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Promoting community management of underutilized tropical fruit genetic resources in Brazil: in situ conservation strategies and good practices for the mangaba

In 2003, in order to promote research, conservation and use of fruit species, the Ministry of the Environment in Brazil prioritized native species of current and potential economic value through a project called Plants for the Future involving research institutions, educational and non-governmental organizations.

Research covered various scientific disciplines, but did not include in situ conservation or the role of traditional communities in the management of biodiversity in natural habitats. Studies on good practices for managing Brazilian native fruits are scarce and the information available focuses mainly on post-harvest and processing activities. Research efforts on sustainable management of resources, especially in natural habitats, are rare.

Despite the dearth of information generally, one traditional group from the North and Northeast of Brazil who continue to manage Brazil’s wild plant resources has been widely studied: the ‘catadoras de mangaba’ (mangaba women pickers). Information has been gathered on the resources that they use to feeding, to survive, how they access and manage them, their habitats, related national legislation, labour, gender, sociability and exploitation of raw materials.

Mangaba (Hancornia speciosa Gomes) occurs naturally in open vegetation areas such as the coastal tablelands and lowlands and savannahs of Brazil. It is also found in Paraguay, Peru and Bolivia. The trunk of the tree is used for the extraction of latex for medicinal purposes. The fruit is a source of protein and iron. It has a delicious taste and colour and is used in agribusiness for making juices, sweets and ice creams.

In 2003, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) started work on the conservation, characterization and use of mangaba in the Northeast region of Brazil noting that the mangaba pickers, who were mainly women, were de facto responsible for conservation of mangaba in the areas identified. These women had accumulated significant knowledge concerning the management, reproduction and post-harvest activities of this fruit (Mota and Silva Júnior, 2003; Silva Júnior et al., 2006).

Despite the market demand for mangaba, it is overwhelmingly threatened by destruction of its natural habitats because of the expanding cultivation of sugarcane, coconut, eucalyptus, grassland, corn, cotton and soya beans and real estate development in tourist areas and coastal cities. The mangaba pickers’ livelihoods are further threatened by the increased activity of shrimp farming, which destroys the mangrove ecosystem and drastically reduces mollusc harvesting, another activity carried out by many of the communities concerned.

To explore how best to sustainably conserve and use mangaba, a team of social and natural scientists was assembled and a large amount of information was generated about the history, mapping, profile and typology of pickers; threats to natural habitats; access to and management of sites; knowledge and endangered traditions; organization of communities; and sale and consumption habits for mangaba (Mota et al., 2011).

Changes in the mangaba tree habitats and exploitation (economic interests of landowners) and in land use (tourism, agriculture, shrimp production) require efforts to be made for sustainable management and conservation of mangaba. Good practices already exist. Some practices contributing to community harmony are agreed among pickers, such as that each family can collect mangaba, but from different trees; farmers from other locations collecting in areas used for generations by specific groups are not well regarded. Fences on private land are commonly respected, though there are also transgressions, such as collecting fruit without permission from the land owners.

A set of good practices for conserving mangaba in natural ecosystems was jointly defined through expeditions to different sites, meetings, coaching, training and knowledge sharing among farmers and researchers. According to Mota et al. (2011), good practices are associated with the type of access that women pickers have to private areas or to common lands. The good practices are listed below as sets of recommendations for natural ecosystems, private lands and post-harvest practices.

In situ conservation and sustainable harvesting of mangaba are closely related to the work of mangaba pickers because of their economic, social and cultural dependency on them. Farmers’ contributions to safeguarding biodiversity and traditional knowledge are critical to valorise, cultivate and use these resources, which in turn will enhance their livelihoods and will sustainably ensure resource availability for future generations. The strategy of linking good management techniques, developed over generations by traditional communities, with scientific knowledge has contributed to the conservation of natural ecosystems of that species and to the valorisation of farmers – especially women – as beneficiaries of public policies for social inclusion.

This contribution is part of the text published in:

SILVA JUNIOR, J. F. da; MOTA, D. M. da; BARBIERI, R. L.; ALERCIA, A. 2016. Promoting community management of underutilized tropical and subtropical fruit genetic resources in Brazil. In: STHAPIT, B.; LAMERS, H.; RAO, R.; BAILEY, A. (eds). Tropical fruit tree diversity: good practices for in situ and on-farm conservation. Bioversity International, Roma; Routledge, New York, p. 106-111.

For more information access:

MOTA, D.M. da, SILVA JÚNIOR, J.F. da, SCHMITZ, H. and RODRIGUES, R.F. de A. (eds). 2011. A mangabeira, as catadoras, o extrativismo. Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, Belém, PA, Brazil; Embrapa Tabuleiros Costeiros, Aracaju, SE, Brazil, 303 p.

RODRIGUES, R. F. de A.; SILVA JÚNIOR, J. F. da; MOTA, D. M. da; PEREIRA, E. O.; SCHMITZ, H. 2017. Mapa do extrativismo da mangaba em Sergipe: situação atual e perspectivas. Embrapa, Brasília. 56 p. Disponible in: https://www.embrapa.br/en/busca-de-publicacoes/-/publicacao/1085370/mapa-do-extrativismo-da-mangaba-em-sergipe-situacao-atual-e-perspectivas

Dear all,

From my experience in monitoring agri – food markets it is necessary to pay due comprehensive attention to economic indicators as well as to main trends in consumption and influence of environments and climate change issues. Changes in dietary preferences in food consumption and an increase in utilization of cereals for feed are essential for meat and milk production. At the same time the stability of production and utilization of cereals are under the impact of a number of factors requiring there consideration in light of SDGs.             

Please see my story on monitoring cereals markets for food security and nutrition attached.

Zero Hunger and Child Hospitalization.

When visiting the pediatric section of two teaching hospitals in the central parts of Nigeria and Sudan, I was initially upset at the sight of a child of around 7 years suffering from malaria at an advanced stage, his clear undernutrition I thought was consequent to the ill course of the main disease. As the visits were going on, again a quite relevant proportion of undernutrition appeared in acute patients suffering from limb fractures, acute respiratory infections or common surgery. Two small for gestational age newborn babies in an open cot showed also a slow growth rate

It is clear that the clinical status of certain diseases was aggravated by underweight with the consequence of a greater recovery time greater than in normal weight children. It is well known that underweight (> -2 SD) is associated to: Unduly hospitalization, painful hospitalization (the malaria child was mostly alone) and disadvantageous long term prognosis.

Zero Hunger policies if widespread would lead to a situation where the number of (pediatric) diseases requiring hospitalization would decrease and for a greater efficacy the earlier they are established (pregnancy) the better. Quality of food can also be beneficed through producing lysine enriched cereals in wide areas of the world.

Manuel Moya, MD

University Miguel Hernández. Spain  

*** 10 Square Meter/100 Square Foot Nutrition Gardens (10/100NG) ***

ZeroHunger’s first challenge is exactly that—enough calories to survive. A second important challenge is good nutrition. Often it seems that all the labor or financial resources go to the staple crops such as grains and legumes that provide the calories with little left to provide the foods that round out the nutrition and promote health.

10 Square Meter/100 Square Foot intensively and diversely planted Nutrition Gardens I10/100NG) for each person are a solution to providing the nutrition to add to the staple crop calories. This size garden can provide 195 kg/400 pounds of produce in a six month growing season. If season extension such as row cover is available or year round gardening is possible, an additional 45+kg/100 pounds of food may be grown in most months. These gardens reduce water usage and weeding with their intense planting. Gardening and harvesting can be accomplished in an average of two hours a week.

Cities and towns are encouraged to make at least this much food gardening space available to each person as part of the land around their housing or in nearby allotments and community gardens. People on farms can put the 10/100NGs in a kitchen garden near the house. This allows the stay at home gardener to garden it between other chores and makes it easy for students to tend it before or after school.

Gardeners are encouraged to grow a mixed selection of produce that provides nutrition and flavoring including greens, alliums, herbs, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, summer squash, Fresh peas, green beans, and fresh non-staple root vegetables such as radishes/beets/carrots. Productivity improves with succession planting and trellising. The gardening can be accomplished with as few tools as a flat bladed D-handle shovel and a bucket. A homi (triangular headed hand hoe), stakes for trellising, string, and watering can/hose add to productivity and make the job easier.

A 10/100NG positively impacts the gardeners food in as little as three weeks when the earliest radishes and their greens are ready to eat. Photo shows a day’s harvest from a 10/100NG test garden in a temperate climate garden at the height of the summer. Other vegetables and herbs were available on other days and in other months.

Garden organizers are encouraged to develop sample gardens along with the gardeners that will be implementing them that suit the area's preferred foods, and to provide a matching planting and harvesting plan to help increase a fast start and success. Observing how local expert gardeners implement the process can lead to additional sample designs. If space and gardeners are available at demonstration garden sites, a third type of sample garden that introduces people to new vegetables that are especially nutritious can be useful if combined with a cooking demonstration and tasting opportunity.

***Resources***

How to Grow More Vegetables, Ninth Edition: (and Fruits, Nuts, Berries, Grains, and Other Crops) Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land with Less Water Than You Can Imagine by John Jeavons

One Circle: How to Grow a Complete Diet in Less Than 1,000 Square Feet by David Duhon

***Calculations and conversions***

100 square feet = 9.29 square meters

400 pounds = 181.5 kg

10 square meters = 107.64 square feet

1.0764 * 400 pounds = 430.56 pounds =195.3 kg

Test gardens had 4 foot wide beds (1.2 meter), for example 4 feet by 25 feet (1.2x 7.62 meter) of garden bed space.

My name is Aiah Emmanuel Gborie founder of the Yormatah Youth Farmers Association Kamara Chiefdom Kono District Eastern SIerra Leone. which I found 15 \4\2015 when the MDGs was folling up to meet the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs. My organization mission and vision are in line with the SDGs 2, 1,5,13, and 8

our mission: commitment to sustainable economic empowerment of the youhts in the agriculture,  food security and the use of our naturals resources to meet the demand of the future generation. 

Vision: to see positive youths generation emerging as useful adult that are capacitated with their mindset chamge toward achieving a world with sufficent food security as stated in SDGs 2.

Objective : Yormatah Youth Farmers Association is established with the aim of using community initiative to combat marginalization youths in socio- economic and other activities at community level, fight poverty and hunger.

my activities is focus through grassroot community initiatives which i bielive that the SDGs 2 could be achieve and am using the community solution volunteer in agriculture that those youths that i have trained and have successed will be placed at remote community to teach other youth by transfering the knowledge to their colleauges.

my activities are Integrate Climate  Smart Agriculture (ICSA) like poultry, fish, maize soya beans and vegetable farming also training of young peolple on sustaniable livelihood agriculture best practices.

These activities are being supported by UNFAO country in Sierra Leone.

My experience in monitoring SDGs2 is that if this Goal could be achieve we need to engage the community grassroot young people let them konw that the future of the world to feed it self is in their hand and the grow what they eat. and showcase those youths who have successed to their colleauges througt youths conferences in agriculture and exchanging experiences by supporting the initiative.

English translation below

Presa subterránea transformando vidas en el Semiárido brasileño

En el Semiárido brasileño, la precipitación pluviométrica oscila entre 200 mm y 800 mm en el Semiárido brasileño, lo que lo hace el más lluvioso del planeta. Sin embargo, las altas tasas de evapotranspiración (promedio de 2.000 mm al año) son casi tres veces mayores que la media de las lluvias de la región. Como agravante se tiene la distribución irregular de las lluvias en el tiempo y en el espacio, reduciendo las condiciones de éxito de las actividades agropastoris y, consecuentemente, la supervivencia de las familias agricultoras en la región.

Para que miles de familias puedan convivir con las dificultades climáticas de esta región, es necesario que dispongan de depósitos para almacenar el agua de lluvia en el período de la sequía y, consecuentemente, puedan satisfacer sus necesidades de acceso al agua y alimentos básicos durante la mayor parte del año año.

Sumado a la estacionalidad de la producción agrícola están los precarios índices de calidad de vida de la población, acarreando en una migración de agricultores familiares hacia los grandes centros urbanos o hacia otras regiones.

Como posibles soluciones, un conjunto de tecnologías sociales hídricas de captación y almacenamiento de agua de lluvia viene siendo utilizado en todo Semiárido brasileño, a través de programas de políticas públicas. Estas tecnologías promueven el uso eficiente del agua, el mantenimiento de su cantidad y calidad, posibilitando la seguridad alimentaria y la salud de las familias agricultoras de la región.

La presa subterránea (PS) es una de las tecnologías sociales hídricas que ha contribuido a la mejor convivencia de las familias en el Semiárido, por proporcionar el acceso al agua para el consumo humano, para la desedentación animal y para la agricultura (usos múltiples).

La PS es una tecnología para almacenar el agua de lluvia dentro de la tierra. Tiene como objetivo interceptar el agua de la lluvia que fluye dentro y / o sobre el suelo. Consiste en una pared construida sobre una formación impermeable bajo el suelo, en el sentido transversal al descenso de las aguas. Se tiene la función de elevar el nivel del agua dentro del suelo, por medio de infiltración, quedando así disponible para la utilización por las plantas. A depender de las lluvias ocurridas, la humedad permanece en el suelo de 3 a 6 meses, o sea, hasta casi el final del período seco, permitiendo el plantío incluso en época de sequía.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jSM_3ModYgE99RWYTodZJuczbmo9ua3U/view?usp=sharing

Hay muchas ventajas de PS en comparación con las represas de superficie convencionales, tales como: (a) las pérdidas de evaporación son bajas; (b) no hay reducción en el volumen de almacenamiento debido al asentamiento y ausencia de la acumulación de sedimentos en los depósitos; (c) el agua almacenada es menos susceptible a la contaminación ya los riesgos para la salud debido a la cría de mosquitos; (e) la tierra por encima de la presa subterránea puede ser utilizada; (f) las catástrofes potenciales causadas por el colapso de las paredes de las represas son inexistentes; entre otros.

Las relaciones de reciprocidad vivenciadas en el ámbito de la PS reproducen y consolidan acciones sociales que intensifican la capacidad de sostener la actividad de producción y de comercialización de las familias y de valorar su aprendizaje. Es un verdadero espacio solidario, en el cual la autogestión valora el protagonismo de los verdaderos sujetos de la acción. La lógica de las familias es el desarrollo sostenible con generación de trabajo y distribución de renta, mediante un crecimiento socioeconómico con protección del ecosistema.

La cantidad de PS construidas por los programas de gobierno, sociedad civil e iniciativas particulares es de aproximadamente 7.000 unidades, que benefician a unas 35.000 personas, tomando como base un núcleo familiar formado por cinco individuos. Con la implantación de esta tecnología, el cultivo diversificado de hortalizas, frutales, especies forestales y granos está influenciando el rediseño de los agroecosistemas del Semiárido.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kvY8KuzDwGAZGXQuo_zvUx49Ft6-cDq3/view?usp=sharing

Las PS están directamente alineadas con las cinco dimensiones prioritarias de la Agenda 2030, los llamados 5 Ps (personas, planeta, prosperidad, paz y alianzas). Para las personas, contribuye con la soberanía y seguridad alimentaria y nutricional; para el planeta, contribuye a la recarga de acuíferos, promoviendo mayor estabilidad del agroecosistema familiar del Semiárido; que trae prosperidad a través de la inclusión socioproductiva, tecnológica y ambiental; contribuye con la paz a través del almacenamiento del agua de lluvia que estimula a la sociedad a ser pacífica, justa e inclusiva; y a través de asociaciones em las cuales se establecen cooperaciones técnicas nacionales e internacionales, como por ejemplo, intercambio de experiencias con PS instaladas en países africanos (Mozambique y Cabo Verde) y de América Latina (Honduras).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lFV0Og3pRgn1xz61zkgouCy-tsaj99rE/view?usp=sharing

La BS contribuye fuertemente al logro de seis Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de la Agenda 2030 de las Naciones Unidas, que son: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 y 13.

Por el poder liberador que el agua propicia principalmente a las mujeres ya los jóvenes, liberándolos de los kilómetros recorridos diariamente en busca de agua para las actividades domésticas y de consumo humano, PS ha proporcionado el fortalecimiento de la inclusión y organización productiva. Con esto, hay disponibilidad de tiempo para que las mujeres y los jóvenes puedan participar de otras actividades dentro y fuera de la propiedad.

La PS, por el ambiente sociopolítico en el que está inserta, desempeña un papel significativo en el protagonismo que las familias agricultoras asumen. Esto debido a la movilización entre las familias y las organizaciones locales de desarrollo rural, que se consolida desde su proceso de construcción. A partir del momento que pasan a tener el derecho al agua, pasan a ser consideradas sujeto de derecho, capaces de producir su propio alimento y desarrollar sus proyectos de vida.

PS ha tenido una expresiva colaboración con los programas de acceso al agua del Gobierno Federal, a ejemplo del Plan Brasil sin Miseria y del Programa Nacional Agua para Todos. En ambos, participó dentro del eje inclusión socioproductiva, contribuyendo con la seguridad alimentaria y nutricional, y el acceso al agua en territorios rurales. Las investigaciones desarrolladas y las soluciones tecnológicas generadas con BS, por la Empresa Brasileña de Investigación Agropecuaria (Embrapa) y socios, desde la década de 1980, han contribuido a la construcción horizontal y colectiva del conocimiento en lo que se refiere a PS, ocasionando cambios en las comunidades rurales que históricamente conviven con las adversidades del clima semiárido.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19DLsLMaBnqUjpWF5I3jNYPM3820dp7--/view?usp=sharing

La Embrapa Solos (www.embrapa.br/solos), una de las 46 unidades de investigación de Embrapa, cuenta con un equipo multidisciplinario, en el cual las complementariedades de competencias maximizan la eficiencia del desarrollo de las actividades, para que, de forma participativa con las familias agricultoras, contribuya al desarrollo sostenible. Los proyectos de investigación y acciones estructurantes y de capacitación con PS en Brasil se desarrollan con socios en una acción conjunta entre las familias agricultoras, universidades, institutos federales de ciencia y tecnología, organizaciones no gubernamentales y gobiernos municipales, estatales y federales.

Un gran desafío que se ha enfrentado se refiere a la selección del sítio adecuado para la implantación de unidades de presas subterráneas. Para superar este problema un proyecto de I & D viene siendo desarrollado por Embrapa y socios, cuyo titulo es Zonificación edafoclimática participativa de áreas potenciales para la construcción de presas subterráneas en unidad agrícola de base familiar en el Semiárido del Estado de Alagoas, Brasil. Este proyecto tiene como objetivo identificar y espacializar geoambientes con aptitud para implantación de PS. Al final del proyecto se generará un documento técnico, conteniendo un mapa con las clases de potencial, que subsidiará tomas de decisión en programas de políticas públicas orientados a la inserción social y productiva de agroecosistemas de base familiar en áreas dependientes de la lluvia.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DzGg7aTNciZecRJvTA0af8E_y3QKFFNT/view?usp=sharing

Underground dams transform lives in the Brazilian Semi-arid

In the Brazilian Semi-arid, annual rainfall ranges from 200 to 800 mm, making it the rainiest semi-arid region in the world. However, the high evapotranspiration rates (averaging 2 000 mm per year) are almost three times higher than the average rainfall in the region. Furthermore, temporal and spatial rainfall patterns are erratic, hindering the agropastoral activities -and livelihoods as a result- of family farmers in the region.

Families must have rainwater storage tanks during dry periods to cope with the climatic constraints of this region and secure access to water and basic food for most of the year.

In addition to the seasonal nature of farm production, living conditions are precarious, triggering the migration of family farmers to large urban centres or other regions as a result.

As a potential solution to this issue, public policy programmes are facilitating the use of several social water technologies for rainwater harvesting and storage across the Brazilian Semi-arid. These technologies promote the efficient use of water and preserve its quality, improving the food security and health status of family farmers throughout the region.

Underground dams (UD) are one of the social water technologies that have improved the living conditions of the families in the Semi-arid by providing access to water for human consumption, watering of livestock and for agriculture (multiple uses).

UD are a technology designed to collect and store rainwater flowing within/over the soil. They are built digging a ditch, laying an underground waterproof plastic layer and erecting an adjacent wall, both perpendicular to the runoff flow direction. These dams raise underground water levels by infiltration, making water available for the plants. Depending on rainfall, soil moisture is preserved for 3-6 months (i.e. nearly until the end of the dry period) making planting possible even under drought conditions.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jSM_3ModYgE99RWYTodZJuczbmo9ua3U/view?usp=sharing

Compared to conventional surface dams, UD offer many advantages, such as: (a) evaporation losses are low; (b) storage volume does not decrease thanks to the lack of sediments and ground settlement;  (c) the likelihood of contamination of the stored water and related health risks is reduced; (e) the land covering the dams can be used; (f) any eventual collapse of the walls would be harmless; among others.

The reciprocal relationships experienced with UD replicate and consolidate social actions that strengthen the capacity of the families to sustain their production and marketing activities and value learning. UD are truly supportive facilities in which self-management acknowledges the leading role of its users. Families experience socioeconomic growth whilst protecting the ecosystems, sustainable development is promoted, jobs are created, and income is adequately distributed.

Around 7 000 UD have been built with support from government programmes and civil society and private initiatives, benefiting 35 000 people (assuming 5 family members per household). With the implementation of this technology, the integration of vegetables, fruit trees, forest species and grains is influencing the redesign of the Semi-arid agroecosystems.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kvY8KuzDwGAZGXQuo_zvUx49Ft6-cDq3/view?usp=sharing

UD are aligned with the five priorities in the 2030 Agenda: the 5 Ps (people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnerships). They increase the food and nutritional sovereignty and security of the people; they replenish the aquifers in the planet, promoting greater stability of the Semi-arid family agroecosystem; they bring prosperity through socio-productive, technological and environmental inclusion; they contribute to peace as rainwater storage stimulates a peaceful, fair and inclusive mindset; and they foster national and international technical cooperation through partnerships, such as the exchange of experiences between African (Mozambique and Cape Verde) and Latin-American (Honduras) countries in which UD have been built.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lFV0Og3pRgn1xz61zkgouCy-tsaj99rE/view?usp=sharing

UD make a substantial contribution to the achievement of six Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

of the 2030 Agenda: goals 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 13.

UD have reinforced the social inclusion and productive organization of women and youth as a result of the liberating power of water, releasing them from their daily journeys in search of water for domestic activities and human consumption, and enabling them to participate in other internal and external activities.

Given the socio-political environment in which UD are built, these storage facilities are key for the leading role taken by family farmers, underpinned by their close cooperation with local rural development organizations from the moment construction begins. Once they have the right water, they are considered subjects of law, capable of producing their own food and developing their own life projects.

UD have been included in the water access programmes of the Federal Government -such as the Programa Nacional Agua para Todos of the Plan Brasil sem Miseria- within the topic of socio-productive inclusion, contributing to food and nutritional security and access to water in rural territories. Related research and technological solutions developed by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and its partners since the 80s have contributed to generating collective knowledge on UD, transforming rural communities historically facing the challenges posed by a semi-arid climate

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19DLsLMaBnqUjpWF5I3jNYPM3820dp7--/view?usp=sharing

Embrapa Solos (https://www.embrapa.br/solos), one of Embrapa's 46 research units, has a multidisciplinary team with complementary competences which maximizes the efficiency of the activities with the aim of contributing to sustainable development in participative cooperation with family farmers. Research projects and structural and training activities related to UD in Brazil are jointly developed with different partners: family farmers, universities, federal institutes of science and technology, non-governmental organizations and municipal, state and federal governments.

One major challenge has been choosing suitable locations to build UD. To overcome this issue, an R&D project (Zonificación edafoclimática participativa de áreas potenciales para la construcción de presas subterráneas en unidad agrícola de base familiar en el Semiárido del Estado de Alagoas, Brasil) is being conducted by Embrapa and other partners. The objective of this project is to identify and locate suitable geo-environments for UD. At the end of the project, a technical report will be prepared, including a map with potential locations, which will assist decision-making in public policy programmes aimed at achieving the social and productive integration of family-based agroecosystems in rain-dependent areas.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DzGg7aTNciZecRJvTA0af8E_y3QKFFNT/view?usp=sharing

How is your work helping to create a food secure and zero hunger world ? Have you seen work change after the adoption of the SDGs? If so, how?

Mukusu's vision is aligned to fighting poverty, zero hunger, decent work and economic growth through provision of labour saving technologies along the crop production value chain.  The mission of Mukusu is to provide mechanical farm power to smallholder farmers through flexible financing options . This is achieved through establishment of collective hiring center (CHC) and partnering with other value chain actors in crop production to enable farmers access credit, advisory services, markets and prompt delivery of their produce to the market places. Mukusu stocked the CHC with a range of mini tractors and implements which it  hires with experienced tractor operators at a fee to farmers to mechanise their farm operations in time and for increased crop production and productivity.

 The use of the CHC model has enabled the average farmers who used to depend on subsistence farming to be included in agricultural development in Bugiri district in Uganda where we are mainly based. We partnered with Bugiri District Local Government, Namayingo Buyinja SACCO and Busowa Traders & Farmers Cooperative Society and established a farm mechanisation scheme for their members. In so doing the farmers access crop finance to mechanise their farm operations from the SACCO while the District provides extension support and provides seed for each household to produce a minimum of one acre for own food consumption and a minimum of one acre for crop production for sale.

With reference to the four pillars of food security, Mukusu's hiring of labour saving technologies to these farmers, have contributed to the increased availability of both good and cash crops at household level. Farmers used to scale down their farm operations to an acre or less of an acre while using rudimentary farm tools ( hand hoes, pandas, slashers) in order not to miss the season for good yield. Others could plant late and get less yield due to crop failure. Mukusu has registered about 556 small holder farmers increasing their farm lands from 0.5 acres to more than two acres due to use of mechanical farm power. The grain yield increased by 500kg per acre and saved 61man hours per acre in only soil tillage which they converted to livestock farming and to other income generating activities. Ms. Fauza whose picture is in the company profile attached registered an increase in income from crop production and milk production. 

The farmers have contributed greatly to the availability of food in the district and engage in bulk marketing of their well dried and sorted grains/ cereals to offtakers linked by Mukusu. Mukusu transports farmers' produce using tractors with trailers from their farms to accessible locations which the used to carry on their heads in a short time. In this way Mukusu contributes to the pillar of accessibility through hiring tractors and commercial motor vehicles to the market centers.

Food utilization and nutrition are also supported through better harvest and post harvest handling services offered by Mukusu using the collective hiring center model which enables farmers to access mechanical farm power quickly at a fee. 

Mukusu does not only hire but sensitizes farmers on mechanisation and skills youth in tractor use, service, repair and maintenance.

Can you share any stories of how your work has successfully contributed towards the realization of SDGs in your country?

What is your experience with monitoring and evaluating progress towards ending hunger, malnutrition and supporting sustainable agriculture in your country? 

 See the profile attached for the pictures and achievements for success and progress.

Margaret Naggujja

Mukusu Motors and Properties Ltd

Find attached a copy of my short discussion on the subject matter.

„Protein of Animal Origin: Are there Alternatives for Human Nutrition?“

Considering limited natutal resources, such as land, water, fuel, some minerals and increased emissions as well as rapid population growth, food security is one of the largest challenges of the current century. Apart from sufficient food, the supply with essential nutrients, such as amino acids, minerals and vitamins have top priority in human nutrition. In consequence of the high need of limited resources and some emissions ( e.g. methane, laughing gas) farm animal husbandry is questionable from various views and many people – mainly from the cities in high developed contries – ask for alternatives.

In our study, we analysed potentials for improvement of traditional ways of plant and animal production as well as new possibilities of protein manufacturing. Such alternatives are:

• Avoid food competition between human and animals
• Reduction of land, feed and food losses along the whole food chain
• Changes in the consumption behaviour of men
• Avoidance of overconsumption and overweight of people
• Dogs, cats and other meat consumer can be considered as food competitor
• Improvement of aquaculture
• Imitated food based on plant products (mainly legumes)
• Using of single cell protein and algea in human nutrition
• Insects as feed and food
• So-called „Lab grown (in vitro, cultured or artificially) meat“.

More food for more people with lower resources need and less emissions can be considered as one of the largest challenge for all those, working along the food chain.

(More details can be found in a paper by Flachowsky et al. (2019) in the journal „Zuechtungskunde“ 91, (3); 178-213; 2019; unfortunately in German)

Best regards

Gerhard Flachowsky

Institute of Animal Nutrition

Federal Research Institute of Animal Health

Bundesallee 37

38116 Braunschweig

Germany

English translation below

La problématique de l'eau potable dans le monde est intimement liée à la problématique de l'assainissement des eaux usées sa principale source de pollution. La terre, le sol et les sous sols, l'environnement, les milieux hydraulique naturels, les nappes phréatiques servent de -poubelle-de l'assainissement des eaux usées.

Les eaux usées à caractéristique ‘biologique’ contiennent de l'OR-ganie, un enrichissement naturel de la terre végétale.

Ce liquide en sortie du procédé «Fosse Biologique»lyseconcept contient de l’eau, de fines particules de matière organique en suspension, une flore bactérienne active, des composants biochimiques (azote, nitrate, potasse phosphate, ammoniaque, urée), le tout formant un engrais naturel.

Cette biotechnologie est implantée sous la forme d’un concept d’épuration biologique intéressant tout endroit consommant de l’eau quotidiennement pour les besoins domestiques.

Cette biotechnologie s’implante en toute zone du globe, en tout lieu, en toute configuration, adaptée à la production d’eaux usées: hôtel, restauration, industrie, école, communauté, individuel.

Quel que soit le lieu de l’installation de la biotechnologie, le rejet du liquide en sortie du dispositif est dispersé sur un exutoire végétalisé en complément d’épuration du procédé. Cette biodiversité pouvant servir de support alimentaire pour l’habitat mais aussi pour la communauté des défavorisés.

Le concept biotechnologique d’épuration des excréments préserve la salubrité des zones à forte densité d’habitat.

La biotechnologie recyclant immédiatement le liquide en sortie du procédé, procure une réduction du prélèvement d’eau potable des réserves souterraines tout en préservant les nappes phréatiques de la pollution.

je vous remercie de l'intérêt que vous porterez à notre -Biotechnologie- d’épuration biologique des effluents d’eaux usées

Bonne réception

cordialement

Jean Marius D'Alexandris

The problem of drinking water in the world is closely linked to the problem of sewage treatment, its main source of pollution. The land, soil and subsoil, the environment, natural hydraulic environments, groundwater are used as waste water treatment bins.

Sewage of ‘biological’ characteristics contains organia, a natural enrichment of topsoil.

This fluid resulting from the "Biological Pit" lysis concept process contains water, fine particles of suspended organic matter, an active bacterial flora, biochemical components (nitrogen, nitrate, phosphate potash, ammonia, urea), all of which form a natural fertilizer.

Such biotechnology is implemented as a biological purification concept for any place where water is consumed on a daily basis for domestic needs.

It can be implemented in any part of the world, anywhere, in any setting, adapted to the production of waste water: hotel, catering, industry, school, community, individual.

Regardless of the location of the biotechnology facility, the liquid discharge from the device is dispersed on a vegetation outfall in addition to the purification process. Such biodiversity can serve as a food support for the habitat, but also for the impoverished community.

The biotechnological concept of excreta purification is designed to preserve the sanitation of areas with high population density.

Biotechnology immediately recycles the liquid at the outlet of the process, reducing the extraction of drinking water from groundwater reserves while protecting groundwater from pollution.

Thank you for your interest in our Biotechnology - Biological treatment of sewage effluents.

Regards

Jean Marius D'Alexandris