Brochures and Pamphlets

The ComCashew Matching Fund is a unique private-public partnership model and the only fund for cashew worldwide set up to accelerate the development of the cashew industry. After its introduction in September 2012, there are 27 Matching Fund projects being implemented in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Mozambique. Farm productivity and farmer income ultimately benefit from public and private investments. Business linkages are strengthened with the Fund. This allows reduced transaction costs and assures quality and traceability.

This brochure was developed by CCARDESA to highlight constraints of adopting mechanization in Conservation Agriculture and possible suggestions to improve mechanization in CA.

Regionally as well as internationally, Conservation Agriculture research has proven to show numerous benefits, as it is evident that multiple donors continue to invest in the promotion and the adoption of CA technologies. These benefits range from:

• Improved soil fertility and moisture retention, resulting from long-term yield increase, decreasing yield variation and greater food security.
• Stabilizes soil and reduce erosion.
• It contributes in the reduction of surface water and groundwater contamination.
• Reduces on-farm costs: saving in time, labour and mechanized machinery.

This brochure explains the concept of Conservation Agriculture, its benefits and how to deal with pests and diseases when adopting conservation agriculture.

Maize is an important strategic crop which is grown by millions of farmers in the SADC region as both a food crop and a cash crop. This staple food of most countries in the SADC region is threatened by the occurrence of the Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND) which has been reported in East Africa. The disease was first reported in Kenya, (South Rift Valley – Bomet and Naivasha districts) in September 2011, although its extent at that point suggested that the disease had been present for some time. MLND has also spread rapidly into Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan (FAO, 2013).
Recent reports indicate high possibilities of this disease spreading to the Southern African countries which if not contained could result in devastation and food insecurity to the SADC region from possible crop failure and reduced yields given the role of maize as the main staple crop for many countries in the region. Maintaining vigilance and taking proactive action by all key stakeholders is necessary to manage this threat

This brochure gives a short overview of the Maize lethal necrosis disease and provides the most important information on it.

This brochure explains what climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is and what is new and different about it. CSA options and benefits for farmers at a local level are being addressed and examples of best practices, technologies and services given. The enabling environments for CSA at regional and national level are being described and the important aspects regarding equity, gender and youth highlighted. Global climate agreements frame climate action on the ground and the already visible climate change impacts in SADC justify why wee need CSA to ensure agricultural productivity and food security.

Le Programme de productivité agricole de l'Afrique australe (APPSA) est une initiative conçue sur six ans (2013 à 2018) pour améliorer la production et la diffusion des technologies entre les pays participants en Afrique australe. Le programme est financé par le mécanisme de prêt de la Banque mondiale à hauteur de 30 millions de dollars US pour chaque pays participant. L'APPSA a été lancé avec la participation des trois pays suivants: Malawi, Mozambique et Zambie. D'autres pays de larégion de la SADC devraient s’y joindre au fur et à mesure de l'évolution du projet.

Agricultural productivity in the region is far below potential. Although productivity has increased in recent years within Southern Africa, most of the growth has come from bringing previously unculti- vated land into production, rather than from inten- sification made possible by technical change. Southern Africa offers attractive opportunities for regional research. Groups of countries within Southern Africa share similar agro-ecological zones and farming systems, suggesting that there is potential for finding shared solutions to common problems. Although technology spillover is already occurring within the sub-region, significant poten- tial remains for expanding spillovers.

The Agricultural Productivity Programme for Southern Africa (APPSA) is a six year (2013 –2018) initiative to improve technology generation and dissemination within and among participating countries in southern Africa. The Programme is funded by the World Bank loan facility to the tune of US$ 30 million for each participating country. APPSA has been launched with the participation of three countries—Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia. Other countries in the SADC region are expected to join as the project evolves.