How farmers organize
Everywhere in the world, small-scale farmers are collaborating with each other in some way – forming groups, sharing information, working together. Under the right circumstances, farmers’ groups can make a very positive difference to the lives of those working to improve their livelihood options, as well as to the sustainable management of natural resources. The […]
World Bank webcast of the agriculture for development conference
The World Bank, in partnership with the Government of the Philippines, represented by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Economics and Development Authority (NEDA), will hold a conference on “Agriculture for Development: Seizing Opportunities and Managing Risks” on December 7, 2007, from 8am to 12 noon. The event will be held simultaneously in […]
The Cultivation of Organic Nilam
Nilam (Pasgotemi spp) belongs to the family of Labiate. It is an important species in the cosmetic world since its oil is an aromatic substance (fragrant oil, patchouli oil) used in cosmetics. In Indonesia, there are Nilam Aceh (Pagostaman cabilin Benth), Nilam Jawa (P. Heyneaus), and Nilam Kembang (P. Haetensisi Backer) considered as the famous […]
A Review of different Alternatives to Agricultural Trade Globalization
Agricultural trade globalization under the present neo-liberal economic regime has disempowered and alienated farmers and producers from the rest of the commodity chain. Farmers find themselves out of the loop as soon as their produce leaves their farms. They have been reduced to being end-users of agricultural inputs produced by companies and as producers of […]
Emergency or Expediency?: A Study of Emergency Rice Reserve Schemes in Asia
In this era when disasters and calamities have become both more frequent and more intense, maintaining a national food reserve is a practical and forward-looking strategy for governments to adopt in order to ensure food security for the people and as a means to minimize the adverse impacts of unexpected events. Regional food reserves in […]
The Fair Trade System: Focus on the Oxfam-GB Model
The Fair Trade initiative was conceived more than 40 years ago as a response to concrete problems facing commodity producers. It is an alternative approach to conventional international trade dominated by big traders and in later years, by big agribusiness. It seeks to ensure that producers, the bulk of whom are poor and located in […]
Throwing money at hunger
by Mahar Mangahas | Philippine Daily Inquirer MANILA, Philippines — Next week, some 55 farmers — 15 of them women — will reach Manila in a quest for social justice, after walking more than 1,600 kilometers from the town of Sumilao in the southern province of Bukidnon, starting last Oct. 10. They regularly walked about […]
AsiaDHRRA Job Opening: Project Coordinator
AsiaDHRRA is hiring a Regional Project Coordinator to handle a 2-year Regional Project on Linking Small Farmers to Markets. We hope to fill-up the position by mid-January. Please find attached the Job TOR. Please pass to people you think might be interested. Deadline of application is December 30, 2007. Click here to download the Job […]
Green Net: A Trailblazer in Organic Marketing in Southeast Asia
Thailand has traditionally been a major exporter of rice and other major agricultural products such as sugarcane. As much as two-thirds of the country’s population live in the rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihood. However, agriculture accounts for a mere 10 per cent of Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP), well behind the […]