It’s 5:00am in rural Kiambu County, just outside the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. A cacophony of snorts and squeals breaks the quiet morning air. It is breakfast time on Alma Farms, and Alex is feeding his pigs their daily fare of sow mash before ensuring their pens are fresh and clean. Once he is satisfied that his pigs are set up for their day, Alex turns to begin his own.
The significance of sustainability and environmental consciousness cannot be overstated in our rapidly changing world. Climate change poses unprecedented challenges, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has become a global imperative. As we strive to create a greener, more sustainable world, the role of youth in agriculture and their green skills take center stage. On International Youth Day 2023 (12 August), the theme “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a
Young people in Bangui turn their training into skills to share with their entire community. Whilst studying for his business degree, Emmanuel had dreams of being an entrepreneur and earning good money. But after he graduated, the 29-year-old struggled to find opportunities in his home city of Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR). Youth make up 70 percent of the population of CAR, a country which has
There are no longer plenty of fish in the sea. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), more than 35 percent of the world’s assessed fish stocks are fished at unsustainable levels, versus just 10 percent in 1974. Warming oceans, acidification, and pollution are also taking an increasing toll. And with the livelihoods of some 600 million people worldwide dependent on fishing to some degree, and growing demand for marine protein to feed
Agriculture in West Africa plays a vital role in the regional economy, with over 60% of the population directly relying on this sector for their livelihoods. However, despite its importance, agriculture is marked by glaring inequalities. Women, who make up nearly 80% of the labor force in food production, often remain marginalized, and their contribution is largely overlooked. West Africa is a region rich in arable land, stretching from the
In the pursuit of global food security and sustainable agricultural practices, rice plays a vital role as a staple crop, particularly in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Recognizing the significance of rice sector development in these areas, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized a momentous regional rice policy workshop titled “Exchange of Experience on Successful Rice Sector Development Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.”
On Tuesday, 27 June, we finalized the series of webinars on experience capitalization, organized since the end of March in the framework of the regional initiative YenKasa Africa, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), with its OPenACP-FO4AC Programme. This webinar has drawn conclusions and made the latest recommendations in terms of experience capitalization. Webinar 6:
The Farmers’ Organizations for Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (FO4ACP) knowledge management event organized and hosted by the Pan African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO), a key partner of the FO4ACP Program, held in Kigali, Rwanda from May 16th to 28th, 2023. The event took place about one year after the mid-term review of the program to take stock of what was done and share the experiences and good and promising practices among
Growing the potential of fish farms to increase incomes and secure a nutritious food source Levedy Céleste Lossangoye developed a passion for fish farming at an early age. She grew up surrounded by fish ponds on her family’s fish farm in Andem in the Central African country of Gabon. Located around 60 kilometres from Libreville, the country’s capital, her family’s farm has 21 ponds across two hectares and has a
How FAO projects are encouraging youth to embrace technology and take the lead in the fight against climate change Climate change is intensifying rural poverty and food insecurity, driving people away from farming communities and changing their way of life. So what can we do about it? Young people are often more willing to adopt new practices and take risks. They can act as a bridge between traditional farming techniques
