Alice Muller
More rain = less trees
Research from Princeton University published recently has found a relationship between higher rainfall and lower numbers of trees in savannah ecosystems in Southern Africa. The researchers have used mathematical models, in conjunction with ground truthing to validate an explanation for this. Their argument is, that grasses are more effective and efficient at making use of […] Continue Reading
Development Investors called to use Evergreen Agriculture in poverty alleviation programs
Following the release of their significant report “Scaling Up Regreening: Six Steps to Success, A Practical Approach to Forest and Landscape Restoration” Chris Reij and Robert Winterbottom, of WRI and founding members of the EverGreen Agriculture Partnership, have called upon investors in the development sector, such as the Gates Foundation, to give more consideration to […] Continue Reading
‘Permaculture the African Way’ in Cameroon’s Only Eco-Village
“the eco-village organically fertilises soil through the planting and pruning of nitrogen-fixing trees planted on farms where mixed cropping is practised. When the trees mature, the middles are cut out and the leaves used as compost. The trees are then left to regenerate and the same procedure is repeated the following season.” Mbom Sixtus describes here how […] Continue Reading
Australian support for agroforestry development in Viet Nam
The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) has a mission to bring Australian scientists to Viet Nam and engage in collaborative research to help smallholder farmers. ‘We focus on the Northwest, South-central Coast and part of the Mekong Delta’, said Ms Nguyen Thi Thanh An, ACIAR’s Country Manager for Viet Nam. These are among […] Continue Reading
Agro-firm adopts Gliricidia cultivation
ESTHER MSETEKA, Lusaka Community Markets for Conservation (COMACO), an agro-processing company , is supporting the cultivation of Gliricidia, a “wonder” tree that can be intercropped with other plants. COMACO, which focusses agroprocessing in Eastern Province, has planted over 10 million Gliricidia sepium seedlings between December 2015 and February 2015 to help small-scale farmers reduce their […] Continue Reading
Gender-friendly tech could empower women in agriculture
Female-friendly agricultural technologies and innovations are needed to bridge the gender gap in agricultural productivity and food security. A forum dubbed Empowering women for sustainable natural resource management, which was held in Kenya last month (3 March), noted that there are challenges and opportunities that exist in promoting gender equality in Africa, adding that policy […] Continue Reading