El Salvador’s Dry Corridor

Travel with us to El Salvador via the video linked below and learn about innovative practices that are empowering farmers in the region. We encourage you to utilize the discussion points below to reflect and engage in conversations with others around the globe. 

El Salvador - Dry Corridor Success

Discussion Points 

• As you watch the video what do you notice about agriculture in the Dry Corridor of El Salvador? What are the similarities and differences regarding agriculture in your home region and in El Salvador?
•  The FAO helped create a cooperative for a small group of farmers in the region. How might this cooperative benefit these farmers? Do farmers in your home region engage with cooperatives? Compare and contrast how cooperatives may be similar or different in your home region and El Salvador. 
• The video mentions the implementation of education and training as a part of the success. Why are trainings and educational opportunities key to development for countries in the Global South?

Egypt Potato Production

Potato production is on the rise in Egypt thanks to a program with Pepsico and USAID. The linked video below provides the story of this project along with the impact that it has had. We invite you to watch the linked video (3.5 minutes) and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the globe with others.

The Potato Expert

Discussion Points

• Faiza shares, "I advise that education is everything and better than any other thing." How was this the case in this situation? How does this comment apply to your life? How do you define education and what does it look like around the globe?
• What did you notice about agriculture from the video? How is it different and similar to agriculture in your home region?
• What was your big take away from this video? What did you learn that could improve something in your life locally and/or globally?  

Agriculture Challenges and Opportunities in Zimbabwe

Travel with us to Zimbabwe via the video linked below from the FAO. We meet Shupa who shares agriculture in Zimbabwe with us along with the challenges and opportunities that farmers face in his region. We encourage you to utilize the discussion points below to connect and discuss with others around the globe.

Zimbabwe: Shupa's Story

Discussion Points

• What stuck out to you from the video and why?
• What are the challenges facing farmers in Zimbabwe? What might be done to turn these challenges into opportunities? Get Creative!
• Watch the video a second time. This time just focus on the images and video footage (first time we often focus on the text and the spoken words). What did you notice this time that you did not before? Discuss your findings with others.

COVID-19 and Kenyan Agriculture

COVID-19 has impacted everyone around the globe including those in Kenya engaged with agriculture. There have certainly been challenges, but also success stories involving innovation and determination. Three stories from around Kenya are shared below. We encourage you to watch all three short videos and engage with others utilizing the discussion points provided. 

Mwatate Smallholder Tomato Farmers

Taveta Smallholder Banana Farmers

Voi Smallholder Farmers and Micro Gardens

Discussion Points

• What are the challenges facing smallholder farmers in Kenya as a result of COVID-19?
• How are smallholder farmers in Kenya being innovative to overcome challenges they are facing due to COVID-19?
• As a result of watching the videos what surprised you? What did you learn? What were your big takeaways?
• Is COVID-19 impacting farmers and agriculture in your home area? How does what you are seeing (or not seeing) in your area relate to the situation in Kenya?

Now is the Time: Agriculture and Our World

We only have one world. An astronaut shares his experiences from space and how his unique perspective has made him look at our world and agriculture differently. We encourage you to watch the short video linked below from the FAO and utilize the discussion points to guide conversations in your classrooms, coffee shops, and communities around the world!

We Only Have One Earth 

Discussion Points

• Of the points shared throughout this video which surprised you the most and why?
• What are your general thoughts after watching this video? Do you agree with all points? Some points? None at all? Justify and explain your responses. Provide support for your views.
• The video mentions that forests, soils, and oceans can be huge "carbon sinks." What does this mean? If you need to do additional research go for it!
• At one point in the video their is a call for action. "Now is the time to take action." What can you do to make a positive impact today where you are at in your life?

Smallholder Farmers Have Huge Impact

More and more we hear about the great impact that smallholder farmers have within agriculture. While we often hear this there is not a lot of information on location, size, and other details relating to smallholder farmers. A recent study from the University of Minnesota is working to provide some of this data. Read through the linked article below and utilize the discussion points to guide conversations in your classrooms, coffee shops, and communities around the world. If you want to dive into the topic deeper the complete study is linked within the article providing further analysis and data.

Map of Farming Households Created

Discussion Points

• There has not been a lot of information/data regarding smallholder farmers in the past. Why do you feel this is the case?
• Why is it important to understand the number, location, and distribution of small farms?
• Study the "Mean Agricultural Area" map provided. What jumps out to you?
• Why are smallholder farmers key to feeding our world?
• This map is a great first step in collecting data and information regarding smallholder farmers. What other information would you like to see collected and why?

Conservation Agriculture in Paraguay

This week we explore an article summarizing a study on conservation agriculture and it's adoption in Paraguay. The study highlights the success and struggles in adoption of conservation agriculture practices within the country. After reading the article use the discussion points below to foster conversation around the globe.

Conservation Agriculture and Smallholder Farmers

Discussion Points

• What has caused small farms in Paraguay to fall behind in conservation agriculture practices?
• On the other side what has aided medium to large farms to find success with conservation agriculture practices?
• What factors can lead to farmers (especially smallholder farmers) being skeptical of conservation agriculture at first?
• What could be done to help farmers transition to conservation agriculture practices with more success?
• What does conservation agriculture look like in your home area? What are the trends?