The New Agriculturist

The New Agriculturist edition 2009-03

In this issue...

Coping with change is an ongoing challenge for many poor farmers Coping with change is a theme that weaves through this edition of New Agriculturist. Whether it is farmers coping with changes in climate or markets, or scientists grappling with the challenges for research, we report on some of the current developments in global agriculture.

Full listing of the contents of this edition of the New Agriculturist

Focus on... Natural fibres

Covering crop and animal fibres, technologies and policies, in this edition we focus on the various ways in which rural producers and processors are overcoming the challenges involved in marketing their natural fibres.

Sustainable sisal in Tanzania

The Hale biogas plant uses sisal waste to produce electicity. (credit: Katani Ltd.) A boom in the global demand for sisal fibre has revitalised the industry in Tanzania. While smallholders are benefitting from planting the drought-resistant crop alongside their maize and beans, one sisal processing company has developed some innovative uses for the sisal biomass.

Three bags full - the black sheep of Deccan

Village weavers use the best wool for producing quality products. (credit: Kamal Kishore) Well-adapted to life on the semi-arid Deccan Plateau, Deccani sheep provide meat, manure and thick black wool. While attempts to produce softer and finer wool by crossbreeding have proved unsuccessful, focusing on traditional skills of local weavers has created a "recession-proof" market.

Developments

Voting for vetiver in Ethiopia

Madagascan families are earning valuable income by establishing vetiver nurseries. (credit: Roley Nuffke) At a recent conference reviewing 20 years of Ethiopian experience of the Vetiver System (VS), delegates agreed that the use of VS in Ethiopia should be scaled-up, as well as introduced for non-farm purposes.

Cocoa video - Ghana's television extension

Video viewing clubs (VVC) form part of a creative extension programme for cocoa farmers in Ghana (credit: Kofi Adu Domfeh) In Ghana, a team of farmers has been given technical training in video production, and have made eight short training films on different aspects of cocoa farming. Through video viewing clubs, the 'best practice' messages are now reaching hundreds of cocoa growers.

Country profile: Mongolia

With a livestock population of 30 million, people are outnumbered ten-to-one. (credit: Martin Aylett) With its harsh climate and sparsely populated landscape, nomadic pastoralism is one of Mongolia's key economic activities. Despite the turbulent transition to a market economy and numerous natural disasters, steps are being taken to reduce the vulnerability of livestock keepers.

News brief

Biofuel production from jatropha can benefit rural poor, says new report Concerns over spread of swine flu; food aid under threat from pirates as WFP says food production must double; West Africa likely to experience 'megadrought'; water woes in Iraq and Yemen threaten agriculture; FAO reveals benefits of bioenergy for the rural poor, and much more.

A-maize-ing progress in Ethiopia

(credit: CIMMYT) Demand for improved maize varieties has outstripped supply as Ethiopian highland farmers experience increasing yields. The new varieties have been introduced by CIMMYT in partnership with the Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research.