Wasting Less of Africa’s Harvest in Order to Prosper
The fight against hunger in Africa has experienced many successes in boosting agricultural production. It’s only now that agricultural organizations and experts are recognizing that lack of storage represents a major impediment to keeping all those harvests edible. In trying to salvage more of the nation’s harvest, Tanzania is pursuing the broader goal, common across Africa, of reducing hunger and boosting income. But while other developing countries are taking piecemeal steps to reduce crop losses, Tanzania’s response has been particularly robust. The government has a department devoted to reducing food waste, and its initiatives are informed by independent research.
 
Rwanda's Farming Co-Ops Reap Cash Rewards
The farms of Burera District, in Rwanda’s fertile north, are a jumble of tiny plots. The average land holding is miniature even by Rwandan standards—0.4 hectares. But a new kind of cash farming is emerging. Under a program run by the FAO, co-operatives previously geared to family consumption have moved into commercial production.
 
Twelve Ways Mobile Money Can Go Further
Mobile money service M-Pesa won people’s trust when it came to Kenya. It used marketing and language that was simple and inclusive, and branded itself as a low-cost alternative for the common man. As finance strives to reach the world’s two billion unbanked people, traditional circles of trust must be leveraged.
 
DC Urban Greens Brings Fresh Produce to City's Food Deserts
Most of Washington, DC east of the Anacostia River is what’s called a food desert, with few outlets that offer fresh produce. But DC Urban Greens has built a small oasis: An organic farm that grows collards, kale, okra, lettuce and other edibles. And it’s planning several more.