El Niño is a periodic climate phenomenon defined by anomalously warm sea surface temperatures in the eastern and central tropical Pacific Ocean which affect local weather worldwide and generally leads to increased drought risk at global level. In 2015, since July a strong El Niño is being observed with increasing...

The aim of the study was to estimate the technical and cost efficiencies of smallholder dairy farms in Kenya (Embu and Meru counties).The results indicated that optimization of farm efficiencies could increase milk yields while concurrently lowering its production cost. The study further provides evidence that any efforts towards reducing...

The Kagera River Basin in East Africa occupies a strategic position on the borders of four countries. Good management of the Kagera water flow regime is vital for maintaining the water levels of Like Victoria and outflow to the River Nile. More than 16 million people live here and depend...

Food Security New farming method, conservation agriculture taking root in parts of the country

This paper tries to respond the question of how to make agriculture and food systems more nutrition-sensitive. Many of the undernourished people in Africa and Asia are small-scale subsistence farmers. Diversifying production on these farms is often perceived as a promising strategy to improve dietary quality and diversity. This hypothesis is...

As the World Forestry Congress convenes in Durban, South Africa, forest producers should be embraced and inserted at the center of strategies to protect forests, and to ensure that the strategies benefit both local people and the global environment.

People who rely on natural resources for their livelihoods are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and are often limited in their capacity to adapt to the changes. Vulnerability to climate change is exacerbated when individuals’ asset base is limited or insecure. Because control over assets is highly...

This One-Pager describes key findings of a four-year research project, From Protection to Production (PtoP), which analysed the impact of social cash transfer programmes in sub-Saharan Africa. The qualitative studies specifically explored impacts on household economic decision-making, the local economy and social networks. They also examined how the design and...

A national level review and scoping study on climate change policies, programs, projects and activities on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in Kenya was conducted through a literature review and consultations with stakeholders. A national assessment based on the review of secondary data and results of existing studies was conducted to provide...

Seed can be an important entry point for promoting productivity, nutrition and resilience among smallholder farmers. While investments have primarily focused on strengthening the formal sector, this article documents the degree to which the informal sector remains the core for seed acquisition, especially in Africa. Conclusions drawn from a uniquely...

This case study examines SNV Kenya’s approach to connecting school feeding buyers to smallholder farmers through matchmaking events organized through the Procurement Governance for Home Grown School Feeding project. SNV’s baseline found that the participation of smallholder farmers as Home Grown School Meals (HGSM) suppliers was negligible, despite the market’s...

This report explores evidence and insights from five case studies that have made significant recent progress in addressing the challenge of insuring poor smallholder farmers and pastoralists in the developing world. In India, national index insurance programmes have reached over 30 million farmers through a mandatory link with agricultural credit...

Declining soil fertility, escalating costs of farm inputs and lack of capacity are persistent problems that farmers in eastern Africa continue to grapple with. Such factors have resulted in high levels of poverty and food insecurity due to poor performance of the agriculture sector. Climate change adds a big blow...

ASARECA has been praised for providing mechanisms and technical backstopping for regional centres of excellence to work together and share technologies, Innovations and Management Practices during EAAPP Phase 1.

In December 2012, the programme on “Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume cropping systems for food security in Eastern and Southern Africa” (SIMLESA) commissioned a study to compile case studies of good practices in gender mainstreaming in the areas covered by the programme. This study was a result of an action point...

Between 2008 and 2013 ASARECA coordinated and provided leadership in implementing a project called “Dissemination of New Agricultural Technologies in Africa” (DONATA) across 6 countries in eastern and central Africa. The approach in DONATA was the innovation platform for technology adoption (IPTA). At the start of the project, there were...

This publication contains of information on technologies and innovation for addressing climate change and variability in Eastern and Central Africa. They were compiled from national agricultural research system (NARS) and International research centers working in the ASARECA region. The information was submitted and discussed at a regional conference on “Climate...

In Africa and in particular, Sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that there are more than 45,000 species of plants, of which about 1,000 can be eaten as green leafy vegetables. Most of the latter fall within the category of African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs). ALVs are also known to be rich...

This publication provides real life examples on how to re-engage youth in agriculture. It shows how tailor-made educational programmes can provide rural youth with the skills and insights needed to engage in farming and adopt environmentally friendly production methods. Many of the initiatives and approaches reported in this study originate...

Interview de Didier Snoeck, chercheur du Cirad et coordonnateur du projet AFS-4-Food, projet contracté par l’Union Africaine sur un financement de l’Union Européenne (EuropeAid). Le projet AFS4Food fait le pari d’améliorer la sécurité alimentaire et le bien-être des ménages ruraux africains grâce à une meilleure gestion de l’agroforgroforesterie dans trois zones d’études...