In Africa and in particular, Sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that there are more than 45,000 species of plants, of which about 1,000 can be eaten as green leafy vegetables. Most of the latter fall within the category of African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs). ALVs are also known to be rich...

This publication provides real life examples on how to re-engage youth in agriculture. It shows how tailor-made educational programmes can provide rural youth with the skills and insights needed to engage in farming and adopt environmentally friendly production methods. Many of the initiatives and approaches reported in this study originate...

Interview de Didier Snoeck, chercheur du Cirad et coordonnateur du projet AFS-4-Food, projet contracté par l’Union Africaine sur un financement de l’Union Européenne (EuropeAid). Le projet AFS4Food fait le pari d’améliorer la sécurité alimentaire et le bien-être des ménages ruraux africains grâce à une meilleure gestion de l’agroforgroforesterie dans trois zones d’études...

在世界很多地方，干旱频繁发生和作物歉收威胁食品和营养安全，并造成这些地区对粮食 援助的依赖。但是最近，肯尼亚许多农户正在自行探索可持续性的方法，确保足够的营养食物 和额外的收入，以便他们能供孩子上学。因为玉米产量猛涨而逐步边缘化的传统耐干旱营养 作物，比如木薯、高粱、小米等，再次得到广泛种植，促使可靠收成的实现，而改善了饮食 和收入。

Using the case of maize production in Kenya, this study reframes the challenge of smallholder commercialization in the context of staplefood crop production and individual farm-level decision-making by a heterogeneous population of smallholder farmers. Whilemany smallholder growers of staple crops find themselves trapped in a cycle of poverty, they differ greatly in their...

Agriculture plays a significant role in Africa, accounting for about 30 per cent of GDP south of the Sahara, as well as a significant proportion of export value. Not surprisingly, in most African countries, 60 per cent or more of employees work in agriculture. Yet this barely scrapes the surface...

This publication provides guidance on the natural history of wild bees and their potential exposure to pesticides, as part of the GEF supported Project “Conservation and Management of Pollinators for Sustainable Agriculture, through an Ecosystem Approach” implemented in seven countries – Brazil, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan and South Africa....

The topics covered in this Dossier concern 21 research units based in Languedoc-Roussillon Region, involving over 1 000 researchers whose activities are fully or partially focused on addressing—in collaboration with many partners—major family farming challenges in France and worldwide.The scientists have developed four multidisciplinary approaches to deal with family farming...

Rural household economies dependent on rainfed agriculture are increasingly turning to irrigation technology solutions to reduce the effects of weather variability and guard against inconsistent and low crop output. Organizations are increasingly using market-based approaches to disseminate technologies to smallholder farmers, and, although women are among their targeted group, little...

The future of food security in Africa lies in the hands of African farmers, yet not enough is known about them; data is scarce and their stories are only half told. This report puts smallholder farmers at the center of the dialog about farming and food security in Africa. Too...

More than 500 million family farms dominate agriculture around the world ensuring food security and providing employment to hundreds of millions of people. Family farms are also essential in safeguarding agro-biodiversity, and sustaining communities and cultures. However, family farming faces numerous challenges including insecure land rights, and limited access to...

Recurring drought and crop failure in many parts of the world have led to food and nutrition insecurity, and a dependence on food aid. But recently, some farmers in Kenya have been developing their own sustainable way to secure enough nutritious food along with extra income so that they can...

This issue highlights experiences of development approaches that are helping in the fight against poverty in rural areas. Reducing rural poverty is one of FAO’s strategic objectives for the coming years, to which the Dimitra project is making a special contribution. Innovative methodologies have been developed which seek to place...

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...

The United Nations declared 2014 the International Year of Family Farming. Although many forms of production were once family-based, agriculture is now one of the few that are still dominated by families. Because family farms are so prevalent, making them more productive could help combat poverty and hunger in many...

This video describes the implementation of the inclusive business model approach to support trading relations between small-scale cotton producers and ginners in Kenya.

Agriculture plays a significant role in Africa, accounting for about 30 per cent of GDP south of the Sahara, as well as a significant proportion of export value. Not surprisingly, in most African countries, 60 per cent or more of employees work in agriculture. Yet this barely scrapes the surface...

The Eastern African region (which includes Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania) is highly vulnerable to climate change and several of its major sectors (notably agriculture) that significantly contribute to the sub-region’s economies are at risk. About 80% of the population in East Africa depend on agriculture, which contributes to 40% of...

Inclusive procurement is a deliberate way for governments to purchase goods or services from specific unfavoured or vulnerable supplier categories in order to advance social and economic development. However, public procurements must also meet transparency requirements in place to maintain integrity and to safeguard the expenditure of public funds. This...

WFP’s current gender policy, which explicitly reaffirms WFP’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment to support partner countries in addressing food and nutrition challenges sustainably.Literature review and empirical research conducted by ALINe on behalf of WFP between January and August 2011, which examined...