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Rice self-sufficiency in Rwanda: policies to ensure it does not remain an elusive goal
04/2021
This policy brief presents a snapshot review of how key policies have affected rice in Rwanda in the run up to the Government of Rwanda’s target to become self-sufficient in rice by 2018, while at the same time boosting the commodity’s competitiveness in local and regional markets.
Strengthening sugar-sweetened beverages tax effects in Catalonia, Spain
04/2021
This policy brief analyses in which ways and to what extent sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) taxes trigger reduced consumption. The potential signaling effect of a SSBs tax introduced in Catalonia, Spain, was studied.
Reducing agriculture-led forest loss in Viet Nam: the role of land use constraints
03/2021
This brief reviews some of the main land use contraints to reducing agriculture-led forest loss in Viet Nam. We find that agricultural land use constraints increase agriculture-driven pressure on forests.
Adapting to rising temperatures: farm practices and policy options in Uganda
03/2021
Climate change is leading to a rise in global temperatures, which poses a major threat to agriculture production, and to the welfare of smallholder farmers. Identifying sustainable farming practices to reduce the sensitivity of Ugandan agriculture to rising temperatures is critical for safeguarding the livelihoods of farmers.
Upscaling innovative rainwater management in rainfed agriculture
11/2020
Rainfed agriculture accounts for more than half of the world’s food production but is facing increasing precipitation variability, driven by climate change. Achieving zero hunger will require improvements in rainwater management to increase productivity.
Overcoming water scarcity with sustainable irrigation
11/2020
Irrigation can facilitate adaptation to climate change, save labour and energy, and allow the growing of higher-value crops. However, to reach Zero Hunger in an increasingly water-scarce world, irrigated agriculture must be made more equitable, efficient and sustainable.
Water accounting and auditing for better water governance
11/2020
In the face of intensifying water constraints, growing demand for water and worsening inequalities in access to it, water accounting and auditing are crucial enabling factors for improved water governance. Water underpins many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), not least those relating to Zero Hunger and Clean Water and Sanitation.
Exploring the decoupling of direct payments to farmers in North Macedonia
09/2020
North Macedonia’s ambition to join the European Union makes it necessary to reform the agricultural sector, such that it aligns with the EU Common Agricultural Policy. This involves the “decoupling” of farm subsidies, i.e. a shift to payments that are not linked to area and production levels of specific commodities, livestock numbers, and input use.
Promoting rural youth employment in Uganda’s coffee sector
09/2020
FAO Agricultural Development Economics Policy Brief, No. 29. Coffee is one of the key agricultural commodities in the Government of Uganda’s pursuance of economic growth and job creation, especially for the rapidly expanding youth population.
Food aid supports climate adaptive investments by farmers in sub-Saharan Africa
08/2020
This brief explores the evidence on the relationships between food aid transfers and investments in climate adaptive agriculture using data from Ethiopia, Malawi and United Republic of Tanzania.
Making the wheat sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina more competitive and resilient
07/2020
In Bosnia and Herzegovina wheat is a key staple, yet domestic production is small and low quality. Current policy environment tends to disadvantage wheat producers and makes them vulnerable in face of changing climate.
Reducing export restrictions on timber to sustain commercial forestry investments in Uganda
07/2020
Over the last 20 years, the Government of Uganda has implemented several policies to promote investments in commercial forest plantations. As a result of these policy efforts, the supply of commercially produced pine is set to increase dramatically over the next few years.
Strengthening financial services for roots and tubers value chains development in Africa
04/2020
Notwithstanding an increasing demand for their derived products, roots and tubers (R&T) value chains in Africa remain loose, fragmented and informal, and many market opportunities remain unexploited.
Climate risk management for the roots and tubers sectors in Africa
04/2020
Even if roots and tubers are generally tolerant to poor soils and droughts, they can be affected by climate variability and change. In order to address climate risks, value chains’ actors require timely and accurate information systems, including data on market prices, and a set of crop-specific climate risk management strategies.
Drought adaptation practices and profits in Sri Lanka’s rice sector – What is the missing link?
03/2020
It is projected that climate change will affect rainfall patterns in South Asia and will contribute to a decline in water availability for rice cultivation in the region. In Sri Lanka, where rice is both the staple food and the primary crop grown by farmers, reductions in water availability for rice cultivation has serious impacts on farmers’ welfare and national food security.
Leveraging social protection programmes to advance climate-smart agriculture in Malawi
03/2020
This brief details the three functional elements of climate vulnerability: risk exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity, in order to assess the interactions between participation in Malawi’s largest public works programme, the Malawi Social Action Fund (MASAF) and three widely promoted climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices.
Guyana’s diversification perspectives to overcome vulnerability
03/2020
This policy brief analyses institutional challenges faced by Guyana’s agricultural sector to promote diversification and development. Agricultural development in Guyana is strongly correlated with agricultural diversification, hence diversification strategies can be used to promote growth in this sector.
How to reduce food loss and waste for food security and environmental sustainability
10/2019
Food loss and waste reduction is considered important for improving food security and nutrition, promoting environmental sustainability and lowering production costs.
Agricultural policies for a sustainable rice supply chain in Ecuador
09/2019
The high cost to Ecuador’s national budget of maintaining a minimum guaranteed producer price for rice led to the introduction of a price bracket system in 2017. The minimum support price policy and a complimentary high import tariff were meant to protect small rice producers from competition from world markets and increase their incomes.
Favourable policies for family-based maize production in Ecuador
07/2019
This policy brief analyses Ecuador’s trade, productive and price policies for maize and their effect on farmers’ level of protection. The minimum support price enacted until 2017, turned out to be a non-operative policy due to a higher market price, which created incentives for speculative investments by traders.