. Traditional methods and the specific DAP planter and weed features are highlighted. The advantages and disadvantages are additionally specified which include labour saving, livelihood resilience strengthening, equipment, skills, cost and...

Co-convened by the FAO Director-General and the Chair of the AU Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment,moderated by the AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, the meeting will discuss food security and nutrition implications of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, young entrepreneurs in agrifood systems in sub-Saharan Africa were already facing a number of challenges. The main challenges include limited access to natural resources, finance, technology, knowledge and information, and insufficient participation in policy dialogues and other decision-making processes. The COVID-19 pandemic and its disruptions to...

Small-holder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa are experiencing the negative impacts of climate change. The vulnerable exposure to frequent extreme weather conditions, increased risk of pests, water deficiency among others has a direct negative effect on food production. The women face higher risks and greater burdens from the impacts of climate...

In Uganda, the COVID-19 youth engagement initiative promoted by FAO was launched through a network of youth champions and organizations that have been supported by and collaborating with the ICA programme, for instance in the development of the National Strategy for Youth Employment in Agriculture or in the Youth Inspiring Youth in Agriculture initiative. Watch the...

Engaging in crop and animal production, seems like a dead-end in order to diversify the country’s economy. But what are the challenges that farmers are facing during the process of a more sustainable and food secure future? According to Food and Agriculture Organization, around 60 to 70% more food will have...

The FTT-Thiaroye is a technique drawn from the collaborative efforts between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the National Training Center for Fisheries and Aquaculture Technicians (CNFTPA) training institute in Senegal. Its development addresses the need to improve small-scale fish drying and smoking operations. The...

This mini Barefoot Guide is an introduction to the Seed Knowledge Initiative (SKI) partners’ journey of landscape-level work with communities in the Southern African region. It is a resource to those communities and those working with them to think about why this landscape-level work is important. They will find inspiration and lessons from successful...

Cette technologie décrit méthodiquement comment faire une ruche à barre supérieures (modèle du Kenya). Une ruche à barres supérieures, (ou une ruche à barres mobiles) est une caisse rectangulaire couverte avec des barres d’une largeur fixées. Les abeilles commenceront la construction de leurs rayons à partir du centre des barres...

As effective weed control may increase yields by more than 50 percent, it surely is worthwhile taking a closer look. In this video we learn to differentiate between annual and perennial weeds, while farmers in Mali explain to us how and when to control weeds most effectively. This video presents...

“Yields are much higher when rice is transplanted. Compared to broadcasting, yields are two or three times higher.” This video presents methods of transplanting rice and explains the effect of planting depth, distance and age of seedlings on rice tillering.

The Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF) adhered to the youth engagement initiative launched by FAO ICA programme by launching a special Youth Knowledge Exchange session on April 2, 2020 addressing the key consequences and potential implications of COVID-19 for youth-led agribusinesses. The online consultation was conducted both in English and Kinyarwanda using RYAF social media...

Pests and diseases cause substantial economic loss to crop farmers. Other than reducing yield and lowering harvest quality, pest and disease control increases production costs in terms of buying the chemicals to control them. Besides chemicals being expensive and not readily available, they also have adverse effects on the environment,...

Based on hard real-life experience, the women of the Maria village have devised some very effective techniques for seed preservation. The video describes the importance of storing seeds in airtight containers, using insecticidal plants and other clever practices that Bangladeshi women apply to preserve rice seeds. This video presents the...

The most recent estimates of the prevalence of undernourishment (POU), presented in the joint report by FAO, UNECA and African Union Commission “2019 Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition” shows that the trend of deterioration in 2014-2018 has slowed in 2017–2018. However, there remain 256 million hungry people in Africa today, or...

Nambiro Fatuma is a single mother of 4 kids that fully depend on her. She, on the other hand, depends on her income that comes from a family farm owned by her father. “I produce bananas, maize, beans, cassava, sweet potatoes, mangoes and avocados…” she says. “I once thought about starting a poultry...

The following technology provides features about the use of improved seeds and less labour-intensive crops. It also details the advantages and disadvantages of their use. The advantages include labour-saving, livelihood resilience strengthening, livelihood diversification, inputs, skills, cost and infrastructure. Disadvantages include inputs, costs, infrastructure and risk.  Description Plant seeds are saved from...

Farmers face great difficulties with drying their seeds because seed absorbs moisture from the soil. As a result, seed quality deteriorates, and no-one can expect good yields by using poor quality seed. In this video you can see how farmers of the Maria village in Bangladesh solved this problem by...