Backgrounders
Backgrounders are brief introductions to important and technical topics and Answers to frequently asked questions share key information on a topic.
Use this information to plan an episode or series of episodes on the topic, to prepare for an interview, or to answer questions from callers.
- All
- Agriculture
- Aquaculture
- Children and youth
- Climate change
- Community development
- Crop production
- Energy
- Environment and climate change
- Gender equality
- Health
- Hygiene and sanitation
- Land issues
- Livestock and beekeeping
- Marketing and market information
- Nature-based Solutions
- Nutrition
- Post-harvest activities
- Social issues
- Soil health
- Trees and agroforestry
- Water management
Fall armyworm (Updated)
NOTE: This information was originally published in October 2017 and updated in May 2018. A. Introduction. The Fall armyworm, which has the scientific name of Spodoptera frugiperda, is a major pest of staple crops. The larvae (caterpillars) prefer feeding on young maize plants, but have also been reported to feed on a variety of other…
Fall armyworm
NOTE: This information was updated in May 2018. A. Introduction. The Fall armyworm, which has the scientific name of Spodoptera frugiperda, is a major pest of staple crops. The larvae (caterpillars) prefer feeding on young maize plants, but have also been reported to feed on a variety of other crops, including millet, sorghum, rice, wheat,…
Rice production
Introduction: Rice is the seed of the grass species Oryza sativa (Asian rice) or Oryza glaberrima (African rice). It is the main source of food for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. The natural habitat of rice is tropical swamplands, but it can also be cultivated in a variety of subtropical and tropical habitats. Unlike…
Using conservation tillage and soil cover in Conservation agriculture
What is conservation tillage and why is this subject important to listeners? Conservation tillage includes both reduced tillage and zero or no-till. It typically involves either making planting basins by hand, or using ox- or tractor-drawn rippers*. Details on both of these approaches are included in the Key information section below. Using conservation tillage…
Conservation agriculture
Introduction: Nowadays, many small-scale farmers have difficulty because of climate change. But Conservation agriculture has demonstrated that it is possible for them to succeed in this challenging situation. Conservation agriculture, or CA, offers simple practices which farmers can use to address the negative impacts of climate change and learn how to “farm with nature.” This…
Raising goats
Save and edit this resource as a Word document. Why is this subject important to listeners? Because farmers who want to raise goats should know: • The right age and weight for young goats to begin mating, and the best season to mate. • The best breeding methods. • Symptoms of common goat diseases and…
Post-harvest activities in cassava
Introduction Cassava originated in tropical South America. It was introduced to the Congo Basin in the mid-1500s, and to East Africa in the 1700s. In Africa, 93 percent of cassava produced is consumed as food, making it vital for food security in rural households. Over 500 million people in sub-Saharan Africa rely on cassava as…
Growing soybean
Introduction Soybean (Glycine max) originated in East Asia, and was introduced to Africa in the late 1800s, and to Tanzania in the early 1900s. Most soybean in Tanzania is grown in the Southern Highlands. There is an increasing demand for soybean to nutritionally fortify human foods. Many small- to medium-scale processors (mostly women) in Tanzania…
Cassava mosaic disease
Why is this subject important to listeners? Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) is the most severe and widespread plant disease in sub-Saharan Africa. CMD-affected cassava plants produce few or no tubers, depending on the severity of the disease and the age of the plant at the time of infection. CMD causes significant yield loss (up to…
Growing common bean
Introduction Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most popular food legume* in the world. It was introduced to Tanzania about 300 years ago. In Tanzania and much of East Africa, common bean is grown for home consumption and for sale. East African farmers produce more than half of common beans grown in in Africa.…