Latest news with #climatesmartagriculture
Zawya
09-06-2025
- General
- Zawya
Young Agricultural Extension Officer leads change in Zimbabwe's Sebungwe Landscape
In Zimbabwe's Kariba District, a quiet transformation is taking place; driven by knowledge, inclusion, and resilience. Under the ZRBF 2 bridging fund project, 'Resilience Building in the Sebungwe Landscape', supported by the Embassy of Ireland through UNDP and implemented by FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, extension officers are being equipped with new tools to support climate-smart agriculture and local empowerment. Thirteen AGRITEX officers, across 9 wards were trained using the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach, moving away from traditional top-down methods to a participatory model that empowers farmers to experiment, learn, and make their own decisions. For Simbarashe Kashiri, an AGRITEX officer just 18 months into his role in Kariba District's Ward 4, the shift from a traditional, top-down extension approach to the Farmer Field School (FFS) model was transformative. 'I initially thought the only method used in delivering information to farmers was the top-down method where the Agricultural Extension Officer (AEO) makes all decisions and tells farmers what to do,' Kashiri recalls. 'But FFS training taught me about facilitation—where farmers are empowered to make their own decisions.' Inspired by the training, Simbarashe immediately formed the Kujatana Farmer Field School group, comprising 24 members - 88 percent of them women. Their group is now cultivating tomatoes and producing their own organic Bokashi compost using goat manure, enhancing soil fertility and building sustainable food systems from the ground up. Simbarashe's story is just one of many emerging from the project's holistic approach to resilience building. The 13 AGRITEX officers trained as FFS facilitators, helped to establish 12 Farmer Field Schools. These schools are not only technical training platforms but also spaces for empowerment, collective learning, and innovation—especially for women and youth. The FFS initiative forms part of a broader strategy to improve natural resources management, promote climate-smart value chains, and strengthen resilience in vulnerable rural communities. Key value chains identified include goats, cattle, indigenous chickens, sorghum, fish, sesame, and chilies. 'This project contributes directly to FAO's Strategic Framework by promoting sustainable food systems and inclusive rural transformation through capacity building, climate-smart agriculture, and stakeholder engagement,' said Obert Maminimini, FAO Crops and Extension Specialist. With local ownership and strategic planning, Zimbabwe's Sebungwe Landscape is on a path toward a more sustainable, resilient future. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
M'sia to showcase sustainable palm oil practices to EU delegation
Plantation and commodities minister Johari Ghani said 85% of smallholders are now MSPO-compliant. KOTA KINABALU : The plantation and commodities ministry will brief the European Union (EU) on Malaysia's sustainable palm oil practices during a planned visit by an EU delegation between September and October. Minister Johari Ghani said while the EU had recognised the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification, Malaysia wants full acceptance of its sustainability and traceability systems, reported The New Straits Times. 'I'm waiting for them to visit so they can see firsthand how we implement our practices,' he said after launching the Malaysian International Cocoa Fair in Kota Kinabalu today. This came in response to the EU's recent classification of Malaysia as a 'standard risk' country under its Deforestation Regulation. The Malaysian Palm Oil Association had warned that this could hurt smallholders, even those compliant with MSPO. Johari stressed the importance of adopting sustainable practices, especially for exporters. While large companies already control and certify their full supply chains, 85% of smallholders are now MSPO-compliant, he said. He also said Malaysia was moving towards climate-smart agriculture in the cocoa sector and had begun a low-carbon cocoa feasibility study. Johari reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050, a 30% reduction in methane emissions by 2030, and maintaining at least 50% of forest cover which currently stands at 54%. 'We've implemented a no-deforestation policy and must maximise the land we have. Sustainable farming will lead to higher yields and better prices for farmers,' he said. Malaysia remains among the world's top five cocoa grinders, processing 370,000 tonnes of cocoa beans annually. Cocoa exports rose 29%, from 530,000 tonnes in 2023 to 690,000 tonnes in 2024, valued at RM15 billion. To address global cocoa shortages and boost farmer income, the government, through the Malaysian Cocoa Board, is working to revitalise plantations. Cocoa bean output rose 65% to 445 tonnes in 2024. Johari said Malaysia was focusing on premium cocoa varieties such as fine-flavour, single-origin, and organic beans to meet the growing global demand for quality and health-conscious products. 'This will help position Malaysia at the high end of the global cocoa value chain,' he said.
Entrepreneur
25-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
The Climate Warrior
Varaha leverages carbon markets and climate-smart agriculture to help smallholder farmers reduce emissions, improve soil health, and earn income through nature-based solutions across India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Kenya. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Working closely with Indian farmers at Bayer and Monsanto, Ankita Garg saw their daily struggles—climate shocks, small landholdings, and limited resources—unlike the mechanized, well-supported farms in the US and Europe. This disparity ignited her mission to co-found Varaha in 2022, leveraging carbon markets and climate-smart agriculture to transform sustainability into economic opportunity for smallholder farmers. "Varaha addresses the pressing issues of climate change and food security by reducing agricultural emissions and improving soil health through nature-based solutions,"said Ankita Garg, Co-founder and COO at Varaha. "With the voluntary carbon market projected to exceed USD 100 billion by 2030, Varaha's target market across its operating geographies is estimated at USD 60 billion, offering significant growth potential." Early-stage investors Omnivore and Better Capital were among the first to back Varaha's mission, supporting its seed round. "Their belief in our vision set the foundation for tackling climate change and food security issues," shared Ankita. Since its inception, Varaha has raised USD 13 million in funding from prominent investors such as RTP Global, Orios Venture Partners, Norinchukin Bank, Theia Ventures, Octave Wellbeing Economy Fund, and AgFunder. This financial backing has accelerated Varaha's expansion across India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Kenya. Today, the startup claims to have onboarded over 100,000 farmers covering one million acres, sequestering over two million tons of carbon. "Being a female entrepreneur was just one challenge—navigating carbon markets meant overcoming skepticism, building scalable MRV systems, and ensuring scientific rigor while staying farmer-friendly," Ankita explained. Her background in biotechnology and corporate experience helped bridge the gap between science, execution, and farmer realities. Despite achieving milestones like securing Series A funding and partnering with Google, challenges remain. "Registry delays that slow credit issuance, affecting farmer payouts and project timelines, continue to be a hurdle," Ankita stated. Looking ahead, Varaha plans to expand its full-stack sustainable agriculture ecosystem, leveraging partnerships, IoT, and satellite technology. With access to over 10 million farmers and 20 million hectares through 100+ partners, it aims to scale its impact globally. Varaha also champions diversity, with 24% of its workforce being women and over 7,000 women empowered through its projects. Financially, the startup has seen exponential growth, with revenues reaching INR 21 crore in FY 2024-25, up from INR 5.8 crore in FY 2023-24 and INR 52 lakh in FY 2022-23. Under Ankita's leadership, Varaha is revolutionising climate-smart agriculture, making sustainability a viable economic pathway for farmers worldwide. Facts:
