This paper situates the competing visions for the future of agriculture and food systems in the context of key social, economic and environmental challenges. Drawing on both the growing literature on these issues and Trócaire’s experience the paper presents Trócaire’s vision for agriculture and food. It is an introduction to...

Agroecology is best practice: Biowatch's work with smallholder farmers explores the workings of eight homestead farms in northern KwaZulu-Natal, illustrating agroecology best practices through the personal experiences of each of the smallholder farmers. These farmers have shown that the land can take care of its people - if its people take...

In Zimbabwe, FAO has been implementing a four year EU funded project to improve food and nutrition security of vulnerable rural communities through participatory sustainable forest management and value addition to forest products. The video tells the story of a beekeeper named Njovana. Njovana now understands that every tree that...

In Zimbabwe, FAO has been implementing a four year EU funded project to improve food and nutrition security of vulnerable rural communities through participatory sustainable forest management and value addition to forest products. The tough protective shell that houses a delectable delight earned the Marula fruit the name, HARD NUT....

This study sought to understand the impact of contract farming on livelihoods among the small-scale farmers in two study districts of Zvimba and Goromonzi which are located in the Mashonaland Provinces. This was done through examining different levels of income earned between contract and non-contract tobacco growers, food consumption rates,...

This Country gender profile of the agricultural and rural sectors in Ghana analyses gender-related disparities in access to: credit and financial services; technologies and innovations; extension and information services; ownership and control of land and farm enterprises; the effect of climate change on farming activities; and social protection to strengthen the...

In Zimbabwe, FAO has been implementing a four year EU funded project to improve food and nutrition security of vulnerable rural communities through participatory sustainable forest management and value addition to forest products. Part of the project includes assisting the government of Zimbabwe in the formulation of a comprehensive forest...

Mainly grown in the highlands of Kenya, potatoes are an important staple food and cash crop and play a significant role in national food security, nutrition, poverty alleviation and income generation. In 2015, Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) was first detected and confirmed in Kenya, posing a serious threat to potato...

The video is reporting the results of Phase 1 implementation activities of the UN Rome-Based Agencies joint project “Mainstreaming food loss reduction solutions for small-holders farmers in food deficit areas”. Focus of the video is the piloting of recommended solutions in the Burkina Faso (2016-2017)

The focus of the study was to investigate the effect of contract farming on peasant livelihoods in Manhica district, Mozambique. A mixture of approaches which combine qualitative and quantitative methods were used in the study. The results show that small scale farmers have no control over cane prices and there...

Throughout history, land has been considered a main source of wealth, social status and power. This publication analyses the impacts of legal pluralism on women's land rights in Mozambique arguing that despite Mozambique's progressive legal framework, efforts are still needed to fully achieve gender equitable and socially just outcomes on...

By engaging farmers, technical staff, and public institutions in capacity building and awareness raising, the project enhanced the recognition, prevention and control of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) and transboundary animal diseases (TADs) among stakeholders. Cattle vaccines were procured and administered, and materials on animal diseases were produced in English and IsiNdebele...

Maize is the predominant crop in Zambia, both in terms of production and consumption, and levels of crop diversity on Zambian farms tend to be very low. The country’s maize-centric food system contributes to poverty, malnutrition, and vulnerability to drought, pests and diseases. Growing a wider variety of nutritious crops...

According to FAO estimates, the eradication of hunger and poverty in Côte d'Ivoire by 2030 will require additional annual investments of US $ 3.7 billion, of which almost 40 percent should be allocated to agriculture and rural development. To achieve this, investments should be responsible in order to generate sustainable...

A new expert group is to be created by the European Commission to provide expertise, advice and possible recommendations on enhancing the role of the EU agri-food and agro-industrial sector in the sustainable economic development of Africa. The first step in the creation of the Task Force Rural Africa (TFRA) is...

The Zimbabwe Land and Agrarian Network (ZiLAN) established in 2012 brings together non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working on land and agrarian issues. Membership of the Network comprises organisations involved in research and policy analysis; NGOs working with farmers; farmers’ representative organisations; women’s and youth in agriculture interest groups, and land reform...

Recurrent drought, degraded rangelands and reduced access to traditional grazing lands have left pastoral communities in the Horn of Africa’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) more vulnerable and facing severe livestock feed shortages. During dry spells, pastoral communities suffer from food and nutrition insecurity, as well as shrinking incomes occasioned...

The prevalence of undernourishment has seen little improvement since 2010 and the most recent estimates suggest a rise. The worsening situation is due to adverse climatic conditions, conflict and a difficult global economic environment. Looking forward, rapid population growth will add to the challenge of meeting the Sustainable Development Goal...

Ce Profil national genre des secteurs de l’agriculture et du développement rural a été préparé dans le cadre du projet de coopération technique de la FAO et de la Commission de la CEDEAO portant sur : « la Réponse Genre aux Plans Régionaux et Nationaux d’Investissement Agricole pour relever le...

Somalia faces major economic obstacles to economic development characterized by weak institutions, insecurity, a persistent insurgency, dilapidated infrastructure, environmental degradation, and climate change. Yet it is clear that agriculture is and will remain central to Somalia’s economic development. This Overview report – a summary of the main report – provides the...