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Raising hope and opportunity in rural Tajikistan: Obidova’s story
Obidova is busy these days. Whether she’s setting up a new shelter for her birds or going to the markets to sell, her days are filled with taking care of her family and her poultry business. But just a year ago, things looked very different.
IFAD’s Rural Development Report 2021
Our food systems are failing us. From the climate, to the environment, to nutrition, to human health and well-being, they are not delivering the outcomes we all need. IFAD’s Rural Development Report 2021 describes the systemic issues that have led to the situation we are in, identifies priorities for transforming our food systems, and provides recommended actions to achieve meaningful change.
The Lare Milk Dealers find their niche
Milk processing is normally a profitable venture in Kenya’s Nakuru County, but the Lare Milk Dealers Youth Group struggled to enter the market at first. Thanks to trainings hosted by an IFAD-supported project and some innovative additions to their business model, they’re now thriving.
Black jelly brings a more resilient future for rural Viet Nam
Light and refreshing, with a mild, earthy flavour, Vietnamese black jelly is the perfect end-of-summer treat. It’s already popular throughout Viet Nam and its neighbouring countries – and thanks to the work of local growers and an IFAD-supported project, it’s now destined for wider audiences.
Restoration takes root: Nasreen’s story
Nasreen’s family was struggling to make ends meet. Now, thanks to an IFAD-supported project, she runs her own ecological farm that produces high-quality, chemical-free vegetables – all while it restores the local ecosystem.
What we’re reading for World Water Week
Here’s a list of our favourite books and other resources about the state of water in our world and the way it intersects with our politics, economics and societies.
Community-driven change brings water security in Tonga
Eua Island is home to many of the Kingdom of Tonga’s natural resources. Recently, climate change and natural disasters have caused significant water supply challenges, but an IFAD-supported project – made possible by the islanders’ incredible community spirit – is working to change that.
The Greenthumb Youth Group casts their nets
The Greenthumb Youth Group hadn’t had much luck with traditional farming. But thanks to a grant to set up an aquaponics venture – combining crop farming and fish farming – their success is making waves all along the value chain.
In Rwanda, public-private partnerships benefit small-scale cassava farmers
Cassava is one of Rwanda’s most important staple crops, but market access remains a challenge. The Ingabo Syndicate, an organization of cooperatives, has been helping its cassava producers find markets for over two decades – most recently, through public-private partnerships.
Responding to the challenges of a year like no other: IFAD’s 2020 Annual Report
IFAD’s Annual Report provides a concise, compelling and interactive discussion of how we addressed the challenges of the last year.
New horizons for the Ingobor Youth Group
Meet Ingobor, a group of 20 former bus drivers and conductors who pooled their resources and established a successful dairy business.
Three ways to harvest water in Brazil’s sertão
For centuries, people living in Brazil’s semi-arid region have struggled with a lack of water. But over the last decades, thanks to support from IFAD and other development actors, these communities are squeezing a few more drops of water from Mother Nature.
The potential and unknowns of gender transformative approaches
With less than a decade left to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, the sobering current global trajectory is one in which it will take roughly 170 years to achieve gender equality. The current global pandemic has both made gender inequalities more visible and worsened them, including in food systems.
Seeing the invisible, doing the impossible: A young Nigerian entrepreneur’s journey to success
Dorothy Chia Vandefan is nothing if not insightful. She describes herself as a serious-minded agricultural entrepreneur who can create opportunities where there seem to be none – and she’s right.
In Moldova, new frontiers for the honeybee business
Thanks to an IFAD-supported grant, Ecaterina’s honey business is taking off – and now she and her fellow entrepreneurs have a bigger market reach than ever before.
Recipes for Change: A conversation with Chef Shane Chartrand
For over a decade, Chef Shane Chartrand has been on a personal and culinary journey: figuring out what it means to be of Cree descent and of Métis upbringing, and how to integrate that into being a professional chef living and working in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on Treaty 6 territory.
Grass funds: Tradition meets ingenuity in Brazil’s sertão
Too many people assume Brazil’s fundo de pasto communities are relics of the past. Today, they’re at work uniting centuries-old traditions with contemporary food systems.
11 reasons why remittances are important
Every year, on 16 June, the International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR) is observed to raise further awareness on the abnegation and sacrifice of migrant workers, who support their families and communities of origin through the money they send back home, particularly in these times of crisis.
Climate-smart agriculture supports food systems in rural Georgia
Through the use of climate-smart agriculture techniques, an IFAD-supported project is helping rural Georgian farmers holistically restore their local and regional ecosystems.
The community bakery empowering Egypt’s rural women
In a country where artisanal bread is the rule rather than the exception, the Qena community bakery stands out among the rest – and it’s run entirely by rural women.
Food from fallows: capitalizing on idle land for better food security in South Asia
Every year after the rice harvest in South Asia, a vast area of over 15 million hectares lies idle (fallow) until the next rice planting season several months later. Scientists in countries like Bangladesh, India and Nepal think the fallow land could, and should, be used for additional crops that increase farmer incomes and food security.
How innovation is helping tea growers in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has been a global supplier of tea since the plant was first imported to the island about a hundred and fifty years ago. Since then, tea estates have often been passed down from generation to generation, weathering good times and bad.
From Kenya: the Ogiek honey Slow Food Presidium
The entire Ogiek belief system and livelihood relies on the forest and its resources, with honey being the most important product and a staple food for Ogiek families.
Restoring ecosystem services in the Peruvian Andes
In the Andes of Peru, rural farmers are helping to restore the region’s degraded lands and improve water security.
How to change a life: Household mentoring makes a difference in northern Uganda
They say that leaders aren’t born, but made. That’s certainly true for Molly Ajok.
In Nicaragua, coffee and cocoa make life sweeter
NICADAPTA works closely with producer cooperatives to help them sustainably access coffee and cocoa markets. The results are making life not only sweeter, but also better.
The Maasai of Kenya and the Red Maasai sheep slow food presidium
The rights of indigenous peoples to control their land according to their own needs and decisions is fundamental to protect their livelihoods and defend the biodiversity of native animal breeds and plant varieties.
Struggle, strength and wisdom: Snapshots of Bangladesh’s women farmers
The story of agriculture in Bangladesh is also a story of the resilience of Bangladeshi women. If women have the chance to participate in decision-making, the whole community benefits.
What we are reading on food systems
As we approach the UN Food Systems Summit here are some suggested reads on transforming our food systems for people, and planet.
In Kyrgyzstan, new technology preserves age-old pastures
Urmatbek Omurbekov remembers a time when grazing his livestock was a purely offline affair. Every spring, herders like him would bring their animals to the foothills of the majestic Tian Shah Mountains to let them fatten up for the next winter.