A really good teacher will teach you both subject matter and how to explain it to others. Elías Sánchez mentored thousands of Central Americans in organic agriculture. He started his adult life as a rural schoolteacher because he wanted to help people. But he soon realized that rural people needed...

In mountain areas, water continues to be a scarce commodity not only for irrigation purposes but even for drinking and other domestic uses. These challenges are encountered very frequently in India. These difficulties are present, inspite of the fact that important rivers namely the Sutlez, Beas, Ravi and their tributaries...

This is a story of hope and decolonisation in a time of crises. The Indigenous Bagungu People of western Uganda have lived along the shores of Itaka Mwitanzige (Lake Albert) since time immemorial. But for over a century, colonialism and globalisation have damaged and repressed both the Bagungu's traditional, Earth-centred culture and...

Today, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries are facing a health, economic and social crisis unprecedented in recent history. A crisis of such scope and depth calls for actions in response to the many challenges that arise. We have known for a long time that it is not possible to...

Vulnerability to climate change has forced the Pacific republic to build resilience through community approaches to fisheries management. The Republic of Kiribati faces many development challenges due to its remoteness and limited resources—financial, infrastructural, institutional and environmental. With population pressure increasing, land is not only scarce but at a perilously low...

Este ensayo de reflexión expone la situación de la pobreza rural en América Latina y sus particularidades desde un enfoque de desarrollo rural. Conceptualiza la importancia de la agricultura familiar para la construcción de una nueva ruralidad para los países de la región, y aspira a generar insumos de sustento...

The grain legume white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) is a promising local alternative for imported soybean in Europe because of its high protein content, which is perfect for the food and feed industry. However, white lupin is almost not being cultivated because of anthracnose disease, caused by the fungal pathogen...

Las buenas prácticas agrícolas (bpa) se definen como un conjunto de acciones o prácticas que se realizan en una explotación agrícola, tendientes a reducir los peligros químicos, físicos y microbiológicos. Están orientadas a obtener productos inocuos (sanos-limpios), mejorar las condiciones de los trabajadores (salud y bienestar) y proteger el medio...

In some localities in Colombia a physiological disorder called "Mal de cintura", is present in MD2 pineapple productive farms. It is a deformation of the fruit due to the incomplete development of contiguous flowers that produces a physical damage (external appearance); generating fruit rejection in the market. Factors that trigger...

Measures implemented around the world to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have entailed a severe reduction not only in the transportation of goods and services that rely on transport, but also in the migration of labour domestically and internationally. Workers are less available reflecting both disruptions in transportation systems and restrictions...

Hydroponics is based on growing agricultural plants without the use of soil. These are methods of growing plants either on a substrate or in an aqueous medium with bare roots. Non-circulating hydroponic methods, importantly, do not require electricity or a pump. With the method presented in this practice, the entire...

Coffee growing is an important livelihood strategy for smallholders in East African countries, notably Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, where coffee is an important agricultural export. Smallholder production is less significant in southern countries such as Malawi and Zambia but although the smallholder sector is small, coffee is a major...

Hay-making is the most important method of preserving forage in many countries, including tropical ones. Silage-making is highly developed in temperate countries, especially in Europe, and goes with intensification. In tropical countries, plant growth coincides with the rainy season, which sometimes makes hay-making difficult. The objective of this technology is...

The Passifloraceae family has a pantropical distribution inthe neotropics with a very large number of species and wide variation in leaves, flowers and fruits. There is a diversified range of use within the genus due to is importance ass an ornamental, for industrial precessing, fresh fruit comsumption and medicinal purposes:...

This edition addresses the risks threatening international agrifood trade in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the previous issue we reviewed the lessons learned by those who have had to manage disasters. We presented a methodology for analysing and managing the crisis in food systems from a disaster risk reduction...

This practice describes, step by step, how to convert traditional agricultural practices to organic agriculture practices. The information provided showcases how first and foremost knowledge on the functioning and the possibilities of the management of natural processes is important. Familiarization with organic practices is also recommended such as mulching, intercropping,...

The Philippines is among the most disaster prone countries in the world. More than 200 climate-related natural disasters were recorded in the last two decades. Alone in 2011 the country was hit by 33 disasters, claiming 1 430 lives. Typhoons trigger landslides, flashfloods, mudslides, widespread flooding, and cause significant destruction...

Yam productivity in the main yam-growing belt of West Africa is reduced by losses in the growing crop, and in subsequent storage, due to diseases and pests. Many of these are either spread in, or exacerbated by, poor quality planting materials. A package of crop protection technologies was developed (based...

The Europe and Central Asia Regional Synthesis for The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture summarizes the state of biodiversity for food and agriculture in the region, based largely on information provided in nineteen country reports submitted to FAO as part of the reporting process for the...

Este video da cuenta del proceso de construcción del concepto de la Agricultura Familiar en Paraguay.