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Affirming Life and Diversity: Rural Images and Voices on Food Sovereignty in South India
(International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), 2008) Community Media Trust; Satheesh, P. V.; Pimbert, Michel
"Since 2001, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) has been co-ordinating an innovative research programme on Sustaining Local Food Systems, Agricultural Biodiversity and Livelihoods. Throughout this action research programme, the emphasis has been on doing research with, for and by people rather than on people for learning and change. Its ultimate goal is to explore how and under what conditions diverse, localised food systems can be sustained in the twenty-first century. This book describes the way co-inquirers are working together in the drylands of the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh to produce social and ecological knowledge for sustainability and equity. Their collective and empowering experience is vividly captured in the videos which make up the Affirming Life and Diversity film series included in this book."
Agricultural Commodities, Trade and Sustainable Development
(International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), 2005) Lines, Thomas
"Talks on agricultural trade liberalization at the World Trade Organization must take into account the needs of commodity-dependent developing countries, to ensure that agricultural trade and commodity production will deliver outcomes that favour both the environment and poverty reduction. Alongside the trade negotiations, there are also hot debates amongst a range of actors and networks on ensuring functioning of domestic agricultural markets, improving governance and sustainability in bulk commodity markets among civil society groups. Environmental and conservation groups seek the application of better management practices (BMPs) organized either through segregated supply chains or through preferential access to markets and finance.This group is focused on private regulation, upgrading of buyer-driven chains, and supply chain management. Elsewhere, a cluster of organizations are revisiting supply management to reduce oversupply and price volatility, focusing on learning lessons from the failures of International Commodity Agreements (ICAs). And a group of farmer and development organizations is concerned about growing corporate concentration in commodity markets and the impact of skewed market power on the small and decreasing share of wealth finding its way back to primary producers.This group is focused on competition policy and corporate accountability."
Beyond the City: The Rural Contribution to Development
(The World Bank, 2006) de Ferranti, David; Perry, Guillermo E.; Foster, William; Lederman, Daniel; Valdés, Alberto
From p. 1-2: "Most LAC countries are preoccupied about the state of their rural economy, particularly the competitiveness of rural economic activities, poverty, and environmental degradation. While the majority of LAC countries have in place trade policies, sector-specific government support policies, social intervention policies, infrastructure development strategies, and various regulatory regimes designed to respond to demands of various subsectors in the rural economy, most of these have focused on problems affecting the rural economy per se, without paying enough attention to how the rural economies (and policies) contribute to overall national welfare. This report aims to fill this gap by systematically evaluating the contribution of rural development and policies to growth, poverty alleviation, and environmental degradation both in rural areas and in the rest of the economy. Specifically, it uses this broad framework to shed light on five critical policy issues for Latin American economic authorities. For the convenience of readers interested in policy issues, this chapter presents first a summary of the policy implications of our findings. We then turn to the findings themselves, summarizing our methodological approach and main results."
Biology and Management of the Floodwater Ecosystem in Ricefields
(International Rice Research Institute, 1996) Roger, Pierre A.
From Foreword: "In this book, the author focuses on management practices that maintain soil fertility, preserve or even improve the floodwater environment, and provide opportunities for diversifying sources of food and income beyond rice monoculture. An appendix provides details on various methods for conducting ecological studies in ricefields and evaluates the different methods in relation to their suitability for different kinds of studies."
Contract Farming in India: Impacts on Women and Child Workers
(International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), 2003) Singh, Sukhpal
"Globalisation and liberalisation are likely to have the greatest impact on the rural poor through their influence on the agricultural sector, terms of trade, availability and cost of inputs, and new investments in the agribusiness sector. Technological progress in farming can help the rural poor by raising farm productivity, lowering food prices, increasing employment, and reducing farming risk. But the role and influence of multinational corporations (MNCs) in food production and trade will, as an institutional mechanism, determine the exact impact of globalisation on the rural poor, who are mostly from the labouring classes. Contract farming (described below) promotes participation of domestic firms and MNCs in farming, and is seen as the ‘new investment’ aspect of globalisation (Ramamurthy, 2000; Killick, 2001). Under contract farming, landowners or tenants have contracts with agribusiness marketing and/or processing firms, who specify prices, timing, quality and quantity/acreage of the produce to be delivered."
El paisaje cultural del pisco y su patrimonio mestizo
(Ariadna Ediciones, 2024) Lacoste, Pablo; Skewes, Juan Carlos
El objetivo de este libro es describir y explicar las principales características de los paisajes pisqueros y su patrimonio cultural. Se trata de identificar y visibilizar las múltiples hebras que vinculan esta actividad industrial con la vida económica, social y cultural, para comprender el largo proceso histórico de construcción conjunta del paisaje, en el cual participaron los diversos grupos humanos que habitan y han habitado el territorio.
El sabor del Norte Chico de Chile. Productos, territorios, prácticas, política y protagonistas
(Ariadna Ediciones, 2025) Castro, Amalia; Mujica, Fernando
El Norte Chico de Chile, con su característico paisaje árido y clima mediterráneo, es un crisol de culturas, sabores y tradiciones, donde se reflejan identidades comunitarias e historias locales, manifestándose, además, las diversas preparaciones culinarias, fiestas populares y costumbres de sus habitantes. En el presente libro, la gastronomía, como eje central de la narrativa, conecta con las profundas raíces del lugar, con fin de dar a conocer su riqueza cultural al mundo. Exploraremos los productos típicos regionales, los territorios donde se cultivan y producen, las prácticas culturales ancestrales que los transforman y las políticas que los regulan. Todos tesoros culinarios que merecen ser expuestos. Además, conoceremos a sus protagonistas, guardianes de un legado agroalimentario, pequeños productores y grandes empresarios. En definitiva, El sabor del Norte Chico presenta un festín de sabores que trasciende los placeres de mesa, proyectando el pasado hacia el futuro.
Farming Systems of the African Savanna: A Continent in Crisis
(International Development Research Centre, 1995) Ker, Andrew
"Farmers in the parts of Africa where population growth is near, or has exceeded, the carrying capacity of the land at current technological levels face a serious crisis. This crisis is the result of the breakdown of traditional farming systems. The consequences are environmental deterioration on a massive scale, widespread poverty, malnutrition, and famine. In some countries, the crisis is contributing to political instability and civil war." "Through an examination of selected case studies, this book highlights some of the problems facing farmers in the African savanna and suggests some possible approaches toward solutions. It will prove useful to farmers, research and extension workers, policymakers, teachers, aid workers, and others who work with, or are concerned for, the future of the African farm and the livelihood of the African farmer."
Gender and Non-Timber Forest Products: Promoting Food Security and Economic Empowerment
(International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), 2008) Carr, Marilyn; Hartl, Maria
"If development is to be effective, it should empower rural women and men equally. IFAD supported projects and programmes address inequalities by enhancing women’s access to productive resources and increasing their participation in decision-making. Over its 30 years of existence, IFAD has placed increasing importance on gender equality and women’s empowerment, both as objectives in themselves and as instruments for poverty reduction. In IFAD’s experience, women can become a powerful force in transforming the lives of their families and communities when programmes acknowledge the specific needs and constraints of both women and men, and when women have concrete opportunities. ‘Non-timber forest products’ is a sector that offers great promise for women, but to enhance the effectiveness of poverty reduction programmes, opportunities for the greater involvement of women are essential. Obviously, they should be activities that can accommodate the constraints of traditional domestic duties and recognize gender differences in knowledge of natural resources, biodiversity and conservation. Recognizing the importance of NTFPs in promoting food security and rural poverty reduction, IFAD has invested significant financial resources in this sector and is a supporter of the recently launched Global Partnership Programme on NTFP, which brings together stakeholders from the public and private sectors. Through its programmes and projects, IFAD has accumulated valuable knowledge on how to encourage broader and more significant support to the NTFP sector and to adopt measures that enable women and men to benefit equally from its development. Women producers operating in the informal NTFP sector in developing countries face discrimination and many obstacles. This publication highlights approaches used by IFAD and other agencies to support women more effectively. It emphasizes the multiple dimension of the challenges – in division of labour, differences in access to credit and market information, and environmental issues – and presents ways to expand the role of women as agents of change in this sector. The publication is the result of an initiative by IFAD’s Technical Advisory Division to promote better methods of enabling poor rural people, and especially women, to benefit from the NTFP sector. It takes stock of past experience and demonstrates that there are many opportunities to invest in NTFPs in support of rural livelihoods."
Impact of Pesticides on Farmer Health and the Rice Environment
(Kluwer Academic, 1996) Pingali, Prabhu L.; Roger, Pierre A.
From p. 7: "This study deviates from the controlled experimental paradigm for measuring the effects of pesticide use. Environmental, biological, and health effects of pesticide use are measured by observing actual farmer behavior, monitoring farmers health, and sampling farmer fields. There was no prior agreement with the farmers on the types or quantities of chemicals to use. Variability in pesticide use, and therefore variability in the effects of pesticides, was obtained primarily through a comparison of users and nonusers; and an examination of differences across the cross-section of farmers and across time. The results of this study indicate, however partially, the actual effects of pesticides on the environment and human health rather than simulated effects."
Issues of Water Management in Agriculture: Compilation of Essays
(Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture, 2003) Jinendradasa, Sithara S.
"This book contains essays from lead scientists from partner organizations in these initiatives. Topics include, water and poverty; water rights; agriculture and environment; improving water productivity; water savings in agriculture; rainwater and food production; fisheries; and sustainable groundwater use. We contend that increasing the productivity of water in agriculture--obtaining more value for each drop used in forests, fisheries, livestock and crops--is necessary to bring about change. This is required in both rainfed and irrigated areas. However, increasing water productivity alone is not sufficient to solve the world water crisis. It must be done in a way that maintains important ecosystems and the services they provide. It requires a river basin focus to understand how water use in agriculture affects other users. It needs a focus on poverty, health and nutrition, and a special focus is necessary on groundwater because of the opportunities it provides in food production and poverty alleviation—as well as severe threats from overuse and pollution. Finally, water rights are key to both water productivity and distribution of benefits gained from using water."
The Major Importance of 'Minor' Resources: Women and Plant Biodiversity
(International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), 2003) Howard, Patricia
"This paper describes how women predominate in plant biodiversity management in their roles as housewives, plant gatherers, home gardeners, herbalists, seed custodians and informal plant breeders. But because most plant use, management and conservation occurs within the domestic realm, and because the principal values of plant genetic resources are localised and non-monetary, they are largely invisible to outsiders and are easily undervalued. Gender bias has prevailed in scientific research about people-plant relationships, and conservation policies and programmes are still largely blind to the importance of the domestic sphere, of women and of gender relations for biodiversity conservation, and to the importance of plant biodiversity for women’s status and welfare. Traditional knowledge and indigenous rights to plants are everywhere sex-differentiated, and gender inequalities are also implicated in processes leading to biological erosion."
Neerkattis: The Rural Water Managers
(DHAN Foundation, 2003) Seenivasan, R.
"'Neerkattis' are traditional water managers in areas irrigated by tanks in many parts of India. They are rural managers in maintaining and managing the tank systems and paid for their services in cash and kind. The traditional institutions of these tanks are in a change and the managers are at cross roads. The study captures the lives of these managers in many tanks."
Pathways to Sustainability: An Overview of the STEPS Centre Approach
(STEPS Centre, 2007) Leach, Melissa; Scoones, Ian; Stirling, Andy
"Who benefits from genetically-modified crops? Will there be enough water for people to survive this century? What are the implications of the HIV/AIDS pandemic? These are just some of the questions that the STEPS Centre--a new global research and policy hub based at the University of Sussex in the UK--is asking. This short document provides an overview of the approach that STEPS is taking as it seeks to grapple with two of the most pressing challenges of contemporary times: linking environmental sustainability with poverty reduction and social justice, and making science and technology work for the poor. Intended for anyone wanting a quick insight into the Centres work, it highlights key elements of the Centres pathways approach, how this approach interweaves the themes of systems dynamics, governance and designs, and the practical implications for the distinctive styles of interactive, engaged research that the Centre is undertaking."
Provincia del Limarí. Patrimonio eco-cultural
(Ariadna Ediciones, 2025) Lacoste, Pablo; Skewes, Juan Pablo; Blánquez, Juan
¿Puede convertirse un territorio rural y agrícola, con crónicos problemas de estrés hídrico, contracción económica y emigración de jóvenes, en un destino turístico eco-cultural de interés nacional e internacional? Este libro entrega propuestas concretas a partir de la identificación, visibilización y valoración de su identidad y patrimonio. Se propone crear la Ruta del Lapislázuli, el fortalecimiento de la ruta de las Pisqueras Ancestrales y la articulación de restoranes y hoteles patrimoniales. Se trata de tomar conciencia del singular valor del patrimonio natural y cultural, con todo su potencial para crear un destino turístico único y de alto interés. A partir del innovador concepto de economía de la cultura, el texto propone ideas como la creación de aulas virtuales y centros de interpretación, que contribuyan a comprender el significado y valor universales de la riqueza local.
A Reference Guide for Coffee Farmers in Uganda
(Joseph Bahati, 2021) Bahati, Joseph
"The main objective of this guide is to provide coffee farmers with reference information to improve their current coffee seedling survival percentages one year after planting. Seedling survival after one or two seasons is currently a challenge which must be addressed head-on. In addition to addressing the critical issue of seedling survival, new and inexperienced coffee farmers need help from registered and known coffee farmers who understand the soils where the coffee grows and can manage the health of the plant. Such farmers know what it takes to keep our crops in good productive condition as well as increase sustainable harvests so the yields from gardens are optimal. This is important because a massive effort is currently being put into supplying seedlings to farmers in order to increase the standing stock of coffee trees in Uganda."
Report to the Secretary of Agriculture: Agricultural Economics Research and Analysis Needs Mission Clarification
(United States General Accouting Office, January 31, 1983) U.S. General Accounting Office
"The congressional mandate to USDA to provide statistical and economic data and analysis concerned with the farm sector and farm management is very broad and goes back to the Organic Act of 1862, which established USDA Agricultural economics research and analysis has become increasingly important to provide the basic data for monitoring performance of the food and fiber system, setting farm policy and targeting and evaluating public farm programs."
SANREM CRSP Annual Report: 2006
(Office of International Research, Education, and Development (OIRED), 2006) Sustainable Agriculture & Natural Resource Management Collaborative Research Support Program (SANREM CRSP)
"During the past year, the SANREM CRSP (Phase III) established the Long-Term Research Program that will generate the core of new sustainable agriculture (SA) and natural resource management (NRM) knowledge and development impacts. The overall SANREM CRSP vision is to develop knowledge pertaining to SA and NRM interventions and strategies, organize that knowledge into an accessible on-line knowledge base, place it in its proper development context, and disseminate the knowledge to decision makers. During this past year, the SANREM CRSP: - Completed high-impact, short-term, Bridging Award research activities that capitalized on earlier SANREM Phase II research activities - Initiated five new long-term research activities - Initiated and expanded capacity building activities - Continued development of a book on adaptive management of sustainable agriculture and natural resource management systems; and - Sponsored (in collaboration with the IPM CRSP) the Biodiversity Conservation in Agriculture Symposium, which promoted the integration of biodiversity conservation into agriculture development programs. "The SANREM CRSP promotes stakeholder empowerment and improved livelihoods through the discovery, organization, and dissemination of SA and NRM knowledge. Our approach is participatory, engaging stakeholders at all levels in research problem formulation within priority areas of inquiry, focusing on multiple countries and/or regions to facilitate scaling research findings up and out. Program efforts are competitively driven and organized through a nested landscape systems approach. Gender sensitivity is integral to the SANREM approach and reinforced by gender-sensitive participant training programs that include degree and non-degree training plans. All activities link sustainable natural resources management with the economic concerns of local populations and the promotion of good governance."
Should Africa Protect Its Farmers to Revitalize Its Economy?
(International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), 2003) Koning, Niek
"All is not well in Africa south of the Sahara. Western experts are looking for the causes in bad governance and insufficient social capital. At present, donors only support those administrations that endorse governmental and market-oriented reform. Results however are disappointing. In this paper I argue that domestic liberalisation is not enough to revitalise the economies of Sub-Saharan Africa. Farmers must also be protected from cheap imports. To explain why, I refer to the historical interaction between Africa and the world economy."
Women's Collective Action: Unlocking the Potential of Agricultural Markets
(Oxfam International, 2013) Baden, Sally
"Development actors are increasingly prioritising 'investing in women' to ensure food security and sustainability--as well as equity--in agricultural development. In this context, collective action is a critical but poorly understood way for women small-scale farmers to strengthen their engagement in agricultural markets. This report provides rigorous new evidence, from quantitative and qualitative research carried out in Ethiopia, Mali and Tanzania, on the economic and empowerment benefits of women’s participation in collective action groups across different agricultural farming systems and markets. The success factors and intervention strategies that have enabled women to benefit most are analysed in order to identify lessons for the future. The research highlights gaps in both current development practice and the wider policy environment which need to be addressed to ensure that collective action in agricultural markets is effective and empowering for rural women."

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