Resilience and climate change

Q&A on food security and supporting small-scale farmers with IFAD president Alvaro Lario

Farm Radio International’s Executive Director, Kevin Perkins, recently spoke with the president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Alvaro Lario. Mr. Lario was in Ottawa during his first visit to Canada. They spoke about how IFAD is supporting small-scale farmers, how climate change is affecting farmers, and how IFAD is engaging communities in finding solutions to the big challenges they face. The following is an edited, abridged transcript

International Day of Desertification and Drought 2023: Her Land. Her Rights

This year’s International Day of Desertification and Drought, marked on 17th June by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the international community, illuminates the pressing issue of women’s land rights and their contributions towards combating desertification and drought under the theme, “Her Land. Her Rights”. Women, representing nearly half of the world’s agricultural workforce, play a pivotal role in maintaining the health and sustainability of our lands.

Forest and Farm Facility programme Supports Restoration of Lake Ol Bolossat in Kenya

Lake Ol Bolossat, located in central Kenya, is one of the few freshwater lakes in the region and supports a vital ecosystem. The lake is home to over 180 bird species and is a critical water source for agriculture, livestock, and human consumption. However, the lake has been experiencing a continuous drop in water levels, leading to grave concerns about its long-term survival. In early 2023, FAO Kenya supported the

Resilience Food Stories: An agri-chef  in Kenya who grows his own food

“At 45 Degrees Kitchen, we believe food is the centre of everything we do as humans, whether at home with family and friends or at a fancy restaurant. 45 Degrees Kitchen is committed to food with integrity. We understand the connection between how food is grown or raised, how it’s prepared and how it tastes. Genuine raw ingredients come from our own garden and are sourced from organic farms in

E-Learning Course: MOOC on Agroecology, an Introduction

The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on “Agroecology, an Introduction” is an online course that aims at helping you discover what agroecology is through the complexity of the various approaches that have emerged over the years and in various regions of the world, and through the ways they can be implemented in the fields, and studied, as agricultural practices. The syllabus has been designed at the interface of agronomy, ecology

On-Air for Gender-Inclusive Nature-based Solutions

Addressing climate change and biodiversity loss in rural Africa through high-impact radio programs. Climate change and biodiversity loss are two of the most defining environmental crises that challenge the world today. Nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation have evolved as an innovative yet essential tool to address this challenge. They merge Indigenous viewpoints and ecosystem-based solutions to tackle climate adaptation efforts. If appropriately implemented, these solutions can expedite progression towards a

World Food Forum 2022: Healthy diets, healthy planet

The World Food Forum (WFF) is conducting its annual flagship event from 17 to 21 October at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome Italy. WFF is an independent, youth-led global network of partners facilitated by FAO that empowers young people everywhere to actively shape agrifood systems to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a better food future for all. With the theme, “Healthy Diets.

More than 31 million bees lost due to insecurity in North Kivu (CEMADI)

This data was revealed to the staff of RADIOMOTO.NET on May 20, 2022 in the city of Goma, DRC by the coordinator of the Centre managériale pour le développement intégral (CEMADI), Engineer Alphonse Kighoma. This was on the occasion of the celebration of World Bee Day. “We have lost four beekeepers, shot in the middle of their activity. We have lost large quantities of honey, over 500 kilograms. We have

Western tree planters association's ambitious plan for commercial forestry begins with trees on farm census

According to Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Commercial forestry is contributing 3.8% of Kenya’s GDP, excluding charcoal and direct subsistence uses. This points to the need for a closer look at the sector by various stakeholders, even as the country seeks to achieve 10% forest cover. With commercial forestry supporting Kenya’s most productive sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, livestock, energy, wildlife, water, tourism and trade, smallholder farmers are undoubtedly key players in

No ordinary irrigation in the Gambia: innovative solar-powered technologies are securing access to water for rural communities

Across many parts of rural Gambia, women farmers often start their days before dawn to ensure that they have enough water to irrigate their gardens and to cook, clean and bathe at home. “Some of us would wake up as early as 3.00 a.m. to 4.00 a.m. just to get water. Hyenas attacked us on three different occasions,” said Salla Bah, a vegetable farmer in the Central River Region in