Cotton is an important source of livelihood for millions of smallholders worldwide and women contribute significantly to cotton farming, constituting a large share of the workforce involved in primary production. However, women face disproportionate barriers along the cotton value chain in terms of access to land, inputs and services that affect the quality of their participation and the benefit they can derive. Gender-responsive policies and programmes can help ensure that...

Strengthening the resilience of avocado value chains is increasingly important as the sector faces multifaceted risks, including climate change, pests and diseases, and economic downturns, among others. By building resilience, avocado companies and associations can ensure the continuity of their operations and businesses. The Responsible Fruits project conducted a detailed study to identify the main challenges and opportunities to strengthen the resilience of the avocado and pineapple industries. This brief...

The Market and Policy Analysis of Raw Materials, Horticulture and Tropical Products Team (RAMHOT), provides economic data and analysis on major agricultural raw materials and tropical products, including hard fibres (abaca, coir and sisal), jute, kenaf and allied fibres. The tables contained in this document bring together governments’ replies to the latest questionnaires, supplemented by other data available to the Secretariat at 31 December 2022.

The annual FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM) was conducted from 1 to 16 December 2022 to estimate the cereal production in South Sudan during 2022 and assess the overall food security situation in the country. The CFSAM reviewed the findings of several crop assessment missions conducted at planting and harvest time from June to November 2022 in different agroecological zones of the country. All missions were carried out...

FAO’s latest forecasts point to increases in production and higher stocks across several basic foodstuffs. However, global food production systems remain vulnerable to shocks, stemming from weather conditions, geopolitical tensions and policies, potentially tipping the delicate demand-supply balances, with implications for global food security.

International prices of wheat and maize continued to decline in May, while rice prices increased further. The downward trend in wheat prices was mostly due to ample global supplies and subdued import demand, while an expected record crop in Brazil and higher production in the United States of America were largely behind the decline in maize prices. The extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative also contributed to softening world...

FAO’s Responsible Business Conduct Quarterly Bulletin (RBC-Q) shares events and resources on FAO’s activities on Responsible Global Value Chains and news from around the world related to business, risk and development in the agricultural sector. It is prepared by FAO’s Markets and Trade Division (EST). This issue of the bulletin covers the period April–June 2023.

The Monthly Price Update is an information product provided by the oilseeds desk of the Markets and Trade Division of FAO. It reviews the development of international prices for oilseeds, oils and meals as reflected by FAO’s price indices.

Building resilience is important for agrifood systems – such as tropical fruit value chains – to prepare, withstand and adapt to a wide range of risks, including climate and non-climatic shocks and stresses. Resilience is also important to foster transformation of value chains, to both minimize the negative impacts of external risks on the supply chain and also to prevent new operational problems that could compromise the long-term viability of...