Regional Policy Makers

Maize is a major staple food for millions of households in Sub-Saharan Africa. The emergence and prevalence of Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND) in endemic countries in east Africa among others, threathens the food security and commercial seed trade in the Siouthern African Region.

According to the 2017 Nutrition in WHO African Region report, the prevalence of malnutrition in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia is very high, and this has been attributed in part to limited dietary diversity. Biofortification represents the most cost effective and sustainable intervention to address micronutrient deficiency malnutrition in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia compared to commercial fortification and nutrient supplements.

The ELD Initiative; Problem dimension – Land degradation vs. sustainable land management; Natural capital and ecosystem services valuation – the rationale behind; Steps of an ELD study; Communication, outreach and policy impact; Identification and selection of ecosystem services; Evaluation of ecosystem services; Cost-benefit analysis

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.

The Sector Project Sustainable Agriculture in cooperation with GIZ Philippines and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) conducted RISE analyses with the objective to compare different production systems in the Philippian provinces Leyte and Southern Leyte.

This Decision Tool aims to help field level extension staff make smart climate decisions on which pest and disease management options best suit their farmers’ context. This tool is not designed as a technical guide to implementation. It is designed to assist extension staff in making climate-smart decisions on improvements to their farming systems with their clients/farmers. Reference to technical guides relevant to the practices and technologies outlined are included at the end of the tool. The tool focuses on some of the Best Bet Climate-Smart Pest & Disease Management Options
for livestock production in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

This Decision Tool aims to help field-level extension staff make climate-smart decisions on which genetic improvement option best suits the context of their farmers. This tool is not designed as a technical guide to implementation. It is designed to assist extension staff in making climate smart decisions on improvements to farming systems with their clients. Reference to technical guides
relevant to the practices and technologies outlined are included at the end of the tool. The tool focuses on some of the Best Bet Climate-Smart Genetic Improvement Options for livestock production in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

This Decision Tool aims to help field level extension staff make climate smart decisions on which manure management option best suits their farmers’ context. This tool is not designed as a technical guide to implementation. It is designed to assist extension staff in making climate smart decisions on improvements to their farming systems with their clients/farmers. Reference to technical guides relevant to the practices and technologies outlined are included at the end of the tool. The tool focuses on some of the Best Bet Climate-Smart Manure Management Options for livestock production in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

This Decision Tool aims to help field level extension staff make climate-smart decisions on which pasture/rangeland management options best suit their farmers’ context. This
tool is not designed as a technical guide to implementation. It is designed to assist extension staff in making climate-smart decisions on improvements to their farming systems
with their clients/farmers. Reference to technical guides relevant to the practices and technologies outlined are included at the end of the tool. The tool focuses on some of
the Best Bet Climate-Smart Pasture and Rangeland Management Options for livestock production in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region

This poster highlights the work that Herding for Health is doing in Livestock rearing communities in Lesotho, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique and Namibia to support rangeland management to mitigate the climate change effects that have ranged the southern Africa Region.