Title of document: Enhancing Agricultural Livelihoods through Community Institutions in Bihar, India Authors: Debaraj Behera, Arvind Kumar Chaudhary,Vinay Kumar Vutukuru, Abhishek Gupta, Sitaramachandra Machiraju & Parmesh Shah Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: World Bank and Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: India, Bihar State Bihar’s agriculture sector employs more than eighty percent of the labor force and more than fourfifths of these farmers are small and marginal. They have one of the lowest agricultural productivity in India that has not increased due to several constraints. Jeevika, a project jointly supported by the World Bank and the Government of Bihar, has piloted, customized and eventually scaled-up several innovative livelihood interventions to improve the well-being of poor households in Bihar. A number of innovative aspects account for the success of these livelihoods programs in the state. Foremost among these is the fact that it was implemented through community-driven and community-owned institutions. The institutional platform that was facilitated by the project has enabled the creation of a single-window system at the doorstep of small and marginal farmers. Farmers can now demand better services from the public sector, access credit from commercial banks, and experiment and customize various technologies. This note will focus on System of Crop Intesification’ (SCI), which has evolved from a well-known farming methodology called System of Rice Intensification. It has been customized and adopted for wheat, green gram, oil seeds and vegetables in Bihar. The participant farmers have witnessed 86% increase in rice productivity and 72% increase in wheat productivity. The profitability of rice cultivation has increased 2.5 times and has almost doubled for oil-seeds. Since 2008, implementation of SCI has contributed to an additional income increase of around US$10.7 million.   Read More

Title of document: FARMER FIELD SCHOOL GUIDANCE DOCUMENT, Planning for quality programmes Authors: FAO Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: FAO Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: Global level Since the development of the farmer field school (FFS) approach in the late 80s in Asia, thousands of FFS have since been implemented across the world, in over 90 countries and across a varied range of contexts and thematic areas. Demand for FFS programmes is increasing, and in several countries the approach is now institutionalized within public extension systems and NGO programmes. It is estimated that by 2015 millions of farmers and agro-pastoralists had benefitted from the unique ability of FFS programmes to address the technological, social and economic needs of smallholder farmers and land users. Considering the expansion of FFS, both in terms of scale and in the application of the approach, concerns have emerged around how to best ensure a minimum level of quality of FFS program implementation and harmonization across programmes and actors, while still maintaining the flexibility required for the continuous adaptation and improvement of the approach. In response to this concern, a Global FFS Review was conducted in 2012 by FAO, including a discussion forum with over 100 participants, who explored the issue of quality in FFS and identified the essential steps and conditions required for setting up strong, solid and sustainable FFS programmes. Based on the results from the Global FFS Review, a Guidance Document for quality FFS programmes was proposed, to serve as a common reference for FFS programme development. This FFS Guidance Document focuses on the process and critical decisions that are necessary when starting a new FFS programme, and guides the reader through the essential steps required to establish a solid basis for such programmes, in tune with the specific local conditions. It also defines the essential elements and processes required to ensure programme relevance, quality, growth and sustainability. The document differs from most of the FFS manuals and guidelines available in that it focuses on providing support to FFS programme managers and formulators, as opposed to FFS field facilitators or trainers, who are the primary target group for most existing manuals.     Read More

Title of document: The diversity of knowledge, Reflection on the agrobiodiversity @ knowledge programme Authors: Henkjan Laats, Nick Pasciesznik, Edith van Walsum, Janneke Bruil and Danielle Peterson Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Hivos and Oxfam Novib Year of publication: 2015 Geographic focus: Regional level Despite its importance for food security, smallholder livelihoods and the environment, agricultural biodiversity is disappearing at an alarming rate and with the knowledge in its management and use. With the Agrobiodiversity@knowledged programme, Hivos and Oxfam novib wanted to contribute to solutions for this unfolding drama. This report is the result of a three years knowledge programme of Hivos, Oxfam Novib and civil society organisations and academics working in the field of agricultural biodiversity around the world. It reveals stories of change - changes within people and changes within the programmes of their organisations - related to agricultural biodiversity. www.hivos.org   Read More

Title of document: Organic agriculture in the twenty first century Authors: John P. Reganold  and Jonathan M. Wachter in Nature Plants Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University Year of publication: 2016 Geographic focus: Global level Organic agriculture has a history of being contentious and is considered by some as an inefficient approach to food production. Yet organic foods and beverages are a rapidly growing market segment in the global food industry. Here, we examine the per­formance of organic farming in light of four key sustainability metrics: productivity, environmental impact, economic viability and social wellbeing. Organic farming systems produce lower yields compared with conventional agriculture. However, they are more profitable and environmentally friendly, and deliver equally or more nutritious foods that contain less (or no) pesticide residues, compared with conventional farming. Moreover, initial evidence indicates that organic agricultural systems deliver greater ecosystem services and social benefits. Although organic agriculture has an untapped role to play when it comes to the establishment of sustainable farming systems, no single approach will safely feed the planet. Rather, a blend of organic and other innovative farming systems is needed. Significant barriers exist to adopting these systems, however, and a diversity of policy instruments will be required to facilitate their development and implementation.   Read More

Title of document: Lessons from Nature - A guide to Ecological Agriculture in the tropics Authors: Shimpei Murakami Year of publication: 1991 Over millions of years, nature has built up an intricate system of relationship of exchange and mutual dependence among its elements - land, water, air, forest, sunlight and living things - to create what we call the ecosystem. It is the life support system of all living things on this planet and provides not oniy the daily needs but also saves resources for future generations. But this very life support system is endangered by man's aggression against nature. In the last few decades, the aggression has reached unprecedented levels. Blinded by his so-called 'scientific and technological achievements' he believes in 'conquering' nature and that it can be exploited endlessly. This is nothing but arrogance and an excuse for rapacious greed. With all his bragging about science and technology he fails to understand the superior science of nature. Based on this false understanding, man's relationship with nature has turned into one of enmity. But in this war of aggression, man is certainly going to be the loser; he and other living species will face extinction. Already, the signs are foreboding - global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, massive deforestation, advancing deserts, prolonged drought, marauding flooc and apocalyptical cyclones are ravaging many parts of the earth. However, the destruction of the environment is not only the result of man's arrogance of science, but also a result of the way he has organized his society - its economic, social and cultural systems. The economic system encourages monopolization of resources by a few, the social system promotes the acquisition of power by a small minority at the cost of disenfranchising many, and the cultural system advocates greed and reckless consumption in the name of individualism. If sanity does not prevail upon man, then he will soon destroy the environment and with it himself and other living things. For survival, he has to build a society which is based on equitable and sustainable sharing of resources which decentralizes social power and promotes consumption based on need, not on the greed of a few. His technology and science should try to understand the principles and laws of nature and derive sustenance in a sustainable manner by harmoniously blending technology and science with the superior technology and science of nature.   Read More

Title of document: A quantitative and qualitative historical analysis of the scientific discipline of agroecology Authors: A. Wezel; V. Soldat Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Department of Agroecosystems, Environment and Production, ISARA, Lyon, France Year of publication: 2009 Main issues / topics addressed: agroecology, agroecosystem, agronomy, biodiversity, organic farming, rural development, sustainability In general, agroecology deals with different topics and questions related to agricultural production. In the last two decades, the term agroecology has been increasingly used with different meanings (Wezel et al., in press). On the one hand it is used for the scientific discipline of agroecology, that will be the topic of this paper; but, on the other hand the term agroecology is also used in the sense of a movement or as an agricultural practice (Wezel, 2007; Wezel, et al., in press). Environmental movements in the 1960s often emerged in opposition to industrialized agriculture, when public policies did not consider the environmental impact of agriculture, in particular pesticides, or the social aspects of rural development. Initially, the term agroecology was not used explicitly to describe a movement. It was only in the 1990s when the word started to be used in this sense, especially in the USA and in Latin America, to express a new way of considering agriculture and its relationship to society, and its place within it.   Read More

Title of document: Replacing Chemicals with Biology: Phasing out highly hazardous pesticides with agroecology Authors: Meriel Watts; Stephanie Williamson Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: PAN International Year of publication: 2015 School of agroecology: Organic Agriculture Adverse effects of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) on people and the environment have been a global concern for many years. In 2006, this was clearly expressed by the FAO Council when it recommended a progressive ban on HHPs. The concern crystallized at UNEP’s Fourth International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM4) in Nairobi in 2012, with the submission of a conference room paper supported by at least 65 countries and organizations. The proposed resolution included supporting “a progressive ban on HHPs and their substitution with safer alternatives”. While the resolution was not immediately adopted, countries participating in subsequent regional meetings of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) have reiterated concern about HHPs and called for more information on ecosystem-based alternatives. At SAICM’s Open-Ended Working Group in December 2014, following a call by the entire African region for a global alliance to phase-out these chemicals, it was agreed a proposal would be developed for ICCM4.   Read More

Title of document: Future Fertiliser Demand and Role of Organic Fertiliser for Sustainable Rice Production in Bangladesh Authors: Jayanta Kumar Basak (Department of Environmental Science and Hazard Studies, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh); Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir (Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh); Khosrul Alam (Department of Economics, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh) Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Noakhali Science and Technology University; University of Dhaka; Noakhali Science and Technology University -Bangladesh Year of publication: 2015 Geographic focus: Bangladesh Main issues / topics addressed: Rice, Fertilisers, Organic Fertilisers, Urea, TSP, MP School of agroecology: Organic Agriculture The study finds out the requirement of chemical fertilisers and suggests the role of organic fertilisers for sustainable rice production based upon projection of rice production, consumption, demand and supply of fertilisers for the years of 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050. The total requirement for commonly used three fertilisers, Urea, Triple Supper Phosphate (TSP) and Muriate of Potash (MP) may increase significantly due to compulsions for growing increased amount of crop outputs in small fragmented parcels of land in the context of diminishing cultivable lands in Bangladesh, negatively impacting on soil fertility as well as sustainability of crop production. Since sustainable yield of crop considerably depends on balanced application of both chemical and organic fertilisers in the field level, the research suggests for increased usage of organic fertilisers.   Read More

Title of document: FEEDING THE PEOPLE - AGROECOLOGY FOR NOURISHING THE WORLD AND TRANSFORMING THE AGRI-FOOD SYSTEM Authors: Hans Rudolf Herren, Angelika Hilbeck, Ulrich Hoffmann, Robert Home, Les Levidow, Adrian Muller, Erin Nelson, Bernadette Oehen and Michel Pimbert Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: IFOAM EU Group; IFOAM Organics International; ORGANIC. Year of publication: 2012 School of agroecology: Organic Agriculture How can inefficient, poorly managed smallholder systems be transformed into productive agroecological systems? And how can environmentally destructive, energy and chemical intensive industrial systems be converted into productive agroecological systems? What role does international trade play in today’s agro-food systems, and are short supply chains relevant? This brochure provides a platform to a number of experts working in various fields relevant to these issues. It gives them space in which to share their visions and voice their concerns about how we are feeding the people of the world.   Read More

Title of document: IPM Farmer Field Schools: A synthesis of 25 impact evaluations Author: Henk van den Berg Ministry/Government Agency/Organisation: Wageningen University; Global IPM Facility Year of publication: 2004 Geographic focus: South East Asia Main issues / topics addressed: A synthesis of 25 impact evaluations School of agroecology: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) / Integrated Cropping Management (ICM) The Farmer Field School is a form of adult education, which evolved from the concept that farmers learn optimally from field observation and experimentation. It was developed to help farmers tailor their Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to diverse and dynamic ecological conditions. In regular sessions from planting till harvest, groups of neighboring farmers observe and discuss dynamics of the crop’s ecosystem. Simple experimentation helps farmers further improve their understanding of functional relationships (e.g. pests-natural enemy population dynamics and crop damage-yield relationships). In this cyclical learning process, farmers develop the expertise that enables them to make their own crop management decisions. Special group activities encourage learning from peers, and strengthen communicative skills and group building. A detailed description of the Farmer Field School approach is given by Pontius et al. 1   Read More