http://www.new-ag.info The New Agriculturist - New Agriculturist online provides an update on the latest news and developments in tropical agriculture for a global audience.en-gb Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:10:23 +0100 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:10:23 +0100 Copyright: (C) WRENmedia, http://www.wrenmedia.co.uk s.thorp@wrenmedia.co.uk (Susanna Thorp) webmaster@wrenmedia.co.uk (New Agriculturist webmaster) http://www.new-ag.info/image/design/new-ag_tn.jpg http://www.new-ag.info 144 144 New Agriculturist RSS feed Illegal logging worldwide has dropped by almost a quarter over the last decade, states a new report published by Chatham House. 21/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1703&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/brief.php-1703-21/07/10 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:09:27 +0100 Mangrove forests are being lost at a rate up to four times higher than land-based forests despite restoration efforts by some countries, a new report states. 19/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1702&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/brief.php-1702-19/07/10 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:24:37 +0100 Brachiaria humidicola, a species of grass used to feed livestock in Latin America, could be a valuable tool in tackling climate change. The plant roots produce a chemical that inhibits the conversion of fertiliser nitrogen into nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. Scientists are now investigating how brachiaria could be used in developing low nitrifying crop-livestock systems. 16/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1672&s=r Focus on http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/focuson/focuson7.php-1672-16/07/10 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:38:05 +0100 Yields of rice and wheat in India and China could drop by 30-50 per cent by 2050 as a result of a water crisis in the Himalayas, according to a report by the Strategic Foresight Group, an Indian-based think tank. 15/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1700&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/brief.php-1700-15/07/10 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:29:21 +0100 Free and open access to FAOSTAT, the world's largest database on food, agriculture and hunger, has been granted by FAO. 13/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1701&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/brief.php-1701-13/07/10 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:44:48 +0100 Already used by farmers in 17 countries, the Integrated Farm Management approach developed by LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) is being rolled out in sub-Saharan Africa, to help smaller scale farmers of export crops to adopt high environmental standards of production, thus securing good contracts with a European retailer. 12/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1671&s=r Developments http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/develop/dev3.php-1671-12/07/10 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:57:03 +0100 The Guinea savannah zone of west and southern Africa has enormous potential for commercial agriculture, according to a World Bank Report - Awakening Africa's Sleeping Giant. But is large scale or smallholder farming the best option for the region, or for the continent more widely? Participants at a recent workshop in London offer their views. 12/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1682&s=r Points of view http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/pov.php-1682-12/07/10 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:13:52 +0100 Faced with extreme conditions pastoralists have to rely upon traditional coping mechanisms and support from governments and international agencies. But two index-based livestock insurance programmes are providing pastoralists in Mongolia and northern Kenya with the tools to help them cope with climate-related risks. 09/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1668&s=r Focus on http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/focuson/focuson6.php-1668-09/07/10 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:38:03 +0100 Agriculture is more than just farming; it is about business, education, health, land rights and culture. Cutting across these vital aspects of a country's structure, agriculture should no longer be seen as one sector or confined to one government ministry but should be fully integrated into national and regional development processes. Challenging the direction of agricultural development is a major theme in this issue. 09/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1696&s=r Editorial http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/index.php-1696-09/07/10 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:58:31 +0100 Prolonged, dry periods and sporadic heavy rain are testing the resilience of pastoralists in the Horn of Africa. In response to these challenges innovative examples of adaptation, were shared at a recent conference, Pastoralism and Climate Change Adaptation, held at Egerton University in Nakuru, Kenya. 09/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1669&s=r Focus on http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/focuson/focuson1.php-1669-09/07/10 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:21:45 +0100 Hans Binswanger-Mkhize, a co-author of a World Bank study, discusses how the potential of about 400 million hectares of arable land in the African savannahs could be developed. 09/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1663&s=r My perspective... a personal viewpoint http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/perspective.php-1663-09/07/10 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:59:32 +0100 Known as the Spice Island of the Caribbean, Grenada was second only to Indonesia in global nutmeg production before hurricane Ivan in 2004 crippled the industry. Food crops, forest areas and agricultural infrastructure were also severely damaged. But with assistance, the government has been promoting a number of initiatives in order to revitalise the agricultural sector. 09/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1654&s=r Country profile http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/countryp.php-1654-09/07/10 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:39:54 +0100 Widely regarded as a weed and largely ignored by crop breeders, grain amaranth has been introduced into western Kenya as a drought-tolerant food and cash crop for small farmers. 09/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1683&s=r In pictures http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/picture.php-1683-09/07/10 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:02:43 +0100 Tracking the right evidence to demonstrate impact is a conundrum common to many development projects. However, adopting a 'learning by doing' approach and having space to experiment at five pilot sites in India and Nigeria has provided valuable lessons in building innovation capacity to address fodder scarcity. 09/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1697&s=r Developments http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/develop/dev4.php-1697-09/07/10 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:01:33 +0100 Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the original 'Sussex Manifesto' on science and technology for development, the STEPS Centre has created a new manifesto which recommends ways of linking science, technology and innovation to meet the needs of developing countries. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1666&s=r Developments http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/develop/dev1.php-1666-08/07/10 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:56:15 +0100 With population exceeding resources and greenhouse gas emissions fueling climate change, Matt Ridley argues that while the future looks bleak, rational optimism holds that the world will pull out of the current crisis. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1658&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/books.php-1658-08/07/10 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:56:07 +0100 Endangered African rice varieties will be the focus of a major scientific initiative to increase rice production in Africa after a report by AfricaRice countered the claim that African rice is lower yielding than Asian rice, particularly under harsh conditions. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1647&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/brief.php-1647-08/07/10 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:53:59 +0100 The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis) has announced that the US and the Seychelles will ban imports of Kenyan avocadoes if the country is unable to address their fruit fly problem, following the lead of South Africa who banned exports of the fruit in 2008. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1652&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/brief.php-1652-08/07/10 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 09:58:09 +0100 Ahead of the G8 summit, the Farming First coalition has launched a food security guide which calls on policymakers to focus on a common goal of food security, to increase transparency regarding pledged funding, and to engage a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that efforts succeed. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1655&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/brief.php-1655-08/07/10 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:21:16 +0100 A recent report by the Ugandan National Academy of Science (UNAS), recommends that the Ugandan government establish legislation and regulations to address the research and commercial development of genetically engineered plants and animals. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1676&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/brief.php-1676-08/07/10 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:15:30 +0100 Six sustainable energy projects from Africa, Asia and Latin America have been presented with Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy for their work in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and bringing benefits to communities. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1674&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/brief.php-1674-08/07/10 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:15:21 +0100 Guatemala's Ministry of Agriculture, Cattle and Food and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are distributing seeds and fertilisers to thousands of farmers whose crops were destroyed by tropical storm Agatha, in June 2010. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1673&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/brief.php-1673-08/07/10 Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:47:52 +0100 Half of the population in Niger is facing hunger after a series of droughts have led to poor harvests and severe shortages of pasture and water across the Sahel. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1657&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/brief.php-1657-08/07/10 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:10:46 +0100 With more than 750 million people engaged in milk production worldwide, Status and prospects for smallholder milk production analyses the global dairy sector in order to provide a better understanding of the opportunities available to smallholder milk producers in developing countries. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1660&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/books.php-1660-08/07/10 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:03:49 +0100 By comparing the African Guinea Savannah zone with the Cerrado region of Brazil and the Northeast region of Thailand, Awakening Africa's sleeping giant explores the feasibility of stimulating international competitiveness and growth in African agriculture. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1678&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/books.php-1678-08/07/10 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:49:35 +0100 In The plundered planet, Oxford economist Paul Collier endeavours to 'square the circle' between the usually conflicting demands of conservation and exploitation of natural resources. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1695&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/books.php-1695-08/07/10 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:09:12 +0100 Livestock production faces continuing global criticism for the environmental damage caused by its emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. To be environmentally friendly, further development of livestock production systems will have to rely on increased efficiency of production rather than increased numbers of animals. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1694&s=r Focus on http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/focuson/focuson5.php-1694-08/07/10 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:38:01 +0100 Livestock have always been fundamental to life in some of the world's driest places. But with many dry areas becoming even drier, more livestock are competing for less water and rangelands are failing to provide food through the year. But in the Butana region of Sudan, communities are making the most of their small share of resources. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1675&s=r Focus on http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/focuson/focuson3.php-1675-08/07/10 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:21:51 +0100 Rift Valley fever is one of a number of transboundary livestock diseases which impact on livestock keepers across Africa. But climate change is altering disease distribution, as vectors such as mosquitoes move to new habitats, making prediction and control of disease outbreaks difficult. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1670&s=r Focus on http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/focuson/focuson4.php-1670-08/07/10 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:21:54 +0100 In recent years, extreme weather events in the high-altitude Andean plains have become more frequent and severe, increasing the vulnerability of smallscale livestock keepers. In response, FAO launched an emergency support programme to help camelid keepers improve their fodder production and herd management. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1664&s=r Focus on http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/focuson/focuson2.php-1664-08/07/10 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:21:48 +0100 The livestock sector is often condemned for its contribution to climate change but poor smallscale livestock keepers are more likely to be impacted by climate change than to contribute significantly to global warming. In this edition, we look at a selection of approaches and initiatives which demonstrate the resilience of livestock keepers and their determination to survive. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1665&s=r Focus on http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/focuson.php-1665-08/07/10 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:21:43 +0100 Through case studies from selected countries and specific sectors, including energy, agriculture, manufacturing and telecommunications, the contributing authors examine the opportunities and challenges created by Asian investment in Africa. 08/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1681&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/books.php-1681-08/07/10 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:09:15 +0100 Greywater use in the Middle East examines approaches to treat and use greywater for irrigation, discusses issues that influence the effectiveness and sustainability of greywater use, and identifies the need for comprehensive water-use policies. 07/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1661&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/books.php-1661-07/07/10 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:49:30 +0100 Areas of debate covered in this Earthscan reader include the decline in funding for conservation, lack of attention for biodiversity in development policy and the social implications of protectionist conservation. 07/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1679&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/books.php-1679-07/07/10 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:11:39 +0100 From market information, to information on pests and diseases, to weather reports, information that is relevant to farmers' specific needs is being increasingly provided by ICTs. 06/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1569&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/brief.php-1569-06/07/10 Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:26:30 +0100 A new set of guidelines on Supporting livelihoods and local livestock breeds has been published by the LIFE Network to help those involved in livestock development work with communities on the sustainable use and conservation of animal genetic resources, putting the Livestock Keepers' Rights into practice. 06/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1570&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/brief.php-1570-06/07/10 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:58:40 +0100 In recognition of projects which promote and benefit from the farmer's voice, nine development organisations including CARE Malawi, Farm Radio International and World Vision Zimbabwe have been recognised by ALINe's 2010 Farmer Voice Awards. 06/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1571&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/brief.php-1571-06/07/10 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:33:07 +0100 An anthocyanin purple tea variety that could earn farmers three to four times more than green tea has been developed by experts at the Tea Research Foundation of Kenya. 06/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1567&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/brief.php-1567-06/07/10 Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:30:52 +0100 Agricultural and enterprise training for women smallholders is needed to reduce poverty in developing countries, a new report from City & Guilds Centre for Skills Development has revealed. 06/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1568&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/brief.php-1568-06/07/10 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:33:20 +0100 Rare variations of a maize gene (crtRB1), which can lead to an 18-fold increase in beta-carotene content of maize, have been discovered by a team of scientists. 06/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1574&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/brief.php-1574-06/07/10 Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:26:34 +0100 Using farmer-to-farmer videos and the mass media to convey information about improved rice production and processing techniques, the Rice Rural Learning Initiative was presented with the Award for Outstanding Communications by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) at the recent Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development. 06/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1606&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/brief.php-1606-06/07/10 Tue, 04 May 2010 12:03:26 +0100 Launched at the UN climate talks in Copenhagen in 2009, the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases met for the first time in New Zealand in April 2010. 06/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1612&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/brief.php-1612-06/07/10 Sat, 01 May 2010 17:19:12 +0100 Using solar-powered weather stations and a mobile phone payment system, a 'pay as you plant' insurance scheme will enable Kenyan farmers with as little as one acre of land to protect their investments in seeds, fertilisers and other inputs. 06/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1573&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/brief.php-1573-06/07/10 Sat, 01 May 2010 11:09:54 +0100 Engaging over 500 farmers in sustainable carbon sequestration activities, the Ugandan Trees for Global Benefits project is the first in Africa to have met the Plan Vivo Standard for community-led land-use carbon projects. 06/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1609&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/brief.php-1609-06/07/10 Tue, 04 May 2010 10:20:33 +0100 Claims that food production must double by 2050 to feed a growing population are wrong, according to a new report by the UK's Soil Association. 06/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1611&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/brief.php-1611-06/07/10 Tue, 04 May 2010 09:17:06 +0100 This report offers an overview of small and medium scale forest enterprises in Ghana, including governance, finance and marketing issues and the mechanisms that exist to promote small and medium scale forest businesses. 06/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1680&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/books.php-1680-06/07/10 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:31:14 +0100 By explaining how a project in Mauritania, implemented by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, fixed sand dunes and stopped sand encroachment, Fighting sand encroachment aims to serve as a useful blueprint for similar projects across Africa. 06/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1677&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/books.php-1677-06/07/10 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:27:12 +0100 A biological control product has been developed to prevent the contamination of maize by aflatoxin - a poison that can cause liver cancer, fatigue, reduced immunity and death. 05/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1656&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/brief.php-1656-05/07/10 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:56:48 +0100 Agricultural innovations that specifically target Africa's smallholder farmers and the continent's varying climate conditions are required to restore food security and achieve an African Green Revolution, a new UN report has said. 02/07/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1624&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/brief.php-1624-02/07/10 Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:50:14 +0100 Warmer temperatures, rising sea-levels and unpredictable rainfall are just some of the consequences of climate change, and according to the authors, protected areas are an essential part of the global response. 30/06/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1659&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/books.php-1659-30/06/10 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:03:55 +0100 Weather forecasts for the 2010 hurricane season predict a more active than normal season, and an increased chance that Haiti will be hit by a strong hurricane, weather experts from Colorado State University have warned. 18/06/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1653&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/brief.php-1653-18/06/10 Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:26:22 +0100 With Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), or blue ear disease, spreading across Vietnam, large numbers of pig farmers are facing financial difficulty. 11/06/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1649&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/brief.php-1649-11/06/10 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:10:58 +0100 With the discovery of four new mutations of Ug99 - a strain of wheat stem rust - which have overcome two of the most important stem rust-resistant genes used in breeding programmes, scientists have warned that an outbreak in any significant wheat growing area could cause significant food shortages. 10/06/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1646&s=r Developments http://www.new-ag.info/10/04/develop/dev2.php-1646-10/06/10 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:27:57 +0100 Trade liberalisation in developing countries has created job opportunities for some women, but has resulted in the destruction of jobs and income for others. Aimed specifically at policymakers and development practitioners, Trading stories uses 20 case studies to assess the key links between trade, gender and economic development. 21/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1579&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/books.php-1579-21/05/10 Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:26:17 +0100 The AgroSalud initiative, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), is tackling malnutrition through biofortification (breeding for improved nutritional content), in four staple crops: rice, maize, sweet potato and common bean. 13/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1582&s=r In pictures http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/picture.php-1582-13/05/10 Tue, 04 May 2010 16:15:43 +0100 Transformation of the global research system, the value of partnerships and the need for governments to provide enabling policies to support the agricultural challenges that face the world, as well as honour existing commitments, are all highlighted in this issue. And, as always, we strive to report on successes as well as the challenges that lie ahead for effective agricultural development. 07/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1622&s=r Editorial http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/index.php-1622-07/05/10 Fri, 07 May 2010 10:33:44 +0100 In Bangladesh, where up to 1 million hectares of land has been affected by salinity, a new salt-resistant variety of rice is helping thousands of smallscale farmers adapt. 07/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1572&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/brief.php-1572-07/05/10 Fri, 07 May 2010 10:24:05 +0100 Three thousand children in 15 Ghanaian primary schools are to benefit from a tree planting and forest conservation project. Following poor responses by adults in previous attempts to encourage tree planting, the project aims to teach children that planting trees is a worthwhile investment in their own future, and the future of the planet. 07/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1592&s=r Developments http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/develop/dev5.php-1592-07/05/10 Thu, 06 May 2010 16:41:49 +0100 Agricultural research stands at a crossroads as increasingly complex challenges to feed the world are faced. The world looks to science for the answers but research takes time to achieve an impact. From the first Global Conference for ARD we present the viewpoints of some of the delegates gathered to discuss the challenges in transforming the global research system. 06/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1591&s=r Points of view http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/pov.php-1591-06/05/10 Thu, 06 May 2010 15:15:46 +0100 Totaling 607 islands spread over 2.6 million square kilometres of water in the Pacific, the Federated States of Micronesia is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Changes in rainfall and temperature, increasing frequency of tropical storms, rising sea levels, salinisation and ocean acidification all pose significant threats to the country's agriculture and fisheries sectors. 06/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1566&s=r Country profile http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/countryp.php-1566-06/05/10 Thu, 06 May 2010 12:10:09 +0100 The sleepy township of Wamba in Kenya's Rift Valley Province bursts to life long before dawn, vehicles hooting incessantly and cows, sheep, camels and goats adding to the cacophony as minders urge on their livestock. Established in 2005, the Lolkuniani livestock market has changed the lives of not only livestock keepers but also other traders living in this remote and neglected region. 06/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1618&s=r Developments http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/develop/dev4.php-1618-06/05/10 Tue, 04 May 2010 16:07:21 +0100 Overpopulation in the north Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo is threatening biodiversity in Virunga National Park, part of the Congo Basin. A partnership between WWF and local authorities is pioneering a community-driven model for protecting the 800,000 hectares of fragile ecosystems ranging from rainforest to savanna within the context of conflict. 06/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1585&s=r Developments http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/develop/dev2.php-1585-06/05/10 Tue, 04 May 2010 12:06:39 +0100 A global agricultural fund to boost the productivity of small farmers in the developing world, and consequently reduce poverty, has recently been launched. Initial contributions from Spain, South Korea, Canada, the US and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation total nearly US$900 million. 06/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1608&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/brief.php-1608-06/05/10 Tue, 04 May 2010 09:16:23 +0100 The Philippines government is planning on importing 3 million metric tons (MT) of rice this year to ensure that a 90 day supply of rice is maintained as a result of a prolonged drought caused by El Niņo. 06/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1607&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/brief.php-1607-06/05/10 Tue, 04 May 2010 10:20:36 +0100 An initiative to bring partners together to discuss and implement opportunities to improve livestock production in Namibia has stimulated a public-private partnership to provide animal health services and inputs. 06/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1617&s=r Focus on http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/focuson/focuson1.php-1617-06/05/10 Thu, 06 May 2010 09:33:00 +0100 In Honduras, 50 per cent of the rural population has little or no access to land. As a result, the Access to Land Project (PACTA) has been working to support landless and land-poor families to acquire land and establish profitable and sustainable farm enterprises using public-private partnerships. 06/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1616&s=r Focus on http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/focuson/focuson3.php-1616-06/05/10 Thu, 06 May 2010 09:33:16 +0100 In Africa, dilapidated warehouses stand empty, while farmers living nearby get low prices for their grain because they have nowhere to store it until prices improve. But this wasted resource is also an opportunity, one that is now being exploited in Tanzania, by the Tanzania Agriculture Partnership. 06/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1588&s=r Focus on http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/focuson/focuson4.php-1588-06/05/10 Thu, 06 May 2010 11:03:58 +0100 From livestock health to public health, aquaculture, horticulture, cereals and staples, we focus on some of the public-private partnerships that are resulting in successful agricultural research and development around the globe. 06/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1565&s=r Focus on http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/focuson.php-1565-06/05/10 Thu, 06 May 2010 11:04:45 +0100 In Costa Rica and Panama, as in nine other countries, the consortium Clayuca is connecting partners to collaborate on better technologies and markets for the under-valued cassava crop. 06/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1586&s=r Focus on http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/focuson/focuson7.php-1586-06/05/10 Thu, 06 May 2010 11:04:03 +0100 A partnership manufacturing long lasting insecticidal nets in Tanzania is looking beyond fighting malaria to potential pest control applications in vegetable farming. 06/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1587&s=r Focus on http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/focuson/focuson8.php-1587-06/05/10 Thu, 06 May 2010 11:04:00 +0100 Tef is Ethiopia's main cereal crop, but compared to other major cereals tef produces very low yields due to a weakness of the stem which causes the plant to fall. To increase its productivity, a public-private partnership is developing semi-dwarf varieties that will be resistant to lodging. 06/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1590&s=r Focus on http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/focuson/focuson6.php-1590-06/05/10 Thu, 06 May 2010 11:03:56 +0100 In the bread and rice baskets of South Asia, cereal production has stalled. In response, four of the CG centres have launched the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA), a ten year programme that aims to transform cereal production in the region. In its first year, CSISA has established over 200 partnerships across nine 'hubs' in the region. 06/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1614&s=r Focus on http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/focuson/focuson2.php-1614-06/05/10 Thu, 06 May 2010 09:33:23 +0100 Aquaculture currently produces more than 50 per cent of all fish and seafood products that are consumed worldwide. With ongoing intensification and global networking, aquaculture is creating an increasing demand for infrastructure and supporting public services, resulting in a diversity of public-private partnerships (PPPs). 06/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1615&s=r Focus on http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/focuson/focuson5.php-1615-06/05/10 Thu, 06 May 2010 09:33:19 +0100 The ban on flights across much of Europe in April, imposed due to a volcanic ash cloud, caused exports of perishable goods from Africa to Europe to grind to a halt. While African producers work hard to recover from the disruption, questions have again been raised about whether European countries should be importing so much fresh produce. 04/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1619&s=r Developments http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/develop/dev1.php-1619-04/05/10 Tue, 04 May 2010 16:07:49 +0100 Kashmiri saffron, famous for offering the best quality in the world, has almost halved in value since 2009. However, with the support of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the World Bank has launched a 'Value Chain on Kashmir Saffron' project, which aims to boost production and quality using environmentally-friendly techniques. 04/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1589&s=r Developments http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/develop/dev3.php-1589-04/05/10 Tue, 04 May 2010 12:07:00 +0100 In the midst of a food crisis in the Sahel, FAO is increasing aid to pastoralists and farmers in Niger and Chad. 04/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1610&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/brief.php-1610-04/05/10 Tue, 04 May 2010 12:03:31 +0100 Mankind is rapidly depleting water reserves to the point of exhaustion. Global water consumption is doubling every 20 years, and there are clear signs of water depletion, from America and Mexico to China and India. But strategies used by the San Bushmen of Botswana could help the world endure an age of permanent drought. 04/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1578&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/books.php-1578-04/05/10 Tue, 04 May 2010 10:20:48 +0100 Are trade agreements, and the liberalization of trade a key to eliminating world poverty, or in fact a major cause of continuing disparities? Clive George assesses how international trade can be beneficial or detrimental to development, depending how it is managed. 04/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1605&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/books.php-1605-04/05/10 Tue, 04 May 2010 10:20:41 +0100 Agricultural biodiversity - or agrobiodiversity - plays a pivotal role in the livelihoods of all farmers. But while the need to protect and enhance agrobiodiversity seems obvious, how is this best achieved and what are the systemic consequences? 04/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1604&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/books.php-1604-04/05/10 Tue, 04 May 2010 09:15:38 +0100 Forests for people reviews nearly a decade of forest reform in 10 countries, where communities have been given legal rights to use, own or manage areas of forest. 04/05/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1602&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/books.php-1602-04/05/10 Tue, 04 May 2010 09:15:23 +0100 Jean d'Amour Manirere, the HarvestPlus Country Manager for the iron bean dissemination programme in Rwanda, explains how biofortified beans promise to be a cost-effective strategy for reducing micronutrient deficiencies. 30/04/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1584&s=r My perspective... a personal viewpoint http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/perspective.php-1584-30/04/10 Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:20:10 +0100 The first Pacific Food Summit, hosted in April 2010 by the island nation of Vanuatu, ended with a resounding call for a return to nutritious traditional foods as part of a Framework Plan of Action for Food Security. 30/04/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1601&s=r News brief http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/brief.php-1601-30/04/10 Sat, 01 May 2010 17:19:03 +0100 Many of the world's smallest, most vulnerable and least developed countries and economies are particularly prone to the threat of climate change, while also being highly dependent on trade. How can they transform their trade policies to ensure their competitiveness and reduce poverty, while mitigating climate change impacts? 28/04/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1603&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/books.php-1603-28/04/10 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:37:15 +0100 From cashmere in Kyrgyzstan, to milk in Mauritania, to camel wool in Mongolia, Adding value to livestock diversity describes eight examples from Africa, Asia and Latin America where interventions have developed markets for speciality products from local breeds. 28/04/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1576&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/books.php-1576-28/04/10 Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:26:22 +0100 Free of jargon and easy to read, Out of the scientist's garden is a collection of short stories that explore how a world with shrinking water resources will feed a growing population. 28/04/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1580&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/books.php-1580-28/04/10 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:43:27 +0100 Feeding a growing population and improving the management of natural resources are two of the most urgent challenges facing the world today, the authors write, and agricultural markets, seed systems and crop genetic resources lie at the heart of both. 23/04/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1575&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/books.php-1575-23/04/10 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:33:50 +0100 Water-related environmental changes, challenges and opportunities are just some of the important issues examined in this annual report from UNEP. Others include the effects of degradation on the world's ecosystems, the impacts of climate change, and the unsustainable use of resources. 23/04/10 http://www.new-ag.info/doc.php?id=1577&s=r Book reviews http://www.new-ag.info/10/03/books.php-1577-23/04/10 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:33:32 +0100