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DocumentClimate Change, Food Security and Insurance Systems for Family Farming
Brazil case: Climate, income and price insurance programs.
2016Also available in:
Family Farming Insurance Disasters resulting from weather changes cause the greatest economic impacts on the region (70% of emergencies are weather-related). Annual costs of approximately 2.2% of the GDP (base year 2010) are estimated to face disasters, in lack of climate change adaptation actions. The global climate risk index estimated based on information from 1995 to 2014, indicates that 4 out of the 10 countries with the highest risk index are in Latin America and the Caribbean: Honduras, H aiti, Nicaragua and Guatemala. In the region, one third of the population lives in high risk zones due to exposure to geological and hydro-meteorological threats. Climate change is also increasing the dispersal area of plant and animal plagues and diseases, in addition to increasing the probability of outbreaks and intensified effects. Through the enactment of Law 5,969 of 1973, Brazil established the Agricultural and Livestock Activity Guarantee Program (PROAGRO) to protect farmers from rural loan obligations. In 2004, it created “PROAGRO Mais”, for producers associated to the National Program for the Strengthening of Family Farming (PRONAF). Currently, PROAGRO protects medium-sized farmers (PRONAMP), and PROAGRO Mais protects PRONAF beneficiaries. PROAGRO Mais guarantees, in cost operations, up to 80% of the expected gross income, covering financing and up to R$ 20 thousand of the estimated net income; and for investment operations, coverage limit is 95% of the expected gross inco me, deducting the coverage by cost operations. In cost operations, PRONAF beneficiary participation is mandatory, while in investment operations, it is optional. Harvest Guarantee In Latin America and the Caribbean, family farming is very important for the food security and nutrition of all population. Approximately 81% of agricultural endeavours correspond to family farmers and, depending on the country, they provide 27% to 67% of the food. Family farming generates 57% to 77% of agricultural j obs in the region, so its is a very important job-generation sector. To continue boosting food security and sustainable development, family farming has three important challenges: 1) to produce more assorted and nutritional foods, 2) to continue creating safer and more stable jobs, and 3) to favour the appropriate use of resources used in production. Harvest Guarantee is a program that supports family farmers below the poverty line, with emphasis on the Brazilian Semiarid Zone, where losses due to drought are frequent. It was established by Law 10,420, of April 10, 2002. Price Guarantee for Family Farming This is a Federal Government program that offers the family farmer with PRONAF loan, a protection against price reductions. Currently, 51 products have a guarantee price. Rural population in the region lives in an extremely precarious situation because the poorest population plus the population in economic vulnerability situation correspond to 80% of the total rural population. Many family farmers in this percentage have their livelihoods depending greatly on environmental factors and natural resources. -
Book (stand-alone)Pulse crops for sustainable farms in Sub-Saharan Africa 2018
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Food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa is a problem affecting 153 million individuals (ca. 25%). This problem could be worsen by the ongoing soil degradation, being cause by the reduction of soil organic matter and insufficient nutrient supply. Over 75% of the agricultural land in Africa could be classified as degraded by 2020. This situation can compromise food production in sub-Saharan Africa, both quantitatively and qualitatively, and the sustainability of existing agricultural production systems. The use of fertilizer could revert this situation; however, Africa has almost no capacity to produce fertilizers (African fertilizers production facilities work mainly in blending fertilizers) and therefore fertilizers are produced elsewhere outside Africa and transported from long distances at great expenses. This situation grants to sub-Saharan Africa farmers only a very limited access to fertilizers, thus increasing the risk of soil degradation. Pulses have a long history in sub-Saharan Africa due to their multiple benefits. Pulses, and legumes in general, can play an important role in agriculture because their ability to biologically fix atmospheric nitrogen and to enhance the biological turnover of phosphorous; thus they could become the cornerstone of sustainable agriculture in Africa. In this sense, there is a body of literature that points to diversification of existing production systems; particularly legumes species, which provides critical environmental services, including soil erosion control and soil nutrient recapitalization. This publication is a review of some of the promising strategies to support pulses cultivation and utilization on smallholder farms in sub-Saharan Africa. The review is part of the legacy of the International Year of Pulses (IYP), which sought to recognize the contribution that pulses make to human well-being and the environment. One challenge faced worldwide is that the diversity of pulses are not captured well in statistics. There is not a clear picture of what is grown and where, and this leads to an under-estimation of their importance for sub-Saharan Africa and consequently reduce research investment in pulses. Existing agricultural production systems are dominated by cereals, and represent opportunities for enhanced crop diversification, through promoting local and novel pulse varieties. Mixed-maize is a system that is rapidly growing and poses one such opportunity, particularly for beans. This is due in part to the large number of bean varieties that have been developed to meet local and regional market requirements, through decades long partnerships foster by Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA). Bean research has included pioneering participatory plant breeding, extension linked to participatory community organizations and value chains, as well as attention to informal seed systems. This example shows how pulse research can make a different on smallholder farms in sub-Saharan Africa, by broadening the range of genetic options and supporting innovation. There are many such farmerx approved varieties available that deserve greater promotion, as do technologies such as doubled up legume system innovation recently released by the Malawi government. At the same time, this review has highlighted that variety release has lagged for some pulse crops, and that there is urgent need for more research on adoption, barriers to adoption, and on impact of adoption. Research priorities suggested include greater recognition and attention to expanding properties associated with multipurpose types of pulses, which are popular in sub-Saharan Africa. Different types of pulses are needed for different functions and in general, multipurpose pulses are the best to respond to the diverse needs of farmers, including food, fuel and fodder, and ecosystem services such as pollination. There is a trade-off between the harvest index and other functions, which have too often been overlooked by researchers and decision makers who tend to focus almost exclusively on increasing grain yields. Pest tolerance, as well as extension of educational approaches and agronomic advice to strengthen integrated pest management (IPM) is another area urgently needing attention. Finally, the role of specific legumes and associated biochemical properties in promoting ecosystem health, community health – this is a crucial area for research that will provide urgently needed options for women farmers – and for sustainability of communities. -
DocumentLinking Agricultural Production Practices to Improving Human Nutrition and Health 2013
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No results found.Dysfunctional food systems, never designed to improve human nutrition and health, are the basis of malnutrition in many poverty stricken human populations. Notably, all food systems are dependent on agricultural systems as the primary source of nutrients entering food systems. Thus, agricultural systems must play a major role in the development of malnutrition globally. If the products produced from farming systems cannot provide all the nutrients (excluding water) required for human life, malnu trition results causing increases in morbidity and mortality rates, losses in worker productivity and stagnation of development efforts in those populations dependent on these systems. Food security has been the major focus of many strategies to address malnutrition worldwide. Historically, meeting the caloric needs of populations was sufficient to meet global food security goals. However, just focusing on caloric needs alone is not sufficient. Food security programs should include the necessity that all nutrients be met by agricultural systems to redress the increases in malnutrition in mostly resource-poor families dependent on staple food crops for nourishment. “Nutrient security” should be one of the primary goals of food security programs and producing enough nutrients in agricultural systems to meet nutritional needs of all people during all seasons should be the focus. In general, well-nourished food crops grown on fertile soils contain more vitamins and micronutrients than nutr ient-stressed crops grown on infertile soils. Soil micronutrient status, cropping systems, variety selection (i.e., plant breeding) for micronutrient-dense crops (e.g., biofortification), fertilization practices, some soil amendments and livestock and aquiculture production are important factors that impact the nutrient output of these systems. A healthy agricultural industry is crucial for providing nutrients to humans. Soil quality and soil fertility have a direct influence on the nutrient lev els in food crops. Soil improvements can increase productivity and allow for greater diversity of crops without increasing the area cultivated. Agricultural tools, such as micronutrient-enriched fertilizers, and farming systems designed to meet nutritional needs should be used as sustainable strategies to reduce malnutrition. Plant breeders should include nutritional quality traits as well as yield traits as targets for enhancement when breeding for improved crop varieties. Biofortification is a new strategy that has great potential to help reduce the burden of micronutrient malnutrition globally especially in resource-poor families in rural areas. Clearly, agriculture must be closely linked to human nutrition and health if we are to find sustainable solution to malnutrition.
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