Mind! New in print

New books from Greenpeace International, Agribusiness Action Initiatives, ACF International Network and others Farming Matters | 26.1 | March 2010 Economic analysis of diversity in modern wheat Erika C.H. Meng and John P. Brennan (eds.), 2009. CIMMYT / ACIAR, 192 pages. What is diversity worth? This is a valid question if we think that the … Read more

Learning about … Making education work for pastoralists

Around the world, pastoralists are asking for better education programmes. “We need to move beyond thinking about schools as buildings, and find creative ways to bring education to nomadic peoples!” So states Caroline Dyer, lecturer at Leeds University, just back from Kenya, where a new education strategy to reach mobile pastoralists has been launched. Exactly … Read more

Update from the field: Guinea pigs, and more

Being the odd-one-out can be difficult, not least in agricultural production. This is why we were interested in hearing more about the state of HECOSAN, an ecologically managed farm found on the outskirts of Lima, in Peru, surrounded by conventional cotton farms. For more than ten years, HECOSAN has been producing guinea pigs, and making … Read more

Editorial – People-friendly agriculture

The many reactions we received in response to our renewed magazine make one thing clear: family farming is very much alive. The conference on the future of family farming hosted by ileia last December 2009, in celebration of our 25th birthday, also affirmed this. Together with professionals from science, government, business, NGOs and partners from … Read more

Livestock services to family farmers: free or fee?

Small-scale family farmers need these services too, but how do they profit best and how can service delivery become most sustainable? Should it be “public good”, financed and organized by the state, or can private corporations do a better job? Two views…  Private providers serve farmers best Economic theory argues that private markets serve people’s … Read more

Re-assessing the fodder problem

Small-scale farmers depend largely on their animals and need to feed them well. Technology based innovations have been the mainstream solution to improve the fodder problem. But making farmers find relevant information and networks appears to be as much effective for innovation. Fodder makes up 70 percent of livestock inputs and is crucial to the … Read more

Food as a universal right

Olivier De Schutter is the United Nations special rapporteur on the right to food. He aims to inform people at the highest political levels about the role that smallholders play in the world’s food production systems. He hopes that this will make decision-makers more sensitive to their needs and rights. Politicians and policy-makers now frequently … Read more

Unpacking a poultry myth

Recent evidence from India suggests that rearing indigenous poultry rather than focusing on commercial breeds that give a higher yield can significantly contribute to the self-sufficiency and cultural wealth of rural communities – as well as boosting their income. Over the last decade, high demand has caused the poultry sector to expand, globalise and consolidate, … Read more

Livestock, a smart solution for food and farming

Animals are a part of farming systems everywhere. In this issue, Farming Matters focuses on how small-scale farmers manage their animals, how they link animal husbandry with other activities, and what their livestock means to them. An integrated perspective on the role of farm animals is crucial in overcoming simplistic assumptions on the opportunities and … Read more

The Future of Family Farming – Uncertain times in Egypt

The woman and daughter in this photo live in Fayoum governorate in Egypt. This is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa, which is why many people keep their poultry on the roofs of their houses. This woman used to earn a considerable share of the total household income by selling live birds … Read more