It is almost impossible to talk about agriculture without mentioning smallholder farmers. Many smallholders farm under very poor conditions and often lack access to affordable and suitable inputs such as quality seeds and pest control measures which in turn result in very low yields. Yet, in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa smallholder farmers produce most of the… Continue reading Capacity building: What’s in it for the smallholder farmer?
It is 6:30 am. Johannesburg's high-rise buildings stand far in the background, amidst the greenery, beautifully framed by the early African sun. This is the first sunrise I could enjoy in the last week at the Third Global Conference of Agricultural Research and Development (GCARD3). It has been a very busy week, working 16-hour days every day. I… Continue reading Want to reinvent agriculture? Involve youth!
You cannot shift from 1st gear straight to the 5th. Similarly, you cannot bring significant development outcomes to smallholder farmers without undergoing a multi-level development program. Capacity development should be far more reaching than just knowledge and skill advancement through training and education. It should ensure that good agricultural practices are embedded in the communities… Continue reading Getting development into the right gear
blog.gfar.net 