Agriculture

Social Capital proves critical to success of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) farming in Tanzania
Publications

Social capital is defined as the enduring connections of networks, reciprocity and social norms that exist among a group of people. In farming, social capital has various benefits such as facilitating farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing, increasing access to information, and connecting farmers to different sources of support. In Tanzania, social capital was a key contributor to the success of the implementation of System of Rice Intensification (SRI), as part of the

BLENDED PUBLIC-PRIVATE EXTENSION PROVISION INCREASES FARMER REVENUE IN UGANDA
Publications

This good practice fact sheet aims to share the experience behind an initiative to test and compare different models of extension provision in Uganda. The document highlights the scope for using a mix of private and public service providers to advise and support small-scale producers engaged in Uganda’s vegetable oil sector, and the lessons learned regarding what methods are most effective. It also sets out to explore how this blended

Digital Agriculture: An online mentoring service for small-scale livestock farmers in Benin
Publications

An online advisory and problem-solving service is helping livestock farmers to overcome challenges and increase production in Benin and other parts of West Africa. The private service grew out of a blog written by Louis Agbokou, who works as livestock advisor at a government agricultural agency in Benin. During on- site visits to farms in the districts that he covered, the livestock engineer became increasingly convinced of the need for

A manifesto to ensure a voice for farmers in Uganda
Publications

This good practice fact sheet describes an initiative to canvas the views and demands of Uganda’s smallholder farmers on measures required to boost the country’s agricultural performance as a driver of both the national economy and for raising incomes among agricultural value chain players. The creation of a Farmers’ Manifesto, and its presentation to political parties in the run-up to a general election, may be an experience relevant to other

An innovative agricultural competition inspired by football
Family Farming

In the village of Mudjoga, in North Kivu, DRC, farmers have devised an innovative agricultural competition inspired by football. The competition is called “agricultural match” and it consists of farmers demonstrating the application of certain cultivation practices. The exercise itself is inspired by football, or “soccer”. It pits farmers against each other in a friendly competition where each demonstrates an agricultural technique. They are supervised by a jury of judges

Listening to rural people 2022: A Farm Radio International and IFAD initiative
Publications

Over the course of October 2022, Farm Radio International worked with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and 7 African radio stations to facilitate three “On Air Dialogues” with rural people in Ethiopia and Burkina Faso about climate change adaptation. The response was remarkable, with over 14,000 people giving over 122,000 answers to questions and leaving over 9,000 voice messages about climate change adaptation experiences and needs. These dialogues

On Air Dialogues: Amplifying rural voices
Publications

The 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit aimed to identify solutions that improve livelihoods and food security. Small-scale farmers and rural people should play an essential role in this process. They are the backbone of the global food system, experts in their fields, and experienced in finding creative solutions. That’s why, over the course of three weeks in June 2021, and in partnership with six radio stations in Burkina Faso, Ghana,

Food Security in East Africa – Beyond the Headlines
Rural Communication Services

In early 2022, 12 million East Africans faced acute food insecurity, meaning that they did not even manage to eat one meal a day. By November 2022, that number has increased to 21 million people. It’s important to go beyond the headlines and statistics and remember that these are individual women, men and children who are suffering from hunger every day. That’s what Farm Radio International strove to do in our

Strengthening sustainable agricultural mechanization for climate smart agriculture in southern Africa
Family Farming

One of the major constraints to the expansion and modernization of agriculture is the low level and limited use of mechanization especially by smallholder farmers. In southern Africa, agriculture has been characterized by the application of basic agricultural tools resulting in tedious and laborious practices, drudgery and low productivity. Smallholder farmers in the region can earn a decent living from agriculture only if they adopt mechanization. The Food and Agriculture

World Food Forum: Transforming agrifood systems through digital technologies
Spotlight

The capacity and potential of digital technologies to help solve many complex problems in our agrifood systems came under the spotlight  at a special event of the World Food Forum’s Science and Innovation Forum. The Digitalization of Agrifood Systems event hosted last Friday by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at its Rome headquarters, explored the digital capabilities and opportunities to usher transformational impact for vulnerable populations in