New Agriculturist

New Agriculturist podcast 2010-1

From the excitement and passion of a football match in Kumasi, Ghana, Susie Emmett introduces some of the highlights of the first edition of New Agriculturist in 2010. We hear from Alex Coupy, head chef at the 5 Star Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia, who now sources 70 per cent of his fresh fruit and vegetables from local smallholder farmers. Collins Nkatiko and Lillian Phiri explain how a unique African acacia tree can transform soil fertility, while Dorothy Dieudou offers a potted guide to perfect compost making. Some good news and inspiration for the new year from New Agriculturist.
Audio link: http://wrenmedia.jellycast.com/files/audio/new-ag10-1.mp3
Article: Editorial , Pineapple waste not, want not, Zambia: meeting a tall order

Community science understanding drought

In East Africa, drought has caused terrible losses, with cattle dying in large numbers. Now, some livestock keepers have decided to conduct a drought survey, to find out what they could have done to be better prepared. Kofi Adu Domfeh visited some of those who took part, to find out how useful such community-driven research can be.
Audio link: http://www.agfax.net/radio/detail.php?i=287
Article: Coping with drought: A community-led response

New Agriculturist podcast 2009-6

From Sampu Camp, on an escarpment overlooking Kenya’s South Rift Valley, journalists Busani Bafana and Geoffrey Onditi enjoy a spectacular view, whilst mourning the losses to livestock and livelihood inflicted by a two year drought in the region. Maasai leader John Kamanga, author of this edition’s Perspective, explains how local people are preparing themselves to cope better with future droughts, and learning lessons from pastoralist groups from around the world. Meanwhile, in Brussels, five participants at an international conference give their points of view on the role of the media in promoting agricultural development.
Audio link: http://wrenmedia.jellycast.com/files/audio/new-ag09-6.mp3
Article: Editorial , John Kamanga, Role of the media in agricultural development

Drought response - reduce livestock numbers

With water sources drying up and grazing resources under pressure, livestock herders in northern Kenya are being encouraged to slaughter their weaker animals. The approach is recommended by the recently published Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS), but implementing it has involved building the trust of pastoralist communities. Under a destocking programme, the communities are being paid for animals that are killed, and also receive the meat. Dan Irura, programme manager for VSF Belgium in Turkana, explains how it has worked.
Audio link: http://www.agfax.net/radio/detail.php?i=274
Article: Pastoralists suffer in East Africa

Uganda's agricultural stock-take

In 2008, Uganda carried out a national livestock census, to gather figures for its numbers of cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens and ducks, as well as information about production systems and farm infrastructure. Currently, the country is undertaking a full agricultural census, in order that policies can be developed to meet actual needs in farming communities. Census enumerators are using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to record the data, as Pius Sawa finds out when he visits a farm being surveyed.
Audio link: http://www.agfax.net/radio/detail.php?i=273
Article: Uganda's GPS stock-take

Hungry season - a deepening crisis

Despite countless initiatives to boost agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa, seasonal hunger continues to blight the lives of millions of families. Poor storage is just one reason behind it, with farmers losing much of their harvest to pests and damage. As a result, in the weeks and even months prior to harvest, families have to scrape by on minimal food or income. And with climate change making rainfall increasingly unpredictable in many areas, small-scale farmers seem to be more vulnerable than ever. At a recent workshop - Seasonality revisited - experts considered the best ways forward. Hungry season - a deepening crisis presents a selection of their views.
Audio link: http://www.agfax.net/radio/detail.php?i=279
Article: Uncovering seasonality

New Agriculturist podcast 2009-5

With the wheat and barley harvested, our New Agriculturist podcast comes from the fringes of a wind-swept stubble field in the UK. The seasons are on the turn, and changing seasons are also under discussion. For example, what kind of support do farmers need to cope with an increasingly unpredictable climate? Meanwhile, Uganda is busy analysing this year’s farm yields; we learn the views of field staff and the office number-crunchers on the value of conducting a national agricultural survey. And, from the shore of Lake Victoria, we hear how locally-run Beach Management Units are tackling over-harvesting, by confiscating unsuitable nets.
Audio link: http://wrenmedia.jellycast.com/files/audio/new-ag09-5.mp3
Article: Editorial , Uncovering seasonality, Uganda's GPS stock-take, Net improvement for Lake Victoria

Land grabbing - the scramble for Africa

The leasing or buying of farmland by foreign governments and private investors in Africa has been described as ‘land grabbing’. There are serious concerns about the threat to smallholder farmers and the environmental impact of intensive agricultural production. But could it also work to the advantage of developing countries, as a valuable source of investment? Four experts from Africa, Europe, America and the Philippines offer their views.
Audio link: http://www.agfax.net/radio/detail.php?i=270
Article: 'Land grabbing' - opportunity or threat? , 'Land grabbing' - realising the benefits

New Agriculturist podcast 2009-4

Resourceful and full of resources: this short phrase sums up many Africans and their nations. On the shores of one of East Africa's greatest resources, the mighty Lake Victoria, Ugandan radio presenter Pius Sawa joins Susie Emmett to discuss some of the issues that feature in this edition of New Agriculturist. While rain clouds hover ahead and fishermen offload their catch, this podcast ponders the rights and wrongs of 'land grabbing' by investors from afar, hears about Pius's visit to an unusual pineapple farm on an island in the lake, and samples some exciting new forest products from Ghana and beyond.
Audio link: http://wrenmedia.jellycast.com/files/audio/new-ag09-4.mp3
Article: Editorial , 'Land grabbing' - opportunity or threat?, Agarwood - the sweet smell of success, Bittersweet: going organic for pineapple in Uganda, Novel approach for Allanblackia

Joining forces for irrigation

In Kafue district, Zambia, food shortage has been the norm for eight years. Now, 126 smallholder farming families have pooled their land and leased part of it to a commercial farming company. In return for using part of the land, the company is installing irrigation equipment over the entire area, allowing the smallholders to produce maize and vegetables. This pilot project is a new way of financing small-scale farming to tackle food insecurity, but could pave the way for similar schemes elsewhere.
Audio link: http://www.agfax.net/radio/detail.php?i=265
Article: AgDevCo - a positive investment approach in difficult times