Archive for category: Agriculture

, ,

Building Opportunity: Agriculture and Education in Burundi

Education in BurundiIn the heart of East Africa lies Burundi, a small, landlocked nation bordered by Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Beneath its green hills and tranquil lakes, however, Burundi faces persistent poverty driven by decades of instability, underdeveloped infrastructure and dependence on agriculture. While the country has made progress since its civil conflicts ended, many Burundian families continue to struggle to meet their daily needs.

The Borgen Project spoke with Francine Nahimana, a 25-year-old woman from rural Gitega, to learn more about how these challenges shape the lives of ordinary citizens and what solutions are helping Burundians rise above hardship. “People here are hardworking, but without opportunities and support, it is difficult to move forward,” Nahimana said.

Historical Impact

Burundi’s history of ethnic and political conflict has left deep social and economic scars. During years of unrest, schools and hospitals closed, families fled their land and many professionals left the country in search of stability. These years disrupted entire generations.

According to UNICEF, conflict forced thousands of children out of school, leading to widespread illiteracy and unemployment in later years. Many displaced families lost farmland, the backbone of Burundi’s economy and still face disputes over land ownership today. Nahimana explained that her community is still rebuilding: “Some people my age never had the chance to learn to read or write. That affects jobs today; many adults are still trying to catch up.”

Agricultural Impact

According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), roughly 80% of Burundians depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Yet recurring droughts, soil erosion and limited access to modern tools continue to reduce yields and income. In rural Gitega, most families tend small plots of maize, beans or cassava.

Nahimana said that when rains fail, families cut back to one meal a day and ration food to children first. For many households, farming remains a matter of survival rather than a source of profit. The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that more than half of Burundians face chronic food insecurity, highlighting the connection between environmental vulnerability and poverty.

Efforts to improve irrigation systems and promote climate-resilient crops have begun in parts of the country, offering hope that communities can protect both livelihoods and nutrition in the coming years.

Education in Burundi

Education in Burundi is both a challenge and a solution to poverty. According to UNESCO, while primary enrollment rates have increased, completion rates remain low, especially for girls. Families often struggle to afford school uniforms, materials or the long commute to secondary schools.

Nahimana recalled walking nearly an hour each day to reach class. “My parents believed girls should be educated, but many of my friends left school early to help at home or marry young,” she said. The lack of consistent schooling limits access to formal employment, leaving many young people dependent on subsistence farming.

Expanding access to education and vocational training in Burundi could empower citizens to pursue alternative livelihoods and break cycles of poverty.

Health Impact

Health care in Burundi remains fragile, especially in rural areas, where clinics are understaffed and medical supplies are scarce. For low-income families, medical costs can be devastating. When illness strikes, adults often lose workdays and children miss school, creating new obstacles to economic stability.

Nahimana said that even minor illnesses can send families into debt: “If someone gets sick, we borrow money to buy medicine and then the next month we can’t buy fertilizer or seeds.” Expanding community clinics and enhancing maternal and child health programs could prevent minor health issues from escalating into cycles of poverty.

Youth and Governance Impact

Burundi’s population is predominantly young; according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25. This generation holds the potential to transform the country if provided with stable jobs and inclusive governance.

After years of instability, trust in institutions is slowly returning. National peacebuilding efforts, supported by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, aim to strengthen transparency and civic participation. Nahimana believes young people are ready to lead: “We are not defined by poverty, we are defined by perseverance. With education and opportunity, we can create a better future.”

Future Impact

Burundi’s challenges remain immense, but progress is possible. Investments in sustainable agriculture, affordable health care and education, particularly for girls, could significantly reduce poverty over the next decade. The World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) continue to partner with Burundi to improve rural infrastructure, access to credit and food security.

These long-term projects, paired with community-level resilience, aim to ensure that economic growth reaches every hill and valley. As Nahimana’s story shows, hope endures in Burundi’s hills. Each classroom that stays open, each seed that survives a dry season and each young woman who completes her education brings the nation one step closer to lasting prosperity.

– Katie Williams

Katie is based in the United Kingdom and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

,

Zimbabwe’s Blueberry Industry Signal a Healthier Future

Zimbabwe’s BlueberryZimbabweans have endured economic hardship over the past two decades, owing to a series of economic shocks and severe hyperinflation that have crippled livelihoods and income. Consequently, just under 10 million Zimbabweans live on less than $4.20 a day in an economy deeply susceptible to climate shocks due to its dependence on agriculture.

However, geopolitical relations and community-based projects have paved the way for a potential solution to help alleviate poverty—blueberries. Zimbabwe’s blueberry industry is becoming an increasingly prevalent market, helping to provide domestic relief and boost international trade as the country embarks on a long journey toward stability.

Zimbabwe Embracing Horticulture

Long reliant on tobacco exports, Zimbabwe is now looking to diversify its agricultural output, and blueberries have emerged as a promising and potentially lucrative product. Crucial to this development are ongoing talks with China, the world’s largest importer of the fruit, which could help Zimbabwe strengthen its position in the blueberry market currently led by Peru.

Gaining access to China’s lucrative market would help capitalize on Zimbabwe’s positive trajectory in horticulture, a trend that saw blueberry exports increase by 13% despite the presence of El Niño hindering economic growth. This growth is modest compared to future projections. Zimbabwe’s blueberry production is expected to rise by 50%, and this domestic expansion, combined with growing international markets, offers hope to local communities that this renewed interest in horticulture can improve food security and provide vital sources of employment.

Importance of Local Produce

While international trade deals will help boost macroeconomic stability in a nation facing stagnant growth and debt issues, job creation within the blueberry sector is equally significant. The industry creates approximately 6,000 jobs, most of them held by women who are increasingly becoming the main earners in their households. The sector also provides opportunities for young farmers, as more farm managers recruit trainees focused on blueberry production—creating employment in communities that disproportionately suffer from Zimbabwe’s high unemployment rate.

Zimbabwe’s poverty reduction strategy has been hindered by an overreliance on low-productivity agriculture, a sector further strained by climate events such as El Niño. The phenomenon caused a severe drought and left up to 7.6 million Zimbabweans at risk of acute hunger, yet the continued growth of blueberries during this crisis period highlights their potential to transform the country’s low-production agricultural cycle.

While the government lacks a funding framework that effectively supports people suffering from food insecurity, agri-entrepreneurs have stepped in to fill the gap. Admire Moyo developed the Goho learning app for young farmers, providing e-learning resources on climate resilience to help combat the effects of climate change. The app offers real-time updates on prices in central fruit and vegetable markets and helps farmers adapt to economic and climate shocks—factors that have indirectly fostered growth in blueberry production.

Looking Forward

The target for Zimbabwean farmers is to reach 30,000 tons of blueberry production by 2030, aiming to capitalize on the lucrative Chinese market. While the current trajectory is promising, insufficient funding structures risk undermining the progress of Zimbabwean farms working to alleviate local poverty through improved food security and employment opportunities.

– Oscar McClintock

Oscar is based in Cambridge, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Uganda’s PARKS Project: Poverty Alleviation and Conservation

Poverty Alleviation and ConservationIn Uganda’s Kibale National Park (NP), the international nongovernmental organization (NGO), Village Enterprise, has introduced a highly successful scheme combining poverty alleviation methods with environmental conservation. In Uganda’s western regions, poverty is lower than the national average at 11.4%, though the region is one of Uganda’s most unequal, with the majority of the poor situated in rural areas. To improve the lives of those in extreme poverty and simultaneously strengthen environmental protection, a hybrid solution had to be implemented.

Kibale National Park

Kibale NP is situated in the west of Uganda. This region struggles with inequality, with a Gini coefficient of 0.33, a figure that rises to 0.39 for children, demonstrating the gulf between urban and rural populations. The national park contains 13 different primate species, including one of the largest chimpanzee populations in the world, more than 120 mammal species and 370 varieties of birds. Given the park’s immense biodiversity, local residents are dependent on its resources, often leading to confrontation between human activity and endangered wildlife.

Combining Poverty Alleviation and Conservation

Combining poverty alleviation and conservation is a challenging task, as economic development often depends on the exploitation of natural resources. Acknowledging this, Village Enterprise announced the PARKS initiative in 2021, an acronym for the Poverty Alleviation and Removal of Kibale Snares project.

The project, funded since 2024 by the Arcus Foundation and in collaboration with the Ngogo Chimpanzee Project, has two distinct but connected goals: to reduce the incidence of extreme poverty within the national park and to ensure the protection of Kibale NP’s endangered chimpanzee population.

The key to this initiative was accepting that poverty alleviation and conservation are intertwined. In areas like Kibale NP, people living in extreme poverty are forced to rely on the natural world for economic stability, often engaging in harmful practices such as the illegal harvesting of bushmeat and timber. Programs aimed at reducing these activities, or punishing those engaged in them, have often had the unintended effect of pushing the local population further into poverty.

To tackle this issue, the PARKS program focuses on providing entrepreneurial training centered on local, sustainable micro-enterprises. Village Enterprise provides startup funding as well as mentorship to ensure local residents are freed from the pressure to engage in poaching and illegal logging. PARKS also encourages the formation of Business Savings Groups, allowing new business owners to pool their savings and provide a financial safety net for future entrepreneurs. Alongside this, PARKS offers additional training to selected entrepreneurs, creating “Conservation Champions” who encourage and advise others on sustainable business practices.

Results So Far

Through the PARKS initiative, Village Enterprise has provided training to more than 5,500 entrepreneurs, more than 65% of whom are women. This has led to the creation of 1,838 sustainable micro-businesses, positively impacting the lives of more than 20,000 people within the national park. These businesses include retail shops, small-scale agricultural projects, tailoring, cobbling, beekeeping, agroforestry and innovative solutions such as energy-efficient stoves for everyday cooking.

These businesses have reduced dependence on poaching and have helped families afford school fees and improve nutrition. On the conservation side, 90 Conservation Champions have been trained, providing further instruction to members of their local communities. Since the project’s implementation, Kibale NP has observed a significant reduction in illegal human activity within the park. As of April 2025, anti-poaching patrols funded directly by the PARKS project have led to the removal of 445 illegal snares, in addition to the more than 800 snares removed under the project as a whole.

Opportunities for Further Implementation

The benefits of the PARKS project extend beyond the boundaries of Kibale NP. It is an exemplary model of how to combine poverty alleviation and conservation, not only within Uganda, where human-animal conflict is common in several national parks, but also globally.

By encouraging a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem alongside environmental protection, the project contributes directly to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): goal 1 (No Poverty), goal 2 (Zero Hunger), goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and goal 15 (Life on Land). Indirectly, the scheme also addresses goal 5 (Gender Equality) through its focus on empowering women.

– Henry Weiser

Henry is based in Cornwall, UK and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

,

Reducing Food Waste for Smallholder Farmers in India

Smallholder Farmers in IndiaNearly half of India’s workforce makes a living in agriculture. For years, the country has been facing a two-fold, paradoxical crisis. India ranks 105th out of 127 countries on the Global Hunger Index (GHI), with approximately 14% of the population undernourished. At the same time, while millions go hungry, India loses roughly $17.7 billion worth of crops and produce each year post-harvest. That figure amounts to about 22% of the nation’s total food grain output, or around 74 million tons of food, going to waste annually.

Challenges for Smallholder Farmers

Of all India’s farmers, about 86% are classified as smallholder farmers, meaning they own less than two hectares of land. Many smallholder farmers harvest primarily fruits and vegetables rather than large quantities of grain, which are far more vulnerable to post-harvest spoilage. Unlike larger farmers, smallholders rarely have the financial resources or access to cold storage, warehouses or proper transportation and packaging. Without that infrastructure, their crops spoil quickly, forcing them to sell right after harvest. That dependence on immediate sales often means accepting much lower prices to move their produce.

Technology as a Solution

The introduction of emerging technology has enabled smallholders in India to move away from inevitable waste and toward increased food security and improved livelihoods. From solar-powered cold storage that extends the shelf life of vegetables by a few weeks to portable preservation dryers that keep fruit fresh without chemicals and IoT devices that maintain freshness during transport, innovators around the world are tailoring solutions to address the challenges faced by India’s smallholder farmers. These tools are not just reducing spoilage; they give farmers more control over their lives and allow them to dictate when and how they sell their crops.

Ecozen’s Solar Cold Storage

Ecozen is a climate tech company that provides solar-powered solutions for agriculture and other sectors. The company teamed up with the SELCO Foundation and Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives (CInI) to help farmers in India reduce food waste and increase the shelf life of their produce. In Meghalaya, a state in Northeast India, the company installed 10 Ecofrost solar-powered cold rooms, totaling a pre-cooling capacity of 5,000 kg and a cold storage capacity of 50 metric tons.

Ecofrost is a solar-powered cold storage system designed to operate entirely off-grid, featuring a built-in backup that lasts up to 30 hours without requiring batteries. It primarily relies on solar energy but can also switch to an electrical grid or generator when needed. Powered by Ecozen’s artificial intelligence (AI) and internet of things (IoT) platform, Ecofrost enables farmers to monitor their cold rooms remotely. Farmers simply select the type and weight of produce, and the system automatically adjusts to the ideal storage conditions using pre-programmed data and recommendations.

Saptkrishi’s Portable Sabjikothi Units

While Ecofrost focuses primarily on large-scale solar cold rooms, Saptkrishi is another company taking a more modular approach with its Sabjikothi units. These portable, solar-powered chambers create a controlled microclimate that keeps fruits and vegetables fresh for weeks, eliminating the need for refrigeration or chemicals. They can be mounted on carts or set up in village markets, providing small farmers and vendors with a convenient way to store and sell their produce as needed. With built-in IoT monitoring and minimal maintenance, Sabjikothi offers smallholder farmers in India a flexible, low-cost solution to post-harvest food loss in places where traditional cold storage like Ecofrost is not practical.

S4S Technologies and Women Entrepreneurs

S4S Technologies has also joined the fight against food waste for smallholder farms in India, with an added emphasis on the gender dimension. Roughly 75% of women in India work in agriculture and related industries, which leaves them in a particularly vulnerable position in the wake of food waste.

S4S empowers smallholder farmers and women micro-entrepreneurs in rural India with solar-powered food dehydrators. The company purchases lower-grade, rejected produce from smallholder farmers and delivers it to micro-entrepreneurs who dehydrate it in their solar-powered dryers. This method is more cost-effective and energy-efficient than conventional industrial food preservation techniques.

Once the dehydrated products are sent to a packaging facility, they can be sold to large-scale production companies and food service providers. To maintain quality standards, S4S employs village-level coordinators who train the micro-entrepreneurs on quality expectations. Participants are guaranteed fair compensation and receive a fixed fee per kilogram of dried product. This company’s mission and technology contribute not only to the reduction of food waste and increased income but also to the development of micro-businesses and female empowerment in India.

A Hopeful Future for India’s Farmers

For the millions of smallholder farmers in India, every harvest once felt like a gamble. With help from emerging technologies like solar-powered cold storage, IoT monitoring and portable dryers, smallholder farmers in India are now able to preserve their produce and control when and how they choose to sell it. These innovations do more than reduce waste — they are giving farmers a chance to regain autonomy, earn more money, feed more people and move away from inevitable loss toward hopeful opportunity.

– Kaitlin Reed

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

Photo: Pexels

, ,

Farming for Peace: SDG 2 in Colombia

SDG 2 in ColombiaSDG 2 is a development goal set by the U.N. to create a “world free of hunger by 2030.” Global food insecurity has been increasing alarmingly since 2015, caused by factors like the pandemic, war and deepening global wealth inequality. The U.N. reports that in 2023, 2.3 billion people faced food insecurity, increasing from 383 million in 2019.

As promoted by the U.N., SDG 2 requires coordinated national efforts to alleviate hunger. Reform and investment in sectors such as agriculture and farming can break rural poverty cycles by offering employment, opportunity and building food security during disasters and violence.

Colombia’s Poverty Problem

Despite Colombia’s status as an upper-middle-income country, food insecurity and poverty are critical issues, particularly in rural areas. The World Food Programme (WFP) reported that in 2025, 25% of the population is food insecure. Many rural Colombians rely on farming to make a living.

Yet, structural challenges and the prevalence of drug production often make this livelihood unstable. As the Colombian Council of Ministers stated, 1% of landowners control the Casa de Nariño, 65% of fertile farming land. Lower-income farmers are often given no legal or formal recognition of their lands.

Due to Colombia’s terrain, many farming communities are remote, with limited infrastructure, investment and access to opportunities. Faced with this, many Colombians become trapped in the cycle of growing the more accessible and demanded coca plant, used to make cocaine, as an option for survival. Coca displaces crops, reduces local food availability and deepens drug-related violence and displacement, contributing to the cycle of food insecurity and poverty.

Creating Change

Introduced in February 2025, President Gustavo commenced the initiative “Pact for Land and Life: Revolution for Life.” It addresses inequalities and promotes rural livelihoods through agricultural reform and farming. The pact focuses on land redistribution and the eradication of coca production.

The program offers farmers financial incentives to transition to sustainable crops such as coffee, sugarcane and livestock. Transition is assisted with technical training, funding and equipment, with some towns requiring infrastructure such as new roads to improve market access. This promotes food security by giving farmers the dignity and opportunity to start again, earn money more safely and trade within the law.

This creates a stronger relationship between rural farmers and the government, boosting the likelihood of further investment and infrastructure in rural communities. It would also stop the prevalence of drug production and the associated violence that it brings.

While the threat of drug violence, difficulties in accessing remote regions and the challenge of generating adequate funding have slowed government plans, nonprofit organizations such as Mercy Corps have stepped in. They provide essential support in alleviating food insecurity.

The Work of Mercy Corps

Since 2005, Mercy Corps has worked in Colombia to tackle the root of coca cultivation, focusing on sustainable agriculture, land formalization and economic inclusion. In rural, impoverished and conflict-affected regions like Catatumbo, where farmers are forced to rely on coca to get by, Mercy Corps helps farmers transition to legal and sustainable forms of income.

Through initiatives such as ALGO Nuevo, more than 3,000 farmers have replaced more than 1,800 hectares of coca with crops such as coffee and yucca. The charity also works alongside the National Land Agency and local governments to develop marginalized groups’ property rights and reduce land formalization costs.

Conclusion

The effect of agricultural focus on reform in Colombia shows the potential of farming in alleviating food insecurity and achieving SDG 2. Land redistribution, coca eradication and training have provided invaluable socioeconomic opportunities to the nation’s most marginalized and vulnerable groups. It builds greater stability, promotes peace and builds resistance to occurrences of violence and displacement, as well as facilitating individuals to have dignified work.

Colombia serves as a case study for the coordinated efforts required for SDG 2 and how farming unlocks a new reality for some of the world’s most impoverished and remote communities.

– Mia Keen

Mia is based in London, UK and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

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

, ,

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

, ,

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

, ,

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

,

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