By Yossef Ben-Meir* MARRAKECH, Morocco | 22 July 2024 (IDN) — For many organizations and agencies around the world, the matter of scaling local successes of development remains a seemingly insurmountable challenge and obligation. When participating in conferences, strategic planning, open forums, and studies on this critical necessity, so much of the consideration is focused […]
Food Insecurity in Nigeria At Its Worst State in Years
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | 1 July 2024 (IDN) — The United Nations has announced the allocation of $11 million to address the food crisis surging in Nigeria’s north-east. The UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffith, who disclosed this on X, the microblogging site, said the allocation was drawn […]
Solomon Islands: Coconut Industry Face Extinction
By Stephen Diisango* HONIARA, Solomon Islands | 21 June 2024 (IDN | Wansolwara) — The hostile, coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) is threatening Solomon Islands coconut plantations likely subjecting to extinction. It poses a serious threat to the country’s coconut industry unless urgent steps are taken to exterminate this coconut pest once and for all. Known […]
The International Trade Framework and Recurring Food Crises
By Ranja Sengupta* The writer works as Senior Researcher and Coordinator of the Trade Programme of Third World Network (TWN) PENANG, Malaysia | 19 June 2024 (IDN) — The early stretch of the twenty-first century has been partly defined by recurring food crises, food price volatility, and uncertainty over agricultural production and distribution. Much of […]
Agricultural Future of Africa Lies in Agroecology
By Million Belay* KAMPALA, Uganda | 19 June 2023 (IDN) — A premise which has its roots in traditional knowledge and ecological principles, some people may find the term agroecology mysterious or esoteric. However, far from being an abstract concept, agroecology can be a lifeline for long-lasting food systems, providing a route that links the […]
Sri Lanka: Between Gratefulness to Iran and Reservations of a Community
By Kalinga Seneviratne ALIKOTA ARA, Wellawaya, Sri Lanka | 2 May 2024 (IDN) — Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi made a one-day visit to Sri Lanka on 24 April amid tight security to declare open an Iran-assisted mega power and agricultural development project that would provide power to the national grid and water to farmers in […]
Landmark Indigenous Rights Declaration Has Yet to be Transformed into Reality
By J Nastranis NEW YORK | 18 April 2024 (IDN) — The designation “Indigenous Peoples” is in itself a challenge, said Bolivian Vice-President David Choquehuanca addressing the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters, convened to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. The outcome document of the historic meeting, in […]
Countries are Failing Women on Hunger
By Matt Freeman* UTRECHT, Netherlands | 2 April 2024 (IDN) — It is often assumed that women and girls disproportionately bear the brunt of global hunger and malnutrition. Analysis from Equal Measures 2030’s SDG Gender Index that tracks countries’ gender equality progress on the United Nations’ sustainable development goals now shows the true scale of […]
Drought Grips Southern Africa, Hunger Crisis Foreseen
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | 1 April 2024 (IDN) — A severe dry spell in southern Africa linked to the El Nino weather pattern is crippling the nations of Malawi and Zambia. Zimbabwe has seen much of its crops decimated, underlining concerns by the UN World Food Program that numerous nations […]
A Sustainable Future Must Respect Indigenous Peoples’ Worldviews
By Dario José Mejía Montalvo* The writer is Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues NEW YORK | 1 April 2024 (IDN) — The recent sessions of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) have addressed crucial issues and persistent and emerging challenges for the realization of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. For […]