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Pesticides are essential for the control of infestation of disease, insect pests and weeds on different crops. Due to wide usage of synthetic pesticides which may lead to increased exposure and associated environmental and health risks among small-holder farmers in Zambia, a study was undertaken to understand how knowledgeable farmers are on pesticide use and practices. A total of 418 small scale farmers were randomly sampled from Mkushi, Mpongwe, Luangwa, Mbala, Solwezi, Chipata and Kalomo Districts of Zambia. Data pertaining to types of pesticides use, handling, storage and disposal was solicited using structured questionnaires. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS. Findings revealed that of the sampled farmers 43%, 30%, 25% and 17% used Glyphosate, Dicamba, Paraquat and Atrazine respectively as herbicides in Maize. 21% and 14% used Cypermethrine and Monocrotophos respectively as insecticides in both Maize and Soybean. 81% of the sampled farmers used empty containers for either storing drinking water or salt while only 15% wore protective clothing when applying pesticides. Pesticide mishandling occurred regardless of the amount of experience a farmer had using pesticides. 68% of the sampled farmers had never received any formal basic training in pestic ide use, hence a clear knowledge gap. The fact that receipt of basic training was the main predictor of a farmers’ level of knowledge on pesticide use, a farmer who had received basic training in appropriate chemical pesticides use, as opposed to one who had not, had a better chance of using chemical pesticides safely and in the right quantities.

Neste panfleto, poderá encontrar três novas variedades de amendoim, lançadas recentemente em Moçambique pelo IIAM (Instituto de Investigação Agrária de Moçambique) no contexto de um projecto financiado pelo APPSA, liderado pelo Dr. Amade Muitia. No geral, essas variedades são tolerantes a secas, manchas precoces / tardias e roseta e produzem cerca de 2,5 toneladas por hectare. Os nomes das variedades são Mapupulo-018, Amena-018 e AMM-018.

In this flyer you will find 3 new groundnut varieties recently released in Mozambique by IIAM (Mozambique Agricultural Research Institute) under an APPSA funded project led by Dr. Amade Muitia. Overall, these varieties are tolerant to droughts, early/late leaf spots and rosette and yield around 2.5 tons per hectare. The names of the varieties are Mapupulo-018, Amena-018 and AMM-018.

The Department of Agricultural Research (DAR) held a one-day workshop in Maseru, Lesotho 
on the Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPMP) and the Environmental and Social Monitoring 
Framework  (ESMF)  papers. These  documents  were  submitted  in  compliance  with  the 
Environmental Act of 2008 for application of  environmental clearance for DAR’s  research 
project under APPSA. The objective of the workshop was to validate  and review  these two 
documents.  

¨Micronutrients are essential for plant growth and play an important role in balanced crop nutrition. They promote the strong ,steady growth of crops that produce higher yields and increase harvest quality- maximizing a plant’s genetic potential.

¨ Most micronutrients are immobile in soils and plants. There is therefore need to supply additional micronutrients to the soil.

¨Micronutrients are essential for plant growth and play an important role in balanced crop nutrition. They promote the strong ,steady growth of crops that produce higher yields and increase harvest quality- maximizing a plant’s genetic potential.

¨ Most micronutrients are immobile in soils and plants. There is therefore need to supply additional micronutrients to the soil.

—In Zimbabwe, KRG is grown in rotation with tobacco and irish potato to control the root knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica). It is a good seed producer and the seed exported to mostly Arab countries that can hardly produce their own seed due to unfavourable climatic conditions.

The Green Climate Fund is moving quickly to build a large and transformative project portfolio, with many projects already being implemented with the objective to adapt and/or mitigate to climate change.

However, there is a need to simplify and streamline the approval of certain small scale projects, particularly from direct access entities. In response, the GCF’s Board has approved a new approach: the Simplified Approval Process Pilot Scheme (SAP), which is now operating.

The Board approved the first SAP project in February 2018 – an initiative by the Namibian direct access entity Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) to improve the ecosystem management practices of farmers.

The purpose of this study was to undertake an empirical investigation of adaptation “good practices” and define six categories of actions that can be practically considered by governments for scaling-up in order to reduce the risks of climate change.

The focus is on what needs to be in place, in terms of the enabling environment, in order for the good practices to be effectively transferred to other contexts. The report thus intends to provide governments with practical options to consider in order to undertake agricultural adaptation to climate change, based on tangible and proven practices.

Six case study countries were chosen for empirical investigation of adaptation. Within Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, South Africa, Togo and Zambia, agricultural subsectors were chosen to represent various crops and livestock grown under different production systems. The purpose was to ensure that subsectors were investigated in more than one country so that there would be scope to compare different contexts. Categories considered for each adaptation practice were: proof of concept; robustness under projected climate change; environmental and social externalities; acceptability to farmers; accessibility to farmers; productivity; access to markets; support of appropriate institutions; level of government support; effects on women; and then a criteria to capture co-benefits, such as mitigation, biodiversity conservation, or multiple production objectives.

As a result the following six good practice categories are: use of improved seeds; soil fertility management; changing timing of farming practice; changing crop/livestock distribution and density; tillage and associated practices; and diversification.

L’Agriculture Urbaine est une réponse à plusieurs maux des grandes villes du Sud: les espaces limités, les déchets domestiques, l’urbanisation sauvage, les crues et inondations, la pollution, la précarité et la vulnérabilité face au changement climatique. Elle peut désormais changer la vie de milliers de Tananariviens, au-delà des nécessités de la survie quotidienne.
Renforcer l’identité originale de cette capitale dans sa tradition agricole est une contribution cruciale dans la lutte contre le changement climatique, tout en créant des conditions environnementales saines et respectueuses de la nature et des hommes.