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Book (stand-alone)Success stories on information and communication technologies for agriculture and rural development 2015
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No results found.Smallholder resource-poor farmers are confronted by many challenges such as the negative impacts of climate change, increased frequency of natural disasters, loss of biodiversity, food price volatility and inefficient supply chains, among others. At the same time, agriculture is becoming increasingly knowledge intensive. Farmers must make complex decisions on land use, input purchases, what to plant, choice of markets in which to sell, etc. Information communication technologies have provided op portunities to address such challenges to improve agricultural production and productivity, and enhance value chains. This publication presents seven case studies in innovative use of emerging technologies to significantly improve the living standards of farming communities. -
DocumentBangladesh and FAO: Achievements and Success Stories 2011
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No results found.Bangladesh joined FAO on 12 November 1973 within two years of gaining its independence from Pakistan. Since that time, Bangladesh and FAO have worked closely together in the areas of agriculture, food, forestry, fisheries, livestock, rural development and climate change. These efforts were strengthened with the establishment of the FAO Representative Office in Dhaka in 1978. Bangladesh is home to the most densely populated flood-plain delta in the world. It regularly suffers from natural disaste rs such as floods, cyclones and drought. It is also vulnerable to the growing effects of global climate change. But when faced with adversity, the country, especially its farmers and fishers, is extremely resilient. In the immediate post-independence period, FAO was one of the first international agencies to extend a considerable amount of assistance to Bangladesh to support relief and rehabilitation, as well as national efforts for economic recovery and reconstruction, and – on the other hand – Bangladesh has contributed significantly to FAO initiatives, commissions, committees and working panels. Bangladesh has had some success in reducing its numbers of hungry people. The population has increased from about 75 million at independence to about 150 million now. More than 40 million Bangladeshis – 27 percent of the population – are undernourished by FAO’s definition – not having access to adequate amounts of safe, nutritious food to sustain a healthy and productive life. In the early 1 990s, about 45 million, or 38 percent of the population was hungry. However, even with the impressive development of the agriculture sector in recent decades, undernutrition has remained a challenge largely because of rapid population growth and dwindling land resources. Today, the situation is being exacerbated by stresses such as climate change and the global increase in the prices of food, fuel and fertilizer. Bangladesh is struggling to strengthen its institutions and programmes so it will h ave the capacity to cope with natural disasters, environmental change and population growth. Though the future impact of climate change is still uncertain, Bangladesh is preparing for the likely eventualities of increasingly serious weather-related events. FAO is incorporating responses to these growing concerns in its cooperative development initiatives. Over the last 30 plus years, the country was served by dedicated FAO teams. -
ProjectSocio-economics and Gender in Aquaculture 1998
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The gender and socio-economic roles of men and women in different forms of Lao aquaculture (pond, rice-cum-fish, mini-hatchery) have not been widely investigated. This socio-economic and gender analysis study of Lao aquaculture was conducted in five Lao provinces within the scope of the UNDP/FAO project Lao/97/007. The Lao PDR population is predominantly involved in agricultural activities and increasing food security and income levels of poorer farmers of all ethnic groups are key priorities. T he rural Lao PDR population depend primarily on rice cultivation coupled to a wide variety of other agricultural (pigs, poultry, buffalo etc) and wild food foraging activities for their food security. Both captured and cultivated fish is widely consumed and commands a premium price in markets. Easy access to fish for the family is one of the main reasons for both women's and men's interest in raising fish in Lao PDR. It is considered that there is a potential for increasing the scale and efficie ncy of aquaculture activities in Lao PDR. However, in most rural areas visited in Lao PDR during the study, aquaculture is considered as a side activity integrated with other agricultural activities. There are good opportunities to further integrate aquaculture into existing agricultural livelihood systems. The majority of men and women fish farmers interviewed conducted aquaculture primarily for household food security, with income generation as an added bonus only where surplus fish were produced. Fish production for food security is considered to require low labour intensity once established. There are high levels of interest among women farmers towards aquaculture. However there are high labour and financial entry costs for pond based aquaculture, which only some farmers may be able to sustain. Income generation from fish production may also incur higher labour demand. Both women and men are involved in aquaculture, although each may have different roles at different st ages of the fish production cycle. There are few cultural constraints to women's participation in most aquaculture activities. In Lao PDR men select the site for pond construction and as heads of households are regarded as owners of ponds. While men often make the major decisions concerning the production system, the production from ponds also depends on the time and effort allocated by women and children for pond management and for feeding of the fish. Men are responsible for harvesting the ove rall yield; women are often responsible for harvesting fish for household consumption. Women control the cash income from the selling of fish at the pond site and in the market, although consultation with their husbands on household expenditure is common. Income distribution within the household is relatively equitable, so income generated from aquaculture is likely to benefit entire households. Older women (over 40) may be more suitable for involvement in aquaculture activities. Only experience d (e.g. > 3 years) and relatively better off men and women farmers are likely to be able to engage in mini-hatchery enterprises.
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