Restricted access to quality crops and markets limits the capacity of rural communities to generate income in the mountainous regions of South and Southeast Asia, often resulting in the exploitation of forest systems, a subsequent decline in forest health, and the need for alternative means of income generation as well as forest restoration programmes. Cultivation of edible and medicinal mushrooms has been shown to be a feasible alternative source of income and also contributes to the household nutrition of rural and impoverished communities. There are a number of ongoing programmes in South and Southeast Asia currently implementing trainings and demonstrative practices for the cultivation of mushrooms at the village level. In this context, we implemented different cultivation strategies in selected rural areas in the Chin State, Myanmar. The cultivation strategies were to 1) introduce mushroom cultivation using locally sourced raw materials as substrates for rural communities unfamiliar with mushroom cultivation; and 2) improve the technical knowledge of those already experienced in mushroom cultivation in order to increase yield and minimize challenges in production systems. We introduced Pleurotus sp. cultivation to mushroom growers in the Chin state, Myanmar. These cultivation strategies will help further improve and develop mushroom industries in rural areas and contribute to rural development. In addition, we focused on cultivation systems that incorporate the use of crop residues and woody substrates in order to ensure a sustainable, integrated approach.
Tag: agriculture
What’s the Story on Agriculture? Using Narratives to Understand Farming Households’ Aspirations in Meru, Kenya
In the limited research on farming aspirations, little attention has been paid to the narratives which frame and shape them, and the ways in which the aspirations of those who farm intersect with the goals of extension services. Drawing on multimethod research conducted in Meru County, Kenya, we demonstrate how aspirations are not only situated within a consideration of personal circumstances, but are shaped in crucial ways by networks of relations and by the perceived possibilities afforded by material and cultural resources. We further highlight the accounts of state extension agents that link a lack of engagement with the desires and needs of those who farm to the failure of agricultural development initiatives. We argue that an engagement with aspirations opens up a route to understanding the obstacles and potentialities that matter to those who farm and, as such, might enable more responsive development initiatives centred on the perceptions and desires of those who farm.
Women’s Changing Opportunities and Aspirations Amid Male Outmigration: Insights from Makueni County, Kenya
In Makueni County, Kenya, an area experiencing intensifying migration flows, we investigate the aspired futures of rural men and women using a novel methodology combining a narrative-based survey tool, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews. Our findings indicate that, in the absence of men and presence of norms restricting women’s movement out of rural life, women are becoming increasingly engaged in farm management. Women’s aspirational narratives focused on commercialising farm activities, likely reflecting their changing agricultural opportunity space and new realities as farm managers. We highlight that only considering aspirations at the household level overlooks differing individual contributions, agency over various household income streams and individuals’ changing roles throughout life. Based on our findings, we make recommendations for further aspirations research including explicit consideration of intrahousehold heterogeneity and how individual strategies and aspirations interrelate and are negotiated at the household level to build an overall livelihood strategy.
Prolific Pongamia: Potential to restore equilibrium between people and planet
Indonesia’s Ministry of Forests and Environment through its Nationally Determined Contributions under UNFCC has set an ambitious target to restore 14 million ha of degraded land by 2030 with 90% survival rate. This requires choice of right tree species in right landscape for the right purpose. The leguminous tree pongamia (Pongamia pinnata syn. Milettia pinnata) could be utilized to restore the degraded land while providing multiple benefits. Pongamia naturally grows across Indonesia, in Sumatra, Java, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and Maluku. It grows to a height of 15–20 m and can grow in a range of environmental conditions including marginal lands. Its seeds can generate up to 40% crude oil by weight. Pongamia also provides, food, wood, fodder, medicine, fertilizer and biofuels. Therefore, as a multipurpose species, pongamia holds great potential to combat Indonesia’s energy crisis and to restore much of the degraded land.
Aspectos financieros de las acciones nacionales de mitigación apropiada (NAMA) para los sistemas ganaderos en la región de América Latina y El Caribe [Financial aspects of National Appropriate Mitigation actions (NAMAs) for livestock systems in the Latin America and Caribbean region]
This document summarizes the results of the analysis on the financing issues related to business models proposed by existing NAMAs or emission reduction initiatives in nine LAC countries (Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay), developed between November 2018 and February 2019 by reviewing and analyzing secondary information and consulting (remotely) with key informants from each country evaluated. Financial and non financial barriers were evaluated, along with financial instruments proposed by livestock NAMAs. As a result, the implementation of a financing mechanism in countries developing NAMAs or livestock programs is recommended, as well as a few general recommendations to guide the financial aspects of these initiatives, in order to increase their long-term sustainability.
Gobernanza de las Acciones Nacionales Apropiadas de Mitigación (NAMA) para los sistemas ganaderos en la región de América Latina y el Caribe [Governance of National Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) for livestock systems in Latin America and the Caribbean]
This document summarizes the governance analysis of bovine livestock NAMAs, or low-emission cattle farming initiatives, that are either underway or in formulation in LAC. It focuses on the legal and institutional frameworks and the key aspects related to stakeholder framework structure and design, associated with an effective and sustainable governance model.
Aspecto Técnicos de las Acciones Nacionales de Mitigación Apropiada (NAMA) para los sistemas ganaderos en la región de América Latina y el Caribe [Technical aspects of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) for livestock systems in Latin America and Caribbean Region]
This document provides important information about the main technical aspects of livestock NAMAs, as well as the challenges they face and some recommendations that will help them to improve. It is focused in nine countries of the LAC region(Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay); but more specifically in five of them, where climate actions in the cattle sector are best documented (Costa Rica, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras and Uruguay). Based on the key aspects of organization, logic and mitigation goals, the most relevant technical aspects of the NAMA proposals were reviewed to suggest guidelines and orientation for the technical design, and for the implementation of those initiatives. The study was developed between November 2018 and February 2019, by reviewing and analyzing secondary information and consulting(remotely) with key informants from each country evaluated.
The effects of agroecological farming systems on smallholder livelihoods: a case study on push–pull system from Western Kenya
There is a need for scaling-up agroecology to promote sustainable agriculture at global level. Although, recent studies show that agroecological approaches can achieve both high yields and profits compared with conventional systems, the performance of other socioeconomic indicators remains unknown. This study has two objectives (i) identify the main characteristics of small-scale producers who represent the target-groups of the SDG 2; (ii) provide a comparison between push–pull and conventional farming systems of maize production to explore and possibly implement sustainable systems. In collaboration with Biovision Africa Trust, a participatory assessment framework was implemented in Western Kenya. Twenty-three farmers were selected and data were analysed showing that the push–pull contributes to social/cultural and natural/ecological capitals. In particular, push–pull farmers are more focused on socially oriented groups (75%); moreover, they cultivate smaller plots (1.9 ha) compared to conventional farmers (3.1 ha) without showing a reduction in profitability. The benefits of adopting push–pull system indicated by farmers (e.g. diminished Striga weed) are consistent with the advantages reported in relevant scientific literature. Considering the explorative nature of this study, the article makes a key contribution by pointing towards important questions for future research on agroecology in Sub-Saharan African countries.
Reshoring EU agriculture risks undermining SDGs
Increasing agricultural production in the European Union while reducing imports implicated in tropical deforestation (see R. Fuchs et al. Nature 586, 671–673; 2020) risks undermining the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs). These include the reduction of poverty and hunger, and the conservation of ecosystems.
Scaling up the use of low-emissions development (LED) research outputs in Kenya: Operationalizing climate-smart agriculture strategy in the local action plan
The climate-smart agriculture (CSA) Data Atlas and Training Guidebook can help operationalize Kenya’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Strategy (KCSAS) and its framework at the county level by building capacity of local CSA stakeholders and designing the county CSA plans.