Based on an International Workshop held in Arusha, Tanzania, this book presents state-of-the-art papers, real world applications, and innovative techniques for combating land degradation. It offers recommendations for effectively using weather and climate information for sustainable land management practices.

New evidence this year corroborates the rise in world hunger observed in this report last year, sending a warning that more action is needed if we aspire to end world hunger and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. Updated estimates show the number of people who suffer from hunger has been growing over the past three years, returning to prevailing levels from almost a decade ago. Although progress continues to be made in reducing child stunting, over 22 percent of children under five years of age are still affected. Other forms of malnutrition are also growing: adult obesity continues to increase in countries irrespective of their income levels, and many countries are coping with multiple forms of malnutrition at the same time – overweight and obesity, as well as anaemia in women, and child stunting and wasting.

This framework presents ten interrelated principles/elements to guide Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa (SAMA). Further, it presents the technical issues to be considered under SAMA and the options to be analysed at the country and sub regional levels. The ten key elements required in a framework for SAMA are as follows: The analysis in the framework calls for a specific approach, involving learning from other parts of the world where significant transformation of the agricultural mechanization sector has already occurred within a three-to-four decade time frame, and developing policies and programmes to realize Africa’s aspirations of Zero Hunger by 2025. This approach entails the identification and prioritization of relevant and interrelated elements to help countries develop strategies and practical development plans that create synergies in line with their agricultural transformation plans. Given the unique characteristics of each country and the diverse needs of Africa due to the ecological heterogeneity and the wide range of farm sizes, the framework avoids being prescriptive.

The Government of Zambia, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MACO), has requested FAO Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) assistance in awareness raising and capacity building of senior agriculture staff in the Ministry for addressing HIV/AIDS concerns and mitigating the negative impact of HIV/AIDS on agricultural production and household food security. Given the cross-cutting nature of HIV/AIDS, it is important to identify possible interventions that are within the mandate of MACO. Therefore, this document will outline an Integrated Framework for Mitigation that would guide future action by MACO. The mitigation framework has been developed on a pilot basis for Choma district, Southern Province and started with a stakeholders’ workshop in Choma. The output of the workshop were the following proposed mitigation strategies i) promote labour saving practices; ii) promote low labour- low risk commercial agro businesses; iii) enhance food security and nutrition among HIV/AIDS affected households; iv) support orphans and vulnerable children; and v) promote appropriate extension messages to vulnerable households. Based on these identified thematic areas, participatory planning workshops were organised in four communities. Data was collected from individuals and households–selected according to four household types: female headed households with orphans, male headed households with orphans, female headed households with people living with HIV/AIDS, and male headed household with people living HIV/AIDS.

Southern Africa experienced acute food shortages during 2002 and 2003.