Monthly Archives: September 2010

Spineless Opuntia robusta (Willem Van Cotthem)

Posted on September 30, 2010 by

Anywhere on this planet, the beauty of plants in a garden is food for the soul. Therefore, from time to time, I post pictures of flowers and plants in my own garden. I like to share these with my readers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Pictures

WFP blamed for food crisis in Kenya (NGO News Africa / Africannews)

Posted on September 30, 2010 by

Read at : http://www.ngonewsafrica.org/?p=3775 WFP blamed for food crisis in Kenya WFP have been accused of being bias in picking agencies for food distribution. They (World Food Programme) and the government are also accused of delaying relief food distribution to … Continue reading →

Posted in food / food security, hunger / famine, WFP

Egypt to lease at least 200,000 acres of farmland this year for agri-business projects (Food Crisis and the Global Land Grab / Reuters)

Posted on September 30, 2010 by

Read at : http://farmlandgrab.org/15880 Egypt to lease at least 200,000 acres of farms: government Reuters | Wed Sep 29, 2010 CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt will lease at least 200,000 acres of farmland this year for agri-business projects in North Sinai, … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, land grab

Desertification Threatens Green Africa (Google / WiZiq)

Posted on September 30, 2010 by

Read at : Google Alert – desertification http://www.wiziq.com/tutorial/92486-Desertification-Threatens-Green-Africa Slideshow Desertification Threatens Green Africa An elementary understanding of the causes, ramifications and remedial approaches of desertification of the continent Africa.

Posted in Desertification

Techniques that improve late-season harvesting, better tools to minimize damaging impacts on orange yield (Science Daily)

Posted on September 30, 2010 by

Read at : http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100920151811.htm Winter Drought Stress Can Delay Flowering, Prevent Fruit Loss in Orange Crops ScienceDaily (Sep. 27, 2010) — Successful mechanical harvesting of perennial fruit crops requires efficient, economical harvesting systems that do not reduce trees’ production life … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, sustainable agriculture

Knowing How to Nurture Ourselves (Globaloneness / Stephan FAYON)

Posted on September 30, 2010 by

A message of Eefje TIMP: Seen at a VIDEO: http://www.globalonenessproject.org/videos/knowinghowtonurtureourselves Knowing How to Nurture Ourselves Stephan Fayon, director of an international seed bank in Auroville, India, explains how preserving the diversity of seeds insures against the breakdown of large-scale industrial … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, food / food security, reforestation, seeds

Spineless prickly pear: the life-bringing weapon in the war on desertification (Willem Van Cotthem / Joe Franke)

Posted on September 30, 2010 by

Visiting the Nordeste Province of Brazil years ago and admiring the huge plantations of the spineless prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica var. inermis), I started collecting documentation on this remarkable variety of the ‘nopal’ (its Central American name). Gradually, I got … Continue reading →

Posted in desert/desert gardening, Desertification, drought tolerant plants, fodder, food / food security, grazing / overgrazing, livestock, Opuntia ficus-indica

Opuntia (nopal): Increased income, reduced soil erosion, improved rangeland productivity, improved animal feed security, drought mitigation (IFAD)

Posted on September 30, 2010 by

Read at : http://www.ifad.org/lrkm/tans/6.htm Opuntia spp: a strategic fodder for arid and semi-arid areas Source of technology and funding National agricultural research system (NARS) of Tunisia; Mashreq–Maghreb Project (M&M); International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA); International … Continue reading →

Posted in drought tolerant plants, drylands, fodder, grazing / overgrazing, livestock, Opuntia ficus-indica

“FarmVille” vs. Real Farms [INFOGRAPHIC] (Chase Van Cotthem)

Posted on September 29, 2010 by

Read : a message from my grandson Chase Van Cotthem Perhaps there is a way to promote the needs of real farmers through the community of virtual farmers. “FarmVille” vs. Real Farms [INFOGRAPHIC] http://www.facebook.com/l/e007436Fbaiep-MEdDlLcGSN_hQ;mashable.com/2010/09/10/farmville-vs-real-farms-infographic/ Have you ever wondered how virtual … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture

New concept initiated by the Congolese government to revitalize agricultural and cattle production (AfricaFiles / Jeune Afrique)

Posted on September 29, 2010 by

Read at : AfricaFiles Title: The Rural New Deal Author: Muriel Devey Category: Food and Land Date: 8/19/2010 Source: Jeune Afrique Source Website: http://www.jeuneafrique.com <http://www.jeuneafrique.com/> African Charter Article# 22: All peoples shall have the right to their economic, social and … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, livestock, Pastoralism / animal husbandry