New Agriculturist

Flower power for community development

Kenyan rose exporter, the Ravine Rose company, is investing a share from its premium earnings in community facilities, including medical, educational and social. Young people are getting skills training in a variety of types of work and the community is enjoying a 'buzz' of real progress.

Date published: October 2011

End of the road for India's nomads?

In India, long drought periods, overpopulation, increasing disease pressure and declining fodder resources are threatening the livelihoods of Raika pastoralists. In response, work is being done to improve grazing rights and develop niche camel products, but will this be enough?

Date published: August 2011

Forest lives - defending diversity

Around the world, forest resources are under threat. In response, the Rainforest Alliance is working to protect biodiversity, ensure sustainable livelihoods and transform land-use and business practices and consumer behaviour.

Date published: June 2011

Water harvesting in Nicaragua

In Nicaragua, construction of earth dams has allowed farmers to extend their cultivation into the dry season, creating ideal conditions to grow cash crops such as rice, beans, maize and water melons.

Date published: April 2011

Building Afghanistan's farming future

Beyond the poppy-growing headlines, Afghan farmers are looking to new cash crops and other enterprises, to restore their damaged land and build a sustainable, profitable future.

Date published: February 2011

High altitude farming on Lake Titicaca

With intense sunny days and freezing nights, only the toughest crops, livestock and farmers can survive on Lake Titicaca's Island of the Sun.

Date published: January 2011

Lake Malawi - where's the catch?

Home to more than 500 species of fish, Lake Malawi has one of the most diverse fish faunas in the world. But over-fishing is seriously depleting stocks of many food species, threatening a vital source of protein and putting the long-term future of Malawi's fishing industry at risk.

Date published: October 2010

Niger - land in crisis

In Niger, drought, flooding, crop failure and unaffordable food prices have triggered severe food shortages for up to 7 million people. Emergency feeding of children and cash for work schemes are two strategies being adopted to help people survive.

Date published: August 2010

Grain Amaranth - the drought-beater

Widely regarded as a weed and largely ignored by crop breeders, grain amaranth has been introduced into western Kenya as a drought-tolerant food and cash crop for small farmers.

Date published: July 2010