This is Part 2 of three special reports from Vihiga County, Kenya, where a Humidtropics research project is empowering the community to better use available agricultural biodiversity to improve nutrition all year round. Julia Boedecker, Associate Scientist, Bioversity International, has spent two months in Vihiga County working with local colleagues and partners to carry out six community workshops in five locations. Julia reports on Phase II of the project which focuses on participatory development of interventions to improve diets using agricultural biodiversity. “Through the workshops … [Read more...]
Nutrition in Kenya: Malezi Bora Week – Food Biodiversity for Improved Nutrition
This is Part 3 of three special reports from Vihiga County, Kenya, where a Humidtropics research project is empowering the community to better use available agricultural biodiversity to improve nutrition all year round. Esther Odera, Nutrition Coordinator of Vihiga County, and local partner in this research initiative, reports on the upcoming Malezi Bora Week. Malezi Bora is a Swahili phrase meaning “good upbringingâ€. Malezi Bora weeks are observed bi-annually in the health calendar of Kenya, in May and November. The national theme for the next Malezi Bora Week is Improving the Life … [Read more...]
Better Management of Rubber Plantations to Reduce Environmental Impacts in China
According to the recently released Humidtropics Situational Analysis report for Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan, China, the region was an area of extreme biodiversity and cultural diversity, although much of that biodiversity has now been lost to monoculture rubber plantations. The Situational Analysis summarizes the situation of rural development, agriculture and environment as it is perceived by expert opinion and literature evidence, as of 2014/2015. This report is the second Situational Analysis to be completed in the Central Mekong Action Area. It was conducted during the stages of … [Read more...]