Agriculture Fashion

People do not always associate agriculture with the fashion industry, but the reality is they are closely linked. Most textiles and clothing are derived from agriculture. When visiting other countries often the textile and clothing curriculum and training is a part of agricultural education. Linked below is a video (4 minutes) that explains how women in the country of Kyrgyzstan are thriving due to a unique partnership. We encourage you to watch the linked video and explore the discussion points with others around the globe. 

Kyrgyz mountain women collaborate with fashion designer Stella Jean

Discussion Points

• What stuck out to you from the imagery in the video regarding agriculture? What challenges would the countries terrain present? What benefits could it present? 
• Do you believe this project structure provided a win for all groups and individuals involved? Explain your thoughts.
• This video showcased a creative approach to turn a supply chain into a value chain. Where else could this be applied within agriculture locally and globally?

Empowering Women in Agriculture

 Women are essential to the success of agriculture, but yet face many boundaries and challenges in agriculture. At the Borlaug Dialogue as part of the World Food Prize last week H.E. Gilbert Houngbo (President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development) shared the following, "If women were to have the same productive resources, in agriculture, as men we would have 150 million less people suffering from malnutrition and hunger." Below is a video that was shared a couple days ago by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations celebrating International Rural Women's Day. We encourage you to watch the video linked below and utilize the discussion points to guide your conversations around the globe. 

Pakistan International Rural Women's Day

Discussion Points

• What did you notice from the video? Could be visual footage or text.
• What is your main takeaway from the video? What surprised you or did not surprise you?
• What role do women play in agriculture in your local area? What are the attitudes towards women in agriculture in your local area? Compare and contrast women's roles in agriculture from different parts of the world.
• It what ways can women in agriculture be empowered locally and globally? 
• As the woman in the video asks, "What do you say?"

Clam Harvest in Tunisia's Gulf of Gabes

Harvesting clams is no easy task. It is early mornings and intensive labor. The video linked below tells the story of women harvesting clams in Tunisia's Gulf of Gabes. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the world.

Backs bent, but chins held high

Discussion Points 

• Explain clam harvest in this region. What are challenges that are faced?
• Identify the different Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are addressed in this video and why they are important. Click here to view SDGs
• What can be done to expand the successes highlighted in this video and keep moving forward?
• Agriculture is very diverse and different around the globe. Do individuals in agriculture within your home region face the same challenges as those highlighted in the video? How are challenges similar and different in Tunisia's Gulf of Gabes and your home region?

Agriculture Change in Small Island Developing States

Natural disasters, climate change, and numerous other challenges face many small island developing states such as the Comoros, Cabo Verde, Samoa, and others. Through many programs farmers and producers in these small island developing states are looking for opportunities in agriculture to improve the livelihoods of citizens within the country. Linked below is an article that highlights initiatives in small island developing states around the globe and includes a video highlighting the fishing industry in Cabo Verde. We encourage you to read the linked article, view the short video, and utilize the discussion points below to engage in conversations with others around the globe!

Something to Crow About in the Comoros

Discussion Points

• What are some of the major challenges facing small island developing states? 
• What initiatives are being implemented around the globe to help farmers in small island developing states? Of all the initiatives mentioned which do you feel has the greatest potential and why?
• What additional initiatives would you like to see implemented and why would they be beneficial?
• After viewing the video "Our Islands, Our Oceans - Cabo Verde," what do you see as the biggest challenge facing the island and what do you see as the best potential solutions? Explain your thoughts.

Water is Life

Water is life. This is truly illustrated in the cisterns for the Sahel project through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Below we have linked a video that explains this program and how it is impacting farmers production, families, and way of life. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points below to guide your conversations around the globe.

Empowering Women Through Access to Water

Discussion Points

• What piece of information surprised you the most from the video?
• How does water empower people?
• What do you feel could be done to improve this program even farther? How do you accomplish this?
• What can you learn from this video that could impact your local community where you live?