Crisis and aid: Q&A with Naho Asai, Programme Officer, WFP Myanmar

In the wake of the powerful Cyclone Nargis which hit southern Myanmar at the weekend, the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) managed by the World Food Programme in Brindisi has organised an airlift of aid worth around US$ 560,000 on behalf of the Italian Foreign Ministry's Development Cooperation Office.

WFP has begun distributing food in cyclone-damaged areas of Yangon as it ramped up efforts to respond to the looming humanitarian needs in the southern coastal regions of Myanmar hardest hit by the powerful Cyclone Nargis three days ago.

The World Food Programme today sent four aircraft loaded with critically needed food aid and other relief items for thousands of people struck by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar.

The World Food Programme strongly condemned the killing of a WFP-contracted truck driver who was shot yesterday at a checkpoint in central Somalia.

Facts, figures and the lastest updates from WFP's high profile emergencies.

Completed Following a seminar for English-speaking participants from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries on obsolete pesticides in Harare (Zimbabwe), 17-20 December 1996, a further workshop was arranged by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for delegates from francophone, mainly West African, countries, in Dakar, 16-19 March 1999.

Completed To understand the factors that shape the policy environment, as well as the drivers and potential drivers of institutional change in the agricultural sector in Kenya. The key findings of the study were: *the importance of developing voice; *the need for widespread stakeholder consultation in developing policies; *the importance of linking the policy and budgetary processes; *the minimisation of government regulatory activities; *donor co-ordination around shared themes. To contribute to developing a more informed approach in supporting reform within the sector.

Completed Agricultural production which is dependant on the clearing of forest land (usually logged natural forest or long-term forest fallow) is common to many countries of the humid tropics. This shifting (slash and burn or swidden) agriculture results in the reduction of forest cover as only a proportion of the cleared land is returned to forest. In Bolivia, and in other countries, rise in populations through immigration and natural increase from 1-5 people per sq.km.

Completed To participate in the three day meeting organised by the World Bank on 'Education for Agriculture and Rural development - identifying strategies for meeting future needs' 1-3 December 1999. Prof. Garfield would contribute to the deliberations of the meeting as a recognised professional in the field and, in conjunction with the co-ordinator of the DFID/WB collaborative program in Rural Development, consider recommendations for DFID to work together with the Bank and other partners in follow-up action. DFID will formally be represented.

Completed To fulfil a request for Market Information. To supply information to the Department for International Development (DFID) on the extent to which up-to-the minute agricultural marketing and price data are produced and disseminated in Europe and the US as a public good and free of charge, the alternative being that they are published with a cost attatched. New activity.

Completed Most farmers in sub-Saharan Africa farm 'organically' because they cannot afford artificial chemical inputs and/or are beyond the reach of market networks, including government extension, because of barriers of inaccessibility or illiteracy . This is particularly true among women farmers, the farming majority of this region. Research on 'indigenous' agricultural change confirms that adaptation often occurs without the use of chemical inputs.

Completed Given the importance of agriculture in the WTO negotiations for developing countries a focus on the WTO is a timely focus for the network and
an opportunity to highlight research and analysis in this area that DFID has been supporting. It also offers an opportunity for a discussion
on transitional assistance for ACP sugar producers with EU MS and Commission officials. To host a meeting between the EU ATDN network, with agriculture, trade and development officials.

Completed This international symposium is organised by TRIALOG, Humbolt University and HABITAT, and aims to explore the link between urban agriculture researchers, practitioners, trainers and supporters, emphasising the integration of agronomic, socio-economic and planning, housing and landscape issues. The paper will draw on research work carried out in South Africa and Zimbabwe (EU 4th Framework funded project entitled Methodologies and Design criteria for Soil and Water Resource Management and Policy Formulation in Peri-urban Farming Systems in Southern Africa.).

Current In 2002, the International Foundation for Science (IFS )and the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) began preparations for the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative by exploring ways of improving the dialogue between researchers and stakeholders in the agricultural production chain.

Researchers with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) warn that China and India's plans to greatly increase domestic production of biofuels, will put at risk their water supplies. This will seriously undermine the two countries' ability to meet future food and feed demands. The study was conducted by the CGIAR-supported International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Sri Lanka. In many areas where water is already scarce, biofuel production could threaten river and groundwater systems.

FEED Projects, a socially minded business with hopes of feeding the world, and Whole Foods Market, the leading natural and organic foods supermarket, announced today the new FEED 100 reusable shopping bag is available exclusively at Whole Foods Market stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom on May 1st.

Hereunder is an overview of the participants to the SCARDA Implementation Workshop 30-04-02/05, FARA, Accra Ghana. If you double click on the picture you can enlarge it. If you click on the name you have the person's e-mail.

Yaye, Aissetou
ANAFE
Kenya

von Kaufmann Ralph
FARA
Ghana
Ketema, Seyfu
ASARECA
Uganda

Sebolai, Boingotlo
BCA
Botswana
Chite, Stephen
DAR
Botswana
Chancellor, Tim
NRI

Interview with Marcel Mwalozie of CORAF during the SCARDA workshop in Accra

Marcel Mwalozie of CORAF (Dakar) explains how the DFID supported SCARDA project (Strenghtening Capacity for Agricultural Research for Development in Africa) can help with the replenishement of African expertise. This is urgent as scientists retire and others migrate. He answers the question of which role the African

FARA participates to the Conference Towards a “Green Revolution” in Africa, 30 April – 2 May 2008, Salzburg, Austria.

There is a clear need for a new vision for agricultural development in Africa that can deal with the complexities of agriculture in diverse settings across Africa and meet the conditions necessary to achieve more equitable benefits for Africa’s farmers.

The Conference lays the