This post originally appeared on the Outrage and Inspire blog.
We’re excited to announce the launch of a new multi-part film series on Roger Thurow’s The Last Hunger Season. Now through October 16—coinciding with World Food Day 2014—we will be releasing two episodes from the series per week. Part 3 is now available below. See all episodes.
While struggling through the hunger season, Leonida noticed that some other farmers in western Kenya were doubling or tripling their maize harvest. Curious, she asked for their secret.
They had become members of One Acre Fund, she was told. One Acre was a new social enterprise organization determined to conquer the hunger season by ending the decades-long neglect of smallholder farmers. It hoped to unleash the potential of those farmers by providing access to the essential elements of farming: better quality seeds, soil nutrients, technical training, and the crucial financing to pay for it all.
One Acre Fund farmers come together in groups of eight to 12; friends and neighbors who help each other during the busy times of planting, weeding, harvesting. They give their groups inspirational names like Hope or Faith or Mercy or Grace or Happiness or Success. Leonida and several neighbors formed a One Acre group and called it Amua. In their local language, Amua means “decide.”
What had they decided? Their inspiration came from the Bible, Exodus 3:17.
In this episode of The Last Hunger Season film series, Leonida explains their decision to embark on a modern-day exodus.
Roger Thurow - Amua: Leonida Decides
About
The Global Food and Agriculture Program aims to inform the development of US policy on global agricultural development and food security by raising awareness and providing resources, information, and policy analysis to the US Administration, Congress, and interested experts and organizations.
The Global Food and Agriculture Program is housed within the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, an independent, nonpartisan organization that provides insight – and influences the public discourse – on critical global issues. The Council on Global Affairs convenes leading global voices and conducts independent research to bring clarity and offer solutions to challenges and opportunities across the globe. The Council is committed to engaging the public and raising global awareness of issues that transcend borders and transform how people, business, and governments engage the world.
Support for the Global Food and Agriculture Program is generously provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Blogroll
1,000 Days Blog, 1,000 Days
Africa Can End Poverty, World Bank
Agrilinks Blog
Bread Blog, Bread for the World
Can We Feed the World Blog, Agriculture for Impact
Concern Blogs, Concern Worldwide
Institute Insights, Bread for the World Institute
End Poverty in South Asia, World Bank
Global Development Blog, Center for Global Development
The Global Food Banking Network
Harvest 2050, Global Harvest Initiative
The Hunger and Undernutrition Blog, Humanitas Global Development
International Food Policy Research Institute News, IFPRI
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center Blog, CIMMYT
ONE Blog, ONE Campaign
One Acre Fund Blog, One Acre Fund
Overseas Development Institute Blog, Overseas Development Institute
Oxfam America Blog, Oxfam America
Preventing Postharvest Loss, ADM Institute
Sense & Sustainability Blog, Sense & Sustainability
WFP USA Blog, World Food Program USA
Archive
Guest Commentary – Designing Common Ground: Progressive Partnerships that Connect Smallholder Farmers
Matt Shakhovskoy of the Initiative for Smallholder Finance on developing progressive partnerships to address global food insecurity.
Guest Commentary – How Clocks Helped Grow Half a Million Tons of Food
Emily Hillenbrand of CARE USA on effective programming to divide household burdens equally among genders and increase female agricultural productivity.
Guest Commentary – Multisectoral Partnerships Created to Respond to Global Food and Nutrition Security Challenge
As part of our Food-Secure Future series, the ACRE Africa team discusses partnerships that are helping to secure progress in global agricultural development.
A Food-Secure Future: G7 and G20 Action on Agriculture and Food
The latest post in our Food-Secure Future series highlights the role of the G7 and the G20 in promoting global food security and agricultural development.
Big Ideas and Emerging Innovations
Highlighting approaches, technologies, and ideas that have the potential to radically advance global food security.
Guest Commentary – Elevating the Smallholder Voice and Making Aid more Accountable for Improved Food and Nutrition Security
Anne Wanlund of Gardens for Health International on accountability and transparency in smallholder agriculture.
Guest Commentary – 3 Things You Should Know about Malnutrition in Mozambique
Beatrice Montesi on her observations of the malnutrition situation in Mozambique.
Guest Commentary – Agricultural Production Should Focus on Food Quality and Nutrition alongside Quantity and Yield
His Excellency John A. Kufuor on refocusing the food system on diet quality and nutrition.
Guest Commentary – Holding World Leaders to Account to End Malnutrition
Lucy Sullivan of 1,000 Days on the need for greater accountability in global nutrition efforts.
Guest Commentary – Private Sector Intervention in Global Food Security
Alaa Murabit on the role of private sector and government in achieving global food security.
A Food-Secure Future: African Accountability to Food Security and Agricultural Development
The latest post in our Food-Secure Future series discusses the structures that are encouraging increased accountability to food security and agricultural development across the African continent.
She Succeeds, We Succeed: Breaking Down the Legal Barriers to Girls’ and Women’s Empowerment
Ahead of International Women's Day, the She Succeeds blog series explores how to break down the legal barriers to girls' and women's empowerment, from lack of legal ID to land tenure and ending child marriage.
Big Ideas and Emerging Innovations
Highlighting approaches, technologies, and ideas that have the potential to radically advance global food security.
Guest Commentary – In Africa, Expecting More from Agriculture than Food Security
As part of our Food-Secure Future series, Agnes Kalibata of AGRA discusses economic opportunity is the driver of agricultural development.
Guest Commentary – The Agribusiness Case for Climate Leadership
As part of our Food-Secure Future series, Dr. Margaret Zeigler of Global Harvest Initiative discusses ways in which agribusinesses can engage in sustainable practices.