Changing lives and landscapes
By Mike McGahuey The question is not, “should farmers use inorganic or organic fertilizer?” but rather, “How can farmers increase soil organic matter in a cost-effective way in order to recycle nutrients, increase fertilizer-use efficiency and establish the foundation for building and sustaining soil productivity in Africa?” Many agricultural developmental agencies either support the idea [...]
Many sustainable agricultural practices can complement land regeneration techniques such as FMNR. This was the conclusion by experts at a parallel discussion session that was held during the Beating Famine conference. I had the pleasure of attending a group whose theme was carbon sequestration, water and energy for land regeneration. Chairing the discussion was Stephen [...]
When the pioneer of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), Tony Rinaudo held a workshop in Kijabe, Kenya, the invited participants from the Beating Famine conference were baffled by the simplicity of what they heard and saw. During the FMNR tour, the message was clear and simple.
By Elizabeth Kahurani, ASB Communications At the opening of Beating Famine: Sustainable Food Security through Land Regeneration in a Changing Climate conference in Nairobi, participants heard that land degradation is a major factor responsible for increased frequency of drought spells in sub-Saharan Africa. The drivers are many and varied. For example, it was noted that [...]
By Mieke Bourne and Yvonne Otieno Environmental degradation can only be reversed by addressing direct and indirect drivers of change. The said drivers of change include public participation in decision-making, cultural factors and technological change. Collectively these factors influence the level of production and consumption of ecosystem services and sustainability of the production base. This [...]
I first visited the Talensi-Nabdam district in Ghana in July 2009. I was there to run a workshop with community leaders on Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), the reforestation method that I had stumbled upon while living in Niger back in 1983.
Today Tuesday 27 March 2012, the CGIAR has taken a bold step towards addressing the global issue of food security. It has launched a 10-year research program on water, land and ecosystems. The project, led by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), will seek to radically transform the way land, water and natural systems are [...]
The key to poverty alleviation and food security is integrated land management says Kwesi Atta-Krah from Bioversity International. Kwesi and around 150 other experts have gathered in Kenya for the first international conference of Landscapes for People, Food and Nature Initiative taking place at the World Agroforestry Centre 6-9 March 2012. The conference has been [...]
Climate Change will have an impact on every person in the world. It is well documented that it will impact smallholder farmers the most because of the effect on their crops. On the other hand, the effects of climatic change on trees within landscapes are often not considered. However, a recently released book by World [...]
Agriculture has not been getting a fair hearing at major climate talks. So it is refreshing to see that a Policy Forum article has been released in the 20 January edition of the Science Magazine. The article, “What next for agriculture after Durban?,” explores the obstacles and outcomes for agriculture at COP-17 and outlines strategies [...]
