One of the greatest challenges faced by mankind is to satisfy the needs of the fast growing global population and at the same time preserve land, water, air and biodiversity resources. Livestock are a crucial element in this balancing process. Demand for livestock products is growing fast, especially in the developing world. Livestock, through their multiple functions, are a cornerstone of the livelihood of most of the rural population in the developing world.

In preparing an investment project, development strategies and project components are defined and revisited during project formulation through a consultative process that often includes Socio-economic and Production Systems Studies. These studies are conducted to develop an appreciation of the situation in which the intended beneficiaries live, and their perceptions of their problems, needs and priorities.

This course teaches the farmer about the water cycle. It covers rainfall, ground water, the water table, surface water, evaporation, and transpiration. It also delivers information on wells and springs, swamps, ponds, lakes, streams and rivers. It explains how water is necessary for life.

Meeting Name: FAO Regional Conference for Europe (ERC)
Meeting symbol/code: ERC/16/8
Session: Sess. 30

In preparing an investment project, development strategies and project components are defined and revisited during project formulation through a consultative process that often includes Socio-economic and Production Systems Studies. These studies are conducted to develop an appreciation of the situation in which the intended beneficiaries live, and their perceptions of their problems, needs and priorities.

This paper begins by exploring what the term family farming means and how appropriate it is in the NENA region. It will explore more generally the role of farming and agriculture in the broader political economy of the region. The paper establishes the distinctive features of the region, what might be generalised and what might not be so common between countries with contrasting patterns of development.

In Lesotho, some externally financed agricultural development projects have appeared particularly prone to failure. One reason may be that, when designed, projects have not been subjected to sufficiently rigorous analysis, particularly with regard to expected farmers' response to extension messages.

text of speech form participants from Asia and the Pacific.

This brief describes the broad array of impacts arising from a cash transfer programme that was piloted in the Tigray region of Ethiopia from 2011 to 2014. About 80 percent of Tigray’s population of 4.3 million live in rural areas and depend on rain-fed subsistence agriculture for their livelihoods. Farm families in Tigray tend to have small land holdings and limited productive inputs such as labour, oxen, seeds and fertilizers. Severe drought has repeatedly struck the northern Tigray region and has had a major effect on agricultural productivity.