Food and energy prices surged to near historic highs in recent years amid the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which prompted major supply disruptions. This was accompanied by a sharp rise in the volatility of commodity prices as well.
Category: Agriculture
Solar Energy Brings Water to Niger’s Farms
Boubacar Issoufou Alzouma manages a large farm in Finaré, Niger. “The land from here to Niamey is green with vegetation, whereas previously it was not cultivated,” explains Alzouma.
FAO’s One Country One Priority Product advances in Africa
Rome, Italy/ — The One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative, launched by FAO in 2021, aims to promote agricultural development by identifying and prioritising one essential agricultural product per country that has the potential to increase farmers’ incomes and improve food security.
Food Inflation and Currency Collapse Threaten Food Security in Middle East and North Africa
Cairo, Egypt// — As the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region celebrates the beginning of the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan, it is experiencing a deepening food security crisis due to the combination of high food inflation and collapsing currencies. This is affecting millions of people across the region, particularly those living in countries […]
Rich in Heritage, Full of Potential: Zimbabwe Marks International Year of Millets
Rome, Italy// — Millets, often called “Nutri-Cereals” due to their high nutritional content can grow on poor soils with little inputs.
Kenya Drought: Pastoralists Suffer Despite Millions of Dollars Used to Protect Them
A young herder grazes cattle on dwindling pasture in the drylands of Kenya. Tony Karumba/AFP via Getty Images Tahira Shariff Mohamed, Institute of Development Studies and Ian Scoones, Institute of Development Studies Across the arid landscape of northern Kenya, roadside signs proclaim projects aimed at creating “resilience” among pastoralist communities. This is a region where […]
Counting the Cost: Food Prices Skyrocket in Malawi After Cyclone Freddy
Blantyre, Malawi//- Prices of staple foods are soaring in Malawi, ten days after Tropical Cyclone Freddy made its second passage over the southern African country, worsening levels of food insecurity as families struggle to meet their food needs.
Climate Change: Farmers in Ghana Can’t Predict Rainfall Anymore
Established practices of Ghanaian farmers have been affected by climate change. Bernard Keraita/Flickr James Boafo, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Climate change affects all spheres of life, particularly those aspects that depend on the environment. Farming communities are a case in point.
Bird Flu: Nigeria is on Major Migratory Bird Routes, New Strains Keep Appearing
Nigeria has to step up biosecurity measures to check frequent bird flu outbreaks. Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP via Getty Images Clement Meseko, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Jos Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral infection of birds, commonly called “bird flu”, which has been recurring in Nigeria since 2006. It has resulted in the loss […]
FAO: Africa’s Millet Super Foods Can Help Address Hunger and Climate Change
Accra, Ghana// – At a special event at the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Regional Office for Africa, millets took centre stage and were celebrated for their potential in addressing climate change, boosting nutrition, and increasing farmers’ incomes.