May Muthuri
Agroforestry and fertilizer trees improve crop yields
“Evergreen Agriculture systems replenish soil fertility, provide food, fodder, timber and fuelwood, translating to greater value than that of the annual crop within the area that they occupy,” notes Dennis Garrity. The inclusion of trees in cultivated landscapes results in an average value of $1.40/year and increased dietary diversity among children in African countries. Click […] Continue Reading
A smarter approach to locating African tree species
What if there was a simpler way of locating suitable tree species for an area rather than the usual time consuming process of surveying, testing and trial and error? Better still, what if you could have the results by just a click of a button and at your convenience? Well, this vision has now been […] Continue Reading
Could superfood help save Haiti’s forests?
Haiti is the most impoverished country in the northern hemisphere, and trees, or the lack thereof, are part of the problem. After centuries of agricultural exploitation and the population’s demand for charcoal and fuel wood, 98 percent of Haiti’s landscape is deforested, leaving the country vulnerable to environmental disasters. In 2008, four storms in quick succession resulted in flooding […] Continue Reading
Rwanda’s success story on FMNR practices
A review of World Vision’s Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) project in East Rwanda has revealed an increase in the rates of adoption from 7,500 to 13,400 smallholder farmers. The success attributed to extension agents who by word of mouth spread the word on the land generation technique has also translated to an increase in […] Continue Reading
Counties should promote smart farming techniques
Time has come for county governments to take advantage of Kenya’s commitment to use smart agricultural technologies, which is a way of increasing the sector’s productivity while at the same time addressing effects of climate change. In response to decisions adopted at the 19th and 20th sessions of negotiations on how to manage climate change […] Continue Reading
Harnessing data for decision making and sustainable development
The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has established 12 Thematic Groups comprising leading scientists, engineers, academics and practitioners from business and civil society to promote solutions to key challenges of sustainable development. The Thematic Groups are solution oriented rather than research oriented and aim to identify practical solutions to the challenges of sustainable development. Dr. […] Continue Reading