Resource Pack 80
Niche agricultural products are specialized crops or livestock for which there is a very particular but limited market. For example, mushrooms, potatoes and other vegetables are considered niche crops in many parts of Africa, as are flowers, spices, fruits and medicinal herbs. Snails and rabbits are examples of animals that are considered niche products in parts of Africa.
Resource Pack 79
Growing and harvesting a crop is only half of the battle for farmers around the world. Depending on the crop, there can be several steps a farmer must complete before selling it, including processing, storage, transport and marketing. Unfortunately, each step can pose problems for farmers, and can result in the loss of some or much of the crop.
Resource Pack 78
Broadcasters were invited to submit scripts on one of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). A total of 26 scripts from broadcasters based in 15 countries were received and evaluated by a panel of international judges. Each of the seven winning scripts and three runner-up scripts are included in package 78.
Resource Pack 77
This year is the International Year of Deserts and Desertification! Many organizations and communities all across Africa are mobilizing to prevent or reverse the impact of land degradation which is contributing to desertification.
Resource Pack 76
"The United Nations (UN) has designated 2006 as the Year of Desertification, marking ten years since the UN Convention to Combat Desertification came into force. Poverty is a main contributor to environmental degradation. Two-thirds of African lands are vulnerable to desertification and over 70% of African agricultural drylands are already degraded, making Africa the continent most severely affected by desertification."
Resource Pack 74
Through years of practiced observation farmers have developed traditional ways to forecast environmental changes. By using indicators such as the flowering time of certain trees, the direction and speed of the winds, and even insect behaviour, farmers monitor and predict changes in their surroundings. These types of ‘grassroots indicators’ are often an informal early warning system for drought and desertification.
Resource Pack 73
The impact of HIV and AIDS on food production and rural households in sub-Saharan Africa is undeniable. AIDS generally hits people in their most productive years, between the ages of 15 and 49. People become too sick to farm and feed themselves and their families. Significant losses in food production also result from deaths in families, and time taken to attend funerals and other mourning rituals.
Resource Pack 72
The eleven scripts published in the September 2004 package cover different aspects of pest control: everything from deciding when an insect becomes a pest, to possible solutions to weed and insect pests in certain crops, and the potential dangers of applying chemical pesticides. The messages woven throughout the scripts are similar: learn about pests; use that knowledge to decide what control methods to use; use many different methods at the same time; and reduce dependence on chemical pesticides.
Resource Pack 71
To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we decided to canvass our partners directly to help set the theme for the June package. We were surprised how many responses we received requesting information about specific crops, as well as water management and rainwater harvesting techniques. It seems fitting that our anniversary package represents somewhat of a return to our “roots”: providing simple, affordable and sustainable farming techniques and water harvesting solutions that will help to increase food security.