THE Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme – Knowledge, Information and Skills (CAADP-KIS) is a pan-African vehicle that translates the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA)’s vision into a workable framework to guide agriculture-led development. CAADP’s overall goal is to improve livelihoods, food security and environmental resilience in Africa’s largely agrarian economies. After its 10-year planning phase... Continue reading

“Africa now needs desperately to redesign its self-image, create an environment of peace and stability and plan a new science-led future appropriate to its culture, needs and aspirations. In essence, it must become Africa-centered.” Thomas R.Odhiambo, 1993 The forthcoming 6th Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW) comes at an opportune time for Africa. The event poises the continent to surpass earlier generations in... Continue reading

With up to 9.3 billion people to feed in 2050 in the world, it becomes urgent to find ways to increase agricultural productivity across Africa, the second most populated continent. One option developed so far by humans is “boosting” soil fertility with chemical fertilizers. But is this option sustainable? What are alternatives to chemical fertilizers do we have? Implications of using... Continue reading

Rahel Wyss, HAFL (Bern University of Applied Sciences, School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences) How can available resources for development cooperation be used in the most useful and sus­tainable way for people in developing countries? Implementing agencies put much effort into show­ing their results to donors. Impact assessment is not a new term, but governments and donors wish for clearer... Continue reading

We are delighted to welcome Davit Gogilashvili as YPARD representative for Georgia. Let me give Davit the floor, in order for him to introduce himself to you: "Dear YPARD family members, let me briefly introduce myself as a country representative of Georgia in this wonderful community. I am Davit Gogilashvili from Tbilisi, Georgia.  I graduated from Agricultural University of Georgia on... Continue reading

YPARD Switzerland, Event 26.06.2013 “This is all about having fun together”, says Bastiaan Frich, initiator of the Permaculture-Community Garden Landhof Project in Basel while our small group of interested people is following him through the Landhof garden. On a run-down concrete parking ground he planned and builds together with Dominique Oser the Landhof garden in the middle of a series of... Continue reading

YPARD Country Representative for Cameroon, Divine Ntiokam, after a number of consultations, trainings and advocacy at national, regional and global level has been able to create awareness in Environmental Sustainability through agricultural forums among young professionals. He came to a conclusion that in order to support the United Nations Secretary General`s term of office in regards to redesigning a new framework... Continue reading

Everyday, 20,000 children die from starvation related causes in the third world. That is five 9/11?s each and every day. They key to unlocking the potential for society’s progress is to provide youth with learning and development experiences that reinforce necessary values and personal growth in addition to practical skills and knowledge. Studying isn’t enough; practical experience should come right along... Continue reading

Blogpost by Marina Cherbonnier and Peter Casier, two AASW social reporters. Blog post originally posted on The FARA-AASW Blog. Meet Marina Cherbonnier, the YPARD Web and Communications Officer. I call her a “can-do-it-all” ball of energy. She has a background in ICT4D (University of Manchester, UK) and in information and documentation sciences (UCO, Angers, France). She previously was an intern at... Continue reading

YPARD has been working to engage youth in the decision making processes in the agricultural development sector. Bringing youth representatives to boards, steering and advisory committees is one way of ensuring that youth are an active part of the sector and to encourage youth involvement in programme development.  We are thus, pleased to report that the Global Forum for Agricultural Research... Continue reading

Years ago, I asked a friend whose father was first an agriculturist before becoming a politician (a serving senator) how his father got rich, and he told me pointedly that “through farming”. Ever inquisitive, I asked “How?” and his response was “Bunmi, if you go into real agriculture, though you might struggle for some time, but once you become established then... Continue reading

Hello "YPs" in AR4D in India, You may be aware that during National workshop on 'Foresight and Future Pathways of Agricultural Research Through Youth in India' (FFPARTY) held on March1-2, 2013 at New Delhi, YPARD-India was re-introduced! YPARD-India is an initiave by and for Young  Agri-Professionals. It aims at better networking, strengthening linkages and knowledge sharing between different Agri. Professionals including... Continue reading

For some 200 million Africans fish is the main source of animal protein. This is one third of the continent’s population.  10 million Africans, many of them artisans, are directly depended on fisheries for their livelihoods. On top of this, fish is one of Africa’s prime export products, contributing significantly to some of the national economies. These facts alone should make... Continue reading

"Agricultural development depends on innovation. Innovation is a major source of improved productivity, competitiveness, and economic growth throughout advanced and emerging economies, and plays an important role in creating jobs, generating income, alleviating poverty, and driving social development. If farmers, agribusinesses, and even nations are to cope, compete, and thrive in the midst of changes in agriculture and economy, they must... Continue reading

With more than 200 million people aged between 15 and 24 years (comprising over 20% of the population and 70% of the population being under 30 years old), Africa‘s future seems bright. Young people usually bring new skills and abilities to the table, and tend to be highly competitive into sectors that use innovative technologies (such as ICT, social media or even... Continue reading

Majority of the small holder farmers are from developing countries and it is important to make the actionable information reach them in time. The farmers in the villages are struggling for the advisory and critical information related to the farming and allied activities. Most of the farmers still believe in the conservation methods of farming and the new technology information in... Continue reading

Centre for Sustainable Development's special June Newsletter on the Best New Resources for Adaptation, Resilience and Sustainability presents best international resources on climate change, climate smart agriculture, smallholder value chains, health and water. Centre for Sustainable Development encounters so many excellent nonprofit, climate change, DRR and development  resources that we periodically compile them in a special issue newsletter. Access and download these resources. June... Continue reading

Next time you pass by a surface run-off, stream or polluted river with its heavy load of human, domestic, industrial and municipal waste, instead of covering your nose to ward off the stench you will do well to observe the kind of wastes in those waters, because a sizeable portion (20% global average) of what you eat come from plants irrigated... Continue reading

As we saw in the past, there are many more rules, laws, conventions are made for protecting the environment but there is no effective implementation . For this implementation youth play a vital role. Young people constitute a large part of the world’s population and young people will have to live longer with the consequences of current environmental decisions than will... Continue reading

The Association of African Business Schools (AABS) and Agri business Consortium (AAC) lunched the Agri Business Management Programme (AgMP) at the Lagos Business School (LBS), in Lagos-Nigeria on Tuesday, 7th May, 2013. Various stake holders were present: Policy makers, Agri-business men/women, NGOs and Youths. I also was present as one of the participants representing YPARD, the Young Professionals’ Platform for Agricultural... Continue reading