Monthly Archives: January 2016

Agriculture is in every SDG

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story-2-sdgsSkimming the eye across the colourful chart of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is easy to spot a couple which are intrinsically and directly linked to agriculture, but a closer look reveals that they are in fact all linked to agriculture. A healthy global agricultural sector underpins and supports so many aims of the SDGs that its development will be important for their overall success. As sustainable agriculture is essential for sustainable food systems and livelihoods, here is a breakdown of how agriculture, farming and nutrition fit into the SDG goals:

Dessert bananas on display at a fruit and vegetable market in Nairobi, Kenya.

Dessert bananas on display at a fruit and vegetable market in Nairobi, Kenya.

  • No poverty
  • Zero hunger
  • Good health and wellbeing
  • Quality education
  • Gender equality
  • Clean water and sanitation
  • Affordable and clean energy
  • Decent work and economic growth
  • Industry innovation and infrustructure
  • Reduced inequalities
  • Sustainable cities and communities
  • Responsible consumption and production
  • Climate action
  • Life below water
  • Life on land
  • Peace and justice
  • Partnership for the goals

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Irish grower group hails benefits of agroforestry

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peartree_morgue-20160120114808708.gifIreland’s farmers “are now the new foresters”, given that afforestation schemes have led to the establishment of 26,000 private plantations in Ireland since 1980, most owned by farmers.

Eugene Curan, Government Forestry Inspector, notes that agroforestry provides the landowners with renewable energy sources, offsets carbon emissions from other farming practices, reduces nutrient inputs and run-offs, stabilises drainage, enhances animal welfare, improves animal nutrition, increases biodiversity, enhances the landscape and in some cases increases productivity.

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France unveils new agroforestry plans

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franceAs part of the second National Day of Agroforestry, France unveiled new plans for developing ecologically sustainable forestry practices throughout the country. the plan aims to reduce the environmental impact of forestry and to integrate forest management practices into the transition to agroecology. Additionally, introduction of agroforestry will help contribute to the French 4 per 1000 initiative to increase soil carbon sequestration.

Agroforestry will help increase biodiversity and yields. A study by the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) revealed that 100 hectare parcel of land managed under agroforestry practices yields the equivalent of 136 hectares of lanad managed under standard principals, providing a potential economic boon for the producers who adopt the practice. Furthermore, trees will help diversify production, limit the loss of nitrates in soil pollution of the water table and improve soil fertility

The plan unveils the government’s specific proposals for promoting it in five broad categories with numerous specific actions under each category. Click here to learn more

 

 

AfDB Approves U.S. $76.7-Million for Uganda’s Agriculture Programme

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afdb ugThe African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a US $76.7-million loan to finance phase two of the Uganda Farm Income Enhancement and Forestry Conservation Programme (FIEFOC-2).

The programme, which was commended by the AfDB Board on January 20 for its good design and high-impact development objectives, comprises agricultural infrastructure and agribusiness development activities as well as an integrated natural resources management scheme aimed to consolidate and expand key achievements of its predecessor (phase one), which was completed in December 2012.

Designed within the context of Uganda’s National Development Plan and long-term development strategy  the Project focuses on improving farm incomes, rural livelihoods, food security and climate resilience. It will also support sustainable natural resources management and agricultural enterprise development.

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Reaping the benefits of Agroforestry in Cameroon

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cameroon“I do not see why a farmer should protect the forest just because people are talking about climate change. However, if you tell the farmer that by planting the improved material, they would diversify the source of his income and start harvesting within three years, then they would start listening to why this eco-system should be protected. Any living tree is a reservoir for absorbing carbon. The more you plant trees, the better you reduce the effects of climate change,” notes Dr. Zac Tchounjeu, the Coordinator of World Agroforestry Centre for Central Africa.

Using this approach, the World Agroforestry Centre introduced agroforestry practices to rural farmers in Cameroon 20 years ago, transforming smallholder households with improved food security, nutrition, income, health, shelter, social cohesion, energy resources and environmental sustainability.

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116 Sustainable organizations to watch in 2016

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Food TankEach year, Food Tank highlights organizations that help create a more sustainable global food system, protect biodiversity, produce valuable agricultural research, fight hunger and much more. This year, Food Tank featured 116 organizations that made vital improvements to our food system in 2015 including: African Biodiversity Network (ABN), African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), African Insect Science for Food and Health (ICIPE), and Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture (MESA), just to highlight a few.

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