On Local Circular Growth: Strengthening Local Value Chains
Frank van Steenbergen and Rommert Schram October 21, 2020 In many poor rural areas, there is no scope to operate … Continued
The WaterBlog
On Local Circular Growth: Strengthening Local Value Chains
Frank van Steenbergen and Rommert Schram October 21, 2020 In many poor rural areas, there is no scope to operate in the world market: no scope to compete with China for consumer items, no scope to outbid India’s strength in things like software development, no scope to conquer a niche in the global food industry. In addition, the national economy may have limited scope to absorb quality rural produce. Moreover, it is hard for rural producers to access such urban markets as they are faced with thickets of inconsiderate middlemen. Instead of focusing on global opportunities, the main avenue of improvement is in strengthening the local economy – to create more jobs and better livelihoods with what goes around in villages and local districts. At present the local circulation of goods and services is far from optimal. Not much value is added to agriculture, the main producing sector, either in the form of providing inputs or processing products locally. For… Continued
Previous posts
Rains in Yemen: A blessing or a curse?
Yemen is ranked amongst the top five most water-scarce countries in the world with an annual average rainfall of 125mm. … Continued
The power of networking and opportunity analysis in times of COVID-19
Reinier Veldman and Judith de Bruijne September 30, 2020 The world is going through uncertain times with the growing visible … Continued
Introduction: Understanding, responding to the Desert Locust Crisis
The world is reasonably aware of the scale of ongoing locust outbreaks (2019-20) in East Asia and West Africa, and … Continued
Understanding the linkage between land-use change, anthropogenic activities and locust growth
Locust outbreaks and its impact on humans and crop have been well documented. However, the linkage between anthropogenic activities, land-use … Continued
Catching, profiting from locusts as an effective response to outbreaks
In January 2020, the Pakistan Ministry of National Food Security was faced with a new challenge. Swarms of locusts had … Continued
Using data and mathematical models to predict locust breeding sites
The desert locust can migrate long distances and can voraciously feed on key staple crops like maize which can adversely … Continued
Essential oils-based locusticides: a step towards minimizing environmental impact
In view of the negative environmental impact of pesticides used against locusts, use of biopesticides is being widely promoted. Researchers … Continued
The Math behind Locust Swarms and Solutions therein
Mathematical models offer insight into how locusts form and move as swarms; and how to break them up to limit … Continued
Intermediary mechanization for construction of dug-out ponds
by Francesco Sambalino, MetaMeta September 04, 2020 Digging ponds is a labour demanding activity when there is no access to … Continued
Another Consecutive Disaster in Sindh
By Ashfaque A. Soomro, Research and Development Foundation (RDF), Pakistan August 31, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic has not yet … Continued
The Ancient Olive Tree
By Frank van Steenbergen August 28, 2020 Postcard from Vouves in the Municipality of Kolymivari in Eastern Crete in Greece … Continued
On Local Circular Growth: Creating 500,000 Jobs in Rural Transport in Ethiopia
by Frank van Steenbergen, Kifle Woldearegay, Mekdelawit Deribe and Kebede Manjur, Theophilius Kioko, and Abraham Abhishek August 21, 2020 … Continued
Lockdown Reality Check in Sindh
By Niaz Sial, Ashfaque Soomro and Frank van Steenbergen July 13, 2020 Postcard from Naj Gaj, Sindh, one of the … Continued
Sand to protect
Postcard from Muizenfort close to Muiden, the Netherlands: To protect Amsterdam from possible attacks and create a safe haven for … Continued
New Local Energy: Solar Mini-Mills
By Allah Bakhsh, Flood-based Livelihoods Network-Pakistan July 09, 2020 There is a saying derived from hundred years experiences that “necessity is … Continued
The Ibb Water Supply Miracle of Resilience
The Ibb Water Supply Miracle of Resilience By Frank Van Steenbergen July 2018 It achieves nearly full recovery on customer … Continued
A year in spate irrigation: floods as blessings, rain as a problem
by Allah Bakhshh, and Frank van Steenbergen. With inputs from Reinier Veldman June 05, 2020 Postcard from Bagh Nari, Pakistan, … Continued
Seeds as Opportunities in Rural Ethiopia
by Jean Marc Pace June 05, 2020 Why are seeds important? Every meal ever eaten started off as seeds. Seeds … Continued
Laundry Made Easier and Safer
by Frank van Steenbergen and Rajeshwar Mishra June 05, 2020 It is a topic that in the debate on WASH … Continued