In Ethiopia, farming systems rely heavily on animal and human power, reducing productivity and efficiency. In recent years, the government and development partners have made significant efforts to modernize agriculture. In 2013, CIMMYT introduced one-axel multipurpose tractors in various districts of Amhara, Oromia, South and Tigray regions. This new technology has helped to improve farmers’ lives and phase out outdated
There is a need for better understanding of how food systems operate in order to effectively address food safety and nutrition in low- and middle-income countries, says a new review paper. The review published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (Apr 2021) proposes that countries and international institutions provide an atlas of food system maps for key food commodities. This
In Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, research found that climate change has led to increased pests and diseases, low agricultural productivity, food insecurity and general loss of genetic diversity.The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT has been promoting an Open Source Seed System for beans, sorghum and finger millet for climate change adaptation, funded by FAO.
Covering about one-third of global land surface, deserts are characterized by little to no rainfall, poor and sandy soil, extreme temperatures, scorching winds, little water catchment potential, and almost complete reliance on often non-renewable groundwater. Yet, deserts are a source of livelihood for millions of people. But the food systems and agrobiodiversity of deserts are under threat, which is where
Gender concepts have evolved over the years. Old concepts have been refined or replaced with new concepts. There are key gender terms and concepts we need to be acquainted with if we want to integrate and measure gender indicators in our projects. These key concepts vary depending on the discourse; whether you are working in the agricultural, humanitarian and health
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruptions of social interactions, affecting both the supply and demand for food. These disruptions to jobs, income and food supply magnified and exacerbated existing inequalities. While the emerging urban middle class suffered greater income losses, the poor and vulnerable in rural and urban areas experienced the worst livelihood impacts. Many social programs, including cash transfers,
BY WEI ZHANG AND JESSICA WALLACH Maintaining healthy soils is crucial to long-term agricultural sustainability and food security—yet soils face major stresses worldwide. In 2015, the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils rated one third of land worldwide as moderately to highly degraded. The impacts are especially serious in Africa south of the Sahara and South Asia, where smallholder farmers must contend
COVID-19 may have forced the 50th anniversary of Earth Day to be commemorated online last year, yet millions of people participated in calls to action. As we begin to look beyond the pandemic, however, it’s vital to remember that we cannot go back to business-as-usual as far as our planet is concerned. Against the backdrop of Earth Day 2021’s theme of