Archive for category: Agriculture

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How Urban Agriculture in Morocco is Tackling Food Insecurity

Urban Agriculture in MoroccoMorocco has struggled to feed many of its 38 million people. The country, nestled on the northwestern coast of Africa, has more than 2.1 million people who are considered malnourished. Malnutrition rates are particularly high among already vulnerable populations like children and refugees in Morocco.

The problem is particularly acute in rural areas but has also been affecting urban areas. In Morocco’s largest cities of Casablanca, Rabat, Fes and Tangier, thousands of families lack proper nutrition. Even when government programs and charities provide these families with food aid, their food is often unhealthy, lacking fresh fruits and vegetables. The evident food insecurity—lack of access to healthy, sufficient foodstuffs—across Morocco has caused millions of dollars in lost economic productivity and health care costs.

A Fitting Solution

The enormous toll of food insecurity in urban Morocco has given rise to a novel solution: urban agriculture. Urban agriculture refers to farming on dedicated plots of land within urban areas. The practice most commonly occurs within community gardens, rooftop farms and vertical farms in cities. These gardens and farms typically grow fresh fruits and vegetables that are then sold or donated to families in the community.

Across Morocco’s largest cities, several stakeholders have successfully deployed urban agriculture. In Casablanca, the country’s largest city, rooftop and community gardens have emerged in the neighborhoods of Hay Mohammadi and Sidi Moumen. The produce from these urban agriculture projects is sold in local markets at cheap prices, allowing needy Moroccans to access fresh and healthy fruits and vegetables they may not have otherwise been able to access.

Similarly, Morocco’s capital of Rabat has witnessed the proliferation of community gardens across public parks. These gardens largely produce “vegetables and herbs” for nearby families, alleviating local food insecurity.

Limitations Persist

Despite the success of urban agriculture in Morocco in providing fresh, healthy and affordable produce to families in need, there remain limitations to its broader effectiveness. They are few in number and small in size, especially compared to Morocco’s rural farms. This limits the amount of urban agriculture-sourced produce directly available to food-insecure Moroccan families.

Moreover, urban agriculture in garden spaces in Casablanca or on rooftops in Rabat is generally spearheaded by private—not public—stakeholders. It received only limited government sponsorship until 2025. The lack of sufficient government support for Moroccan urban agriculture may hamper the expansion of the practice.

Urban Agriculture’s Potential

Despite the limitations of urban agriculture in Morocco, it can continue to enhance food security for Moroccan families in need. The country has numerous families that do not have enough food to eat. Yet, private individuals and stakeholders have managed to create urban farms across cities like Casablanca and Rabat, to feed needy families fresh and healthy produce at an affordable cost.

The fresh, healthy and affordable nature of urban agriculture yields makes them an integral component of any viable plan for food security in urban Morocco.

– Pranav Kanmadikar

Pranav is based in Louisville, KY, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Climate-Smart Farming in Bangladesh: A Path Out of Poverty

Climate-Smart FarmingClimate-smart farming is a critical development in the rural economy of Bangladesh, where millions of smallholder farmers face seasonal uncertainty in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations. Bangladesh is heavily reliant on agriculture, with the World Bank estimating in 2016 that 87% of rural households rely on farming for at least part of their income. Extreme natural disasters can jeopardise the population’s ability to farm effectively and expose millions to freak weather events and longer-term threats such as temperature and rainfall changes.

Now at risk of losing one-third of its agricultural GDP due to climate-related events by 2050, Dhaka is working hard to equip rural citizens with the tools to protect themselves from climate hazard’s most damaging, poverty-inducing effects. Adopting a climate-smart agricultural strategy has already paid dividends in the fight against climate-related poverty. It has empowered Bangla farmers to institute change to often centuries-old practices.

Climate Instability and the Farming Poverty Trap

Agriculture has been central to poverty reduction in Bangladesh, responsible for 90% of poverty alleviation between 2005 and 2010, while national grain production has tripled since 1972. Yet climate instability now threatens to reverse this progress. Rising sea levels swallow farmland and leave less space to cultivate crops, while shifting temperatures and rainfall patterns drive yields down.

When production falters, Bangladesh risks greater dependence on imports, cutting jobs for the impoverished rural people who rely on farming for income. Extreme weather events also add to the strain. Cyclone Sidr in 2007 and Cyclone Aila in 2009 devastated harvests and forced families into poverty overnight.

These pressures highlight how fragile Bangladesh’s agricultural gains remain and how climate shocks can derail one of the nation’s most effective escape routes from poverty.

Breaking the Cycle With Feed the Future

The Feed the Future Climate-Smart Agriculture Project offered a blueprint for how farming could once again lift families out of poverty despite worsening climate risks. Backed by USAID funding and administered by the International Fertilizer Development Center, this initiative equipped small producers with the seeds, skills and technologies to adapt to future climate-related risks.

In 2023, Feed the Future delivered more than 150 demonstrations covering topics from climate-smart rice cultivation to better supply chain access. While these primarily targeted the operations of smallholder farmers, Feed the Future also worked to link up larger farming stakeholders in the private sector with climate-efficient technologies and information.

As a result, smallholder farmers purchasing from these actors gained easier access to the latest climate-resilient seeds and farming practices. This support helped them boost yields, reduce costs and earn a more reliable income. Supplemented by domestic political support, the Climate-Smart Agriculture Project put years of agitation for climate-smart agriculture into practice. It operated with both short and intermediate goals in mind.

A Blueprint for Other Developing Nations

Yet sweeping cuts to the USAID budget in 2025 affected the Feed the Future Climate-Smart Agriculture Project. On February 26, 2025, the initiative was subject to a termination notice as part of broader 56% cuts to the U.S.-Bangladesh aid budget. Despite being terminated three years before its planned end date, climate-smart farming in Bangladesh leaves behind a tested example for developing nations looking to incorporate these practices into their agricultural policy.

At just $35 million, the project only represented a small fraction of the total USAID budget for Bangladesh. Yet early results suggest that even modest funding can trigger meaningful changes, including private-sector investment in inputs, demo plots in model villages and adoption of climate-resilient seed varieties. Comparable efforts may benefit other developing nations facing the twin challenges of climate instability and rural poverty.

– George Horberry

George is based in York, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Forest Sustainability and Poverty Reduction

Forest Sustainability and Poverty Reduction Forests cover nearly one-third of the world’s land mass and serve as an economic lifeline for impoverished and Indigenous communities in developing countries, many of whom live directly in forests. Yet mass deforestation threatens both these communities and the economic sustainability of the land. Recognizing the link between forest sustainability and poverty reduction, the United Nations (U.N.), the World Bank and other organizations have launched revitalization efforts using a “one health” approach.

Forest Dependency

Approximately 40% of the world’s rural poor in developing nations, about 3.27 billion people, live in or within one kilometer of a forest. When the range is expanded to five kilometers, the number rises to 4.17 billion, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). With 80% of the world’s most impoverished people living in rural areas, mostly concentrated in the Global South, the importance of forests to their subsistence is clear, further underscoring the connection between forest sustainability and poverty reduction.

Those who rely on forests in whole or in part to survive via employment or source of income, but most importantly as a food source, are classified as Forest Dependent People (FDP). The majority of FDP live within forests and derive their entire livelihood from them alone, but FDP also includes those that tangentially rely on forests, such as foraging for medicinal plants, harvesting wood or even supplying labor to logging and forestry businesses. 

Indigenous groups often make up FDP communities and their extremely rural proximity limits access to goods and services. This makes them vulnerable to economic, social and health care shocks. Discrimination and marginalization, such as in India and Kenya, or poor infrastructure, as in the Brazilian Amazon, further compound their struggles. 

Forest resources help mitigate these shocks for FDP, however, rampant deforestation and land degradation have only exacerbated their poverty and vulnerability. Because of this, FDPs are a focal point for anti-poverty initiatives, but this has been a double-edged sword. 

Damaging Effects of Standard Poverty Reduction Efforts

There is no question that poverty-reduction initiatives have been successful. According to World Bank figures, poverty has declined in developing countries by more than 65% since 1990. Yet many of these tried-and-true methods end up causing further deforestation, which leaves FDP vulnerable in the long term. 

Many goodwill efforts to alleviate poverty overlook the ingrained benefits of forest sustainability and poverty reduction, instead focusing on agricultural and infrastructural development, which can compound environmental destruction and damage aid efforts long-term. When forests are cleared, the health of the land erodes and water scarcity increases. This harms FDP communities and sets back any potential gains realized through intervention. Crops die without water and disease spreads worsens. Standard practices appear sufficient for the long-term prosperity of FDP. 

The “One Health” Approach

In recent years, the FAO, World Bank and researchers from institutions such as the Notre Dame Poverty Initiative have increasingly observed the connection between forest sustainability and poverty reduction. In this collaborative approach, poverty alleviation must go hand in hand with forest conservation strategies. 

Protected Area Projects make up one facet of sustainability efforts. In Brazil, the World Bank successfully lobbied the government to give protected status to 24 million hectares of forest land, safeguarding access for FDP communities. Furthermore, in Ghana, efforts resulted in the planting of sustainable woodlots to serve as sources of firewood and fuel instead of naturally occurring forests. In Kenya, the Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme allocates degraded plots of forest land to FDP to revitalize through new plantings. 

Research into further symbiotic strategies between forest sustainability and poverty reduction is ongoing. In countries such as India and Peru, researchers from the Pulte Institute for Global Development are evaluating nascent anti-poverty initiatives that also prioritize forest sustainability to isolate those most effective for rollout in other developing nations.

Looking Ahead

Evidence suggests that forest sustainability and poverty reduction are two sides of the same coin. Sustainable forests combat poverty among FDP by providing replenishing food sources, fuel and construction materials and improved community health. With such a large percentage of the world’s extreme poor being FDP or FDP-adjacent, efforts to support the prosperity of the world’s forests are also direct contributions to eventually lifting FDP out of poverty. 

– Nikola Stojkovic

Nikola is based in Villa Park, IL, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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South-East Ladies Agro Collective: Making a Difference

South-East Ladies Agro CollectiveMauritius is still recovering from a 2020 oil spill in the Indian Ocean, an accident that has been disastrous for its environment and economy. However, some of its citizens are finding creative ways to help with recovery. A group of women has banded together to create a community of farmers to help feed their families.

This is how South-East Ladies Agro Collective was formed and how it exemplifies the importance of community action in politics.

The MV Wakashio Oil Spill

In 2020, the MV Wakashi, a ship owned by Nagashiki Shipping in Japan, ran aground near the village of Mahebourg in Mauritius. The BBC estimates that 1,000 metric tonnes of oil leaked from the ship and contaminated the nearby waters. Five years later, cleanup is still ongoing.

The oil spill has had various negative effects on Mauritius, most notably on its environment. Mauritius has an extremely diverse and unique ecosystem. According to the BBC, the ocean around Mauritius is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. This spill has placed this fragile ecosystem in permanent jeopardy.

As the fate of Mauritius’ environment hangs in the balance, the government is left to determine what other issues have arisen from this disaster.

Farming to the Rescue

While environmental concerns are the highest priority, there are several other effects that Mauritius needs to address in the wake of the spill. The spill has also caused significant damage to the local economy, which relies heavily on fishing. With the ocean near Mauritius still heavily tainted by oil, local fishermen cannot fulfill their livelihood. With so many people out of work, the economy was stagnant and many families could not afford basic needs.

The South-East Ladies Agro Collective was founded in Mahébourg, Mauritius, by resident Sandy Monrose to combat this issue. After initially helping with clean-up efforts in the immediate aftermath of the oil spill, she began considering other ways to help her community recover. She requested a land grant from a local farming company, Ferney Ltd. Then she began speaking with other local women to see if they were interested in farming.

As the name implies, the South-East Ladies Agro Collective is primarily composed of women. Its goal is to help feed their village while income remains limited. Beyond farming, the collective also teaches residents the basics of agriculture. Active for about a year and thanks to the hard work of Monrose and her team, it has been a massive success. The group currently has 10 members who can feed their families and grow enough to sell their products on the side.

What Can We Learn?

Mauritius’ example shows us how essential community organizing is to making a better world and how much of a difference one person can make. Monrose saw a problem and instead of despairing, came up with a unique and innovative solution to her community’s issues and even got her fellow citizens involved.

The rise of South-East Ladies Agro also demonstrates how interconnected political issues can be. Farming and oil spill cleanup may seem unrelated, but Monrose’s example shows how one can directly affect the other. This is why out-of-the-box thinking is essential for political action. Activists can easily miss less obvious issues like this if they cannot conceive of unique angles of political issues.

Mauritius is still struggling with the aftermath of the MV Wakashio oil spill. However, every little bit helps and organizations like South-East Ladies Agro are a positive step toward community political engagement. With more efforts like this and more collaboration between citizens and their government, lasting changes can be made not just in Mauritius, but worldwide.

– Thaddeus Konieczny

Thaddeus is based in Williamston, MI, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Safeguarding Livelihoods: Kashmir’s Farmers

Kashmir's FarmersRolling hills, glittering lakes and powerful gusts of wind come to mind when one thinks of Kashmir, a region in India. Its natural beauty is the region’s crowning feature and greatest strength. Yet this beauty comes at a price. The same mountains that captivate the mind also dictate the region’s economy. Each year, when heavy snow sets in, the weather turns unpredictable or rainfall and temperature swing wildly, Kashmir’s charm remains undiminished; sometimes even enhanced.

However, the impact on livelihoods is severe. Crop yields, especially prized produce like apples, walnuts and saffron, along with tourism and traditional industries such as pashmina wool, kani shawls, wood carving and copperware, all suffer under the weight of nature’s whims.

The frigid winter affects Kashmir both through increased mortality and direct exposure to harsh climatic conditions, as well as through the toll on the region’s predominant trades. In response, the Indian government has introduced several schemes and measures to ease the hardships for Kashmir’s farmers, these wuthering winters bring. Highlighted below are some initiatives that have shown considerable results.

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

The Indian government introduced this scheme to address fears of declining paddy cultivation and provide holistic crop risk coverage. It offers protection to farmers through an automated system that activates when they apply for Kisan Credit Card loans. In the event of natural calamities, the scheme functions as an insurance mechanism, compensating farmers who lose crops to hailstorms, floods and other disasters.

Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP)

The Government of Jammu and Kashmir launched the HADP as a flagship initiative. It supports farmers’ shift from traditional apple orchards to high-density horticulture, which promises greater security and higher yields in harsh climatic conditions.

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

Under this scheme, the Agriculture Department of Kashmir provides greenhouses with a 50% subsidy. This has proven to be a considerable boon, giving farmers the opportunity to sow and harvest crops in a controlled environment. It also ensures a steady supply of produce and a safety net for the people of Kashmir.

Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)

Similar to the MIDH, this scheme provides artisans and farmers with subsidies galore on machinery and equipment. This empowers the agriculturalists by reducing the labouriousness of traditional farming, thus making any possible losses less futile compared to the yield of crops like apples, saffron and more.

Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS)

This insurance scheme is tailored to safeguard agricultural yields affected by adverse weather. It serves as a layer of security for the financial interests of farmers and other workers, such as artisans, tradespeople, artisans, boatmen and animal herders.

Final Remarks

Though the forces of weather remain beyond human control, the schemes outlined above make it easier for communities to withstand and adapt to their impact. They stand as a testament to the resilience of Kashmir’s farmers and ability to innovate in the face of adversity.

– Ruhani Rahul

Ruhani is based in Leander, TX, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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China’s Investment in Rwanda and its Agricultural Future

China’s Investment in RwandaRwanda is a small, landlocked country in Eastern Africa that faces significant socioeconomic challenges. According to the World Bank, 63.8% of its 14 million citizens live in poverty. One of the most pressing issues is food insecurity, which affects communities across the country. Government data shows that 20.6% of the population does not have reliable access to adequate nutrition. China’s recent investment in Rwanda could change the dire situation of food insecurity in the country.

Malnutrition

Malnutrition occurs when a person does not receive the nutrients their body needs, either due to insufficient food intake or a lack of essential vitamins and minerals. It can lead to stunted growth in children, weakened immune systems, increased risk of disease and, in severe cases, death. Malnutrition is especially dangerous for pregnant women and young children, as it can cause irreversible developmental problems.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Rwanda’s average life expectancy is 67.5 years. This is nearly 10 years shorter than in the United States, which is at 76.4 years and 17 years less than in Japan, where life expectancy reaches 84.5 years, one of the highest in the world. Studies show a strong link between improved nutrition and increased life expectancy, suggesting that access to adequate nutrition could significantly improve health outcomes in Rwanda.

Rwanda has naturally fertile land due to its nutrient-rich volcanic soil, and more than half of its territory is classified as arable. Despite this agricultural potential, the country still depends heavily on food imports, with food products making up more than 20% of total imports. This dependency contributes to high food costs and limited access to nutritious food, especially in rural areas. To reduce food insecurity and malnutrition, Rwanda must better utilize its land by expanding agricultural infrastructure and supporting local farmers.

China’s Involvement

In January 2025, Rwanda and China signed a $40 million agreement to finance the Giseke Dam and Irrigation Project in the Gisagara District. This project is a recent example of China’s investment in Rwanda and its growing role in supporting development across key sectors. Designed to irrigate 2,640 hectares of farmland, the project could provide consistent water access for agriculture, enabling farmers to produce food year-round and improve crop variety.

More than 900 farming households could benefit directly from the project, while local markets could see increased food supply and affordability. The resulting growth in agricultural productivity is expected to help stabilize food availability, improve nutrition, and lift communities out of poverty. China’s investment in Rwanda not only supports food security but also strengthens local economies by enhancing self-sufficiency.

This initiative aligns with Rwanda’s Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), which prioritizes sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. Funded through a concessional loan, the Giseke project reflects China’s investment in Rwanda as part of a broader partnership aimed at long-term, mutually beneficial development.

Rwanda’s struggle with malnutrition is tied to poverty and underused agricultural potential. Projects like the Giseke Dam, supported by China, show how investment in local farming can improve food security, boost nutrition, and support long-term development.

– William Brentani

William is based in San Francisco, CA, USA and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Eco-Friendly Agricultural Innovations Led by Women in Kenya

Women in KenyaIn 2018, a group of women in Kenya formed the Habsa Women’s Group to combat the effects of climate instability and food insecurity in their community. In the small town of Malkadaka, the effects of unstable climatic conditions have been disastrous. Droughts and floods kill livestock and crops, making multiple families have limited access to food and suffer from malnutrition and hunger. Innovations led by women in Kenya aimed to make food more accessible by improving their farming tactics with new agricultural innovations. 

Assistance From Action Against Hunger

The group partnered with Action Against Hunger to achieve its goal of creating a more sustainable agricultural system. The women began by learning the basics of crop cultivation, starting with corn and later expanded to onions and kale. Their progress faced numerous obstacles, including limited access to farming equipment and funds, as well as recurring droughts and infestations, all of which made achieving success significantly more challenging.

With the assistance of Action Against Hunger, the organization provided training on maintaining crops, pest management, rotational farming and drought-resistant seeds. It focused on eco-friendly strategies like intercropping, sunken garden beds and innovations in building a solar-powered water pump to help increase water retention during severe weather conditions. A fence was constructed to keep unwanted pests out of the crops.

Growing Success

Thanks to the hard work of these women in Kenya and with support from Action Against Hunger, the harvest successfully produced tomatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, hot peppers, kale and more. The Habsa Women’s Group earned a profit of approximately $463. This profit allowed the group to invest in improved farming tools and enhance its members’ livelihoods.

Women in Kenya often face restrictive gender roles that limit their income opportunities. Through this project, they helped reduce food insecurity and challenged these norms. Action Against Hunger further supported the Habsa Women’s Group, empowering the women to teach others about farming and nutrition.

The Village Savings and Loan Association

Action Against Hunger established the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), providing women with financial literacy training and encouraging independence. With new confidence and knowledge, they learned to manage earnings, plan for the future and strengthen their community’s economic foundation.

Participating in financial decision-making enables women to earn more. It ensures most of their income supports their families, improving overall health and well-being. Building on the success of the innovations led by women in Kenya and the Habsa Women’s Group, Action Against Hunger is expanding support to nearby communities, connecting them to additional markets in Isiolo County to increase income and business reach.

The organization also aims to boost crop yields, raise profits and enable more sustainable livelihoods for women and their families.

Looking Ahead

The success of the Habsa Women’s Group shows the great potential of eco-friendly alternatives in agriculture. It seems promising that the group will continue to grow. The use of climate-smart technology will continue to spread throughout Kenya, hopefully eventually ending the ongoing food insecurity crisis with nutritious food grown by local people in the community.

– Bowie Aldrich

Bowie is based in Syracuse, NY, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Nano Ganesh: Remote Irrigation Empowering Farmers

nano ganeshThe agriculture sector forms the backbone of India’s economy. It employs 45.8% of the population, and the number continues to rise. Agriculture contributes 15% to India’s GDP. However, the grim reality lies in the rising number of farmer suicides. Farmers take their lives due to reasons ranging from debt crises to political and social pressures. People often call Indian agriculture the “gamble of monsoon” because it depends heavily on seasonal rains for a good harvest. With increasing dependence on monsoon rains and the lack of efficient irrigation technology, the National Crime Records Bureau reports that farmer suicides account for 11.2% of suicides in India. Sadly, the number continues to grow even today. It is extremely depressing that the number today continues to rise.

The Introduction of Nano Ganesh

Farmers in India rely on motor systems to irrigate their fields. However, these motors create serious challenges. Farmers face electricity interruptions, frequent trips to the fields at night or in scorching heat and even dangers such as snake and scorpion bites. To solve these problems, Ossian Agro Automation developed the revolutionary device Nano Ganesh.

Farmers attach the Nano Ganesh device to their existing starter, which allows them to control pump sets remotely. By dialling the number of their Nano Ganesh unit and entering a simple on/off code, farmers can switch the pump on or off. The system works with any existing electrical starter and motor pump, so farmers do not need to replace their current setup. For pumps with higher horsepower, the device integrates easily with protective systems.

A few key features of Nano Ganesh are mentioned below:

  1. The pump can be operated from any distance using a mobile phone or landline.
  2. A mobile network connection is required near the pump location.
  3. Users can check the availability of electricity at the pump site.
  4. The on/off status of the pump can be confirmed through an audio tone.
  5. Both automatic and remote operation modes are supported.
  6. The system includes memory to store on/off commands.

Changing the Lives of Indian Farmers

Santosh Ostwal’s innovation transformed the lives of 400,000 farmers through more than 50,000 installations. The device created a remarkable impact, especially in Maharashtra. Farmers started using their mobile phones to control water pumps, marking a major ICT breakthrough in the telecom sector during 2003–04. The device also created self-employment opportunities for more than 5,000 technicians. The initiative expanded into advanced GSM-based products designed to address challenges in village and urban drinking water supply, enhanced further with analytics and cloud-enabled features.

Earning Recognition

Over the years, Nano Ganesh and its creator, Santosh Ostwal, earned several prestigious international honours. Nokia named him the Grand Winner for emerging markets in its Innovation Competition (2009). GSMA, MWC, recognised Nano Ganesh among the top seven mobile applications worldwide for socio-economic impact. In California, USA (2011), he received the Tech Award Laureate. He also won the MBillionth South Asian Award (2012) and the FICCI-DST Lockheed Martin Award under the India Innovation Growth Program. The Katerva Award, USA, nominated him in the materials resources category.

Major national and international television networks such as DD1, ET NOW, Times Now, BBC, Japan TV, FRANCE 24, STAR PLUS and NDTV featured his work. Respected publications also chronicled Santosh’s entrepreneurial journey, including The Chicken Soup for the Soul series, The Economist (London), UNFAO, World Bank reports, Agriculture Robot (a high-value reference book), GIZ Germany, and USAID.

The Future

India now enters the early stages of Agriculture 4.0, a new era of farming powered by advanced technology in the fields. By 2025, farming will run on an integrated data-driven ecosystem. Tools like smart sensors, drones, satellite monitoring and AI-powered analytics will support farmers of every scale, from smallholders in villages to large agribusinesses. These tools will help farmers make better decisions, improve food security and build farming systems strong enough to withstand climate change.

As digital solutions spread across rural India, crop yields and productivity will rise. At the same time, sustainability will take centre stage, with digital carbon tracking, efficient resource use and transparent supply chains shaping the sector. Farmers will also gain empowerment through digital platforms, blockchain-based traceability and easier access to financial resources, helping bridge long-standing inequalities.

With continuous advances in IoT, AI and satellite technologies, Indian agriculture will face global challenges such as the changing climate, population growth and resource scarcity with greater confidence. The road ahead promises a farming sector that is smarter, greener and more inclusive, a truly data-driven transformation whose moment has already arrived.

– Chhahat Kaur Gandhi

Chhahat is based in New Delhi, India and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Female Farmers in Bangladesh

Farmers in BangladeshBangladesh is on the frontline of the climate crisis, with rising seas, stronger cyclones and frequent floods threatening lives and livelihoods, especially along its low-lying coast. Rapid urbanization and economic growth add further pressure to vulnerable communities.

Yet, amid these challenges, stories of resilience shine through. Women like Koruna and Asma lead climate-smart farming and sustainable honey production. They prove innovative, eco-friendly livelihoods can protect the environment, support families and strengthen communities against adverse climate.

Bangladesh’s Climate Crisis

The coast of Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of extreme weather events, such as rising sea levels, which pose a significant threat to the nation’s development. These risks are intensified by natural disasters like the recent widespread floods, which continue to disrupt livelihoods and infrastructure. As Bangladesh rapidly urbanizes rural areas and develops hundreds of economic zones, water, energy and transportation demand surge.

The country also aims to capitalize on the “blue economy” by harnessing ocean resources for growth. However, these ambitions place additional environmental and social pressure on coastal communities already facing loss and damage from rising temperatures. Managing these climate risks has become central to Bangladesh’s development strategy, especially as tropical cyclones alone cost the country an estimated $1 billion annually.

By 2050, climate variability could cause the loss of one-third of agricultural gross domestic product (GDP), a serious concern, given that agriculture employs nearly half of the workforce. Additionally, around 13.3 million people may be forced to migrate internally over the next 30 years due to climate-driven impacts, disproportionately affecting women. The country’s GDP could fall by up to 9% in extreme scenarios, such as severe flooding. As environmental degradation and disaster costs continue to rise, Bangladesh faces mounting challenges that require urgent, sustainable solutions.

Honey Farming

Koruna, Bangladesh’s only female honey farmer, has turned her passion into a profitable and honourable livelihood, earning recognition nationwide. After attending a three-day boot camp in Bagerhat, she gained valuable knowledge on green, environmentally friendly business practices. She learned to avoid harmful materials like plastic and to understand sustainable production’s environmental and economic benefits.

The training also equipped her with marketing and pricing skills and strategies for selling products at stalls. Today, honey farming has transformed Koruna’s life: she has built her own home and another for her husband entirely from her business earnings. Her daughter and son-in-law now work alongside her. For Koruna, this venture provides financial stability and meets her family’s needs and brings immense pride in her role as a pioneering, environmentally responsible entrepreneur.

Female Farmers in Bangladesh

In the climate-vulnerable district of Bagerhat in southern Bangladesh, 37-year-old Asma’s life transformed after joining Concern’s Collective Responsibility, Action and Accountability for Improved Nutrition (CRAIIN) project in 2020. Over two days of hands-on training, she gained the skills and resources to start climate-smart farming, along with half a kilogram of earthworms, two compost rings, a compost slab, saplings and four types of seeds.

Using vermicompost she now produces, Asma has grown a thriving garden, improving her family’s diet and income. “My life changed totally after starting with the farming compost. Now I can afford education for my children,” she says. The benefits extend beyond her household.

CRAIIN has boosted community agriculture, strengthened water, sanitation and hygiene practices and enhanced nutrition knowledge. Local households now trade vegetables and other products, fostering resilience and economic opportunity. As a lead farmer connected to 400 households, Asma trains others in vermicompost production and climate-resilient cultivation. She ensures the project’s impact ripples across the community and sees female farmers prosper in Bangladesh.

Final Remarks

Bangladesh’s fight against adverse weather is also a story of resilience and innovation. Through ventures like Koruna’s honey farming and Asma’s climate-smart agriculture, communities adapt, protect the environment and boost local economies as farmers prosper in Bangladesh. Their leadership shows real change comes from policy and empowering people to drive sustainable solutions.

– Phoebe Guildford

Phoebe is based in Cardiff, Wales and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Threats and Solutions To Crop Farming in Uganda

Crop Farming in UgandaUganda is located in East-Central Africa. It is a landlocked country, with the Democratic Republic of Congo to its west, South Sudan to its north, Tanzania to its south and Kenya to its east. Uganda is resource-rich, but relatively underserved. Its GDP per capita was $1,072 in 2024, which places the country at 196 in the world for this measurement.

Farming in Uganda

Crop farming in Uganda is a major sector. About 80% of Uganda’s land is arable, but only 35% is cultivated. Agriculture remains vital, accounting for nearly 25% of the country’s GDP.” Environmental factors are intrinsic to crop farming and in recent years, these factors have become unpredictable and extreme.

Since smallholder farmers are some of the most impoverished members of Ugandan society and often rely on every harvest for their sustenance and livelihoods, the increasing environmental challenges can become a real problem.

Maize and beans are two essential crops in Uganda. While they do not rank in the top five for exports, they are significant domestic foods and cash crops. Both crops are facing new environmental challenges and the solutions demonstrate the resilience and dynamism of the Ugandan agricultural community.

Better Beans for Ugandans

Beans are vital to Uganda, providing nourishment for its people. However, rising droughts and unpredictable rainfall threaten harvests, putting the country’s most vulnerable smallholder farmers at risk.

Dr. Clare Mukankusi is a Ugandan plant researcher at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). She is a firm believer in the importance of beans as a foundation of Ugandan life, having grown up on them herself. Through selective crossbreeding, Mukankusi has been developing a new type of bean that matures in two months, rather than the three to four months taken by traditional beans.

This will make them much more likely to survive an unpredictable and shorter growing season. As this new breed of bean is further developed and eventually distributed across Uganda, it will help secure the future of crop farming in the country. It offers vulnerable smallholders a crucial advantage in facing an increasingly challenging environment.

Fighting the Armyworm Threat

Pests have always been an issue in Uganda, but pesticidal chemicals were a clear solution. The armyworm, in particular, threatens maize, an important food, cash crop and export crop on which many smallholder farmers depend. However, the armyworm is becoming increasingly pesticide-resistant, forcing farmers to adapt and find new ways to keep the pest at bay:

  • Parasites: Introducing certain parasites that feed on armyworm larvae can help control their population. If managed carefully, this could become an effective mitigation method.
  • Planting techniques: Deep ploughing and strict management of crop residue after harvest can reduce pest survival.
  • Crop rotation: Regularly rotating maize with other crops can disrupt pest life cycles and lower infestation risks.

These techniques have the potential to counter pest threat without increasing chemical potency, which many farmers have had to do in the interim. While effective, this is not sustainable. Scientists from multiple institutions warn that overuse damages soil health in the long term and accelerates pest resistance.

The Need for Government Action

Many Ugandan environmental scientists agree that their government must become more involved in crop farming in Uganda. As mentioned, increased potency of pesticides has risks to human and environmental health and risks of further pest-resistance.

Dr. Kalyebi, the lead author of armyworm research in Uganda, stated that the government needs to educate farmers on the dangers of chemical mitigation and fund different solutions, such as those aforementioned. It is widely agreed upon that the Ugandan government should recognize the importance of maize farming, particularly farming and invest in research and subsidies.

Conclusion

Crop farming in Uganda is vital to the country’s economy and people. The underserved depend on good harvests to survive and environmental factors such as droughts and pests directly threaten them. However, the determination of the Ugandan people to find ways around these problems is remarkable and one can hope that the government will match these efforts.

– Oliver Evans

Oliver is based in Winkleigh, Devon, UK and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr