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
Malt barley production in Ethiopia
Why is this subject important to listeners? Barley is a traditional crop in Ethiopia. It has a deep-rooted history of being used in traditional food and beverages. Production of malting barley has a very short history. It is mainly associated with beer making in Ethiopia, which started in the early 1920s with the establishment…
Reducing post-harvest losses in tomatoes
Introduction Why is this subject important to listeners? Because farmers and processors who handle fresh tomatoes after harvest need to know: When tomatoes are ready for harvesting and how to properly harvest them. How to reduce on- and off-farm tomato losses. The right environmental conditions for storing fresh tomatoes. The degree of perishability of tomatoes…
Reducing post-harvest losses in maize
Introduction Why is this subject important to listeners? Because maize growers, traders, and processors should know: How to manage maize before harvesting to reduce post-harvest losses and infestation. The right harvesting equipment. The right time to harvest maize. How to effectively dry maize after harvest to avoid fungal infection and determine when it is sufficiently…
Reducing post-harvest losses in mango
Introduction Why is this subject important to listeners? Because farmers and processors handling fresh mangoes after harvesting should know: When a mango is ready for harvesting. The right times of day to harvest mangoes to minimize the latex flow that stains fruits, causing rejection in high-end and export markets. Best practices for harvesting and placing…
Backgrounder: Using permanent soil cover in conservation agriculture
Why is this subject important to listeners? Because farmers who are interested in maintaining permanent soil cover should know: How covering the soil contributes to soil health. The various methods of maintaining soil cover. The types of crops and crop residues best used to cover the soil. The amount of soil cover required. (Conservation agriculture…
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…