New Agriculturist

International Year of Family Farming

The International Year of Family Farming 2014 will be officially launched on 22 November 2013, at UN Headquarters in New York. The main purpose of the event is to present the general objectives, lines of action and activities to be developed within the celebration of the IYFF 2014. In addition, the FAO Director General will nominate the Special Ambassadors for the International Year of Family Farming 2014, who will be entrusted with the mandate raising the profile of family farming and smallholder farming by focusing world attention on its significant role in alleviating hunger and poverty.

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Date published: November 2013

ICRISAT seek director general

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) seek a Director General to manage ICRISAT as Chief Executive Officer with responsibility to the Governing Board for the overall management of the Institute. Activities include policy setting, research planning, fundraising, budget development and allocation, as well as responsibility for global political and public relations both within and outside the CGIAR. Deadline for applications is 15 January, 2014.

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Date published: November 2013

Open data for agriculture and nutrition

The recently established Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition (GODAN) initiative seeks to support global efforts to make agricultural and nutritionally relevant data available, accessible, and usable for unrestricted use worldwide. The initiative focuses on building high-level policy and public and private institutional support for open data. The initiative encourages collaboration and cooperation among existing agriculture and open data activities, without duplication, and brings together all stakeholders to solve long-standing global problems.

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Date published: November 2013

Donor fund accepting applications for grants

The Agriculture Fast Track Fund, a new multi-donor trust fund, managed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), designed to boost investment in Africa's agricultural sector, is now accepting applications for new grants. The AFT provides grant funds up to US$1.5 million for project development costs such as feasibility studies, market research, financial modeling, business plan development, and environmental and social impact studies. The deadline is 31 December 2013.

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Date published: November 2013

FARA supports development of agriculture in Sierra Leone

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is supporting Sierra Leone's Government to bring science, technology and innovation to bear on agricultural development of the country. With more than 60% of the population deriving a living from an agricultural sector that is blessed with abundant arable land, water and a favorable climate, agriculture offers the best prospects for achieving economic development. FARA is also supporting the participation of Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) country focal persons from other West African countries.

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Date published: November 2013

GFAR support gender and youth strategy for CGIAR research programme

At its second meeting in Addis Ababa the Steering Committee of CGIAR's research programme on dryland systems took the decision to elevate the issues of gender and youth so that they are directly addressed as a development outcome. The decision was actively promoted and supported by Harry Palmier, representing GFAR on the Steering Committee and Jennie Dey De Pryck, GFAR's Senior Gender Adviser to the Gender in Agriculture Partnership, who has been providing expert advice. Gender staff and partners of the research programme are now developing a proactive strategy for putting this into action.

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Date published: October 2013

e-discussion on unpaid care work and rural women

In commemoration of the International Day of Rural Women and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, UN Women is hosting an e-discussion on "Unequal unpaid care work keeps rural women poor and violates their rights - how do we respond?" on its Knowledge Gateway for Women's Economic Empowerment from 15 to 25 October 2013. To participate, please register at www.empowerwomen.org, and then join the discussion here.

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Date published: October 2013

International day of rural women

In a video message, Professor MS Swaminathan, Patron of the Gender in Agriculture Partnership, underlines the importance of working together for women's rights in agriculture. He emphasises that women are the managers of food security at the household level, they create and conserve the culinary, cultural and curative diversity of agriculture. Giving women access to land, technology, credit, insurance and support services is essential to maximising their outputs, optimising their available time and minimising drudgery.

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Date published: October 2013

Empowering women to deliver food and nutrition security

The Gender in Agriculture Partnership held a successful side event during the Committee on World Food Security which brought together gender experts and stakeholders from all areas of agriculture, to consider women's roles in delivering both food security and nutritional outcomes. Achieving these requires major changes to ensure gender equity, empower women and address their needs in food systems.

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Date published: October 2013