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Agricultural scientists developed new bean varieties adapted to low soil fertility and extreme weather event including drought, which are the major factors limiting agricultural productivity in Mozambique. The new bean varieties are drought tolerant and phosphorus-efficient, have the potential to yield almost double that of local varieties, ie, between 1.5 to 3.0 ton/hectare, and represent different market classes and consumer preferences. Adoption of the new varieties is crucial for increasing production and productivity of common bean (Sevilla, 2013; Smith & Findeis, 2013). However, it is recognized that many farmers may not adopt the new varieties but continue to grow varieties not well adapted to current soil and climatic conditions. Low adoption may result from differences in variety performance in stressed environments that farmers face in their own fields as compared to what happens on station/demonstration plots. Similarly, the potential mismatch between farmer preferences and new variety traits, higher labor or other input requirements for new varieties coupled with the difficulty in accessing newly-released seed slows adoption. Recognizing that dynamic power relations, often defined by gender roles, influence men and women’s access to information and new technology adoption, this research examined how farmers evaluate and identify their preferred common bean traits.

Climate change is now known to be a key threat to achieving sustainable development and poverty reduction targets, as well as attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in Africa. Climate change is altering rainfall patterns, water availability, and sea levels; it is increasing droughts and the frequency of bushfires, and increasingly impacting on human health, agricultural productivity, forests and biodiversity. In this way, climate change will negatively affect the social, economic and environmental dimensions of human livelihoods in Africa.

The study looks at  (i) Main Substantive Elements and Commitments and (ii) Reporting, Review and Compliance. The IPCC recognizes Land-Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) hence its significant role in the NDCs . The study also highlights the challenges, opportunities and strategies for improving the implementation of nationally determined conditions in the Eastern and Southern Africa regions.

This chapter discusses how forest ecosystem services (FES) can contribute toward food security in the context of Sustainable Development Goal 2, which seeks to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

APPSA Lesotho Celebrates Women In Science and Leadership.

Lesotho Agricultural College [LAC] is committed to providing professional education and training, promoting research and community outreach, providing guidance on commercialized agriculture, through combining quality theory, practicals and research methodologies. The College strives to remain relevant, forward-thinking, industry-related in developing graduates who are thinkers and practitioners. The College programmes involve practicals and theoretical knowledge facilitated by highly skilled academic professionals by ensuring that students are well equipped to enter the world-of-work confidently upon graduation.

With this intent, through the Department of Crops [CPD], LAC is engaged in collaborative partnerships with other Government ministries and Departments, NGOs, and commercial farmers to create a platform for internship. Through this initiative, the CPD placed the first group of students of Diploma in Agriculture (General) and Diploma in Agriculture (Crop production) for an internship at the Department of Agricultural Research [DAR] and to thirty-two (32) farmers who are actively engaged in horticulture enterprises in Lesotho. These enterprises and farms were selected based on their accessibility to the students. The internship ran from the 27th June 2022 to 22nd July 2022.

TORS- Website Maintenance and upgrades of the core development platform - Drupal - CCARDESA Secretariat, Botswana.

TORS- Website Maintenance and upgrades of the core development platform - Drupal - CCARDESA Secretariat, Botswana.

Terms of Reference : Development of Information, Communication & Technilogy Based Knowldge Products in the SADC Region 

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is the most consumed legume crop in the world, and one of the most consumed legume crops in Botswana. This study aims to identify constraints and opportunities in common beans production in order to enhance common bean production in the country