Agriculture

To Prevent Malaria in Humans, Scientists Try Protecting Pigs

Thu, 2015-11-05 18:58 — Carrielaj

New York TImes, November 2, 2015

Turning everyone in a village into a walking mosquito bomb, many scientists agree, could stop or slow transmission of malaria, yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and other diseases. Read complete article in the link below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/03/health/to-prevent-malaria-in-humans-scientists-try-protecting-pigs.html?_r=1&WT.mc_id=SmartBriefs-Newsletter&WT.mc_ev=click

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Food Security in West Africa

Wed, 2015-08-26 01:16 — Kathy Gilbeaux

From WFP and FAO . . .

FAO – July 2015 – Food and nutrition situation at the beginning of the hunger gap period and agricultural outlook in the Sahel and West Africa (see number 5)
http://www.fao.org/emergencies/resources/documents/resources-detail/en/c/296696/

FAO – Sierra Leone – Food Security and Safety
http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/index/en/?iso3=SLE&paia=2

FAO in Emergencies – Sierra Leone (see list of reports at the bottom)
http://www.fao.org/emergencies/countries/detail/en/c/161501/

FAO – Liberia – Food Security and Safety
http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/index/en/?iso3=LBR&paia=2

FAO in Emergencies – Liberia (see list of reports at the bottom)
http://www.fao.org/emergencies/countries/detail/en/c/161431/

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How West Africa is ramping up food security after Ebola outbreak

Thu, 2015-07-30 13:24 — mike kraft

Countries in West Africa and the international community are teaming up to fight Ebola's lingering effects on food security and agriculture.

Volunteers distribute food at a World Food Programme storage center in Monrovia October 16, 2014. Almost a year after the Ebola outbreak garnered strength in West Africa, countries in that region and the international community are teaming up to fight the disease's lingering effects on food security and agriculture. James Giahyue/Reuters/File

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR by Clare Algozin July 29, 2015

As the death toll of EVD rose, West African countries began to experience labor shortages, and many fields of crops went unharvested, according to U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). As part of the measures to prevent the spread of EVD, many West African governments established quarantine zones and restricted the movements of people.

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Rural women’s groups in peacebuilding activities

Sat, 2015-07-04 15:10 — Maeryn Obley

Women at a VSLA meeting in Barkedu.

Image: Women at a VSLA meeting in Barkedu.

fao.org - June 25th, 2015

FAO’s integrated approach of reaching Ebola-hit farmers in Liberia’s Lofa County is bearing increased results not only in crop production, VSLA (village savings and loan associations) revitalization and education in Ebola prevention but the help is also uniting women in peacebuilding, palaver management as well as visiting sick members.

The women associations have transcended the normal call of duty to VSLA and business activities among members to also get involved in other “worthy communal undertakings.” They have expanded shared group engagements to include sympathizing with bereaved members and palaver resolution among aggrieved women.

(VIEW COMPLETE ARTICLE)

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Situation Report: Increase in goat mortality - Diagnosis confirmed

Tue, 2015-06-30 14:15 — John.R.Falco.VMD

Working Draft 0.3 Additional Findings

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Meager Post-Ebola Harvests Worsen Food Insecurity in West Africa

Mon, 2015-06-29 12:53 — Kathy Gilbeaux

Villagers harvest rice in Sierra Leone. Harvesting is often a communal affair in West African nations, but the Ebola crisis interfered with group activities and disrupted many other aspects of agricultural production in the region. Photo credit: ©FAO/Peter DiCampo.

mongabay.com - by Lois Parshley - June 25, 2015

Pedelers Salee Craig used to grow vegetables. Near his home in Monrovia, Liberia, he planted peppers and bitter balls, potatoes and okra. A sturdy 39 year-old man with cheeks etched from former smiles, Craig is passionate and generally optimistic.

But he's not smiling when he talks about the situation in Liberia now. Typically, farmers work to gather crops communally, harvesting together until the season is over. But in 2014, the Ebola crisis restricted travel.

"Everyone was afraid of each other," Craig said. Mandatory government quarantines trapped people within their homes. As the disease spread, fields went unharvested and soon lay fallow.

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Situation Report: Increase in goat mortality Lofa County

Tue, 2015-06-23 16:17 — John.R.Falco.VMD

Working Draft 0.2 Preliminary Findings

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Concern: Infectious Disease Outbreak in Ruminants (goats and sheep)

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Cadre Harmonisé for Identification of Areas and Populations in Food Insecurity in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone

Thu, 2015-03-19 02:19 — Kathy Gilbeaux

fao.org - March 2015

CLICK HERE - Cadre Harmonisé for Identification of Areas and Populations in Food Insecurity in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone (5 page .PDF file)

Overview

In March 2014, the first Ebola virus disease (EVD) case was confirmed in Guinea and quickly spread to the neighbouring countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia. In September, the EVD outbreak was declared a global emergency by the UN assembly and national governments in the region, resulting in the implementation of measures to contain the outbreak including border and market closures, road blocks and quarantines. The measures and behaviours related to the outbreak directly disrupted many economic activities leading to major economic losses in almost all sectors.

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As Ebola Virus Outbreak Slows, World Bank To Send $15M In Aid To Prevent Food Crises

Fri, 2015-02-13 23:06 — mike kraft

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES by Kathleen Caulderwood Feb. 12., 2015

The worst Ebola outbreak in history is slowing down, but the affected countries are only beginning an economic struggle that could last for years.

Just as the U.S. recalled its troops from West Africa, the World Bank pledged millions of dollars in emergency aid to avoid a food crisis that could leave millions starving.

“Agriculture is the lifeline of the economies of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone,” Makhtar Diop, the World Bank's vice president for Africa, said in a Thursday statement.

“By speeding supplies of urgently needed seeds of major food crops to communities in West Africa, we are jump starting recovery in rural areas and preventing the looming specter of hunger in the countries hardest hit by Ebola.”

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After Ebola: Why Rural Development Matters in a Time of Crisis

Tue, 2015-01-27 03:00 — mike kraft

COMMENTARY: HUFFINGTON POST by Kanayo F. Nwanze President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Jan. 26, 2015

....Now we must begin to look at what happens to the affected communities after Ebola. A food crisis seems increasingly likely to follow in the wake of the epidemic, which has devastated small-scale farmers. Without investment in their long-term development, farming households - and West Africa's future food security - will remain at risk.

Even before the outbreak, the World Food Programme estimated that some 1.7 million people in the region faced food insecurity - defined as a lack of reliable access to sufficient quantities of affordable, nutritious food. As a direct result of Ebola, it is expected that an additional 750,000 to 1.4 million people will become food-insecure by March.

In fact, Ebola has already affected the food supply. Farmers have stayed away from their fields due to illness, fears of infection and quarantines ordered by the authorities - or simply because there is no one left to tend the land....

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