ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" version="2.0"> <channel> <title>ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</title> <description>ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</description> <link>https://reliefweb.int</link> <atom:link rel="self" href="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29"/> <image> <url>https://reliefweb.int/themes/custom/common_design_subtheme/img/logos/ReliefWeb_RSS_logo.png</url> <title>ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int</link> <width>256</width> <height>256</height> </image> <language>en</language> <copyright>You should respect the intellectual property rights of the original source. Please contact the source directly if you want to re-use their content.</copyright> <pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 20:20:30 +0000</pubDate> <lastBuildDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 20:20:30 +0000</lastBuildDate> <item> <title>Lesotho Assistance Overview, December 2024</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/lesotho/lesotho-assistance-overview-december-2024</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/lesotho/lesotho-assistance-overview-december-2024</guid> <pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 20:20:30 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Countries: Lesotho, United States of America</div> <div class="tag source">Source: US Agency for International Development</div> <img src="https://reliefweb.int/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/previews/78/55/78557235-c98a-48a5-bed2-6615069fac39.png" alt> Please refer to the attached file. CONTEXT <ul><li>Climatic shocks, diseases, and socioeconomic conditions continue to drive high levels of acute food insecurity in Lesotho. In particular, El Niño- induced conditions—including erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged dry spells—during the 2023/2024 rainy season resulted in the lowest crop yields since the 2018/2019 agricultural season, increasing reliance on markets and prompting households to deplete their food stocks atypically early, the Government of Lesotho reports. Drought conditions had also reduced water levels in reservoirs and rivers and resulted in widespread livestock losses as of October, according to the UN. An estimated 80 percent of Lesotho’s population depends on the agricultural sector for food and income, increasing households’ vulnerability to climatic shocks, the UN World Food Program (WFP) reports.</li> <li>Below-average incomes and high prices due to low crop production continue to limit food access and restrict household purchasing power, particularly in rural areas of Lesotho, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) reports. As a result, Crisis—IPC 3—levels of acute food insecurity are likely to persist between October 2024 and March 2025, particularly in the south, southwest, and some eastern parts of the country, with Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale’s Hoek, and Quthing districts projected to be the worst-affected.1 Between 250,000 and 500,000 people are likely to need food assistance by March 2025, FEWS NET reports. Urgent humanitarian assistance is required to prevent acute malnutrition, reduce food gaps, and restore livelihoods.</li> </ul> </description> <category>Lesotho</category> <category>United States of America</category> <category>US Agency for International Development</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Coordination</category> <category>Food and Nutrition</category> <category>News and Press Release</category> <category>Drought</category> <author>US Agency for International Development</author> <enclosure url="https://reliefweb.int/attachments/78557235-c98a-48a5-bed2-6615069fac39/USAID-BHA%20Lesotho%20Assistance%20Overview%20-%20December%202024.pdf" length="169271" type="application/pdf"/> </item> <item> <title>Ukraine - Key Message Update: Winter begins in Ukraine as Russian troops advance along the eastern front, October 2024</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ukraine-key-message-update-winter-begins-ukraine-russian-troops-advance-along-eastern-front-october-2024</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ukraine-key-message-update-winter-begins-ukraine-russian-troops-advance-along-eastern-front-october-2024</guid> <pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 19:14:29 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Country: Ukraine</div> <div class="tag source">Source: Famine Early Warning System Network</div> <img src="https://reliefweb.int/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/previews/c1/d6/c1d62626-4c52-453e-a5c1-940eb5103315.png" alt> Please refer to the attached file. <h2>Key Messages</h2> <ul><li>In October, Russian troops advanced across the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Facleddata.com%2F2024%2F10%2F16%2Fukraine-conflict-update-28-september-4-october-2024%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Clleavens%40chemonics.com%7C283215d75ea7408f6d8908dd0a9182fd%7C7c1f24a67d39452c82370726e3b19a73%7C0%7C0%7C638678342277260256%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=cfRxyoAWmbT3DKpmhhLlHBM1f03mG2E9vGwkOVFY6H0%3D&amp;reserved=0">Donetsk</a>, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Facleddata.com%2F2024%2F10%2F30%2Fukraine-war-situation-update-12-18-october-2024%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Clleavens%40chemonics.com%7C283215d75ea7408f6d8908dd0a9182fd%7C7c1f24a67d39452c82370726e3b19a73%7C0%7C0%7C638678342277273402%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=C6BgatzlBW1kjk9CD3WxV7gq%2Bk8leb3HAC%2BiOed6H0c%3D&amp;reserved=0">Kharkiv</a>, and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Facleddata.com%2F2024%2F11%2F06%2Fukraine-war-situation-update-19-25-october-2024%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Clleavens%40chemonics.com%7C283215d75ea7408f6d8908dd0a9182fd%7C7c1f24a67d39452c82370726e3b19a73%7C0%7C0%7C638678342277288456%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=hrr%2Bxi3hs8IZsjqNqL6ffcYktXA%2FbnDyfo%2FJnf6RL%2Bg%3D&amp;reserved=0">Zaporizhia</a> oblasts, making territorial gains and establishing control over dozens of villages, including several Ukrainian strongholds. Across Ukraine, the Human Rights Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (HRMMU) verified over <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://ukraine.ohchr.org/en/Protection-of-Civilians-in-Armed-Conflict-September-2024">1,200 civilian injuries and 200 civilian deaths</a> in September, while <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://acleddata.com/ukraine-conflict-monitor/#1677782254184-ea664901-3576">ACLED</a> reported 184 civilian deaths in October. In targeting Ukrainian port infrastructure, Russia hit the ports in <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://acleddata.com/2024/10/24/ukraine-war-situation-update-5-11-october-2024/">Odesa City and Izmail</a> on October 6 and 9, respectively, damaging several internationally-flagged civilian ships. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fkyivindependent.com%2Fnato-chief-confirms-north-korean-troops-are-in-russias-kursk-oblast%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Clleavens%40chemonics.com%7C283215d75ea7408f6d8908dd0a9182fd%7C7c1f24a67d39452c82370726e3b19a73%7C0%7C0%7C638678342277347366%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=uKrXt1JPpCMclqrpFaCWcI0roDTkhlnHkKkOQqldI0E%3D&amp;reserved=0">NATO</a> and the Pentagon confirmed that North Korean troops have been deployed to <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fkyivindependent.com%2F8-000-north-korean-troops-have-been-deployed-to-kursk-oblast-blinken-says%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Clleavens%40chemonics.com%7C283215d75ea7408f6d8908dd0a9182fd%7C7c1f24a67d39452c82370726e3b19a73%7C0%7C0%7C638678342277357665%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=jpaeZsaIDaXzXIHCMqSMCOOf85NqYlw6zvjPH5zLlmU%3D&amp;reserved=0">Kursk oblast</a> in Russia – estimates range between 8,000 and 12,000. However, it is highly unlikely that this scale of deployment will alter the trajectory of the current conflict in terms of developments along the front lines.</li> <li>Continued attacks on energy infrastructure remain a concern as winter begins. Ukraine has lost <a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ukraine-special-focus-energy-sector-june-2024">over 50 percent of its generating capacity,</a> and scheduled blackouts have been ongoing since the spring. As temperatures drop below freezing over the winter, many households will likely face hours-long power outages. The areas of Kharkiv, Bohodukhiv, and Chuhuiv in Kharkiv Oblast, along with Sumskyi in Sumska Oblast, face the <a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ukraines-winterisation-202425-cold-spot-assessment-findings-reach-assessments-june-2024">greatest risks during the winter</a>. This is primarily due to harsher winter conditions, a high concentration of vulnerable populations such as internally displaced persons and the elderly, and conflict-related damage to housing that was already poorly insulated. A <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/europe-boost-power-export-capacity-ukraine-moldova-over-winter-2024-10-29/">recent agreement</a> with the European Union is expected to boost electricity import capacity into Ukraine and Moldova more than five-fold from December through at least March 2025. However, conflict-related damage to distribution and transmission infrastructure continues to impact power supplies, and such imports are unlikely to meet demand fully as energy use peaks during the winter.</li> <li>As of October, <a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ukraine-complex-emergency-fact-sheet-1-fiscal-year-fy-2025">more than 3.5 million Ukrainians remain internally displaced</a> by the war. WFP continues to provide much-needed support to local populations, particularly those living in frontline regions in eastern Ukraine and evacuees. An estimated <a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/wfp-ukraine-external-situation-report-54-october-2024">1.5 million people received humanitarian assistance</a> during October, with 848,000 receiving in-kind food assistance and 608,000 receiving cash-based assistance. As in past months, recipients in areas where humanitarian access conditions remain volatile received double 30-day rations, this time in Donetsk. In anticipation of heightened needs during winter, the scale of cash-based assistance expanded to target 50,000 new beneficiaries in regions most affected by the ongoing conflict, including those not eligible for government pensions, those with disabilities, and those who receive less than 3,250 UAH in social benefits.</li> <li>Ukraine’s economy has been <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099021324115085807">heavily impacted by the war</a> but is still demonstrating remarkable resilience. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/ukraines-gdp-up-by-42-year-on-year-jan-oct-economy-ministry-says-2024-11-18/">GDP rose 4.2 percent</a> year-on-year, which – while comparable to pre-war growth rates – follows an estimated <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/NGDP_RPCH@WEO/UKR?zoom=UKR&amp;highlight=UKR">29 percent</a> economic contraction that occurred in 2022 due to the impacts of the war. Agricultural exports remain crucial to the country’s economic performance. In October, over <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/fsuw/viz/ENGExportofAgriproducts/Dashboard1">6 million tons</a> of grains, oilseeds, and related products were exported, representing a 39 percent increase from October 2023, when 4.33 million tons were exported. Similarly, year-to-date (January-September) agricultural export volumes are up <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/10/23/7481006/">36.2 percent</a> compared to the same period in 2023. During the three years prior to the war, monthly exports averaged <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.csis.org/analysis/setting-record-straight-ukraines-grain-exports">5.33 million tons</a>. Despite recent attacks on port infrastructure, the vast majority (approximately 89 percent) of exports continue to be exported via Ukraine’s ports.</li> <li>The 2023/24 sunflower, rice, and corn harvests are <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://ipad.fas.usda.gov/rssiws/al/crop_calendar/umb.aspx">ongoing</a>, and as of October 25th, farmers in unoccupied areas of Ukraine have harvested <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://minagro.gov.ua/en/news/ukrainian-farmers-harvested-637-million-tonnes-of-grains-and-oilseeds">63.7 million tons of grains and oilseeds</a>.1 The total harvest is expected to be lower than initially forecasted due to unusually hot and dry conditions during the growing season. By comparison, the total estimated harvest in 2022/23 was <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://minagro.gov.ua/en/news/ministry-of-agrarian-policy-and-food-predicts-this-years-harvest-of-grains-and-oilseeds-at-about-74-million-tonnes">82 million tons</a> in unoccupied areas, while the bumper harvest in 2021/2022 in both unoccupied and Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine was <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://ipad.fas.usda.gov/countrysummary/default.aspx?id=UP">over 100 million tons</a>. Planting activities for winter barley, wheat, and rapeseed crops are also wrapping up across the country. While <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.cropmonitor.org/crop-monitor-for-amis-202411">winter cropping conditions</a> in western Ukraine are generally favorable, conditions are poor in the east, center, and south, where winter wheat crops are reportedly 2-3 weeks behind in development as the winter dormancy period arrives. If crops are not mature enough before dormancy, they have an increased susceptibility to winter kill, are less competitive with weeds, and are more susceptible to disease and pests, which lower yield potential.</li> </ul>Recommended citation: FEWS NET. Ukraine Key Message Update October 2024: Winter begins in Ukraine as Russian troops advance along the eastern front, 2024. </description> <category>Ukraine</category> <category>Famine Early Warning System Network</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Food and Nutrition</category> <category>Protection and Human Rights</category> <category>Analysis</category> <category>Drought</category> <author>Famine Early Warning System Network</author> <enclosure url="https://reliefweb.int/attachments/c1d62626-4c52-453e-a5c1-940eb5103315/ua-kmu-2024-12-1733252872.pdf" length="202388" type="application/pdf"/> </item> <item> <title>Mauritania: ‘Feeding millions’ - how land restoration can turn around Africa’s Sahel</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/mauritania/feeding-millions-how-land-restoration-can-turn-around-africas-sahel</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/mauritania/feeding-millions-how-land-restoration-can-turn-around-africas-sahel</guid> <pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 18:18:54 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger</div> <div class="tag source">Source: World Food Programme</div> A WFP project is building resilient communities and environments 3 December 2024, Djaounsede Madjiangar, Evelyn Fey and Asma Achahboun Every year, when the first rains fall on Mauritania’s parched lands, Djeinaba Ba’s heart beats with pride. She has a deep connection with agriculture in her village of Gvava Peulh, located in the country’s southeastern Assaba region. “What I love in this village is agriculture,” says Ba, who is widowed and has three children. “It’s the only activity we are familiar with, and one that helps us meet our families’ needs.” Ba grew up helping her parents clear their fields, sow seeds, harvest crops and gather fodder to feed their livestock. Now she heads a local women’s cooperative. Farming has been a lifeline in the West African country, helping entire families survive and sometimes prosper for decades. But recurring droughts, deforestation and land degradation are threatening agricultural productivity for millions of farmers like her. Today, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.unccd.int/news-stories/stories/unccd-executive-secretary-visit-mauritania-focus-desertification-and">more than one-quarter of Mauritania’s population is exposed to land degradation that affects 60 percent of the country.</a> Those issues are in now sharp focus at a key desertification meeting in Saudi Arabia. Gathering representatives from dozens of countries, the Conference of the Parties talks in Riyadh, or COP 16, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.unccd.int/cop16">aims to fight drought and protect and restore roughly 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by the end of this decade</a>. The frontlines of the desertification battle are located in countries like Mauritania, where the World Food Programme (WFP) is supporting the Government through an ambitious programme to restore lands depleted by droughts and other hazards. The effort is part of a broader resilience-building programme launched in 2018 with partners across five West and Central African nations, which also comprise Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger. So far, the initiative has benefited 4 million people in 3,400 villages across the region, and restored more than 300,000 hectares of degraded land. It links watershed planning and land rehabilitation to school meals; provides nutritional support to women and young children; assists smallholder farmers, and empowers communities to maintain and improve food security in the face of recurrent shocks. The resilience-building efforts also contribute to Africa’s ambitious Great Green Wall project, which aims to restore degraded landscapes, fight desertification and boost economies across the Sahel by 2030. “Land rehabilitation in the Sahel is key for the food security of millions of people, as it rebuilds ecosystems and livelihoods, reduces humanitarian needs and enables the region to transition to a sustainable, food security pathway,” says Margot van der Velden, WFP Regional Director for Western Africa, “By addressing land degradation, we empower rural communities to grow food sustainably,” van der Velden adds. “We create a lifeline against climate shocks like droughts and floods, and build a greener and healthier environment for the millions of people whose food security would otherwise be jeopardized.” <h2>Fertile again</h2> In Mauritania, abutting the Atlantic Ocean, rising sea levels and other shocks like droughts have fed acute hunger that affects about one-fifth of the population yearly. For veteran farmers like Ba, the fallout is clear. “The soil has become less fertile,” she says. “Our harvests have been hardly enough to meet our basic needs.” Then came WFP’s resilience programme, rolled out four years ago across hundreds of Mauritanian villages like Gvava Peulh. It employs restorative and regenerative land practices, and innovative water-management techniques such as half-moons and dykes, to replenish water-depleted soils and aquifers. “Since WFP's arrival, we have observed notable changes; the degraded lands have become fertile again,” Ba says. The programme’s payoffs have been stunning. Participating households are seeing their harvests double or triple for each hectare of rehabilitated land, translating on average to at least one extra month of food consumption. “I am very happy to see now how resilience works on the ground to obtain very tangible results for the extremely vulnerable households and communities,” says Reinhard Uhlig, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Germany in Mauritania, which helps fund the initiative. “We would like to see these joint efforts scaled up in the future.” In both Mauritania and neighbouring Chad, WFP’s resilience programme goes beyond building food security and sustainable livelihoods. It encourages environmental stewardship, reinforces social cohesion, and improves access to markets and basic social services. It also supports education, by sourcing the produce for WFP-supported school meals from participating farmers. It can also reduce migration, by offering rural farmers — often male heads of households — powerful financial reasons to stay home. That frees time for women to engage in other pursuits, including learning other income-generating skills. “Before, my husband had to leave us during the dry season to look for job opportunities in urban areas,” says Amsinine Radiane, a mother of nine, who participates in a WFP resilience-building project in Doungoulou, in central Chad. She has since seen her millet harvest grow by nearly sixfold thanks to the project, which has not only restored degraded farmland, but also introduced irrigation systems that allow farmers to plant market gardens year-round. Radiane’s husband no longer leaves in search of work. “We've got more than enough to feed our children,” she says, “and I can store part of it to get through the lean season.” WFP’s integrated resilience programme in Western Africa is supported by Canada, Chad (through the World Bank), Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Monaco, Republic of Korea, Spain and the United States. </description> <category>Burkina Faso</category> <category>Chad</category> <category>Mali</category> <category>Mauritania</category> <category>Niger</category> <category>World Food Programme</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Climate Change and Environment</category> <category>Food and Nutrition</category> <category>News and Press Release</category> <category>Drought</category> <author>World Food Programme</author> </item> <item> <title>The impact of the ongoing conflict in Lebanon: Impact assessment on agriculture and livelihoods</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/impact-ongoing-conflict-lebanon-impact-assessment-agriculture-and-livelihoods</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/impact-ongoing-conflict-lebanon-impact-assessment-agriculture-and-livelihoods</guid> <pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 14:20:09 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Country: Lebanon</div> <div class="tag source">Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</div> In this rapid geospatial analysis, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) utilized satellite imagery to assess the potential impact of the escalation of conflict in Lebanon on agricultural land and livelihoods, and to identify the areas most affected. As the conflict has disrupted agricultural production, understanding these possible impacts is crucial to identify the anticipated consequences to the sector and those that rely on it. This Data in Emergencies Impact (DIEM-Impact) StoryMap produced with the FAO Representation in Lebanon, provides a broad overview of the initial picture of the possible impact of the conflict on agriculture and implications for food security. The objective of this preliminary assessment is to help focus immediate response efforts and subsequent geospatial and field assessment work in Lebanon. Limitations This assessment was developed using available datasets at the time of publication. It is not intended to be a comprehensive inventory of all affected locations, crop types or population groups, nor does it capture all aspects of the seasonality of agriculture in Lebanon. Rather it is intended to provide an initial overview to be further complemented, updated and strengthened with additional in-depth investigation. Conflict events were sourced from the Armed Conflict Location &amp; Event Data (<a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://acleddata.com/"> ACLED </a>) which are compiled and verified by multiple sources. Peaceful protest events were excluded from this analysis. Data was accessed as at 1 November 2024. Approximately 96 percent of conflict events were related to aerial strikes, shelling or other bombardment. Key highlights <ul><li>Since 23 September 2024, the conflict has escalated significantly. Conflict events such as aerial strikes, shelling and missile attacks have become more frequent, intense and across a wider geographic area. Attacks, initially limited to southern Lebanon, have spread further north and east, increasing to 4 166 bombings and 2 115 fatalities in the five weeks between 23 September and 1 November 2024, compared to 8 605 bombings and 837 fatalities in the 12 months preceding 23 September.</li> <li>The conflict has placed at least 130 municipalities, including those in Baalbek, El-Hermel, El Nabatieh and Marjaayoun, at potentially high risk of damage to agricultural land and assets.</li> <li>Between 23 September and 1 November, 336 instances of aerial strikes or shelling are estimated to have struck cropland, of which 74 affected irrigated areas. Based on these strikes, agricultural activities at high risk include: <ul><li>Harvesting of olives, grapes, potatoes, citrus, bananas and avocados; and</li> <li>Sowing of late summer vegetables and cereal crops.</li> </ul></li> <li>In addition to cropland, 173 strikes hit forested land and 221 hit grassland. Grasslands in Baalbek and Bekaa are used for livestock grazing.</li> <li>The conflict has caused massive population displacement, disrupting agriculture in locations in the south and Baalbek-El Hermel where access to land and/or labour is at heightened risk, leading to unharvested and abandoned croplands.</li> <li>The pattern of conflict events has been largely aligned with both the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 3+ populations and locations of origin for most internally displaced persons (IDP), raising concerns about household resilience to multiple shocks, especially in Bent Jbeil, Sour, Marjaayoun and Baalbek.</li> </ul>Read the full assessment <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://data-in-emergencies.fao.org/apps/6995ec901634417bb80d609593c05689/explore">here</a> </description> <category>Lebanon</category> <category>Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Food and Nutrition</category> <category>Protection and Human Rights</category> <category>Assessment</category> <author>Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</author> </item> <item> <title>GIEWS Country Brief: The Republic of Senegal 03-December-2024</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/senegal/giews-country-brief-republic-senegal-03-december-2024</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/senegal/giews-country-brief-republic-senegal-03-december-2024</guid> <pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 13:24:09 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Country: Senegal</div> <div class="tag source">Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</div> <img src="https://reliefweb.int/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/previews/d3/ac/d3ac54c6-690b-4a79-9fa8-88857da1d72f.png" alt> Please refer to the attached file. FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT <ul><li> Cereal production in 2024 forecast at above‑average level </li> <li> Prices of rice above year-earlier levels </li> <li> About 519 000 people acutely food insecure during 2024 lean season </li> </ul><h2>Cereal production in 2024 forecast at above‑average level</h2> Harvesting operations of the 2024 coarse grain crops are about to conclude, while those of the rice crop are expected to finalize in January 2025. The rainy season, which normally starts in June in southern areas and in July in central and northern regions, had a generally timely onset. In most areas, cumulative rainfall amounts between June and October were adequate to satisfy cereal crop water requirements, supporting yields. However, in some parts of the regions of Kaffrine, Tambacounda and Kolda, early season dryness affected planting operations and crop establishment. Furthermore, rainfall deficits between mid-August and early September affected crop establishment and development in parts of Saint-Louis Region, resulting in localized production shortfalls. Abundant rainfall between mid-September and mid-October benefitted crop development in most regions, while flooding in parts of northern and eastern areas of the country caused localized minor crop losses. The 2024 aggregate cereal production is forecast at 3.8 million tonnes, about 8 percent above the average of the previous five years. <h2>Prices of rice above year-earlier levels</h2> The national average retail prices of local and imported rice, the most consumed cereal in the country, increased by 15 and 25 percent, respectively, from December 2023 to May 2024. In the following months, prices of local and imported rice remained mostly stable and, in October 2024, they were 10 and 20 percent, respectively, above their year-earlier levels. The national average retail prices of millet and maize rose seasonally by 5 and 10 percent, respectively, between June and August 2024, while the price of sorghum declined by 10 percent during the same period. Prices of millet and maize registered slight seasonal decreases in September and October 2024, while the price of sorghum remained stable. In October 2024, prices of coarse grains were below their year-earlier levels. <h2>About 519 000 people acutely food insecure during 2024 lean season</h2> According to the March 2024 Cadre Harmonisé (CH) analysis, nearly 519 000 people (about 3 percent of the population) were estimated to face acute food insecurity (CH Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) during the June to August 2024 lean season period, including approximately 12 000 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). This shows a substantial decrease in the number of acutely food insecure people compared to the same period in 2023, when over 1.26 million people (about 7 percent of the population) were estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance. The improvement in the situation is mainly due to the above‑average cereal output harvested in 2023. Concerns exist for the food security situation of approximately 103 000 people affected by recent floods, whose livelihoods have been significantly disrupted. </description> <category>Senegal</category> <category>Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Food and Nutrition</category> <category>News and Press Release</category> <category>Flood</category> <author>Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</author> <enclosure url="https://reliefweb.int/attachments/d3ac54c6-690b-4a79-9fa8-88857da1d72f/SEN.pdf" length="611706" type="application/pdf"/> </item> <item> <title>World: El histórico Atlas Mundial de la Sequía revela la naturaleza sistémica de los riesgos y subraya la necesidad de…</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/world/el-historico-atlas-mundial-de-la-sequia-revela-la-naturaleza-sistemica-de-los-riesgos-y-subraya-la-necesidad-de</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/world/el-historico-atlas-mundial-de-la-sequia-revela-la-naturaleza-sistemica-de-los-riesgos-y-subraya-la-necesidad-de</guid> <pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 08:40:00 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Country: World</div> <div class="tag source">Sources: European Commission - Joint Research Centre, UN Convention to Combat Desertification, United Nations University</div> El Atlas se publica mientras los Estados miembros de la CNULD, reunidos en Riad, negocian el primer acuerdo global sobre resiliencia a la sequía Riad, Arabia Saudí - En un momento en que sequías sin precedentes se están convirtiendo en una nueva normalidad, la Convención de las Naciones Unidas de Lucha contra la Desertificación (CNULD) y el Centro Común de Investigación (CCI) de la Comisión Europea han presentado la publicación más completa hasta la fecha sobre la sequía en el mundo como una llamada de atención urgente para los líderes mundiales. El Atlas Mundial de la Sequía describe la naturaleza sistémica de los riesgos de sequía en un lenguaje accesible. A través de docenas de mapas, infografías y estudios de casos, ilustra cómo los riesgos de sequía están interconectados entre sectores como la energía, la agricultura, el transporte fluvial y el comercio internacional. También explica cómo y por qué las sequías tienden a desencadenar efectos dominó, alimentando las desigualdades y los conflictos y amenazando la salud pública. La publicación, coproducida con la Fundación de Investigación Cima (Italia), la Universidad Libre de Ámsterdam (Países Bajos) y el Instituto Universitario de Medio Ambiente y Seguridad Humana de las Naciones Unidas (Alemania), llega mientras los 197 Estados miembros de la CNULD, reunidos en Riad, negocian cómo aumentar la resiliencia de la humanidad ante sequías más duras. Las sequías son uno de los peligros más costosos y mortales del mundo y van camino de afectar a 3 de cada 4 personas en 2050. Sin embargo, muchos países y sectores siguen sin prepararse para ellas con las políticas, inversiones e incentivos adecuados. "El Atlas Mundial de la Sequía desafía a los gobiernos, líderes empresariales y responsables políticos de todos los niveles a replantearse radicalmente su forma de tomar decisiones y gestionar el riesgo de sequía", afirmó Ibrahim Thiaw, Secretario Ejecutivo de la CNULD. "Hago un llamamiento a todas las naciones, y en particular a las Partes de la CNULD, para que se tomen en serio las conclusiones del Atlas". En la COP16 de la CNULD, las Partes podrían cambiar el curso de la historia hacia la resiliencia a la sequía. Aprovechemos el momento con el conocimiento de que el Atlas proporciona un camino hacia un futuro más resiliente para todos." El Atlas subraya la necesidad tanto de planes nacionales contra la sequía como de cooperación internacional para mantener a flote las comunidades, las economías y los ecosistemas ante fenómenos cada vez más severos. Además, ofrece orientaciones para la gestión proactiva y prospectiva de la sequía y para la adaptación en todos los niveles de gobernanza y en sectores económicos y sistemas clave. Los efectos de la sequía suelen ser menos visibles y atraer menos atención que fenómenos repentinos, como inundaciones y terremotos. Esto es especialmente cierto en el caso de los efectos sobre los ecosistemas, que tienden a descuidarse en los planes nacionales contra la sequía a pesar de sus efectos devastadores sobre las economías y las comunidades. Sin embargo, las sequías repentinas y severas ----y sus impactos más rápidos y más evidentes---también se están convirtiendo en algo habitual. LO MÁS DESTACADO DEL ATLAS Repercusiones de las sequías provocadas por el ser humano El Atlas Mundial de la Sequía explica cómo el empeoramiento de los riesgos de sequía está relacionado con las actividades humanas y, a continuación, profundiza en los impactos de la sequía en cinco áreas clave: suministro de agua, agricultura, energía hidroeléctrica, navegación interior y ecosistemas. Las sequías pueden reducir la generación de energía hidroeléctrica, provocando un aumento de los precios de la energía o cortes de electricidad, y pueden perturbar el comercio internacional debido a los bajos niveles de agua que dificultan el transporte por vías navegables interiores, como ha ocurrido con el Canal de Panamá. En cuanto a la naturaleza, el Atlas señala que si bien las sequías suponen una amenaza para los ecosistemas, una mayor biodiversidad puede mitigar sus efectos, lo que significa que promover la biodiversidad es importante para aumentar la resiliencia a la sequía y viceversa. El nexo entre alimentos, tierra y agua es otro de los puntos principales del Atlas, ya que la agricultura representa alrededor del 70% del uso de agua dulce en el mundo, y también se ve gravemente afectada por la sequía. La publicación explora cómo los productos agrícolas que llegan a nuestros platos a través de las cadenas de suministro globales pueden empeorar los efectos de las sequías y crear estrés hídrico en los países donde se producen, a través de las llamadas transferencias virtuales de agua. Los pequeños agricultores y los grupos marginados son especialmente vulnerables debido a las disparidades en el acceso al agua y a los recursos necesarios para aumentar la resiliencia ante la sequía. El Atlas también muestra cómo los riesgos de sequía están interconectados y por qué sus efectos se extienden a varios sectores. Los países que dependen de la energía hidroeléctrica para obtener electricidad, por ejemplo, pueden sufrir cortes de electricidad durante las sequías. Si esto ocurre durante una ola de calor, puede provocar hospitalizaciones y muertes, ya que la gente no puede utilizar ventiladores o aire acondicionado para refrescar sus hogares. Lecciones de las últimas sequías El Atlas presenta 21 estudios de casos de todo el mundo, mostrando que ningún país ---sea cual sea su tamaño, PIB o latitud--- es inmune a la sequía y que todos pueden prepararse mejor para ella. Por ejemplo, la publicación destaca los impactos y las lecciones aprendidas de las recientes sequías en las Grandes Llanuras de EE.UU., en la ciudad de Barcelona en España y en la cuenca del río Yangtsé en China, y explora los impactos de la sequía en todo el Corredor Seco de América Central, el subcontinente indio y el Cuerno de África. Otros estudios de casos ponen de relieve las necesidades, recursos y perspectivas específicas de las comunidades indígenas a la hora de prepararse para la sequía. Las sequías han aumentado un 29% desde el año 2000 debido al cambio climático y a la gestión insostenible de la tierra y los recursos hídricos. La ONU considera que la sequía provocada por la actividad humana es una emergencia a escala planetaria, pero señala que los riesgos de sequía pueden atajarse con las medidas, políticas e inversiones adecuadas. Cómo aumentar la resiliencia a la sequía El Atlas describe medidas y vías concretas para gestionar, reducir y adaptarse a los riesgos sistémicos de sequía; subraya los beneficios colaterales de estas acciones para diferentes sectores; y muestra las mejores prácticas de diferentes regiones. Las medidas destacadas en el Atlas se dividen en tres categorías: gobernanza (por ejemplo, sistemas de alerta temprana, microseguros para pequeños agricultores, sistemas de tarificación del uso del agua); gestión del uso del suelo (por ejemplo, restauración de tierras y agrosilvicultura); y gestión del suministro y uso del agua (por ejemplo, reutilización de aguas residuales, gestión de la recarga y conservación de aguas subterráneas). Como se destaca en el Atlas, la Secretaría de la CNULD, sus Comunidades de Aprendizaje y Práctica, la Alianza Internacional para la Resiliencia a la Sequía (IDRA), el Centro Común de Investigación de la Comisión Europea, las redes regionales y mundiales y las instituciones enumeradas en la publicación, así como las propias comunidades, pueden desarrollar y proporcionar los conocimientos, las herramientas y el apoyo necesarios para transformar la ciencia en política y la política en acción para un futuro más resiliente. "El Atlas es un nuevo y poderoso recurso para dar un impulso político a la gestión proactiva del riesgo de sequía antes de la COP16 de la CNULD en Riad. Ya disponemos de los conocimientos y las herramientas para aumentar nuestra resiliencia ante sequías más duras. Ahora es nuestra responsabilidad colectiva, y redunda en nuestro interés, tomar medidas para un futuro resiliente a la sequía", resume el Secretario de Estado de Medio Ambiente de España, que copreside la Alianza Internacional para la Resiliencia a la Sequía (IDRA) junto con Senegal. CITAS: Fundación de Investigación CIMA: "El Atlas Mundial de la Sequía reúne a expertos y profesionales de distintas disciplinas y fronteras para crear una herramienta integral que permita comprender y visualizar los múltiples efectos de la sequía y proponer soluciones sostenibles. Este esfuerzo de colaboración sirve como modelo para la acción política, subrayando que el compromiso colectivo es crucial para construir sociedades resilientes y adaptables", dijo Lauro Rossi, Director de Programas de la Fundación de Investigación CIMA, uno de los coordinadores del Atlas. Marthe Wens, investigadora principal sobre sequías del Instituto de Estudios Ambientales de la Universidad Libre de Ámsterdam: "Las actividades humanas están provocando o agravando las sequías y su impacto en la sociedad. Esto se describe claramente en el Atlas, basándose en la literatura científica y utilizando ejemplos de todo el mundo. También significa que a través de nuestra gestión de la tierra y el agua podemos reducir los impactos de la sequía y aumentar la resiliencia de nuestros sistemas." Shen Xiaomeng, Director del UNU-EHS: "El Atlas Mundial de la Sequía subraya la urgente necesidad de replantearnos cómo percibimos y abordamos los riesgos de sequía en nuestro mundo interconectado. Nos desafía a ir más allá de los parches temporales e imaginar soluciones sistémicas y dinámicas que no solo reduzcan los riesgos de forma integral, sino que también den prioridad a los más vulnerables." Hugo Morán, Secretario de Estado de Medio Ambiente de España, que copreside la Alianza Internacional para la Resiliencia a la Sequía (IDRA): “Las sequías son uno de los mayores retos del siglo XXI. El cambio climático y la gestión insostenible de los recursos terrestres e hídricos las han hecho más frecuentes e intensas, afectando a comunidades y ecosistemas. La COP16 de la CNULD es una oportunidad única para promover las condiciones técnicas, políticas y financieras para hacer frente a las sequías, y el Atlas Mundial de la Sequía representa una herrami’nta clave para apoyar estos esfuerzos". </description> <category>World</category> <category>European Commission - Joint Research Centre</category> <category>UN Convention to Combat Desertification</category> <category>United Nations University</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Disaster Management</category> <category>Water Sanitation Hygiene</category> <category>News and Press Release</category> <category>Drought</category> <author>European Commission - Joint Research Centre</author> <author>UN Convention to Combat Desertification</author> <author>United Nations University</author> </item> <item> <title>Climate finance for resilience is a necessity to counter the ongoing drought in Zambia</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/zambia/climate-finance-resilience-necessity-counter-ongoing-drought-zambia</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/zambia/climate-finance-resilience-necessity-counter-ongoing-drought-zambia</guid> <pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 06:49:20 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Country: Zambia</div> <div class="tag source">Source: International Water Management Institute</div> Estimates of losses in the agriculture and food sector and disease burdens underscore the need for strong policy frameworks, monitoring and management tools. By Avinandan Taron and Surajit Ghosh El Niño is a significant disruptor of weather patterns globally. El Niño is emerging as a critical driver of drought conditions in Zambia that severely impacts agriculture, hydroelectricity, and the socio-economic landscape. The main losses accrue from agriculture livestock, food insecurity, reduced hydroelectricity capacity, and the burden of waterborne diseases. The Zambian government <a href="https://reliefweb.int/node/4068743">estimated</a> that about USD 864-941 million is required to <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://rippleeffect.org/blog/zambia-drought-2024-food-shortages-famine-and-fight-for-survival">mitigate this situation</a>. However, the breakdown of this loss in agriculture, water, food security, and health is imperative for targeted intervention. This would also help in accounting for tradeoffs between sectoral allocation for better management of resources. Through this blog, we tried to estimate the gross distribution of sectoral losses across agriculture, food and disease burdens based on available secondary data. Drought monitoring The recent drought highlighted ongoing challenges of food security. Improving early warning systems and more robust climate adaptation strategies are critical to tackle these challenges. Traditional drought monitoring methods, which rely on ground-based measurements, are often sparse and geographically limited, particularly in countries in the global south. Earth Observation (EO) data and geospatial tools bridge these knowledge gaps due to the global coverage and observations of various biophysical parameters. IWMI’s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11069-024-06976-5">recent study</a> utilizes EO data and cloud platforms like <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.digitalearthafrica.org/">Digital Earth Africa</a> and Google Earth Engine to assess Zambia’s 2023-2024 drought and its causes and impacts on key sectors like agriculture and hydroelectricity. The research was supported by The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust through the Digital Innovations for Water Secure Africa (<a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.iwmi.org/projects/diwasa/">DIWASA</a>) project. EO data such as the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS) data and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) were used to gain critical insights into precipitation anomalies and vegetation health and to calculate key indices like Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), maximum consecutive dry days and rainfall anomaly. The study found that approximately 40% of Zambia experienced drought in 2023-2024. Provinces like Central, Eastern, Southern, Lusaka, and Copperbelt, crucial for maize production, showed severe drought conditions. The study suggests integrating EO data into national drought management plans can enhance monitoring and allow faster data-driven decision-making. Impact assessment The agricultural sector, which is predominantly rain-fed, was severely affected by the drought. The delayed onset of the rainy season, combined with prolonged dry spells, resulted in widespread crop failures. Maize, a staple crop for Zambia, is projected to face a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/zambia/zambia-drought-response-appeal-may-2024-december-2024-may-2024">significant deficit</a> of over 600,000 metric tons. With over 2 million hectares of maize lost during the drought, it can be estimated that the monetary loss is 737 million. This is <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://ipad.fas.usda.gov/countrysummary/default.aspx?id=ZA&amp;crop=Corn">estimated</a> by <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52246331e4b0a46e5f1b8ce5/t/66991670513ea205340f650b/1721308786126/AMO_Price+Tracker_33_May_20240624_for+pdf+archive.pdf">considering</a> that the five-year average yield is 2.5 tons/hectare and the price of maize as USD 300 per ton. The cattle farmers <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.proagrimedia.com/livestock/zambia-faces-severe-drought-crisis-impacting-cattle-feed-availability-are-climate-smart-crops-the-answer/">could face losses</a> of up to USD 2.4 billion, threatening the country’s USD 8 billion livestock and the livelihood of millions. Hydropower, which <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2024-03/1_2_Katongo.pdf">provides 83%</a> of Zambia’s electricity, was impacted as major reservoirs, such as Lake Kariba and Itezhi Tezhi Dam, saw substantial surface water losses. With reduced water levels, Zambia faced a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/zambia/zambia-drought-response-appeal-may-2024-december-2024-may-2024">power deficit</a> of 430 megawatts, resulting in frequent blackouts that disrupted industries, commercial activities and daily life. Zambia has one of the highest rates of malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa. Reduced access to food due to the failed harvest and rising commodity prices is perceived to aggravate the situation, and risk reduction from drought is critical. The loss from food insecurity amounts is estimated to be about USD59 million. This was <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/ebae272c-79d4-42a6-a8ac-3849d7063ce6/content">estimated</a> using the dietary requirement of 1750-2100 kcal/cap/day for the Zambian population, the cost of the diet being USD 1 per day and assuming 30 days of disruption of the diet during the drought period. The droughts have resulted in 3.5 million people losing access to safe water. The recent cholera outbreak resulting in 21,000 affected people and 700 deaths, estimated USD 4.5 million loss in health burden, would further aggravate the health situation of the country. This estimation is based on a loss of 23,179.8 Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and the value of DALY considered as USD 192.3 per DALY. Way forward The above impacts underscore the importance of policy interventions to mitigate drought impacts. Zambia initiated steps towards disaster risk reduction, particularly after the devastating drought of 1992. Initiatives like establishing the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit in 1994 and developing the Zambia National Drought Plan in 2018 have strengthened the country’s capacity to respond to extreme weather events. However, this is not enough; Zambia continues to face the growing threat of climate change, and adopting advanced monitoring and management tools and stronger policy frameworks will be essential to building resilience and ensuring food and energy security for its population. Therefore, there is an urgent call for further sectoral loss and damage estimation with more ground information and for arranging climate finance to address Zambia’s drought. </description> <category>Zambia</category> <category>International Water Management Institute</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Climate Change and Environment</category> <category>Disaster Management</category> <category>News and Press Release</category> <category>Drought</category> <author>International Water Management Institute</author> </item> <item> <title>World: L’Atlas mondial historique de la sécheresse révèle la nature systémique des risques et souligne la nécessité de…</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/world/latlas-mondial-historique-de-la-secheresse-revele-la-nature-systemique-des-risques-et-souligne-la-necessite-de</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/world/latlas-mondial-historique-de-la-secheresse-revele-la-nature-systemique-des-risques-et-souligne-la-necessite-de</guid> <pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 05:31:16 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Country: World</div> <div class="tag source">Sources: European Commission - Joint Research Centre, UN Convention to Combat Desertification, United Nations University</div> L'Atlas est publié alors que les États membres de la CNULD, réunis à Riyad, négocient le premier accord mondial sur la résilience à la sécheresse Riyad, Arabie Saoudite - À l'heure où des sécheresses sans précédent deviennent une nouvelle norme, la Convention des Nations Unies sur la lutte contre la désertification (UNCCD) et le Centre commun de recherche (JRC) de la Commission européenne ont présenté la publication la plus complète à ce jour sur la situation mondiale. la sécheresse comme un signal d’alarme urgent pour les dirigeants du monde. L'Atlas mondial de la sécheresse décrit la nature systémique des risques de sécheresse dans un langage accessible. À travers des dizaines de cartes, d’infographies et d’études de cas, il illustre comment les risques de sécheresse sont interconnectés dans des secteurs tels que l’énergie, l’agriculture, le transport fluvial et le commerce international. Il explique également comment et pourquoi les sécheresses ont tendance à déclencher des effets domino, alimentant les inégalités et les conflits et menaçant la santé publique. La publication, coproduite avec la Fondation de recherche Cima (Italie), l'Université libre d'Amsterdam (Pays-Bas) et l'Institut universitaire des Nations Unies pour l'environnement et la sécurité humaine (Allemagne), arrive alors que les 197 États membres de la CNULCD se réunissent. à Riyad, négocier les moyens d'accroître la résilience de l'humanité face à des sécheresses plus sévères. Les sécheresses sont l'un des risques les plus coûteux et les plus meurtriers au monde, et elles sont en passe de toucher 3 personnes sur 4 d'ici 2050. Pourtant, de nombreux pays et secteurs ne sont pas préparés à y faire face, avec les politiques, investissements et incitations appropriés. « L'Atlas mondial de la sécheresse met les gouvernements, les chefs d'entreprise et les décideurs politiques à tous les niveaux au défi de repenser radicalement la façon dont ils prennent des décisions et gèrent les risques de sécheresse », a déclaré Ibrahim Thiaw, secrétaire exécutif de la CNULD. " J'appelle toutes les nations, et en particulier les parties à la Convention, à prendre au sérieux les conclusions de l'Atlas. " Lors de la COP16 de la CNULD, les Parties pourraient changer le cours de l’histoire vers la résilience à la sécheresse. Saisissons ce moment en sachant que l'Atlas ouvre la voie à un avenir plus résilient pour tous. » L'Atlas souligne la nécessité de plans nationaux de lutte contre la sécheresse et de coopération internationale pour maintenir les communautés, les économies et les écosystèmes à flot face à des phénomènes de plus en plus graves. En outre, il fournit des orientations pour une gestion proactive et prospective de la sécheresse et une adaptation à tous les niveaux de gouvernance et dans les secteurs et systèmes économiques clés. Les effets de la sécheresse sont souvent moins visibles et attirent moins l’attention que les événements soudains tels que les inondations et les tremblements de terre. Cela est particulièrement vrai pour les effets sur les écosystèmes, qui ont tendance à être négligés dans les plans nationaux de lutte contre la sécheresse malgré leurs effets dévastateurs sur les économies et les communautés. Cependant, les sécheresses soudaines et graves, ainsi que leurs impacts plus rapides et plus évidents, deviennent également monnaie courante. FAITS SAILLANTS DE L'ATLAS Impacts des sécheresses d'origine humaine L'Atlas mondial de la sécheresse explique comment l'aggravation des risques de sécheresse est liée aux activités humaines, puis examine les impacts de la sécheresse dans cinq domaines clés : l'approvisionnement en eau, l'agriculture, l'hydroélectricité, la navigation intérieure et les écosystèmes. Les sécheresses peuvent réduire la production d’hydroélectricité, provoquant une hausse des prix de l’énergie ou des pannes d’électricité, et peuvent perturber le commerce international en raison des faibles niveaux d’eau qui rendent difficile le transport sur les voies navigables intérieures, comme cela s’est produit avec le canal de Panama. Concernant la nature, l'Atlas note que même si les sécheresses constituent une menace pour les écosystèmes, une plus grande biodiversité peut atténuer leurs effets, ce qui signifie que la promotion de la biodiversité est importante pour accroître la résilience à la sécheresse et vice versa. Le lien entre la nourriture, la terre et l'eau est un autre des principaux points de l'Atlas, car l'agriculture représente environ 70 % de la consommation mondiale d'eau douce et est également gravement touchée par la sécheresse. La publication explore comment les produits agricoles qui arrivent dans nos assiettes via les chaînes d’approvisionnement mondiales peuvent aggraver les effets des sécheresses et créer un stress hydrique dans les pays où ils sont produits, grâce à ce que l’on appelle les transferts d’eau virtuels. Les petits exploitants agricoles et les groupes marginalisés sont particulièrement vulnérables en raison des disparités dans l’accès à l’eau et aux ressources nécessaires pour renforcer la résilience face à la sécheresse. L'Atlas montre également comment les risques de sécheresse sont interconnectés et pourquoi ses effets s'étendent à différents secteurs. Les pays qui dépendent de l’hydroélectricité pour leur électricité, par exemple, peuvent connaître des pannes de courant en cas de sécheresse. Si cela se produit pendant une vague de chaleur, cela peut entraîner des hospitalisations et des décès, car les gens ne peuvent pas utiliser de ventilateurs ou de climatisation pour rafraîchir leur maison. Les leçons des récentes sécheresses L'Atlas présente 21 études de cas provenant du monde entier, montrant qu'aucun pays, quels que soient sa taille, son PIB ou sa latitude, n'est à l'abri de la sécheresse et que chacun peut mieux s'y préparer. Par exemple, la publication met en évidence les impacts et les leçons tirées des récentes sécheresses dans les grandes plaines américaines, dans la ville de Barcelone en Espagne et dans le bassin du fleuve Yangtze en Chine, et explore les impacts de la sécheresse dans l'ensemble du corridor sec d'Amérique centrale. le sous-continent indien et la Corne de l’Afrique. D'autres études de cas mettent en évidence les besoins, les ressources et les perspectives spécifiques des communautés autochtones lorsqu'elles se préparent à la sécheresse. Les sécheresses ont augmenté de 29 % depuis 2000 en raison du changement climatique et d'une gestion non durable des ressources terrestres et en eau. L'ONU considère la sécheresse causée par l'activité humaine comme une urgence mondiale, mais souligne que les risques de sécheresse peuvent être traités par des mesures, des politiques et des investissements appropriés. Comment accroître la résilience à la sécheresse L'Atlas décrit des mesures et des voies concrètes pour gérer, réduire et s'adapter aux risques systémiques de sécheresse ; souligne les bénéfices collatéraux de ces actions pour différents secteurs; et présente les meilleures pratiques de différentes régions. Les mesures mises en évidence dans l'Atlas sont divisées en trois catégories : gouvernance (par exemple, systèmes d'alerte précoce, micro-assurance pour les petits agriculteurs, systèmes de tarification de l'utilisation de l'eau) ; gestion de l’utilisation des terres (par exemple restauration des terres et agroforesterie) ; et la gestion de l’approvisionnement et de l’utilisation de l’eau (par exemple, réutilisation des eaux usées, gestion de la recharge et conservation des eaux souterraines). Comme le souligne l'Atlas, le Secrétariat de la CNULD, ses communautés d'apprentissage et de pratique, l'Alliance internationale pour la résilience à la sécheresse (IDRA), le Centre commun de recherche de la Commission européenne, les réseaux et institutions régionaux et mondiaux répertoriés dans la publication, ainsi que les communautés elles-mêmes. , peut développer et fournir les connaissances, les outils et le soutien nécessaires pour transformer la science en politique et la politique en action pour un avenir plus résilient. « L'Atlas est une nouvelle ressource puissante pour donner un élan politique à la gestion proactive des risques de sécheresse en amont de la COP16 de la CNULCD à Riyad. Nous disposons déjà des connaissances et des outils nécessaires pour accroître notre résilience face à des sécheresses plus graves. Il est désormais de notre responsabilité collective, et elle est dans notre intérêt de prendre des mesures pour un avenir résilient à la sécheresse", résume le secrétaire d'État espagnol à l'Environnement, qui co-préside l'Alliance internationale pour la résilience à la sécheresse (IDRA) avec Sénégal. CITATIONS: Fondation de recherche CIMA : « L'Atlas mondial de la sécheresse rassemble des experts et des professionnels de différentes disciplines et frontières pour créer un outil complet qui nous permet de comprendre et de visualiser les multiples effets de la sécheresse et de proposer des solutions durables. Cet effort de collaboration sert de modèle pour les politiques action, soulignant que l'engagement collectif est crucial pour construire des sociétés résilientes et adaptables », a déclaré Lauro Rossi, directeur des programmes à la Fondation de recherche CIMA, l'un des coordinateurs de l'Atlas. Marthe Wens, chercheuse principale sur la sécheresse à l'Institut d'études environnementales de l'Université libre d'Amsterdam : « Les activités humaines provoquent ou aggravent les sécheresses et leur impact sur la société. Ceci est clairement décrit dans l'Atlas, sur la base de la littérature scientifique et en utilisant des exemples du monde entier. le monde. Cela signifie également que grâce à notre gestion des terres et de l’eau, nous pouvons réduire les impacts de la sécheresse et accroître la résilience de nos systèmes. » Shen Xiaomeng, directeur de l'UNU-EHS : « L'Atlas mondial de la sécheresse souligne le besoin urgent de repenser la façon dont nous percevons et traitons les risques de sécheresse dans notre monde interconnecté. Il nous met au défi d'aller au-delà des correctifs temporaires et d'imaginer des solutions systémiques et des « dynamiques qui non seulement réduire les risques de manière globale, mais aussi donner la priorité aux plus vulnérables. » Hugo Morán, secrétaire d'État espagnol à l'Environnement, qui copréside l'Alliance internationale pour la résilience à la sécheresse (IDRA) : « Les sécheresses sont l'un des plus grands défis du 21e siècle. Le changement climatique et la gestion non durable des ressources terrestres et en eau les ont rendus plus fréquents et plus intenses, affectant les communautés et les écosystèmes. La COP16 de la CNULD constitue une occasion unique de faire progresser les conditions techniques, politiques et financières nécessaires pour lutter contre les sécheresses, et l'Atlas mondial de la sécheresse représente un outil clé pour soutenir ces efforts. NOTES Lancement: <ul><li>A Riyad : « Dialogue ministériel sur la résilience à la sécheresse : De Genève à Riyad et au-delà, renforcer les instruments politiques mondiaux et nationaux pour une approche proactive de la gestion de la sécheresse » 15h00 Riyad (GMT+3), Salle de la Grande Commission.</li> <li>En ligne : <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://webtv.un.org/en">une WebTV</a> </li> </ul>L'Atlas mondial complet de la sécheresse sera bientôt disponible en anglais sur le site de la CNULCD <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.unccd.int/resources/publications/world-drought-atlas">: https://www.unccd.int/resources/publications/world-drought-atlas</a> Demandes de presse : press@unccd.int , cc gpallares@unccd.int et terrycollins1@gmail.com Réseaux sociaux : <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjIASLL78Jk">@UNCCD </a> <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjIASLL78Jk">#UNCCDCOP16 (</a> Primaire) #COP16Riyad (Secondaire) À propos de la CNULD La Convention des Nations Unies sur la lutte contre la désertification (UNCCD) est le seul accord international juridiquement contraignant sur la bonne gestion des terres. Aide les communautés et les pays à créer de la richesse et à garantir une alimentation nutritive, de l’eau potable et de l’énergie grâce à une gestion durable des terres. Grâce à des partenariats, les 197 parties à la Convention établissent également des systèmes solides pour gérer de manière proactive les risques de sécheresse. Une bonne gestion des terres, fondée sur des politiques et des données scientifiques solides, contribue à intégrer et à accélérer la réalisation des objectifs de développement durable, augmente la résilience au changement climatique et prévient la perte de biodiversité. À propos du Centre commun de recherche de la Commission européenne : Le Centre commun de recherche (JRC) de la Commission européenne joue un rôle clé dans plusieurs phases du cycle politique de l'UE, en fournissant des données scientifiques et des connaissances indépendantes et fondées sur des preuves pour soutenir les politiques de l'UE afin d'avoir un impact positif sur la société. Le JRC collabore étroitement avec d'autres services de la Commission, des institutions et agences de l'UE, ainsi qu'avec des partenaires scientifiques et des organisations politiques européennes et internationales, en fournissant des connaissances et des compétences scientifiques dans un large éventail de disciplines scientifiques. À propos de la Fondation de recherche CIMA La Fondation de Recherche CIMA est un centre d'excellence international dédié à l'étude et à la gestion des risques météorologiques. Fondée en Italie en 2007, CIMA est un organisme de recherche qui combine recherche scientifique, technologie appliquée et développement des capacités en matière de réduction des risques de catastrophe. Largement reconnue pour ses contributions innovantes aux systèmes d'alerte précoce et d'évaluation des risques, la CIMA collabore avec des organisations internationales telles que le système des Nations Unies, la Banque mondiale, la Commission européenne et les gouvernements nationaux, en fournissant un soutien scientifique et technique à des projets dans des régions vulnérables, telles que. comme l'Afrique, l'Amérique du Sud et les Caraïbes, l'Asie du Sud-Est et la Méditerranée. Grâce à son approche interdisciplinaire intégrant les sciences techniques et sociales, CIMA construit des ponts entre la recherche et l’application pratique. Leurs solutions scientifiquement fondées et exploitables répondent aux défis du monde réel grâce à des stratégies fondées sur des preuves. À propos de l'Université libre d'Amsterdam : La Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam est une université unique aux Pays-Bas dotée de facultés de sciences humaines, STEM, sciences sociales et sciences médicales. L'Institut d'études environnementales (IVM) fait partie du VU. L'IVM est le plus ancien institut de recherche environnementale des Pays-Bas (fondé en 1971) et actuellement l'un des principaux instituts mondiaux en matière de sciences du développement durable. L’IVM œuvre à l’avant-garde des débats scientifiques et sociaux actuels pour contribuer à une planète plus durable. À travers des recherches multidisciplinaires, interdisciplinaires et transdisciplinaires visant à trouver des solutions, les chercheurs de l’IVM visent à comprendre la complexité du monde et à apporter des solutions. Ils étudient les processus hydrologiques et climatiques et la manière dont ces processus entraînent des risques et des opportunités pour la société, l'économie et l'environnement. Le groupe IVM Drought Risk développe de nouvelles méthodologies et des résultats pertinents pour les politiques sur les thèmes de l’analyse des risques de sécheresse et de l’adaptation à la sécheresse. À propos de l'UNU-EHS : L'Université des Nations Unies est le groupe de réflexion mondial des Nations Unies. L'Institut pour l'environnement et la sécurité humaine (Bonn, Allemagne) se concentre sur la promotion de la sécurité et du bien-être humains en réduisant les risques actuels et futurs liés aux dangers environnementaux et au changement climatique. Ses principaux domaines de travail sont le risque, l'adaptation et la transformation. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://unu.edu/ehs">https://unu.edu/ehs</a> À propos de l’IDRA <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://idralliance.global./">L' Alliance internationale pour la résilience</a> à la sécheresse (IDRA) est la première coalition mondiale à créer une dynamique politique et à mobiliser des ressources financières et techniques pour un avenir résilient à la sécheresse <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://idralliance.global./">.</a> En tant que plateforme croissante regroupant plus de 30 pays et 20 institutions, l’IDRA exploite les forces collectives de ses membres pour promouvoir des politiques, des actions et le développement des capacités en matière de préparation à la sécheresse, reconnaissant que nous sommes aussi résilients à la sécheresse et au changement climatique que notre planète. Le travail de l'IDRA est aligné et soutient le mandat de la Convention des Nations Unies sur la lutte contre la désertification (UNCCD), hébergée par le Secrétariat de l'IDRA. L'Atlas est disponible pour les médias sur <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/4g2VvPF">https://bit.ly/4g2VvPF</a> Cartes sélectionnées : <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3CK4oz7">https://bit.ly/3CK4oz7</a> </description> <category>World</category> <category>European Commission - Joint Research Centre</category> <category>UN Convention to Combat Desertification</category> <category>United Nations University</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Disaster Management</category> <category>Water Sanitation Hygiene</category> <category>News and Press Release</category> <category>Drought</category> <author>European Commission - Joint Research Centre</author> <author>UN Convention to Combat Desertification</author> <author>United Nations University</author> </item> <item> <title>World: Atlas mondial des sécheresses : Un rapport de référence révèle la nature systémique des risques liés aux…</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/world/atlas-mondial-des-secheresses-un-rapport-de-reference-revele-la-nature-systemique-des-risques-lies-aux</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/world/atlas-mondial-des-secheresses-un-rapport-de-reference-revele-la-nature-systemique-des-risques-lies-aux</guid> <pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 05:29:44 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Country: World</div> <div class="tag source">Sources: European Commission - Joint Research Centre, UN Convention to Combat Desertification, United Nations University</div> Atlas lancé alors que les États membres de la CNULCD, réunis à Riyad, négocient des efforts pour renforcer la résilience face à la sécheresse Riyad, Arabie Saoudite — Alors que les sécheresses records deviennent une nouvelle norme dans le monde, la Convention des Nations Unies sur la Lutte contre la Désertification (CNULCD) et le Centre Commun de Recherche (CCR) de la Commission européenne lancent la publication mondiale la plus complète sur les risques liés aux sécheresses et les solutions possibles, un appel urgent à l’action pour les dirigeants et citoyens du monde entier. L’Atlas mondial des sécheresses décrit la nature systémique des risques de sécheresse pour des publics spécialisés et non spécialisés. À travers des dizaines de cartes, d’infographies et d’études de cas, il montre comment les risques de sécheresse sont interconnectés dans des secteurs tels que l’énergie, l’agriculture, le transport fluvial et le commerce international, et comment ils peuvent déclencher des effets en cascade, exacerbant les inégalités et les conflits, tout en menaçant la santé publique. Co-produit avec la Fondation de Recherche CIMA (Italie), l’Université Libre d’Amsterdam (Pays-Bas) et l’Institut des Nations Unies pour l’Environnement et la Sécurité Humaine (Allemagne), cette publication intervient alors que les 197 États membres de la CNULCD, réunis à Riyad, négocient des moyens de renforcer la résilience de l’humanité face à des sécheresses plus sévères. Les sécheresses figurent parmi les catastrophes les plus coûteuses et meurtrières au monde et devraient affecter trois personnes sur quatre d’ici 2050. Cependant, de nombreux pays et secteurs échouent encore à se préparer adéquatement, faute d’actions, de politiques, d’investissements et d’incitations appropriés. « L’Atlas mondial des sécheresses invite les gouvernements, les dirigeants d’entreprises et les décideurs à tous les niveaux à repenser radicalement leurs décisions et leur gestion des risques liés à la sécheresse », a déclaré Ibrahim Thiaw, Secrétaire exécutif de la CNULCD. « J’appelle toutes les nations, et en particulier les Parties à la CNULCD, à prendre au sérieux les conclusions de l’Atlas. Lors de la COP16 de la CNULCD, les Parties pourraient changer le cours de l’histoire vers une résilience face à la sécheresse. Saisissons cette occasion avec la conviction que l’Atlas offre une voie vers un avenir plus résilient pour tous. » L’Atlas souligne la nécessité de plans nationaux de gestion des sécheresses et d’une coopération internationale pour maintenir les communautés, les économies et les écosystèmes à flot face à des événements plus sévères. Il offre également des orientations pour une gestion proactive et prospective des sécheresses, avec des solutions adaptées à divers secteurs et niveaux de gouvernance. Les impacts des sécheresses sont généralement moins visibles et attirent moins l’attention que les événements soudains tels que les inondations ou les tremblements de terre. Cela est particulièrement vrai pour les effets sur les écosystèmes, souvent négligés dans les plans nationaux de sécheresse, malgré leurs impacts dévastateurs sur les économies et les communautés. Cependant, les sécheresses à déclenchement rapide, connues sous le nom de « sécheresses éclair », les sécheresses plus intenses — ainsi que leurs impacts plus apparents — deviennent également monnaie courante. APERÇUS CLÉS DE L’ATLAS Impacts des sécheresses causées par l’homme L’Atlas mondial des sécheresses explique comment l’aggravation des risques de sécheresse est liée aux activités humaines, puis explore les impacts de la sécheresse dans cinq domaines clés : l’approvisionnement en eau, l’agriculture, l’hydroélectricité, la navigation intérieure et les écosystèmes. Les sécheresses peuvent réduire la production hydroélectrique, entraînant une hausse des prix de l’énergie ou des coupures de courant, et perturber le commerce international en raison de faibles niveaux d’eau qui entravent le transport fluvial, comme cela a été observé avec le canal de Panama. Sur le plan environnemental, l’Atlas souligne que, bien que les sécheresses représentent une menace pour les écosystèmes, une plus grande biodiversité peut atténuer leurs impacts. Cela signifie que promouvoir la biodiversité est essentiel pour renforcer la résilience face à la sécheresse et vice versa. Le nexus alimentation-terre-eau constitue un autre point central de l’Atlas, puisque l’agriculture représente environ 70 % de l’utilisation mondiale d’eau douce et est également gravement affectée par les sécheresses. La publication examine comment les produits agricoles qui arrivent dans nos assiettes via les chaînes d’approvisionnement mondiales peuvent aggraver les effets des sécheresses et créer des tensions hydriques dans les pays où ils sont produits à travers les transferts d’eau virtuelle. Les petits agriculteurs et les groupes marginalisés sont particulièrement vulnérables en raison des disparités dans l’accès à l’eau et aux ressources nécessaires pour renforcer leur résilience face à la sécheresse. L’Atlas montre également comment les risques de sécheresse sont interconnectés et pourquoi leurs effets s’étendent à plusieurs secteurs. Les pays qui dépendent de l’hydroélectricité pour leur électricité, par exemple, peuvent subir des coupures de courant pendant les sécheresses. Si cela se produit lors d’une vague de chaleur, cela peut entraîner des hospitalisations et des décès, car les gens ne peuvent pas utiliser de ventilateurs ou de climatiseurs pour rafraîchir leurs habitations. Leçons tirées des récentes sécheresses L’Atlas présente 21 études de cas à travers le monde, soulignant qu’aucun pays – quelle que soit sa taille, son PIB ou sa latitude – n’est à l’abri des sécheresses et que tous peuvent mieux s’y préparer. Par exemple, la publication met en lumière les impacts et les leçons tirées des récentes sécheresses dans les Grandes Plaines des États-Unis, dans la ville de Barcelone en Espagne, et dans le bassin du fleuve Yangtze en Chine. Elle explore également les impacts des sécheresses dans le couloir sec d’Amérique centrale, sur le sous-continent indien et dans la Corne de l’Afrique. D’autres études de cas mettent en évidence les besoins, les ressources et les perspectives spécifiques des communautés autochtones en matière de préparation aux sécheresses. Les sécheresses ont augmenté de 29 % depuis l’an 2000 en raison du changement climatique et de la gestion non durable des terres et des ressources en eau. Les Nations Unies considèrent les sécheresses d’origine humaine comme une urgence à l’échelle planétaire, mais notent que les risques liés à la sécheresse peuvent être maîtrisés grâce à des actions, des politiques et des investissements appropriés. Comment renforcer la résilience face à la sécheresse L’Atlas décrit des mesures concrètes et des voies à suivre pour gérer, réduire et s’adapter aux risques systémiques liés aux sécheresses. Il met en avant les co-bénéfices de ces actions pour différents secteurs et présente des pratiques exemplaires issues de différentes régions. Les mesures mises en évidence dans l’Atlas se répartissent en trois catégories : la gouvernance (par exemple, les systèmes d’alerte précoce, la microassurance pour les petits exploitants agricoles, les mécanismes de tarification pour l’usage de l’eau), la gestion de l’utilisation des terres (par exemple, la restauration des terres et l’agroforesterie) et la gestion de l’approvisionnement et de l’utilisation de l’eau (par exemple, la réutilisation des eaux usées, la recharge gérée des nappes phréatiques et leur conservation). Comme le souligne l’Atlas, le Secrétariat de la CNULCD, ses Communautés d’Apprentissage et de Pratique, l’Alliance Internationale pour la Résilience face à la Sécheresse (IDRA), le Centre Commun de Recherche de la Commission Européenne, les réseaux régionaux et mondiaux, ainsi que les institutions partenaires mentionnées dans la publication et les communautés elles-mêmes, peuvent développer et fournir les connaissances, outils et soutiens nécessaires pour transformer la science en politiques et les politiques en actions concrètes pour la résilience face à la sécheresse dès aujourd’hui. « L’Atlas est une ressource puissante pour créer un élan politique en faveur d’une gestion proactive des risques de sécheresse avant la COP16 de la CNULCD à Riyad. Nous disposons déjà des connaissances et des outils nécessaires pour renforcer notre résilience face à des sécheresses plus sévères. C’est désormais notre responsabilité collective, et dans notre meilleur intérêt, de prendre des mesures pour un avenir résilient face à la sécheresse », résume le Secrétaire d’État espagnol à l’Environnement, qui co-préside l’Alliance Internationale pour la Résilience face à la Sécheresse (IDRA) avec le Sénégal. CITATIONS: Fondation de Recherche CIMA : « L’Atlas mondial des sécheresses réunit des experts et des praticiens de différentes disciplines et régions pour créer un outil complet permettant de comprendre et de visualiser les impacts multifacettes de la sécheresse tout en proposant des solutions durables. Cet effort collaboratif constitue un modèle pour l’action politique, soulignant que l’engagement collectif est crucial pour construire des sociétés résilientes et adaptatives », a déclaré Lauro Rossi, directeur de programme à la Fondation de Recherche CIMA, l’un des coordinateurs de l’Atlas. Marthe Wens, chercheuse senior sur les sécheresses à l’Institut d’Études Environnementales de l’Université Libre d’Amsterdam : « Les activités humaines sont à l’origine des sécheresses ou exacerbent leurs impacts sur la société. Cela est clairement illustré dans l’Atlas, basé sur la littérature scientifique et des exemples provenant du monde entier. Cela signifie également qu’à travers notre gestion des terres et de l’eau, nous avons la capacité de réduire les impacts des sécheresses et d’accroître la résilience de nos systèmes. » Shen Xiaomeng, directrice de l’UNU-EHS : « L’Atlas mondial des sécheresses souligne l’urgence de repenser notre perception et notre approche des risques liés à la sécheresse dans un monde interconnecté. Il nous pousse à aller au-delà des solutions temporaires et à imaginer des réponses systémiques et dynamiques qui réduisent non seulement les risques de manière globale, mais qui priorisent également les plus vulnérables. » Hugo Morán, secrétaire d’État espagnol à l’Environnement, qui co-préside l’Alliance Internationale pour la Résilience face à la Sécheresse (IDRA) : « Les sécheresses figurent parmi les plus grands défis du 21e siècle. Le changement climatique et la gestion non durable des terres et des ressources en eau les rendent plus fréquentes et plus intenses, affectant les communautés et les écosystèmes. La COP16 de la CNULCD est une opportunité unique pour renforcer les conditions techniques, politiques et financières afin de faire face aux sécheresses, et l’Atlas mondial des sécheresses constitue un instrument clé pour soutenir ces efforts. » NOTES Lancement : ● À Riyad : « Dialogue ministériel sur la résilience face à la sécheresse : De Genève à Riyad et au-delà, renforcer les instruments politiques mondiaux et nationaux pour une approche proactive de gestion de la sécheresse ». 15h Riyad (GMT+3), Salle principale du Comité ● En ligne : <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://webtv.un.org/en">UN WebTV</a> L'Atlas mondial des sécheresses complet sera bientôt disponible en anglais sur le site web de la CNULCD : <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.unccd.int/resources/publications/world-drought-atlas">https://www.unccd.int/resources/publications/world-drought-atlas</a> Demandes médias : press@unccd.int , cc gpallares@unccd.int et terrycollins1@gmail.com Médias sociaux : <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjIASLL78Jk">@UNCCD</a> <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjIASLL78Jk">#UNCCDCOP16</a> (Principal) #COP16Riyadh (Secondaire) À propos de la CNULCD La Convention des Nations Unies sur la Lutte contre la Désertification (CNULCD) est le seul accord international juridiquement contraignant sur la gestion durable des terres. Elle soutient les communautés et les pays dans la création de richesse et la sécurisation de la nourriture nutritive, de l'eau propre et de l'énergie à travers une gestion durable des terres. Grâce à des partenariats, les 197 parties de la Convention mettent également en place des systèmes robustes pour gérer proactivement les risques de sécheresse. Une gestion responsable des terres, fondée sur des politiques et des sciences solides, contribue à intégrer et à accélérer la réalisation des Objectifs de Développement Durable, renforce la résilience face au changement climatique et prévient la perte de biodiversité. À propos du Centre Commun de Recherche (CCR) de la Commission Européenne Le Centre Commun de Recherche (CCR) de la Commission Européenne joue un rôle clé à différentes étapes du cycle des politiques de l'UE en fournissant des connaissances scientifiques indépendantes et basées sur des preuves, soutenant les politiques de l'UE pour avoir un impact positif sur la société. Le CCR travaille en étroite collaboration avec d’autres départements de la Commission, des institutions et agences de l’UE, ainsi qu’avec des partenaires scientifiques et des organisations politiques en Europe et à l’international, offrant une expertise scientifique et des compétences provenant d’une large gamme de disciplines scientifiques. À propos de la Fondation de Recherche CIMA La Fondation de Recherche CIMA est un centre d'excellence international dédié à l'étude et à la gestion des risques liés aux conditions climatiques. Fondée en Italie en 2007, CIMA est une organisation de recherche qui combine la recherche scientifique, la technologie appliquée et le développement des capacités pour la réduction des risques de catastrophes. Reconnu pour ses contributions innovantes aux systèmes d'alerte précoce et à l'évaluation des risques, CIMA collabore avec des organisations internationales comme le système des Nations Unies, la Banque mondiale, la Commission Européenne et les gouvernements nationaux, fournissant un soutien scientifique et technique pour des projets dans des régions vulnérables, y compris en Afrique, en Amérique du Sud et dans les Caraïbes, en Asie du Sud-Est et en Méditerranée. Grâce à son approche interdisciplinaire qui intègre les sciences techniques et sociales, CIMA comble le fossé entre la recherche et l’application pratique. Ses solutions fondées sur des données scientifiques et applicables répondent aux défis du monde réel avec des stratégies basées sur des preuves. À propos de l’Université Libre d’Amsterdam (Vrije Universiteit) L’Université Libre d’Amsterdam (VU) est une université unique aux Pays-Bas avec des facultés dans les sciences humaines, les sciences, la technologie, les sciences sociales et les sciences médicales. L’Institut des Études Environnementales (IVM) fait partie de la VU. L’IVM est le plus ancien institut de recherche environnementale des Pays-Bas (créé en 1971) et l'un des principaux instituts mondiaux dans le domaine des sciences de la durabilité. L'IVM travaille à l'avant-garde des débats scientifiques et sociétaux actuels pour contribuer à un avenir plus durable. À travers des recherches solutionnistes, multi-, inter- et transdisciplinaires, les chercheurs de l'IVM cherchent à comprendre la complexité du monde et à proposer des solutions. Ils étudient les processus hydrologiques et climatiques, ainsi que la manière dont ces processus entraînent des risques et des opportunités pour la société, l'économie et l'environnement. Le groupe Risque de Sécheresse de l’IVM développe de nouvelles méthodologies et des résultats pertinents pour les politiques sur les thèmes de l’analyse des risques de sécheresse et de l’adaptation aux sécheresses. À propos de l’UNU-EHS : L’Université des Nations Unies est le think tank mondial des Nations Unies. L’Institut pour l’Environnement et la Sécurité Humaine (Bonn, Allemagne) se concentre sur l’avancement de la sécurité humaine et du bien-être en réduisant les risques actuels et futurs liés aux dangers environnementaux et au changement climatique. Ses principaux domaines d’intervention sont les risques et l’adaptation, ainsi que la transformation. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://unu.edu/ehs">https://unu.edu/ehs</a> À propos de l’IDRA : <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://idralliance.global./">L’Alliance Internationale pour la Résilience face à la Sécheresse</a> (IDRA) est la première coalition mondiale à créer un élan politique et à mobiliser des ressources financières et techniques pour un avenir résilient face à la sécheresse. En tant que plateforme croissante de plus de 30 pays et 20 institutions, l’IDRA puise dans les forces collectives de ses membres pour faire avancer les politiques, les actions et le renforcement des capacités pour la préparation à la sécheresse, tout en reconnaissant que notre résilience à la sécheresse et au changement climatique est uniquement aussi forte que celle de nos terres. Le travail de l’IDRA est aligné avec, et soutient, le mandat de la Convention des Nations Unies sur la Lutte contre la Désertification (CNULCD), qui accueille le Secrétariat de l’IDRA. </description> <category>World</category> <category>European Commission - Joint Research Centre</category> <category>UN Convention to Combat Desertification</category> <category>United Nations University</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Disaster Management</category> <category>Water Sanitation Hygiene</category> <category>News and Press Release</category> <category>Drought</category> <author>European Commission - Joint Research Centre</author> <author>UN Convention to Combat Desertification</author> <author>United Nations University</author> </item> <item> <title>World: UN conference: Stop treating land like dirt</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/world/un-conference-stop-treating-land-dirt</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/world/un-conference-stop-treating-land-dirt</guid> <pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 01:09:25 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Country: World</div> <div class="tag source">Source: World Meteorological Organization</div> A major UN conference takes place from 2 to 13 December under the theme “Our Land. Our Future,” to advance global efforts to combat land degradation, desertification and drought. The Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and brings together representatives of nearly 200 governments, civil society and leading experts. It is the first time it is held in the Middle East and North Africa region, which knows first-hand the impacts of desertification, land degradation and drought. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.unccd.int/cop16">UNCCD COP 16</a> is being billed as the largest UN land conference to date and an opportunity to raise global ambition and accelerate action on land and drought resilience. WMO will present the main conclusions and recommendations of its recent drought resilience conference at the two-week session. It will also showcase progress in warnings and forecasts of sand and dust storms and highlight the need for greater international cooperation against this major environmental and health hazard. “We depend on land for our survival,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “Yet we treat it like dirt.” The global area impacted by land degradation – approx. 15 million km², more than the entire continent of Antarctica or nearly the size of Russia – is expanding each year by about a million square km. A <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.unccd.int/news-stories/press-releases/planetary-boundaries-confronting-global-crisis-land-degradation">new scientific report issued by UNCCD</a> for the opening day of the conference charts an urgent course correction for how the world grows food and uses land. “If we fail to acknowledge the pivotal role of land and take appropriate action, the consequences will ripple through every aspect of life and extend well into the future, intensifying difficulties for future generations,” said UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw. Agriculture accounts for 23% of greenhouse gas emissions, 80% of deforestation, 70% of freshwater use. Already today, land degradation disrupts food security, drives migration, and fuels conflicts. <h2>Drought resilience</h2> Droughts are hitting more often and harder all over the world – up by 29 per cent since 2000 – driven or amplified by climate change but also the way we manage our land. Sustainable land management is the key to building resilience to drought. At COP16, the WMO delegation will therefore highlight that food and water insecurity go hand in hand and must be tackled together by strengthening preparedness for drought. “We need sustainable solutions, based on scientific knowledge and tailored policies that promote integrated drought management practices and policies. We have the knowledge and the tools but we all too often lack the necessary political will and financial investment to build drought-resilient societies,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. According to the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://wmo.int/publication-series/state-of-global-water-resources-2023">State of Global Water Resources 2023 Report</a>, droughts are becoming more intense and frequent due to changes in the hydrological cycle. 2023 marked the driest year for global rivers and streamflow levels in more than three decades of record-keeping — an alarming signal of critical changes in water availability. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.unccd.int/cop16/programme/resilience-day#:~:text=Resilience%20Day%20at%20UNCCD%20COP16,water%20availability%2C%20biodiversity%20and%20livelihoods">Resilience Day</a> at UNCCD COP16 (10 December 2024) will focus on accelerating action to strengthen resilience against escalating threats from land degradation, desertification, drought, water scarcity and sand and dust storms. WMO will showcase the outcomes of September’s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.droughtmanagement.info/hmndp10/">Drought Resilience +10 Conference</a>. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/major-international-drought-conference-seeks-increase-resilience">Key conclusions and recommendations from the drought resilience +10 Conference include</a>: <ul><li>Strengthen international collaboration on drought risks and align resilience-building efforts across frameworks like the Paris Agreement, Sendai Framework, and Sustainable Development Goals.</li> <li>Drought risk management needs to transition to an integrated systems approach, incorporating sustainable land management and integrated water resources management into national and regional drought policies.</li> <li>Tailor drought monitoring, assessment, forecasting, and early warning systems according to national and sectoral needs in an inclusive manner, addressing also cascading impacts and fast-moving flash droughts while integrating local knowledge.</li> <li>Mobilize resources and political will, enhance coordination, and operationalize national drought plans, following the principles of integrated drought management at national, regional, and global levels through a whole-of-society approach.</li> <li>Prioritize ecosystems in drought resilience strategies, and incorporate nature-based solutions, since the co-benefits of biodiversity enhancement and climate mitigation can help leverage political will and investment.</li> <li>Adopt intersectoral, gender-responsive, and whole-of-society approaches in National drought policies while integrating local knowledge and promoting climate justice.</li> <li>Intensify financial flows for drought resilience by leveraging private sector engagement and innovative funding mechanisms, while emphasizing youth-friendly funding and strategies based on the business potential of drought mitigation measures.</li> <li>Foster cross-sector partnerships and encourage new collaborative approaches to enhance trust and innovation.</li> <li>Enhance knowledge on drought’s health impacts to enable public health preparedness, ultimately strengthening resilience and reducing healthcare expenditures.</li> </ul><h2>UNCCD COP16 Ambitions</h2> Healthy land can accelerate the achievement of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Optimizing how land is used and managed across the landscape can contribute to climate and biodiversity targets, close the food gap, and promote human health and wellbeing. At COP16, countries are expected to decide on collective actions to: <ul><li>accelerate restoration of degraded land between now and 2030,</li> <li>boost drought preparedness, response and resilience,</li> <li>ensure that land continues to provide climate and biodiversity solutions,</li> <li>boost resilience to escalating sand and dust storms,</li> <li>scale up nature-positive food production,</li> <li>strengthen women’s land rights to advance land restoration, and</li> <li>promote youth engagement, including decent land-based jobs for youth.</li> </ul> </description> <category>World</category> <category>World Meteorological Organization</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Climate Change and Environment</category> <category>Disaster Management</category> <category>Water Sanitation Hygiene</category> <category>News and Press Release</category> <category>Drought</category> <author>World Meteorological Organization</author> </item> <item> <title>World Drought Atlas 2024 [EN/AR/RU/ZH]</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/world/world-drought-atlas-2024-enarruzh</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/world/world-drought-atlas-2024-enarruzh</guid> <pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2024 01:01:33 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Country: World</div> <div class="tag source">Sources: European Commission - Joint Research Centre, UN Convention to Combat Desertification, United Nations University</div> <img src="https://reliefweb.int/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/previews/0f/33/0f33ff73-6cc7-4dc6-839b-e38db723e56d.png" alt> Please refer to the attached files. World Drought Atlas reveals systemic nature of hazard risks, calls for national plans, global cooperation Atlas launched as UNCCD Member States, meeting in Riyadh, negotiate drought resilience efforts Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — As record-breaking droughts are becoming a new normal around the globe, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) launch the most comprehensive global publication on drought risks and solutions as an urgent wake-up call for world leaders and citizens. The World Drought Atlas depicts the systemic nature of drought risks for both specialist and non-specialist audiences. Through dozens of maps, infographics, and case studies, it illustrates how drought risks are interconnected across sectors like energy, agriculture, river transport, and international trade and how they can trigger cascading effects, fueling inequalities and conflicts and threatening public health. Co-produced with Cima Research Foundation (Italy), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (The Netherlands), and the UN University Institute for Environment and Human Security (Germany), its publication comes as UNCCD’s 197 member states, meeting in Riyadh, negotiate how to build humanity’s resilience to harsher droughts. Droughts are one of the world’s most costly and deadly hazards and are on track to affect 3 in 4 people globally by 2050. However, many countries and sectors are still failing to prepare for them through the right actions, policies, investments, and incentives. “The World Drought Atlas challenges governments, business leaders, and policy makers at all levels to radically rethink how they make decisions and manage drought risk,” said UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw. “I call on all nations, and in particular the Parties to the UNCCD, to take the findings of the Atlas seriously. At UNCCD COP16, Parties could change the course of history towards drought resilience. Let us seize the moment with the knowledge that the Atlas provides a path for a more resilient future for all.” The Atlas underscores the need for national drought plans and international cooperation to keep communities, economies, and ecosystems afloat in the face of harsher events. Additionally, it offers guidance for proactive and prospective drought management and adaptation across sectors and governance levels. Drought impacts are typically less visible, and attract less attention, than sudden events like floods and earthquakes. That is particularly true for the effects on ecosystems, which tend to be neglected in national drought plans despite their crippling impacts on economies and communities. But fast-onset droughts, known as flash droughts, more intense droughts—and more readily apparent impacts—are also becoming commonplace. HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ATLAS Impacts of human-made droughts The World Drought Atlas explains how worsening drought risks are linked to human activities and then delves into the impacts of drought in five key areas—water supply, agriculture, hydropower, inland navigation, and ecosystems. Droughts can reduce hydropower generation, leading to higher energy prices or power outages, and can disrupt international trade due to low water levels that hinder inland waterway transportation, as seen with the Panama Canal. On the nature front, the Atlas notes that while droughts pose a threat to ecosystems, greater biodiversity can mitigate drought impacts, meaning that promoting biodiversity is important to build drought resilience and vice versa. The food-land-water nexus is another major focus of the Atlas, since agriculture accounts for around 70% of freshwater use globally, and is also seriously impacted by drought. The publication explores how the agricultural products that reach our plates through global supply chains can worsen the effects of droughts and create water-stress in the countries where they are produced through virtual water transfers. Small-scale farmers and marginalized groups are particularly vulnerable due to disparities in water access and resources needed to build resilience to drought. The Atlas also shows how drought risks are interconnected and why their effects span across sectors. Countries reliant on hydropower for electricity, for instance, may face power outages during droughts. If this happens during a heatwave, it can result in hospitalizations and deaths as people cannot use fans or air conditioning to cool their homes. Lessons from recent droughts The Atlas features 21 case studies from around the world, underscoring that no country—whatever its size, GDP, or latitude—is immune to drought and all can better prepare for it. For example, the publication highlights impacts and lessons learned from recent droughts on the Great Plains of the US, in the city of Barcelona in Spain, and in the Yangtze River basin in China and explores drought impacts across the Central American Dry Corridor, the Indian subcontinent, and the Horn of Africa. Other case studies highlight the particular needs, resources, and perspectives of Indigenous communities when it comes to preparing for drought. Droughts have increased by 29% since the year 2000 due to climate change and the unsustainable management of land and water resources. The UN considers human-made drought an emergency on a planetary scale, but notes that drought risks can be tackled with the right actions, policies and investments. How to build drought resilience The Atlas describes concrete measures and pathways to manage, reduce, and adapt to systemic drought risks; underscores the co-benefits of these actions for different sectors; and showcases best practices from different regions. The measures highlighted in the Atlas fall into three categories: governance (e.g. early warning systems, microinsurance for smallholder farmers, pricing schemes for water usage); land-use management (e.g. land restoration and agroforestry); and the management of water supply and use (e.g. wastewater reuse, managed groundwater recharge and conservation.) As highlighted by the Atlas, the Secretariat of the UNCCD, its Communities of Learning and Practice, the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), the European Commission Joint Research Centre, the regional and global networks and partner institutions listed in the publication, and communities themselves can develop and provide the necessary knowledge, tools, and support to transform science into policy and policy into drought resilience action today “The Atlas is a powerful new resource to build political momentum for proactive drought risk management ahead of UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh. We already have the knowledge and tools to build our resilience to harsher droughts. It is now our collective responsibility, and in our best interest, to take action for a drought-resilient future,” sums up the Secretary of State of Environment of Spain, which co-chairs the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) together with Senegal. *** QUOTES: CIMA Research Foundation: “The World Drought Atlas brings together experts and practitioners across disciplines and borders to create a comprehensive tool for understanding and visualizing drought’s multifaceted impacts while proposing sustainable solutions. This collaborative effort serves as a model for political action, underscoring that collective engagement is crucial for building resilient and adaptive societies”, said Lauro Rossi, Program Director at CIMA Research Foundation, one of the coordinators of the Atlas. Marthe Wens, senior drought researcher at the Institute for Environmental Studies of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: “Human activities are driving or exacerbating droughts and their impacts on society. This is clearly depicted in the Atlas, and based on scientific literature and using examples from around the world. It also means that through our management of land and water we have the ability to reduce drought impacts and increase our systems' resilience.” Shen Xiaomeng, Director of UNU-EHS: “The World Drought Atlas underscores the urgent need to rethink how we perceive and address drought risks in our interconnected world. It challenges us to go beyond temporary fixes and imagine systemic and dynamic solutions that not only reduce risks comprehensively, but also prioritize the most vulnerable.” Hugo Morán, State Secretary of Environment of Spain, which co-chairs the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA): Droughts are one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Climate change and the unsustainable management of land and water resources has made them more frequent and intens, affecting communities and ecosystems. UNCCD COP16 is a unique opportunity to strengthen the technical, political and financial conditions to address droughts and the World Drought Atlas represents a key instrument to support these efforts.’ NOTES Launch: <ul><li>**In Riyadh: ‘**Ministerial Dialogue on drought resilience: From Geneva to Riyadh and beyond, enhancing global and national policy instruments for a proactive drought management approach’. 15 h Riyadh (GMT+3), Main Committee Room </li> <li> Online:<a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://webtv.un.org/en"> UN WebTV</a> </li> </ul>Full Global Drought Atlas available soon in English on the UNCCD website:<a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.unccd.int/resources/publications/world-drought-atlas">https://www.unccd.int/resources/publications/world-drought-atlas</a> Media enquiries: press@unccd.int, cc gpallares@unccd.int and terrycollins1@gmail.com Social media: @<a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjIASLL78Jk">UNCCD</a> <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjIASLL78Jk">#UNCCDCOP16 </a>(Primary) <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjIASLL78Jk">#</a>COP16Riyadh (Secondary) About UNCCD The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the only legally binding international agreement on good land stewardship. It supports communities and countries in creating wealth and securing nutritious food, clean water and energy through sustainable land management. Through partnerships, the Convention’s 197 parties also set up robust systems to proactively manage drought risks. Good land stewardship based on sound policy and science helps integrate and accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, builds resilience to climate change, and prevents biodiversity loss. About the European Commission's Joint Research Centre: The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission plays a key role at multiple stages of the EU policy cycle by providing independent, evidence-based science and knowledge, supporting EU policies to positively impact society. The JRC works closely with other Commission departments, EU institutions and agencies, as well as with scientific partners and policy organisations in Europe and internationally, offering scientific expertise and competences from a wide range of scientific disciplines. About CIMA Research Foundation CIMA Research Foundation is an international center of excellence dedicated to the study and management of weather-related risks. Founded in Italy in 2007, CIMA is a research organization that combines scientific research, applied technology, and capacity development into disaster risk reduction. Widely recognized for its innovative contributions to early warning systems and risk assessment, CIMA collaborates with international organizations like the UN system, the World Bank, the European Commission, and national governments, providing scientific and technical support for projects in vulnerable regions, including Africa, South America and the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and the Mediterranean. Through its interdisciplinary approach that integrates technical and social sciences, CIMA bridges the gap between research and practical application. Its scientifically grounded and actionable solutions address real-world challenges with evidence-based strategies. About Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam is a unique university in the Netherlands with faculties in the humanities, STEM, social sciences, and medical sciences. The Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) is part of VU. IVM is the oldest environmental research institute in the Netherlands (est. 1971), and currently one of the world's leading institutes in sustainability science. IVM works at the forefront of current scientific and societal debates to contribute to a more sustainable planet. Through multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary solution-oriented research, IVM researchers aim to understand the world’s complexity and provide ways forward. They study hydrological and climate processes, and how these processes lead to risks and opportunities for society, the economy, and the environment. The Drought Risk group of IVM is developing new methodologies and policy-relevant results on the topics of drought risk analysis and drought adaptation. About UNU-EHS: United Nations University is the global think tank of the United Nations. The Institute for Environment and Human Security (Bonn, Germany) focuses on advancing human security and well-being by reducing current and future risks from environmental hazards and climate change. Its main areas of work are risk &amp; adaptation and transformation. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://unu.edu/ehs">https://unu.edu/ehs</a> About IDRA <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://idralliance.global./">The International Drought Resilience Alliance</a> (IDRA) is the first global coalition creating political momentum and mobilizing financial and technical resources for a drought-resilient future. As a growing platform of more than 30 countries and 20 institutions, IDRA draws on the collective strengths of its members to advance policies, actions, and capacity-building for drought preparedness, acknowledging we are only as resilient to drought and climate change as our land is. The work of IDRA is aligned with, and supportive of, the mandate of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which hosts the IDRA Secretariat. The Atlas is available for media preview at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/4g2VvPF">https://bit.ly/4g2VvPF</a> Selected maps: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://bit.ly/3CK4oz7">https://bit.ly/3CK4oz7</a> </description> <category>World</category> <category>European Commission - Joint Research Centre</category> <category>UN Convention to Combat Desertification</category> <category>United Nations University</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Disaster Management</category> <category>Water Sanitation Hygiene</category> <category>Analysis</category> <category>Drought</category> <author>European Commission - Joint Research Centre</author> <author>UN Convention to Combat Desertification</author> <author>United Nations University</author> <enclosure url="https://reliefweb.int/attachments/0f33ff73-6cc7-4dc6-839b-e38db723e56d/World%20Drought%20Atlas%202024_compressed.pdf" length="101269843" type="application/pdf"/> </item> <item> <title>oPt: Gaza: FAO calls for urgent access to deliver at-scale emergency agricultural aid to prevent spread of famine</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/gaza-fao-calls-urgent-access-deliver-scale-emergency-agricultural-aid-prevent-spread-famine</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/gaza-fao-calls-urgent-access-deliver-scale-emergency-agricultural-aid-prevent-spread-famine</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 02 Dec 2024 22:38:21 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Country: occupied Palestinian territory</div> <div class="tag source">Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</div> FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol spoke at the Cairo Ministerial Conference on enhancing the humanitarian response in Gaza Cairo - FAO joined the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General and humanitarian partners in calling for unrestricted and safe access to deliver at-scale emergency agricultural aid to prevent the spread of famine and further loss of lives. FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol spoke today at the Cairo Ministerial Conference to enhance humanitarian response in Gaza. The Conference was co-convened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the UN Secretary-General, the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). “Today, food availability is at an all-time low across the entire Gaza Strip, and food supply has sharply deteriorated,” Deputy Director-General Bechdol said. “The window of opportunity to deliver assistance is now, today, not tomorrow. Food, medicine and fuel are self-evident priorities, but we must also prioritize the ability to grow food locally where it is needed most to ensure survival.” The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), issued in October, warned of a famine risk for the entire Gaza Strip from November 2024 through April 2025. Around 133,000 people or 6 percent of the population are already experiencing catastrophic levels of food insecurity (IPC Phase 5, Catastrophe) – meaning that people have almost no food and cannot meet their basic needs. This number is expected to nearly triple in the coming months. Moreover, in early November, the independent Famine Review Committee found a strong likelihood that famine is already occurring or imminent in parts of northern Gaza. Bechdol reiterated FAO’s commitment to scale up its response to mitigate famine and prevent its spread across the Gaza Strip and beyond while emphasizing that this cannot be achieved without access. To this end, the Deputy Director-General called on Member States to put more pressure to lift the ban on private food imports in place since early October in southern Gaza and mobilize resources to fund FAO’s appeal for $53 million which is part of the 2025 UN Humanitarian Flash Appeal. These funds will support around 80 000 farmers, herders and fisher men and women with time-critical agriculture inputs to restore local food production. “In Gaza, ensuring the right to food is not just about meeting immediate needs—it is about safeguarding human dignity, preventing famine from spreading, and laying the groundwork for rebuilding a resilient agrifood system,” she concluded. High-level participants included Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates of the Arab Republic of Egypt; Mohammad Mustafa, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine; Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy Antonio Tajani; Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations; Sigrid Kaag, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza; Philippe Lazzarini, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA); Muhannad Hadi, Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process on behalf of UNOCHA; Amal Emam, Acting CEO of the Egyptian Red Crescent; Younis Alkhateeb, President of the Palestinian Red Crescent among others. Agrifood systems have been destroyed Before October 7, Gaza was largely self-sufficient in vegetables, eggs, fresh milk, poultry and fish, and produced much of its red meat, olive oil and fruits. More than one year into the war, agrifood systems have collapsed, and local food production – the primary source of nutrition and sometimes people’s only source for food – has decimated across the whole of Gaza. According to the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/6dff587c-451b-4afe-a56d-a707b27a1449">FAO-UNOSAT most recent geospatial analysis in Gaza</a>, nearly 70 percent of croplands – which contributed up to one-third of daily food consumption – have been damaged or destroyed since the escalation of hostilities. The same is true for orchards, greenhouses, water wells and other agricultural infrastructure. Moreover, almost 95 percent of cattle and more than half of sheep and goat herds, have died. These animal losses have both removed access to critical and nutritious sources of protein and milk and devastated people’s livelihoods. FAO stands ready to scale up critical emergency agriculture aid and assistance, together with its partners, as soon as the situation allows. This includes reactivating local food production, restoring the availability of highly nutritious food in Gaza, especially in view of the winter season, preventing the agricultural sector’s total collapse, preserving remaining agricultural livelihoods, and curbing hunger and malnutrition, especially among children. <h2>Contact</h2> Irina UtkinaFAO News and Media (Rome)+39657052542irina.utkina@fao.org FAO News and Media(+39) 06 570 53625FAO-Newsroom@fao.org </description> <category>occupied Palestinian territory</category> <category>Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Food and Nutrition</category> <category>News and Press Release</category> <author>Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</author> </item> <item> <title>Nigeria - Key Message Update: Widespread Crisis (IPC Phase 3) persists across northern Nigeria, November 2024</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/nigeria-key-message-update-widespread-crisis-ipc-phase-3-persists-across-northern-nigeria-november-2024</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/nigeria-key-message-update-widespread-crisis-ipc-phase-3-persists-across-northern-nigeria-november-2024</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 02 Dec 2024 20:45:49 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Country: Nigeria</div> <div class="tag source">Source: Famine Early Warning System Network</div> <img src="https://reliefweb.int/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/previews/f9/70/f9701dc1-9fd9-4524-86f8-e47f81350e67.png" alt> Please refer to the attached file. <h2>Key Messages</h2> <ul><li>Increased levels of insecurity in Northern Nigeria over 2024, marked by banditry, attacks, kidnappings, and other punitive measures, continues to forcibly displace local populations. According to the latest estimates by the International Organization for Migration (<a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://dtm.iom.int/nigeria">IOM</a>), over three million people remain internally displaced across northern Nigeria. Insecurity is limiting households’ access to food and income sources by reducing access to fields, disrupting the flow of goods to markets and market functioning, and leading to the loss of assets due to theft or pillaging. Widespread Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are expected to persist across conflict-affected parts of North East, North West, and North Central Nigeria.</li> <li>Northeast Nigeria continues to be impacted by ongoing insecurity related to Boko Haram insurgency. Due to insecurity, including extortion by armed groups, households face highly restricted access to land for agricultural production. This has led to significantly below-average agricultural production in 2024 and further increases in food prices. Trade flows and market access remain disrupted, further limiting food access and income-generating opportunities. In inaccessible areas of Borno State, including Abadam, Guzamala, Marte, and Bama LGAs, Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes are expected to persist in the post-harvest period as households had extremely limited ability to engage in the 2024/25 agricultural season.</li> <li>The main season harvest is underway across Nigeria, accompanied by the commencement of off-season land preparation activities in northern regions. However, early dry spells and late-season flooding negatively impacted main-season production. During the peak of flooding in September, 3.8 million hectares of land were submerged, including nearly 1.5 million hectares of cropland, impacting over 4 million people. The most impacted states in terms of flooded cropland—Kebbi, Jigawa, Borno, Taraba, and Sokoto—have had between 7.5 percent and 12.3 percent of their agricultural land flooded. Potential production losses are significant, with maize losses alone estimated at 486,000 tons, resulting in approximately $250 million in economic damages (<a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://data-in-emergencies.fao.org/documents/hqfao::nigeria-floods-eve-flood-impact-analysis-4-october-2024/about">FAO</a>). In addition to quantity losses, quality losses will negatively impact agricultural income and food consumption through sales and consumption of poor-quality crops that could still be harvested once floodwaters receded.</li> <li>Inflationary pressures in Nigeria continue to mount, with headline inflation increasing to <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://nigerianstat.gov.ng/elibrary/read/1241583">33.88 percent</a> in October from 32.70 percent in September, marking a 6.55 percentage point rise year-on-year. Annual food inflation remains the largest driver, peaking at 39.16 percent, with the highest rates recorded in Sokoto (52.18 percent), Edo (46.55 percent), and Borno (45.85 percent). According to the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/elibrary/read/1241592">National Bureau of Statistics</a>, in October, the price of rice trended at nearly 140 percent above last year’s price. According to the Central Bank, the Nigerian Naira (NGN) hit a record low in mid-November, trading at 1,688 NGN/USD, and reportedly reaching 1,730 NGN/USD on the parallel market. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/elibrary/read/1241584">Petrol prices</a> averaged 1,184 NGN per liter in October, reflecting an 87.88 percent year-on-year increase and a 14.98 percent rise from September, leading to high transportation prices.</li> </ul>Recommended citation: FEWS NET. Nigeria Key Message Update November 2024: Widespread Crisis (IPC Phase 3) persists across northern Nigeria, 2024. </description> <category>Nigeria</category> <category>Famine Early Warning System Network</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Food and Nutrition</category> <category>Analysis</category> <category>Drought</category> <category>Flood</category> <author>Famine Early Warning System Network</author> <enclosure url="https://reliefweb.int/attachments/f9701dc1-9fd9-4524-86f8-e47f81350e67/ng-kmu-2024-11-1733169606.pdf" length="352405" type="application/pdf"/> </item> <item> <title>CAR: République centrafricaine (RCA) : Analyse de l’insécurité alimentaire aigüe de l'IPC, septembre - août 2024 (publié le 27 novembre 2024)</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/central-african-republic/republique-centrafricaine-rca-analyse-de-linsecurite-alimentaire-aigue-de-lipc-septembre-aout-2024-publie-le-27-novembre-2024</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/central-african-republic/republique-centrafricaine-rca-analyse-de-linsecurite-alimentaire-aigue-de-lipc-septembre-aout-2024-publie-le-27-novembre-2024</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 02 Dec 2024 20:01:16 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Country: Central African Republic</div> <div class="tag source">Source: Integrated Food Security Phase Classification</div> <img src="https://reliefweb.int/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/previews/74/6f/746f7f35-c824-47f6-9921-12d9d2db9c24.png" alt> Please refer to the attached file. VUE D’ENSEMBLE L‘analyse de la situation alimentaire sur la période de septembre 2024 à mars 2025 montre qu’environ 1,97 million de personnes connaissent des niveaux élevés d’insécurité alimentaire aiguë (Phase 3 de l’IPC ou plus), soit 31 pourcent de la population analysée. Parmi ces personnes, près de 1,66 million sont classées en Crise (Phase 3 de l’IPC) et 307 000 personnes en insécurité alimentaire d’Urgence (Phase 4 de l’IPC). Les personnes plus affectées ont une faible production et ont déjà épuisé leurs réserves alimentaires, ce qui inclut les travailleurs occasionnels, les ménages déplacés et hôtes qui sont pauvres ainsi que les ménages pauvres urbains qui dépendent totalement du marché pour répondre à leurs besoins alimentaires. Bien que réparties sur l’ensemble du territoire, ces personnes sont particulièrement représentées dans les préfectures de la Basse-Kotto, Lim Pendé, Mambéré-Kadei, Mbomou, Nana-Mambéré, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pendé, etc. Par ailleurs, les sous-préfectures de Bambouti, Djema et Mboki (Haut Mbomou) qui sont classées en insécurité alimentaire d’urgence (Phase 4 de l’IPC). Pour ces personnes, il est primordial de mettre en œuvre des activités visant à sauver des vies, réduire les déficits de consommation alimentaire et protéger les moyens d'existence. La situation alimentaire semble s’améliorer par rapport à la dernière mise à jour intervenue en avril 2024 où 2,5 millions de personnes étaient en insécurité alimentaire de Crise voire pire (Phase 3 de l’IPC ou plus), soit 41 pourcents de la population. La situation demeure toutefois préoccupante au regard de l’accès économique difficile pour certains ménages, l’absence de réserves alimentaires, la perturbation des flux internes et transfrontaliers dûs à la présence de certains groupes armés, l’impact des inondations et l’irrégularité des pluies sur l’agriculture (principal moyen d’existence dans presque toutes les zones) et le déplacement des populations. A cela s’ajoute la dégradation des routes qui limite l’accès physique aux zones, le manque de semences et outils agricoles, la hausse généralisée des prix des denrées alimentaires et des coûts de transport, et les répercussions persistantes des épidémies telles que la rougeole, le paludisme et la toux. L’analyse projetée couvrant la période d’avril à août 2025 indique une détérioration de la situation alimentaire, par rapport à la période courante (septembre 2024 – mars 2025) si des mesures adéquates ne sont pas apportées. Environ 2,25 millions de personnes seront susceptibles de se retrouver en Phase 3 de l’IPC ou plus (Crise et Urgence), soit 35 pourcent de la population analysée. Pendant cette période, environ 1,8 million de personnes seront en situation de crise (Phase 3 de l’IPC) et 431 000 personnes en situation d’urgence (Phase 4 de l’IPC). Les personnes plus affectées sont les mêmes que la période courante auxquelles s’ajoutent 200 000 personnes venant d’un peu partout du pays, mais plus représentées dans les sous-préfectures de Mingala et Zangba (Basse-Kotto), Ouadda et Ouandja Kotto (Haute-Kotto), Rafai (Mbomou) en plus de Bambouti, Djema et Mboki (Haut Mbomou), toutes classées en urgence (Phase 4 de l’IPC). </description> <category>Central African Republic</category> <category>Integrated Food Security Phase Classification</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Food and Nutrition</category> <category>Analysis</category> <category>Flood</category> <author>Integrated Food Security Phase Classification</author> <enclosure url="https://reliefweb.int/attachments/746f7f35-c824-47f6-9921-12d9d2db9c24/R%C3%A9publique%20centrafricaine%20%28RCA%29%20-%20Analyse%20de%20l%E2%80%99ins%C3%A9curit%C3%A9%20alimentaire%20aig%C3%BCe%20de%20l%27IPC%2C%20septembre%20-%20ao%C3%BBt%202024%20%28publi%C3%A9%20le%2027%20novembre%202024%29.pdf" length="3342765" type="application/pdf"/> </item> <item> <title>South Sudan: IPC Acute Food Insecurity and Malnutrition Snapshot l September 2024 - July 2025</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/south-sudan-ipc-acute-food-insecurity-and-malnutrition-snapshot-l-september-2024-july-2025</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/south-sudan-ipc-acute-food-insecurity-and-malnutrition-snapshot-l-september-2024-july-2025</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 02 Dec 2024 19:51:15 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Countries: South Sudan, Sudan</div> <div class="tag source">Source: Integrated Food Security Phase Classification</div> <img src="https://reliefweb.int/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/previews/bd/91/bd91e3dc-f0b7-4b1c-9810-5ee05d162cc6.png" alt> Please refer to the attached Infographic. Overview The acute food insecurity and malnutrition situation in South Sudan is deteriorating as a result of the economic crisis, repeated climatic shocks – primarily widespread flooding – and conflict and insecurity. The inflow of returnees and refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan is exacerbating the situation – putting additional pressure on an already fragile country. Between September and November 2024, an estimated 6.3 million people (47 percent of the population analysed) are <a href="https://reliefweb.int/node/4111063/">classified in IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse)</a>. Of this total, 1.71 million people are facing critical levels of acute food insecurity – classified as IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and a further 41,000 people are facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity or IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe). The population in Phase 5 (Catastrophe) includes 10,000 people in Malakal county (Upper Nile State) and an estimated 31,000 South Sudanese returnees who have fled Sudan because of the ongoing conflict. Compared to the same period last year, this indicates an increase of approximately 500,000 people in Phase 3 or above. In the harvest/post-harvest projection period of December 2024 to March 2025, an estimated 6.1 million people (45 percent of the population analysed) will likely experience IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse). Of this total, 1.71 million people are projected to be in Phase 4 and 31,000 South Sudanese returnees will likely experience Phase 5 (Catastrophe). In the second projection period of April to July 2025, the food security situation is expected to deteriorate with the arrival of the lean season. It is likely that an estimated 7.69 million people (57 percent of the population analysed) will be in Phase 3 or above. This will include 2.53 million people likely to be in Phase 4 and 63,000 people likely to be in Phase 5 (Catastrophe). The nutrition situation has also deteriorated, with an estimated 2.1 million children aged 6-59 months suffering or expected to suffer elevated levels of acute malnutrition between July 2024 and June 2025, including 650,000 cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). About 1.11 million pregnant or breastfeeding women (PBW) are also suffering or expected to suffer elevated levels of acute malnutrition in the same period. An estimated 67 percent of the acute malnutrition burden is concentrated in the five states of Jonglei, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile, Unity and Warrap. In the current analysis period (July to September 2024), 53 counties are classified in IPC AMN Phase 3 or above (Serious or worse). During the post-harvest period of October 2024 to March 2025, the acute malnutrition situation is expected to deteriorate in 13 counties, while improvement in acute malnutrition is expected in only four counties. The AMN classification in 76 counties is projected to remain the same in the post-harvest projection period. During the lean season (April to June 2025), the severity of acute malnutrition is expected to deteriorate in 62 counties, remain similar in 16 counties and improve in two counties. The situation in Baliet County of Upper Nile State is projected to deteriorate from Phase 4 to IPC AMN Phase 5 (Extremely Critical) because of elevated morbidity and poor access to health services. </description> <category>South Sudan</category> <category>Sudan</category> <category>Integrated Food Security Phase Classification</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Food and Nutrition</category> <category>Infographic</category> <category>Flood</category> <author>Integrated Food Security Phase Classification</author> <enclosure url="https://reliefweb.int/attachments/bd91e3dc-f0b7-4b1c-9810-5ee05d162cc6/South%20Sudan%20-%20IPC%20Acute%20Food%20Insecurity%20and%20Malnutrition%20Snapshot%20-%20September%202024%20-%20July%202025.pdf" length="4211215" type="application/pdf"/> </item> <item> <title>How Localisation and Resilient Design Fueled the Success of Climate Smart Agriculture Programmes in Uganda’s Refugee Response – Insights from the Northern Uganda Resilience Initiative (NURI)</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/uganda/how-localisation-and-resilient-design-fueled-success-climate-smart-agriculture-programmes-ugandas-refugee-response-insights-northern-uganda-resilience-initiative-nuri</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/uganda/how-localisation-and-resilient-design-fueled-success-climate-smart-agriculture-programmes-ugandas-refugee-response-insights-northern-uganda-resilience-initiative-nuri</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 02 Dec 2024 11:50:00 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Country: Uganda</div> <div class="tag source">Source: Uganda Learning, Evidence, Accountability, and Research Network</div> In recent years, Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) has emerged as a game-changer, helping to foster resilient farming practices and bolstering food security in Uganda. <h2>What is Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA)?</h2> CSA is defined as “an integrated approach to managing landscapes—cropland, livestock, forests and fisheries – that addresses the interlinked challenges of food security and climate change.”[1] It focuses on enhancing productivity and building resilience by improving farmers’ knowledge of climate-smart production methods. <h2>CSA in Uganda</h2> Uganda is heavily reliant on agriculture; the sector employs over 80% of the population, but because agriculture is predominantly rain-fed, it is vulnerable to climate-related stresses. Rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather conditions have led to decreased food security, water scarcity, and ecosystem degradation. Despite being aware of these challenges, smallholder farmers in Uganda have limited access to information on managing climate-related stresses.[2] Uganda follows a settlement-based model, where refugees receive 30 x 30 metre plots of land to build homes, grow crops, and become part of the local communities. This approach is designed to decrease reliance on aid, and promote peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities. However, refugee communities often lack guidance and training in efficient farming techniques. In the face of dwindling aid and shrinking food rations in Uganda’s refugee response, more and more humanitarian response organisations are incorporating CSA into their programming to help refugee-hosting communities achieve self-reliance. Whether or not CSA is successful really depends on how it is implemented. For example, one of Uganda’s refugee response donors, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recently achieved impressive results by incorporating localisation and resilient design in their CSA programmes during their <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://nuri.ag/">Northern Uganda Resilience Initiative</a> (NURI) that ran from 2019 to 2023. NURI was dedicated to enhancing the resilience and equitable economic development of refugees and refugee-hosting areas in Northern Uganda and CSA was one of its core pillars. By the end of the four-year period, over 4,300 smallholder farmer groups in 13 districts were trained and knowledgeable in sustainable farming techniques and resilience to climate-related shocks.[3] <h2>How NURI used localisation and resilient design to achieve success in CSA</h2> <h3>1. Localisation: Close collaboration with local stakeholders cascaded the adoption of CSA practices amongst smallholder farmers</h3> The NURI team employed their version of a ‘bottom-up’ approach by closely and regularly consulting with participating smallholder farmers and involving key local partners such as the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the National Agriculture Research Organisation (NARO), District Local Governments (DLGs) and Lower Local Governments (LLGs) in planning and implementation.[4] This localisation strategy worked well; according to NURI programme reports, 93% of the participating smallholder farmer households adopted at least three new agronomic practices after their CSA training. Joseph Ebinu, NURI’s acting Programme Management Advisor, explained how the localisation component helped achieving success: “The bottom-up approach worked very well because it addressed the farmers’ needs exactly. By the time implementation started, it was what the stakeholders were expecting. Budget lines and stakeholder roles and responsibilities were very clear, so there was buy-in from the beginning. NURI held regular consultative meetings with OPM and other partners to address challenges. Extension staff and local government stakeholders were provided with capacity building using relevant locally-based knowledge partners. We also held annual stakeholder meetings at the national level, including relevant ministries, development partners, [Denmark] embassy, and DLGs, which served as accountability for the year.” DLGs played a central role in cascading the use of CSA practices to smallholder farmers. Dr. Dratele Christopher, Moyo District Production Officer, shared that DLGs supervised the NURI team and provided technical backstopping. This ensured that CSA programming was effectively integrated into DLG agriculture extension services and could be continued even after the project timeline. As of 2024, smallholder farmer groups that participated in NURI’s CSA trainings are still getting agriculture extension services from their respective DLGs. NURI also hired refugees and host community members as extension staff. Joel Bayo, a Climate Smart Agriculture Coordinator, highlighted the importance of hiring locally: “They [staff] understood the language, culture and community behaviour, so they knew how to manoeuvre. They played a crucial role in providing training, facilitating communication, and ensuring the programme’s relevance to the local context.” Through its localised and collaborative approach, NURI fostered the widespread uptake of CSA practices, laying a foundation for long-term climate resilience and sustainability in Northern Uganda refugee-hosting communities. <h3>2. Resilient design: NURI set up their CSA programmes for success beyond the project scope.</h3> NURI’s programmes, including CSA, were tactfully designed with the intention to have them succeed beyond the four-year project scope. Resilient design in NURI’s CSA programmes constituted four main components: i)the selection of viable crop species, ii)flexibility to support innovation, iii)linking CSA with other NURI pillars and iv)focusing on empowerment and knowledge transfer. <h4>a) Selecting viable crop species enabled continuous cultivation by smallholder farmers.</h4> To choose the most suitable crop species, NURI, in collaboration with DLG agriculture extension staff, conducted a comprehensive assessment considering various factors, such as a crop’s potential to thrive in specific locations, market availability, participating farmers’ knowledge of the crop, and its suitability to the area’s agroecology. To ensure the viability of the selected crop species, the extension staff established learning and seed multiplication sites. These sites served as testing grounds where the growth and adaptability of the chosen crop species were closely monitored before distribution to farmers. Farmers made informed decisions on the types of crop species they wanted to cultivate based on the knowledge they obtained on crop yield quantities and average prices. The extension staff also trained farmers in intercropping, timely land preparation, the cultivation of drought tolerant, fast-maturing and pest/disease resistant varieties, soil and water conservation and post-harvest handling and marketing of selected strategic crops. NURI’s meticulous selection process of viable crop species enabled smallholder farmers to grow crops well-suited to their local environment and, as such, promoted sustainable agriculture practices and technologies. <h4>b) NURI’s CSA programmes allowed for flexibility to support innovation.</h4> According to Joel Bayo (CSA Coordinator) flexibility was one of the most outstanding features of NURI’s CSA programmes. Bayo shared that when CSA activities began, NURI had a well-established curriculum. But during implementation, some changes were made to align with contextual realities. An example of CSA curriculum adjustment was the adoption of the farmer-to-farmer extension. When the agriculture extension staff’s ability to reach every farmer proved difficult, a few members of each farmer group received hands-on mentorship in tree management practices and were tasked to cascade the skills to fellow farmers, with the extension staff only providing support in case of gaps. The approach resulted in increased outreach of extension services, uptake and the sustained survival of tree species.[5] <h4>c) Linking CSA with the other NURI pillars and integrating the use of Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) improved farming outcomes.</h4> NURI linked CSA with two other pillars – water resources management (WRM) and rural infrastructure development. Solomon Osakan, an OPM Refugee Desk Officer, shared that infrastructure development, such as road and bridge construction, shortened the distance from farms to markets, making it easier for farmers to transport and sell their produce. Incorporating WRM through establishing eight micro-catchments in four refugee settlements increased water availability and crop yields amidst climate-related stresses such as prolonged drought. These micro-catchments included food forests near water points, protected springs, soil and water conservation structures and water ponds. However, the long-term impact and sustainability of micro-catchments was not extensively explored under NURI. It would be interesting to see how they perform in the long run. NURI’s CSA programming also integrated the use of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs); households obtained loans from VSLAs to finance the purchase of various agricultural inputs including seedlings and execute requisite farming activities in a timely manner (in-season). Timely crop cultivation and better access to markets increased crop yields, significantly improving household incomes and ultimately, piquing the interest of other smallholder farmers in CSA practices. <h4>d) A focus on empowerment and knowledge transfer left a lasting positive outlook on CSA.</h4> Finally, NURI’s CSA programmes focused on empowerment and knowledge transfer rather than providing handouts. For instance, in 2023, NURI introduced household-level tree growing to interested CSA farmer groups. Tree-growing was implemented through a cost-sharing model where individual farmers/households paid 30% and the programme paid 70% of the costs of tree seedlings. Farmers paid for seedlings of their choice in quantities they could absorb.[6] Additionally, smallholder farmers received training in groups and through farmer-to-farmer extension methods. According to Dr. Dratele, the low ratio of extension staff to farmer groups facilitated in-depth knowledge transfer. Youtube Chandiga, a Ugandan CSA smallholder farmer trainee, shared his experience: “They trained us [on] how to do everything- how to maintain seeds, market and many other things. This year, [2024], I increased the acres I’m planting. The food is plentiful. Some is for eating, some is for selling. Before training, the produce was not as much. Now I know very well what to do and I’m able to train other farmers and help them understand how to do it.” Chandiga’s sentiments are shared by several other smallholder farmers who received CSA trainings. Their homes are much more food secure than before and they are much more confident about getting good yields and as such, have increased their farming acreage. Because of this, not only have they enthusiastically carried on with the CSA practices, but they are also willing and able to train other smallholder farmers to improve their lives. <h2>Dependency mindset and water access challenges in CSA</h2> NURI’s CSA programmes were met with several challenges, chief among them being a dependency mindset in Uganda’s refugee response and a lack of access to water for agriculture. According to Joel Bayo, heavy reliance on handouts in refugee-hosting areas led to an expectation that NURI would provide everything, including a market for produce from CSA trainings. Realising the need for a mindset shift to sustain CSA beyond the four-year project scope, NURI had a one-year extension from 2022 to 2023. During this time, several activities were implemented, including the continuation of participatory farmer market schools that had started the previous year. Farmer market schools were established to help smallholder farmers learn to independently explore markets and identify opportunities.[7] At the end of the extension period, over 180 smallholder farmer groups in 13 districts had learnt how to use value chains among other skills, to boost their earning potential.[8] It’s too early to tell whether the skills can be sustained through shifting economic trends and climate-related stresses or if they are transferable in the long run. Another major challenge pointed out by DLG officials and NURI team members was a lack of access to water for agriculture in several refugee-hosting areas. These areas face over-exploitation of forest resources, degradation of wetlands and an absence of integrated water resources management plans, resulting in dwindling underground water resources. NURI implemented WRM in some settlements which helped increase water availability in the immediate term. However, it’s not clear how effective this will be in the long run. For instance, by the end of the NURI extension period, less than 21% of the food forests established were being maintained, indicating a low likelihood of survival. Additionally, rural point water source operation and maintenance (O&amp;M) is a major challenge in Uganda. A DLG staff suggested exploring other solutions, such as valley dams, to increase access to water for agriculture in refugee-hosting areas. <h2>Conclusion</h2> Despite the challenges, NURI’s localised approach and resilient design in CSA programming left a positive and lasting impact on the refugee response in Northern Uganda. It’s been one year since NURI wrapped up, but CSA training participants are still reaping the benefits of its transformative impact. Vicky Night, one of the refugee women who participated in CSA trainings, said: “The knowledge I got from NURI really helped me. They gave us improved farming practices that we didn’t know before. The vegetables I planted during the training, I sold them, got some chickens and ducks and they have multiplied. Before, we didn’t know how to grow vegetables. We would plant and get nothing. They would die because we didn’t know how to make local pesticides. My children didn’t have school fees and sometimes, they would sit at home, but now I make money to pay and I took them to better schools. Right now, I’m preparing to plant more vegetables.” Vicky Night is just one of many CSA training participants who boast of increased crop production, the continued use of sustainable farming techniques, and better resilience to climate change-related stresses beyond the NURI scope. In four years, CSA trainings in refugee hosting communities helped increase the average cumulative yield in kilograms per acre for strategic crops by 22%, and the quantity of strategic crops sold increased by 14%. For more information about NURI’s approach to Climate-Smart Agriculture, visit their website <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://nuri.ag/">here</a> and read more lessons learnt <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://nuri.ag/our-articles/">here</a>. <h2>References</h2> [1] World Bank Group, Climate Smart Agriculture, last updated 26 February 2024, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/climate-smart-agriculture">https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/climate-smart-agriculture</a> [2] United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Enabling Farmers to Adapt to Climate Change | Uganda, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://unfccc.int/climate-action/momentum-for-change/ict-solutions/enabling-farmers-to-adapt-to-climate-change">https://unfccc.int/climate-action/momentum-for-change/ict-solutions/enabling-farmers-to-adapt-to-climate-change</a> [3] NURI, Climate Smart Agriculture, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://nuri.ag/projects/climate-smart-agriculture/">https://nuri.ag/projects/climate-smart-agriculture/</a> [4] NURI*, Greening Our Environment Through Household Tree Growing in Northern Uganda,* <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://usercontent.one/wp/nuri.ag/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/NURI-Greening-Environment-v4.pdf">https://usercontent.one/wp/nuri.ag/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/NURI-Greening-Environment-v4.pdf</a> [5] NURI, Greening Our Environment Through Household Tree Growing in Northern Uganda [6] NURI, Greening Our Environment Through Household Tree Growing in Northern Uganda [7] NURI, Greening Our Environment Through Household Tree Growing in Northern Uganda [8] NURI, End of NURI extension report, 2023, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://usercontent.one/wp/nuri.ag/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/End-of-NURI-Extension-2023-Final-Report.pdf">https://usercontent.one/wp/nuri.ag/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/End-of-NURI-Extension-2023-Final-Report.pdf</a> </description> <category>Uganda</category> <category>Uganda Learning, Evidence, Accountability, and Research Network</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Coordination</category> <category>News and Press Release</category> <author>Uganda Learning, Evidence, Accountability, and Research Network</author> </item> <item> <title>Ukraine: FAO Humanitarian response update, 2 December 2024</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ukraine-fao-humanitarian-response-update-2-december-2024</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ukraine-fao-humanitarian-response-update-2-december-2024</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 02 Dec 2024 08:39:50 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Country: Ukraine</div> <div class="tag source">Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</div> <img src="https://reliefweb.int/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/previews/eb/14/eb140256-14e7-461d-9dc8-645bec4573e9.png" alt> Please refer to the attached file. • Through its Emergency Response Plan (ERP) for 2024, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) requires a total of USD 150 million to assist 821 050 people in rural areas and small farmers by distributing agricultural production inputs to ensure they can rely on their own production. • To date, FAO has raised USD 28.9 million against the total of USD 150 million under the ERP 2024, leaving a gap of USD 121.1 million. • In 2024, FAO has supported 45 724 rural families with cash and voucher assistance and drip irrigation kits to enable them to cover their immediate needs and restore and keep production. Moreover, 4 741 farmers benefited from the distribution of spring crops seeds, generators, temporary storage solutions, animal feed, cash and vouchers. • FAO is finalizing its Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan for 2025–2026, targeting 550 000 rural people and small farmers affected by the ongoing war. This comprehensive plan outlines a phased approach to provide both immediate relief and long-term recovery support to the agriculture sector </description> <category>Ukraine</category> <category>Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Food and Nutrition</category> <category>Situation Report</category> <author>Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</author> <enclosure url="https://reliefweb.int/attachments/eb140256-14e7-461d-9dc8-645bec4573e9/cd3568en.pdf" length="1208240" type="application/pdf"/> </item> <item> <title>Iraq: The Legislative Drafting Committee Discusses Updating Animal Health Legislation [EN/AR]</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/legislative-drafting-committee-discusses-updating-animal-health-legislation-enar</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/legislative-drafting-committee-discusses-updating-animal-health-legislation-enar</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 02 Dec 2024 06:59:42 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Country: Iraq</div> <div class="tag source">Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</div> <img src="https://reliefweb.int/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/previews/a1/2d/a12db586-ae0b-45a5-ab11-b4eb79f75d07.png" alt> Please refer to the attached files. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Iraq and the Iraqi Ministries of Agriculture and Health held two meetings dedicated to discussing updating animal health legislation to be in line with international reference standards, as well as to address legislative overlaps between the Public Health Law and the Animal Health Law. During the third in-person meeting of the Legislative Drafting Committee for Animal Health Law in Iraq, FAO in Iraq, in cooperation with the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), and in coordination with the Legislative Drafting Committee reviewed the regulatory framework governing animal health in Iraq and align it with international standards and best practices. The committee comprises members from the Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Health, and Agriculture &amp; Water Resources and representatives of the Kurdistan government, in addition to members from the Veterinary Syndicate, the Border Ports Authority, the Council of State, and the Parliamentary Committee for Agriculture, Water Resources and Marshlands Affairs. This meeting falls within the framework of the ongoing series of meetings of the Committee, which aim to discuss specialized topics related to the alignment of the legislative framework with international standards and best practices as documented by the World Organization for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This specific meeting focused on topics related to the private veterinary medical sector and animal markets. It is worth noting that this national consultative process for legal review is the first of its kind. It is based on the successful completion of the first phase of the program, where the Iraqi government adopted recommendations for major legislative improvements to resolve overlaps in combating animal diseases. In a parallel context, during the second meeting of the Joint Working Committee between the Ministries of Agriculture and Health, the legislative overlaps between Public Health Law No. 89 of 1981 and Animal Health Law No. 32 of 2013 were also discussed. A table of articles containing legislative overlaps was prepared by the legal team of the project with members of the Committee formed by Ministerial Order No. 27423 on 6/26/2024. During this meeting, the door was opened for dialogue between the committee members to discuss the agenda and clarify the operational methods taken in addressing the legislative overlaps between the Public Health and Animal Health Laws on the ground, and to develop proposed framework for sorting out this overlap. These meetings come within the framework of the project "Strengthening Veterinary Legislation in Iraq and Expanding the Scope of Providing Animal Health Services and Disease Surveillance", funded by the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), which aims to strengthen animal disease surveillance systems in Iraq. Dr. Salah Al-Hajj Hassan, FAO Representative in Iraq, inaugurated the two meetings, stressing the importance of working to develop the Iraqi legislative framework regarding animal health and veterinary services and its relationship to achieving food security in Iraq in general. He also stressed FAO's commitment to providing support for updating legislation of animal health laws to comply with international standards followed by the World Organization. He also stressed the importance of the Kurdistan Regional Government's participation in this very important endeavor </description> <category>Iraq</category> <category>Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>News and Press Release</category> <author>Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations</author> <enclosure url="https://reliefweb.int/attachments/a12db586-ae0b-45a5-ab11-b4eb79f75d07/FAO%20PR%20EN.pdf" length="380178" type="application/pdf"/> </item> <item> <title>WFP South Sudan Situation Report #328, 31 October 2024</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/wfp-south-sudan-situation-report-328-31-october-2024</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/wfp-south-sudan-situation-report-328-31-october-2024</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 02 Dec 2024 06:12:31 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Countries: South Sudan, Sudan</div> <div class="tag source">Source: World Food Programme</div> <img src="https://reliefweb.int/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/previews/2c/e7/2ce7ac0d-4abb-4fb7-ad96-e3bd5e8b6acb.png" alt> Please refer to the attached file. HIGHLIGHTS <ul><li>In October, WFP distributed 10,208 mt of food and USD 2.1 million in cash-based transfers to 1.3 million people, representing 85 percent of the people targeted during the month. WFP had assisted 3.9 million people since January 2024.</li> <li>WFP, FAO, IFAD, ITC, and Star Trust assessed value chains in Western Equatoria to identify gaps, opportunities, and potential interventions for scaling up local procurement and supporting smallholder farmers.</li> <li>WFP faces a funding gap of USD 461 million between December 2024 and May 2025 to support the urgent humanitarian needs of millions of crisisaffected people. WFP appeals for USD 404 million from donors to preposition 147,000 mt of food ahead of the rainy season when road access becomes severely impassable.</li> </ul>SITUATION UPDATE <ul><li>South Sudan is facing a confluence of crises that continue to push millions of families towards new levels of vulnerability. The country continues to grapple with a long-standing humanitarian crisis marked by chronic food and nutrition insecurity. The ongoing conflict in Sudan has compounded the situation by driving 854,000 people into South Sudan by 31 October.</li> <li>Nine million people require humanitarian assistance and protection. About 6.3 million people (47 percent of South Sudan’s population) are facing acute food insecurity levels, at Crisis or higher, between September and November, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) results.</li> <li>South Sudan is experiencing floods, which have impacted 1.4 million people, including 327,000 people displaced by 31 October. Unity, Jonglei, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Lakes States and the Abyei Administrative Area remain the most affected. Flooding in Renk, the primary entry point for displaced persons from Sudan, compromised sanitation and hygiene services. On 28 October, the National Ministry of Health declared a cholera outbreak in Renk. Between 11 and 31 October, the Ministry reported over 40 suspected cholera cases and confirmed six positive cases on 23 October. However, there were no reported fatalities by 31 October.</li> <li>The country continues to grapple with an unprecedented economic meltdown, fuelled by the Sudan conflict that disrupted oil production and food supply, triggering nationwide inflation. Between January and October 2024, the South Sudanese Pound depreciated by 65 percent and 74 percent in the reference and parallel markets, respectively, against the US dollar, triggering a spike in the prices of food and nonfood items and exacerbating the vulnerability of poor households.</li> <li>The political and security landscape remains fragile. On 11 October, the Government postponed national elections from December 2024 to December 2026. This decision is contingent upon the fulfilment of specific benchmarks necessary for the successful conduct of the elections. Sub-national violence in Malakal, Jonglei, and Unity States, and other areas remains a concerning development.</li> <li>The South Sudanese Government continues to work with humanitarian partners to support the response to the crises. It continues to offer security to humanitarian staff and facilitate the safe passage of humanitarian supplies and the onward movement of returnees from transit centres to their final destinations.</li> </ul> </description> <category>South Sudan</category> <category>Sudan</category> <category>World Food Programme</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Coordination</category> <category>Education</category> <category>Food and Nutrition</category> <category>Gender</category> <category>Health</category> <category>Logistics and Telecommunications</category> <category>Protection and Human Rights</category> <category>Recovery and Reconstruction</category> <category>Situation Report</category> <category>Epidemic</category> <category>Flood</category> <author>World Food Programme</author> <enclosure url="https://reliefweb.int/attachments/2ce7ac0d-4abb-4fb7-ad96-e3bd5e8b6acb/WFP%20South%20Sudan%20External%20Situation%20Report%20-%20October%202024_FINAL.pdf" length="2112805" type="application/pdf"/> </item> <item> <title>16 Days Of Activism: Organic agriculture as a pathway to ending violence against women and girls in Tonga</title> <link>https://reliefweb.int/report/tonga/16-days-activism-organic-agriculture-pathway-ending-violence-against-women-and-girls-tonga</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://reliefweb.int/report/tonga/16-days-activism-organic-agriculture-pathway-ending-violence-against-women-and-girls-tonga</guid> <pubDate>Mon, 02 Dec 2024 01:16:44 +0000</pubDate> <source url="https://reliefweb.int/updates/rss.xml?advanced-search=%28T4587%29">ReliefWeb - Agriculture Updates</source> <description> <div class="tag country">Country: Tonga</div> <div class="tag source">Source: Pacific Community</div> Empowering women and girls is critical to ending violence and creating safer, more inclusive communities. In Tonga, where traditional gender roles often limit opportunities for women, the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Pacific Organic Learning Farms Network (POLFN) Project is working with farmers across Tonga, with special attention on women in agriculture to enhance women’s economic opportunities through organic farming and agroecology, and more importantly, challenge the systemic inequalities that potentially perpetuate gender-based violence. As part of the global call to action under the 2024 theme for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence——SPC’s work in Tonga underscores the vital connection between organic agriculture and women's economic empowerment. Economic dependence is a significant driver of gender-based violence, leaving women vulnerable in relationships and limiting their ability to make autonomous decisions. Through POLFN’s Mahuleva Organic Learning Farm Centre on Tongatapu and the Ovava Organic Learning Farm Centre on Vava’u Island, women are accessing critical resources, training, and mentorship to build sustainable livelihoods in organic agriculture. These centres provide women with more than just practical skills in value-adding – organic farming methods, and Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification; creating a safe space for women to connect, collaborate, and support one another as farmers, mothers, sisters and contributing members of their communities. In Tonga, cultural and systemic barriers, like land ownership norms, have long limited women’s participation in agriculture. Through partnerships with local stakeholders such as the Tonga National Youth Congress, POLFN has reframed farming as a family-oriented enterprise, ensuring women are recognised as key contributors. This inclusive approach challenges stereotypes and power imbalances that fuel violence against women. POLFN Project Manager, Mr Timoci Nakalevu, says, “By encouraging trans-generational change and farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing, POLFN’s networks provide mentorship, solidarity, and a sense of community—breaking the isolation that often traps survivors of violence.” Aligned with the objective of 16 Days of Activism to end gender-based violence, POLFN demonstrates how organic agriculture can unite economic empowerment and social inclusion, creating a future where women can thrive free from gender-based violence, which includes family violence and sexual violence such as marital rape. For each woman embracing organic farming, she plants not just crops but also seeds of resilience, hope, and a world where violence has no place. The POLFN Project is funded through the multi-donor agency, the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://kiwainitiative.org/">Kiwa Initiative</a>. The Kiwa Initiative is funded by the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/pacific_en">European Union</a>, AFD - <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.afd.fr/en">Agence Française de Développement</a>, Canada’s International Development – <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.international.gc.ca/global-affairs-affaires-mondiales/home-accueil.aspx?lang=eng">Global Affairs Canada</a>, the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.dfat.gov.au/">Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade</a> and the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.mfat.govt.nz/">New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade</a>. About POETCom The Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community is the peak body for the organic movement in the region, a not-for-profit organisation with active members, farmer associations, farmer support organisations, NGOs, the private sector, research institutions and works with governments across the Pacific Island region. POETCom is hosted by the Land Resources Division (LRD) of the Pacific Community (SPC) in Suva, Fiji. </description> <category>Tonga</category> <category>Pacific Community</category> <category>Agriculture</category> <category>Gender</category> <category>Protection and Human Rights</category> <category>News and Press Release</category> <author>Pacific Community</author> </item> </channel> </rss>

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