Watershed interventions have led to 1-2.5 meters higher groundwater levels, providing lifesaving irrigation to the farmers. This was achieved in a challenging environment in two villages in the drylands of Andhra Pradesh, India, which were facing a change in rainfall for the last five years. The steady monsoon showers were turning into sporadic heavy spells resulting in flooding, followed by
Water is often held up as a precious, life-giving element for its essential role in sustaining plants, people, and animals. But the world’s most important natural resource is also a tool, a force that can be harnessed for industry and energy, sanitation, food production, and consumption. With the world facing a worsening hunger and nutrition and a climate crisis, it
In Zambia, rural women play a vital role in aquaculture and related value chains, but their contributions often go unrecognized. Fish farming is often perceived as “men’s work,” leaving women to participate more in informal activities like fish processing and trading. This harmful assumption is holding back the potential of the sector to be a key source of income and
High-yieldng, downy mildew-resistant and suitable for food and fodder. Developed by ICRISATand evaluated by INERA Burkina Faso recently approved the commercial use of its first pearl millet hybrid called Nafagnon. With the approval, the single-cross hybrid also became the first of its kind to be approved in West and Central Africa. Nafagnon yields as much as 45 percent higher than
A renewed focus on boosting the production of millets and highlighting their benefits, is critical to reducing over-reliance on more commonly grown crops, boosting diverse diets, and food security. That’s especially true during periods of natural disaster when food becomes scarce, according to Dr Nancy Aburto, an agriculture expert at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). She spoke to UN
Farmer collectives, research, policy and advocacy institutions in Central Asia and Asia-Pacific region called for an urgent change to the prevailing yield-for-immediate-profit structure of agriculture. Their proposal of a multi-functional diversified agri-food structure, hinging on Forgotten Foods to reap benefits for the planet, farmers and consumers, will guide a global manifesto set to be presented at the UN Food Systems
BY THOMAS REARDON, JOHAN SWINNEN AND ROB VOS The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed both the vulnerability and the resilience of food supply chains. Supply chains from farm to retail have been disrupted, primarily by government-imposed lockdowns and other restrictions affecting labor supply, input provisioning, logistics, wholesale, retailing, and food service. Supply chains have also shown a good deal of resilience
A more balanced, sustainable approach to consuming food from livestock—one that meets nutrition needs and focuses on local production methods—is essential for delivering on global commitments to combat malnutrition in all its forms, according to a comprehensive report released today from UN Nutrition. While acknowledging key health and environmental challenges linked to overconsumption, the analysis also shows that livestock can