Title of document: FARMER FIELD SCHOOL GUIDANCE DOCUMENT, Planning for quality programmes Authors: FAO Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: FAO Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: Global level Since the development of the farmer field school (FFS) approach in the late 80s in Asia, thousands of FFS have since been implemented across the world, in over 90 countries and across a varied range of contexts and thematic areas. Demand for FFS programmes is increasing, and in several countries the approach is now institutionalized within public extension systems and NGO programmes. It is estimated that by 2015 millions of farmers and agro-pastoralists had benefitted from the unique ability of FFS programmes to address the technological, social and economic needs of smallholder farmers and land users. Considering the expansion of FFS, both in terms of scale and in the application of the approach, concerns have emerged around how to best ensure a minimum level of quality of FFS program implementation and harmonization across programmes and actors, while still maintaining the flexibility required for the continuous adaptation and improvement of the approach. In response to this concern, a Global FFS Review was conducted in 2012 by FAO, including a discussion forum with over 100 participants, who explored the issue of quality in FFS and identified the essential steps and conditions required for setting up strong, solid and sustainable FFS programmes. Based on the results from the Global FFS Review, a Guidance Document for quality FFS programmes was proposed, to serve as a common reference for FFS programme development. This FFS Guidance Document focuses on the process and critical decisions that are necessary when starting a new FFS programme, and guides the reader through the essential steps required to establish a solid basis for such programmes, in tune with the specific local conditions. It also defines the essential elements and processes required to ensure programme relevance, quality, growth and sustainability. The document differs from most of the FFS manuals and guidelines available in that it focuses on providing support to FFS programme managers and formulators, as opposed to FFS field facilitators or trainers, who are the primary target group for most existing manuals.     Read More

Title of document:  Multiple pathways: case studies of sustainable agriculture in China. Authors: Cook, S. and Buckley, L. (eds.) Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: IIED, London. Year of publication: 2015 Geographic focus: China Chinese agriculture currently faces major challenges. China’s use of fertilisers and pesticides is among the highest in the world. Soil erosion and soil pollution are widespread, as is the loss of agricultural biodiversity as high-yielding hybrid crop varieties replace traditional landraces. Water scarcity is widespread and the rapid pace of urbanisation has led to a mass exodus from rural areas, with major implications on the availability of agricultural labour. There is a small but growing trend towards sustainable food production and consumption in China, witnessed by the rise in ecological farms, organic farmers’ markets in major cities and an increasing emphasis on sustainability elements in Chinese agricultural policies. This report from IIED presents eight sustainable agriculture initiatives from seven provinces in China. The case studies include cooperatives, companies, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiatives, and government-led and farmer-led initiatives. The report views sustainability in all its social, economic and environmental dimensions. The conclusion is that adopting sustainable agriculture in China is quite achievable from a technical standpoint. The major bottlenecks for moving forward are economic and social. Key challenges include how to ensure an adequate market for the products of sustainable agriculture; how to ensure that market returns reflect the environmental, social and health benefits of more sustainable modes of production; how to ensure that smallholders benefit; and how to find sufficient labour to carry out sustainable agricultural practices in rural areas. The case studies showed that collective organisation was essential to the viability of sustainable agriculture and that external actors and the government played a crucial enabling role in supporting a diversity of pathways to sustainable agriculture.   Read More

Title of document: China’s view on implementation and performance of agroecology Authors: China Ambassador at FAO Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: China Speech given by China Ambassador at FAO Headquarter, 11th March 2016 China’s views on agroecology: How China sees Agroecology, What China has achieved, and what’s China future plan.   Read More

Title of document: The diversity of knowledge, Reflection on the agrobiodiversity @ knowledge programme Authors: Henkjan Laats, Nick Pasciesznik, Edith van Walsum, Janneke Bruil and Danielle Peterson Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Hivos and Oxfam Novib Year of publication: 2015 Geographic focus: Regional level Despite its importance for food security, smallholder livelihoods and the environment, agricultural biodiversity is disappearing at an alarming rate and with the knowledge in its management and use. With the Agrobiodiversity@knowledged programme, Hivos and Oxfam novib wanted to contribute to solutions for this unfolding drama. This report is the result of a three years knowledge programme of Hivos, Oxfam Novib and civil society organisations and academics working in the field of agricultural biodiversity around the world. It reveals stories of change - changes within people and changes within the programmes of their organisations - related to agricultural biodiversity. www.hivos.org   Read More

Title of document: Organic agriculture in the twenty first century Authors: John P. Reganold  and Jonathan M. Wachter in Nature Plants Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: Global level Organic agriculture has a history of being contentious and is considered by some as an inefficient approach to food production. Yet organic foods and beverages are a rapidly growing market segment in the global food industry. Here, we examine the per­formance of organic farming in light of four key sustainability metrics: productivity, environmental impact, economic viability and social wellbeing. Organic farming systems produce lower yields compared with conventional agriculture. However, they are more profitable and environmentally friendly, and deliver equally or more nutritious foods that contain less (or no) pesticide residues, compared with conventional farming. Moreover, initial evidence indicates that organic agricultural systems deliver greater ecosystem services and social benefits. Although organic agriculture has an untapped role to play when it comes to the establishment of sustainable farming systems, no single approach will safely feed the planet. Rather, a blend of organic and other innovative farming systems is needed. Significant barriers exist to adopting these systems, however, and a diversity of policy instruments will be required to facilitate their development and implementation.   Read More

Title of document: Trends, drivers and impacts of changes in Swidden cultivation in tropical forest-agriculture frontier: A global assessment Authors: Nathalie van Vliet et al. in Global environment change Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Year of publication: 2012 Geographic focus: Global level This meta-analysis of land cover transformation of the past 10-15 years in tropical-agriculture frontier worldwide show that swidden agriculture decrease in landscapes with access to local, national and international markets that encourage cattle production and cash cropping, including biofuels. Normal 0 21 false false false FR X-NONE TH /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tableau Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} www.elsevier.com/locate/gloencvha     Read More

Title of document: Agroecology Stakeholder Mapping and Situation Review in Cambodia Authors: Proyuth Ly and Samphiron Sar Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: GRET Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: Cambodia The current report presented results from a study on agroecology stakeholder mapping and situation review in Cambodia conducted within the framework of AFD’s funded regional project “Toward Agroecology Transition in the Mekong Region”, implemented by GRET. The study is one of the four studies, conducted in parallel in four countries including Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam. The overall objective of the study is to map agroecological initiatives at local and national level and provide a more detailed and accurate account of ongoing initiatives promoting agroecology across the region. The study involves desk reviews including national policy framework, technical reports, articles, books addressing the six identified agroecological practices (SRI, IPM, Organic Agriculture, Integrated Farming, Conservation Agriculture and Agroforestry), interviews with 21 actors actively promoting agro-ecological practices, and field visits to the outstanding sites in four provinces (Kampong Speu, Kandal, Takeo and Siem Reap). The results of the study is divided into five sections: a review of Cambodia’s policy/regulatory frameworks addressing agro-ecological practices, sustainable development, poverty reduction, food security, GI, GAP etc.; status of the six identified agroecological practices and enabling environment; stakeholder mapping and their account of ongoing initiatives; existing networks promoting agroecology; and stories from the fields.   Read More

This document presents the lessons learnt from Sustainable Agriculture and Market Development Project (SAMADP). It was implemented in Paek district, Xiengkhouang province between 2009 and 2015 by Sustainable Agriculture and Environment Development Association (SAEDA) and District Agriculture and Forestry Office (DAFO) of Paek district with the funding from Bread for the World and Fastenopfer. This document describes the integrated approach of the project intervention especially on how the project supported small holder farmers in developing better production techniques, use of farmer expert in technology transfer, facilitation of farmer organization in improving production planning and marketing. In addition, it also shows impact of the project in improvement of farmer’s livelihood, strengthening of public extension services and ensuing sustainability of the environment. Lastly, it describes factors of success and limitations.   Read More

  Organic Farming Success Story: Water Hyacinth Cutter initiation for management of local resources in Agriculture activity   Supported by: Doe Taung Thu Organization   In practice since: 2013   Geographic focus: Myanmar   School of agro-ecology: Organic Agriculture   >>> See on map     Read More

Initiative leaflet: Human Ecology Practical Area (HEPA) Supported by: SPERI Geographic focus: Vietnam School of agroecology: Ecological Farming / Organic Agriculture >>> See on map    Read More