How to make climate smart agriculture profitable for smallholder.

How to make climate smart agriculture profitable for smallholder.Globally, agriculture generates about 13 percent of the greenhouse gasses that are responsible for climate change. With the global population growing, however, we cannot afford to cut back on agricultural production in an effort to slow climate change. 

We have to grow more, and we have to grow it smarter. At the same time, farmers – and especially smallholder farmers – are among those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Changes in rainfall patterns, the expanding range of crop diseases and pests, and soil erosion conspire to drive down yields and farm incomes.

 However, smallholders often have difficulty adopting more environmentally friendly practices, either because they represent an extra expense –which the farmers cannot bear, as they already operate on very thin margins of profitability – or because the farmers don’t have access to the necessary materials and services. To encourage smallholders to adopt sustainable practices, it is therefore important to identify and promote approaches that are not just green, but are easy to adopt and provide an immediate financial benefit to the farmers. 

 Creating Win-Win Scenarios for Farmers and the Environment This is very important in India, which is the fourth-largest producer of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, and where most farmers already earn little, due to low yields and low prices. 

These farmers cannot afford costly new technologies or techniques to reduce their environmental impact or adapt to changing conditions. To address that challenge, a partnership between Kellogg and TechnoServe is helping more than 12,000 farmers in corn, wheat, soy and legume-growing regions of Madhya Pradesh adopt profitable, environmentally friendly and easily accessible techniques. For example, the project encourages farmers to plant trees on farm bunds – landscaping features designed to hold the flow of groundwater during the monsoon season – to help absorb carbon, combat soil erosion, and provide shade for crops, while also yielding potential income from the trees’ fruit and timber in the future. 

 Farmers are also supported in adopting traditional Indian soil-enhancement practices, such as use of amrit khadh and amrit pani (traditional Indian bio-fertilizers) and more sustainable pest management practices that reduce costs while improving soil quality and agricultural yields. At the same time, a group of village entrepreneurs ensures that low-cost supportive services are available to farmers at their doorstep, thus making it a sustainable model. more

How precision farming is increasing corn yield for Kellogg's cornflakes.

How precision farming is increasing corn yield for Kellogg's cornflakes. Much has changed since his great-great-grandfather first broke sod in 1849. On their 12,000-acre farm between Danville, IL, and Ambia, IN, Randy W. uses technology, machinery and a team of five people to help plant corn that goes into Kellogg’s Corn Flakes. “We can plant 500 acres in a day with one planter…and we have two. My father used to plant 500 acres for an entire season,” Randy says. “It takes patience and precision.” Randy points to precision as one key to sustainable agriculture. “With high-tech mapping of our fields we know what areas carry more moisture or which need fertilizer or herbicides. Then we spoon on as little as is needed. It is better for the environment that way.” He is quick to add with a smile, “and it saves money” Doing more with less is a common theme among farmers today both for sustainability and economics. [A lot of the younger generation] go to school, and sometimes they don’t come back to the farm. So you have to continue to do more with fewer people, and that’s where technology plays a part. more

TechnoServe and the Kellogg Company sowing seeds of women's empowerment in India.

TechnoServe and the Kellogg Company sowing seeds of women's empowerment in India. TechnoServe and the Kellogg Company are working with women in Madhya Pradesh to grow nutritious food for their families using climate-smart agriculture. As a child, Rachna Sharma dreamed of becoming a teacher just like several male members of her family. However, she never expected to make this dream a reality, as girls were not allowed to work in her family. Little did she know that she would become a mentor to 300 local women, helping them to increase their families’ nutrition and establish their roles in family and agricultural decision-making. Rachna’s dream of becoming a teacher came to fruition through TechnoServe’s collaboration with the Kellogg Company, which seeks to improve the livelihoods of over 12,000 smallholder farmers in India through the promotion of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) techniques led by TechnoServe. This work supports Kellogg’s Global Sustainability Commitments to support a half million farmers by 2025, focusing on CSA to improve livelihoods. As research and TechnoServe’s past experience demonstrates, investing in opportunities for women leads to additional benefits at the household level and beyond; thus the initiative prioritizes the inclusion of women. In addition to training women farmers on CSA, TechnoServe and Kellogg identified an opportunity to increase the role women play in the farm economy while simultaneously enhancing the nutritional intake of participating households by training women in organic kitchen gardening. The project helps women to establish backyard gardens using organic inputs and farming practices for four nutritionally diverse crops at a time. With fresh produce at hand in the garden, women gain better quality vegetables without spending at market, saving travel time and money while diversifying their families’ access to essential nutrients. However, while many women were willing to implement gardens, finding local women to lead the training sessions was a challenge. In a region where women have not historically worked, there were no female volunteers, and women were not comfortable learning from a male technician. In order to initiate a cycle of change, TechnoServe’s village volunteer, Ratiram, went from household to household, searching for a woman like Rachna to hire as the project’s first local resource person (LRP). When Rachna expressed interest at the opportunity to become a female educator – and teaching other women, no less – the TechnoServe team supported her in reaching an agreement with her father. more

What to Know About Cat Vaccinations.

What to Know About Cat Vaccinations.Cats don’t actually have nine lives, so you need to do what you can to protect them. The key? is the right vaccinations. Shots protect your cat from diseases caused by viruses and bacteria. They can also strengthen her immune system. Whether you have a kitten or an adult cat, your vet can help you figure out which vaccines are best and how often your kitty should get shots. It usually depends on her age, overall health, and lifestyle. The vet will also think about how long vaccines are supposed to last and how likely your cat might be to come into contact with a certain disease. Also, many local and state governments have laws about vaccines like rabies. When to give vaccines. Kittens should start getting vaccinations when they are 6 to 8 weeks old. The shots come in a series every 3 to 4 weeks. Adult cats need shots less often, usually every year or every 3 years, depending on how long a vaccine is designed to last. Which shots they need. Some vaccines are recommended for all cats. They protect against: 1) rabies. 2) Panleukopenia(feline distemper). 3) Feline Calicivirus. 4)Feline viral rhinotracheitis. The feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia vaccinations often come in a combination shot (FVRCP), which is sometimes called the “distemper shot.” Your cat may need extra shots depending on how much time she spends outside, how often she’s around other cats, and the diseases that are common in your area. They include: more

Nestlé Spain develops first infant formula with two breast milk oligosaccharides

Nestlé Spain develops first infant formula with two breast milk oligosaccharides: After a decade of research, Nestlé has developed the first formula for infants with two oligosaccharides identical to those found in breast milk.

Key elements of successful agribusiness job creation in Africa.

Key elements of successful agribusiness job creation in Africa.The myriad of opportunities in agricultural value chains and the existence of untapped resources, particularly young people, can provide the much needed impetus to drive the next wave of development in Africa. To bring about the development of new agribusinesses, it is imperative to change the mindset of young men and women. They must see agriculture as an attractive profession. Most young people in Africa still think agriculture is an unprofitable and outdated sector that requires much hard work. Agriculture needs their energy and skills to add value to the sector and turn it into a vibrant, successful and fully commercial enterprise. The experiences of the IITA Youth Agripreneurs show that changing the perception of agriculture can inspire young people to become agricultural entrepreneurs. It can lead a graduate of history to become the best maize grower in northern Nigeria and a graduate of communication and media studies to become one of the most lucrative catfish farmers in Ibadan, Nigeria. Given the right opportunities, this change in mindset can help to transform agriculture, driving productivity growth and job creation. Part of this involves providing young people with opportunities to see how agriculture can work for them through educational visits and tours to successful agribusiness enterprises. more

How to establish a tree fruit orchard.

How to establish a tree fruit orchard. Where to plant your fruit trees is an important consideration when starting your orchard. Ideally you want good drainage, good soil, plenty of sunshine (fruiting trees require a minimum of 6-8 hours of sun per day during the growing season), and good air flow. You want your trees to be wind protected and try to avoid low-lying sites. A slope is the best location, if you have one. Fertile soils with a depth of more than 1.5 meters and pH range of 5.8–6.6 are ideal for growing fruit trees. Dig large holes before planting fruit trees. The tree holes need to be large enough to accommodate the root system, a 2 feet diameter is a good measurement. Mix well with the existing soil and good quality compost. Mulching and composting are an important part of the orchard. The proposed orchard’s site has to be cleared as thoroughly as possible of perennial weeds, undergrowth, trees, stumps, roots, trash and debris. This should be followed by levelling of unwanted anthills and the elimination of their destructive inhabitants. more