[su_pullquote][su_dropcap style="flat" size="2"]A[/su_dropcap]fter staring at his computer screen for 30 minutes and unconsciously listening to the sounds of political unrest in the streets of Bujumbura, Burundi’s national facilitator of Humidtropics still had not written a single word for his May 2015 report. He turned his chair and looked through the window, but his mind was somewhere else. It was in the Highlands of Gitega, with the research for development activities that had been implemented half-a-year ago, and with the farmers hosting these and awaiting him to give guidance. He … [Read more...]
Youth, an Engine of Growth for Sustainable Development in DRC
As part of the integration of their research for development (R4D) activities, IITA-Kalambo and the Catholic Archdiocese of Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have initiated a joint program to pursue agricultural R4D to improve the livelihoods of farmers. Implemented under the framework of Humidtropics, the program involves women and youth in agricultural research, capacity development and Farmer Field Schools. The Archdiocese has made land available to establish R4D farm trials, using them as a basis for training women farmers and youth in different agricultural enterprises with … [Read more...]
Humidtropics’ Innovative Agricultural Practices Change Lives and Bring Hope to DRC Farmers
Like many other rural areas in Walungu sub-district and beyond, across the South Kivu Province in Eastern DRC, Mushinga has been wrecked by various disasters, both natural and human. The most adverse factors that afflict the area is soil impoverishment and inadequate agricultural practices, as deprived populations can hardly count on the small land they own for their livelihood. Research-based approaches and processes were obviously lacking, making it almost impossible to reverse the trends, until Humidtropics and its Innovation Platform partners, notably the International Fertilizer … [Read more...]