1,721,008 research outputs found
The role of culture in transforming individuals, communities, and agrifood systems: the role of community dialogues of elders
No full textThe Community Dialogue of Elders (CDE) was established under the Agroecology Initiative (AEI) in Zimbabwe to facilitate agroecological transformation by integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) with modern agroecological practices. Led by Biohub Trust in collaboration with CIMMYT, the Initiative aims to leverage the wealth of traditional knowledge possessed by elders, spiritual leaders, and local authorities to foster sustainable agricultural practices, promote social equity, and drive behavior change. The dialogues in Mbire and Murehwa districts focused on key themes such as traditional agricultural practices, governance of natural resources, gender inclusion, intergenerational knowledge transfer, human-wildlife conflict management, and integration of modern agroecological techniques. A carefully structured process was followed to establish the CDE, including stakeholder engagement, agenda-setting, and capacity-building efforts. Traditional leaders, spiritual figures, women, youth, and local government authorities were actively involved to ensure inclusivity and legitimacy. The dialogues emphasized the critical role of cultural practices in fostering ecological stewardship and social cohesion, highlighting rituals such as seed sanctification and rain-making as essential mechanisms for sustaining agroecosystems. The communication plan, developed to support these dialogues ensures that information flows effectively across different levels of governance and community structures. It emphasizes structured engagement, feedback loops, and capacity-building to enhance participation, motivation, and long-term behavior change. Traditional communication methods, complemented by modern tools, were used to disseminate information and gather feedback, ensuring cultural sensitivity and inclusiveness. The CDE aligns with the broader aspirations of the Agroecology Living Landscapes (ALLs) approach by promoting co-design and knowledge integration. The CDE fosters Trust and community buy-in by involving key opinion leaders such as elders and spiritual guides, which are critical for successful agroecological transformation. However, challenges remain, particularly in ensuring greater gender equity and addressing structural barriers faced by women and youth. The findings from the Vision to Action (V2A) report (Sibanda et al., 2024) underscore the importance of leveraging local actors and participatory processes to bridge these gaps and create a more inclusive food system. Key lessons from the CDE process highlight the importance of cultural relevance, stakeholder ownership, and intergenerational knowledge transfer in driving sustainable change. Integrating traditional and modern knowledge systems, policy support, and resource allocation presents an opportunity to scale the Initiative across other communities. The CDE offers a model for promoting socially inclusive, culturally grounded agroecological transitions in Zimbabwe by institutionalizing the dialogues and fostering partnerships between local leaders and government authorities.20 page
Co-creating models with Stakeholder: Challenges and Opportunities related to understanding stakeholder priorities and production objectives? Learnings from Agroecology Initiative in Zimbabwe
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Towards agroecological living landscapes: First experiences from CIMMYT-Zimbabwe
No full textIn Zimbabwe farm inputs are very expensive and climate change impacts are severe. The CGIAR initiative Transformational Agroecology across Food, Land, and Water Systems will build on the agroecological policy framework already in place and on several projects currently promoting agroecological principles. With coordination provided by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the initiative will help build agroecological living landscapes in two territories with contrasting conditions and landscapes. In this video by the CIMMYT team, farmers and partners in these territories share their expectations about diversifying agricultural production through a mixed farming approach and about enhancing their capacity to adapt to climate change.Edith NyikadzinoKumbirai ChimbadzwaMunyaradzi MatongoFelistus HundaDorcas MatangiChristopher GadziraiDouglas Makuvire3:2
Chapter 1. A review of existing knowledge on water use and nutritional water productivity in South Africa
No full textIn South Africa, while the nation is food secure at the national level, a substantial portion of the population lives in poverty and faces food insecurity, particularly in rural areas. The country’s water scarcity, variable rainfall patterns, and unequal distribution of irrigation resources further complicate the issue. Agriculture, which relies heavily on irrigation, is a major water consumer and contributor to food production. Efforts to address these challenges include exploring strategies like rainwater harvesting and improving water productivity in agriculture. The Water Research Commission (WRC) has played a pivotal role in developing innovative solutions to enhance water productivity, focussing on environmentally sensitive approaches and the water–energy–food nexus. Achieving food security in water-scarce regions like South Africa necessitates dynamic institutions, improved water productivity, and sustainable agricultural practices. This chapter emphasises the urgency of addressing these issues to ensure a healthier and more productive life for rural communities while promoting sustainable development and water-based agriculture.1-2
Enhancing water and food security through improved agricultural water productivity: new knowledge, innovations and applications
No full textThis open-access edited book provides a synthesis of knowledge on Water Productivity (WP) and its role in addressing global challenges related to water and food insecurity, as well as climate change. It explores how increasing WP can contribute to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the global South, with a focus on SDG 2, 6, and 12. The volume connects WP with emerging approaches such as the water-energy-food nexus, sustainable food systems, and the circular economy. It features case studies, critical analyses, and meta-analyses that bridge the science-policy-practice interface. The book also delves into WP's relation to global priorities, policies, and the empowerment of vulnerable communities, highlighting the non-negotiable rights to water and food. Governance, policies, and institutions are discussed in the context of enhancing WP in farmer-led irrigation and scaling WP technologies. The book also covers emerging methods for determining WP, assessing linkages to nutrition, health, and well-being, and integrating climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. This is a guide for regional and international experts, professionals, and scholars interested in agricultural water management in the global south. The book has the potential to inform multi-regional and sectoral policies, particularly in Africa, and contribute to sustainable development through better resource management.391 page
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Agronomic assessment of co-designed agroecological technologies and trials in Zimbabwe
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