The SI-MFS initiative in Bangladesh working on different innovations such as intensifying and diversifying cropping systems for better crop-livestock integration, intensifying and diversifying homestead gardens for improved nutrition, and sustainable intensification of livestock production within MFS. Under these initiatives, SI-MFS has done several scaling activities in 2023.

The Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) through the Improving Bean Productivity and Markets in Africa (IBPMA) Project funded by the Global Affairs Canada engaged on the project to reduce poverty amongst smallholder bean farmers, especially women, by reducing food insecurity, increasing incomes, and strengthening climate-smart agriculture (CSA). This mid-term evaluation report has brought up some key findings about the progress the project made over the four-year implementation period.

The rising concerns of over-exploitation of groundwater resources, increasing cost of inputs and cultivation, timely availability of labor and energy, degradation of soil health, and climate change prevail in major agri-food systems in Bangladesh. Thus, reversing the unsustainable way of practicing agriculture to climate-smart agriculture would be key to sustainable agricultural development and productivity.

The objectives of the training were as follows:

Objectives:
To provide the progress and achievement of BARI-IRRI collaborative research and scaling activities from the SI-MFS initiative in 2023.

This paper explores the relationship between agriculture, dietary diversity, and market access in Nepal, testing the complex causal chains involved, and the nuanced connections between production diversity and dietary diversity among smallholder farmers. While diversifying farm production could enhance dietary diversity, the case of Nepal indicates a varied and context specific relationship. Market access emerges as a crucial factor, often exerting a more significant impact on smallholder farm households than production diversity.

This issue brief introduces a conceptual framework to describe the factors that inform farmers’ varietal uptake choices, by integrating choice behavior alongside more contextual and technical aspects of seed uptake. The framework was developed to support qualitative data analysis for generating behavioral intelligence about farmers’ decision-making about crop varieties, which may be of use to government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and companies that operate in the seed sector.

This policy brief provides empirical evidence on the profitability of soil and water conservation (SWC) practices and forage mixtures, implemented to mitigate soil erosion and land degradation in Northern and Central West Tunisia.

Agriculture is the main activity employing up to 70% of the working population in Benin. It contributes an average of 32.5% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 75% to export earnings, and 15% to government revenue (PSRSA, 2016). Benin's agriculture comprises a set of crops, among which vegetable crops constitute one of the strategic sectors and an important agricultural industry that employs thousands of people across urban, peri-urban, and rural areas (ACED, 2020). Vegetable production is crucial to the region's food security and poverty alleviation.

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a tropical fruit with a unique flavor and high nutritional benefits. It is considered the most important fruit crop in the country based on its high export volume and value, next to banana and pineapple (Department of Agriculture, 2013). The 'Carabao' mango, also known as the 'Super Manila' mango, is a popular variety in the international market. Over the years, there has been an increase in demand for mangoes. However, the Philippines is facing challenges in consistently delivering high quality mangoes to major markets.