Afghanistan Agriculture Challenges

Afghanistan has been at the top of newsfeeds as of late with the withdrawal of United States military forces. We have heard about a lot of things happening in and around Afghanistan, but agriculture is one area that has not been focused on heavily with most media sources. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shares the challenges facing around 7 million farmers in Afghanistan in the story linked below. We encourage you to read the linked article and utilize the discussion points provided to guide your conversations with others around the globe.

Drought threatens the livelihoods of 7 million farmers in Afghanistan

Discussion Points

• How is the drought impacting crop farmers in Afghanistan?
• How is the drought impacting livestock farmers in Afghanistan? 
• How might the recent withdrawal of United States military forces from Afghanistan impact farmers in Afghanistan and the challenges they are facing?
• You have just been put in charge of providing assistance to farmers in Afghanistan. What type of assistance will you provide? How will it be delivered? What are considerations you will have to take account for?

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?  

Global Agriculture Data

Data can be a very powerful tool in decision making and management decisions. Some may think that data management concerns are concerns for individuals in the Global North, but this is something that impacts all including those in the Global South. The attached blog highlights the need and concerns for data management and sharing in agriculture at a global level. We invite you to read the linked and utilize the discussion points below to engage with others.

Could a Data Sharing Protocol be Agriculture's Missing Link?

Discussion Points

• One is one thing that you learned or surprised you from the blog?
• Why/how could data sharing potentially have a positive impact on agriculture around the globe? How does this look differently/similarly in different parts of the world? 
• What are the concerns with sharing data in agriculture locally and globally? Are people in your local area open to sharing data?
• What are your suggestions for best practices in sharing agriculture data globally? Explain your reasoning. 

Conservation Agriculture in Mozambique

Farmers in Mozambique are implementing conservation agriculture practices and finding great success. A video linked below from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations highlights a project that is increasing conservation agriculture projects. We encourage you to watch the linked video and utilize the discussion points to engage with others around the globe!

Scaling up conservation agriculture in Mozambique

Discussion Points

• What surprised you most from the video and why?
• Describe the three principles of conservation agriculture shared in the video?
• Are these principles that are just useful in Mozambique or are they principles that could be useful in your home region as well? Explain your reasoning/thoughts.
• Are there other best practices shared from the video that could be implemented in other parts of the world? If so, what practices and where? Could you adapt some best practices shared to have even a greater impact?

Importance of Global Engagement

This week has been busy with emphasis on global engagement. At the beginning of the week I participated in the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education conference. So much great content and research was shared. In one of the breakouts a conversation around the benefits of Farmer to Farmer exchanges was discussed. It was noted that there were great benefits to both the visiting and hosting farmers. 

Today a group of students from Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States voluntarily gathered either early morning (in the USA) or late in their school day (in Denmark and the Netherlands). they discussed cultural and agricultural topics. This morning I also engaged in discussion with a United States Congresswoman regarding the importance of the United States leadership globally and the international affairs budget.

There is often debate around one countries presence on the global stage and why are we/they (or are we/they not) engaging with others internationally? Why should what is happening abroad bother us? We encourage you to reflect and engage in conversation with others utilizing the discussion points below. 

Discussion Points

• Do you believe it is important for your home country to engage with other nations globally? Why or why not? What is there to be gained? What is there to lose?
• In reflecting on the farmer to farmer exchanges and student virtual exchanges mentioned above in relation to agriculture, what are the benefits? Why would a farmer travel across the world to connect with another farmer? Why would college students climb out of bed for a 7:00 AM meeting?
• Do you believe it is important to financially support and/or invest in other countries? What does this look like in regards to agriculture, but also other areas such as health, conflict, etc.?
• When worldwide challenges face us do you believe it is more important to close off or reach out? Explain your thoughts. 

Djibouti School Gardens

With projects we implement around the globe we often include youth. The video below highlights a project implementing school gardens and hydroponics in rural Djibouti in East Africa to empower youth. You are invited to watch and reflect on the discussion points below with others from around the globe. 

School gardens and hydroponics 

Discussion Points

• Of the innovative practices shared in this video which do you feel has the greatest potential positive impact and why?
• Do you believe it is important to focus on agricultural education for youth? Explain your reasoning.
• What could you learn from this project in Djibouti that could be implemented in your home region?

Acute Hunger on the Rise

Many will agree that the last year has provided great challenges for many. Challenges around hunger have been magnified in some parts of the world. Recently a report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Food Programme was released highlighting the challenges facing our world regarding "hunger hotspots." We invite you to read the linked article and utilize the discussion points below to encourage conversations with others.

Acute hunger set to soar in over 20 countries

Discussion Points

• What from this article stuck with you or surprised you? Why?
• There were several key drivers of acute food insecurity that were shared. Which do you feel provides the greatest threat to food security and why?
• Of the threat you identified what are potential solutions? How do we create change?
• There seemed to be great focus on immediate aid which is needed. How do we work towards more sustainable change and improvement over a long period of time?