Donkey Dignity
By Frank van Steenbergen and Sukru Esin Postcard from Mardin, Southeast Anatolia in the valley of martyrs. In the narrow … Continued
The WaterBlog
Donkey Dignity
By Frank van Steenbergen and Sukru Esin Postcard from Mardin, Southeast Anatolia in the valley of martyrs. In the narrow streets of this beautiful and fascinating town, vehicles cannot move yet garbage has to be collected. Cleanliness is part of culture in Southeast Anatolia and so to remove waste, donkeys are deployed. There not just deployed, they have rights almost like government servants. They are registered and are entitled to health care and retirement. They have adequate food and night shelter. They are engaged every other day given time to recuperate. It is dignity shown to those that work and the dignity of those that give this respect. In a small town called Mardin, there exists a group of extraordinary workers who quietly carry out their daily tasks. However, these diligent individuals are not typical employees, they are donkeys. From 6 am to 11 am, and again from 2 pm to 6 pm, these hardworking donkeys dedicate themselves to cleaning… Continued
Previous posts
Out of options?
“That was our water kiosk. It is now the home of the crocodiles.” By Esmee Mulder, MetaMeta The boda-boda (motorbike) … Continued
Commercialising Organic Inputs
By Paul Van Mele (Agro Insight) As the world is waking up to address the challenges of environmental degradation and … Continued
From Soil Fertility to Cheese
By Paul Van Mele (Agro Insight) More than 10 years ago, a project in the high Andes in Peru set … Continued
The most special spring in Syracuse
By Frank van Steenbergen All springs are special and miracles in themselves, but the Fonte de Arusa in Syracuse is … Continued
Green Roads for Water for building resilience against climate extremes: Case of Makueni County in Kenya
by Michael Maluki, Nancy Kadenyi and Faith Muchemi Introduction Entering Makueni county welcomes you to endless vast lands covered by … Continued
Livestock production in India
By Kamal Kishore (Rainfed Livestock Network) and Bhavana Kuchimanchi (The Foundation for Ecological Security) Livestock production in India is often … Continued
A conversation with Sumitra Devi: the regenerative agriculture pioneer
By Akanksha Mishra (PRADAN), Meghna Mukherjee (MetaMeta), and Marina Vara Gutiérrez (Aidenvironment). Meet Sumitra Devi. She hails from Chatugada village … Continued
A step towards strengthening women led farmer producer company in rural India: Story of Mannonati Mahila Kisan Producer Company Limited
by Pratik Ranjan (MetaMeta) Unlocking the power of small and marginal farmers that constitutes around 85 percent of the farming … Continued
How to envision the future of communities: co-created climate scenarios
by Marijn van der Meer (MetaMeta) Predicting future climate so that farmers know exactly how to adapt and transform their … Continued
Regenerative Agriculture Entrepreneurs
by Anushree Mitra (MetaMeta) Shakun Didi is a resident of Jhanki village in Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh, India. She … Continued
Zooming into the main cropping patterns in India
by Marina Vara Gutiérrez (Aidenvironment) and Rubén Borge Robles (Rockinsoils) The Indian government’s agricultural policies are primarily focused on the … Continued
11 challenges (and opportunities!) on the road toward a strong and diverse rural economy in Rural Ethiopia
11 challenges (and opportunities!) on the road toward a strong and diverse rural economy in Rural Ethiopia By Nardos Masresha … Continued
11 challenges (and opportunities!) on the road toward a strong and diverse rural economy in Rural Ethiopia
11 challenges (and opportunities!) on the road toward a strong and diverse rural economy in Rural Ethiopia By Nardos Masresha … Continued
Promoting Sustainable Water Management: My Failure Experience and the Power of the 3R Approach
By Sukru Esin Water is one of the most vital resources for our planet and managing it in a sustainable … Continued
Land Entitlement
By Jannatul Raim Rushni and Frank van Steenbergen Entitlement is a big thing. It is contractual but also in relations … Continued
Loose and gain: coastal erosion in Bangladesh
By Frank van Steenbergen and John Marandy It is loose but also gain. Bangladesh loses every year 34 square kilometer … Continued
Watershed Management and Job Opportunity: Experiences from Middle Awash
By Girma Senbeta In a watershed, everything is interconnected. The health of the soil and water supply directly impacts flora … Continued
A conversation with Meera Bai: A BRC business manager
by Meghna Mukherjee and Vinitika Lal Meet Meera Bai from Kutela Gram in Dindori District in Madhya Pradesh, India. Meera … Continued
Local Entrepreneurship in Kureili, Madhya Pradesh, India
By Anushree Mitra (MetaMeta) A local entrepreneur is an individual who starts a business in their local area. Entrepreneurs are important to … Continued