Theme: Local Food Plants & Nutrition
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The Role That Local Food Plants Can Play in Improving Nutrition Security and Reducing Seasonal Scarcity in Rural Communities: A Multi-Country Study
Local food plants contribute to dietary diversity, and hence, to food and nutrition security in rural households of low- and middle-income countries. However, their consumption and use are declining, in a favour of simplified diets or industrial foods. This paper presents data from the Sowing Diversity = Harvesting Security programme, which aimed at improving nutrition […]
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From Salty Soil to Green Fields: The Story of Alpona… The Woman Who Tamed the Storm and Became its Symbol
Alpona’s journey was far from easy, but her determination led her, in 2012, to the agro-biodiversity fair organized by BARCIK. There, she became part of the Cultivating Change program, which connected her with a supportive community of farmers. They guided her in accessing seeds and taught her organic farming techniques. Equipped with this knowledge, she […]
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Seeds of the Future: Agrobiodiversity Exchange Connects Generations in Cusco
From 27 to 29 May 2025, Cusco was the epicentre of an international meeting to rethink the present and future of agrobiodiversity in a context of climate change and rural transformation. More than 70 people—including farmers, young people, researchers, and representatives of national and international organisations—participated in the Agrobiodiversity Knowledge Exchange Workshop, an event that […]
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Nutrition Strategy Publication
Given our positive results and overall success, we would like to share with you the valuable experience of our work on Local Food Plants for Nutrition, implemented during the second phase of the Sowing Diversity = Harvesting Security program (2019-2024). In this publication we detailed the strategy, explained the context, and presented the evaluation of […]
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Seeds Knowledge Repository
In this repository you will find all the material produced over the 8 years of the Sowing Diversity = Harvesting Security program. The gathering of the knowledge by many groups, over different geographies, in varying formats, is a testament to the importance of our work on seed sovereignty centering farmers and their communities. We hope […]
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Improving diets and reducing food scarcity with the help of local food plants in Huehuetenango province of Guatemala
Local food plants for nutrition This document presents the main household-level findings of the baseline survey conducted between 2019-2021, during the second phase of the Sowing Diversity = Harvesting Security (SD=HS) programme (2019-2023). The results of the baseline are complemented with the main findings of the diagnostic exercises conducted by SD=HS’ Farmer Field Schools (FFS). […]
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The power lies in the hands of the small-scale farmers
The article on the SD=HS program in Uganda was featured in the Vice-Versa Global Communities in Uganda’s West Nile sub-region are taking innovative approaches to ensure food and nutrition security. Through initiatives like farmer field school (FFS), community seed banks, kitchen gardens, and cooking demonstration classes, they are rediscovering and utilizing Local Food Plants (LFPs) […]
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Case Studies from Laos
Sowing Diversity= Harvesting Security Phase II (2019-2022) The case studies presented under the Sowing Diversity equals Harvesting Security (SD=HS) Program in Laos from 2019-2022 showcase successful initiatives and outcomes in different provinces. The program has contributed to food security and economic well-being in the region. There are a total of six case studies that highlight […]
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One hundred local food plants for improving nutrition
New Book One hundred local food plants for improving nutrition is the title of the new book published by Oxfam, written by Gisella Cruz-Garcia, Konstantina Maria Togka, Hilton Mbozi and Bert Visser. This book will become the best friend for those who are keen to improve their nutrition, and help others to do that, with […]
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Improving diets and reducing food scarcity with the help of local food plants in Sudurpaschim province of Nepal
Local food plants for nutrition This document presents the main household-level findings of the baseline survey conducted between 2019-2021, during the second phase of the Sowing Diversity = Harvesting Security (SD=HS) programme (2019-2023). The results of the baseline are complemented by the main findings of the diagnostic exercises conducted by SD=HS’ Farmer Field Schools (FFS). […]
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Improving diets and reducing food scarcity with the help of local food plants in Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Masvingo, Matabele land North provinces in Zimbabwe
Local food plants for nutrition This document presents the main household-level findings of the baseline survey conducted between 2019-2021, during the second phase of the Sowing Diversity = Harvesting Security (SD=HS) programme (2019-2023). The results of the baseline are complemented with the main findings of the diagnostic exercises conducted by SD=HS’ Farmer Field Schools (FFS). […]
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Improving diets and reducing food scarcity with the help of local food plants in the Northern and Eastern regions of Uganda
Local food plants for nutrition This document presents the main household-level findings of the baseline survey conducted between 2019-2021, during the second phase of the Sowing Diversity = Harvesting Security (SD=HS) programme (2019-2023). The results of the baseline are complemented with the main findings of the diagnostic exercises conducted by SD=HS’ Farmer Field Schools (FFS). […]
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Champion species help to tackle main nutritional problems in Central, Southern, and Lusaka Provinces of Zambia
Local Food Plants for NutritionSeries #2 This document shares the plant species findings of the baseline survey conducted between 2019-2021, during the second phase of the Sowing Diversity = Harvesting Security (SD=HS) programme (2019-2023). The results of the baseline survey are complemented by the main findings of the diagnostic exercises conducted by SD=HS’ Farmer Field […]
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Improving diets and reducing food scarcity with the help of local food plants in Central, Southern and Lusaka provinces of Zambia
Local Food Plants for NutritionSeries #1 This document presents the main household-level findings of the baseline survey conducted between 2019-2021, during the second phase of the Sowing Diversity = Harvesting Security (SD=HS) programme (2019-2023). The results of the baseline are complemented with the main findings of the diagnostic exercises conducted by SD=HS’ Farmer Field Schools […]
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Learning for Change
“Change is the end result of all true learning” -Leo Buscaglia The journey of learning that began in the second phase of the Sowing Diversity = Harvesting Security (SD=HS) program for Zambia has come to an end by the year 2023. Since 2019 Zambia has strived to achieve change through learning, unlearning, and relearning together […]
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Seeds of Hope: Pahalman’s Journey to Prosperity
By Lalita Ale, LI-BIRD and translated by Lok Pd Poudel, Oxfam in Nepal Pahalman Chaudhary, a 41-year-old resident of Kailari Rural Municipality, Kailali District, Sudurpaschim Province, underwent a remarkable transformation in just two years. Contrary to the general notion that small landholding farmers cannot engage in seed production, Pahalman stands as a compelling example, demonstrating […]
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Guía de Campo Escuelas de Campo Para agricultores en Nutrición y Plantas alimenticias Locales
Módulo: Mejoramiento de la nutrición Este módulo ha sido diseñado para apoyar a los facilitadores en llevar a cabo actividades que ayuden a los agricultores a mejorar sus dieta y su nutrición, para escuelas de campo para agricultores (ECA) en nutrición y plantas alimenticias locales. La fase de implementación puede empezar una vez que se […]
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Facilitators’ Field Guide for Farmer Field Schools on Local Food Plants for Nutrition
Module: Improving Nutrition This module has been designed to assist facilitators in implementing activities that help farmers improve their diets and nutrition, working as part of a Farmer Field School (FFS) on nutrition and local food plants. The implementation phase can start as soon as the curriculum for the FFS cycle has been agreed. It […]
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The government of Zimbabwe pledges to utilize the services of Farmer Field School Master Trainers
By Manata Jeko and Pardon Sithole The Government of Zimbabwe through the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development (MLAFWRD) has pledged to fully utilize the services of Farmer Field School Master Trainers and facilitators trained under the SD=HS program with the support from Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The […]
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Enhancing and supporting resilient Farmers’ Seed Systems in Zimbabwe: Findings from the National End of Season Evaluation
By Manata Jeko and Pardon Sithole Outcomes from the just-ended National end-of-season evaluation in Zimbabwe have demonstrated that the Sowing Diversity Equals Harvesting Security (SDHS) program in Zimbabwe has transformed farmers’ seed systems. A group of 30 participants from the six operational districts convened at Chibhanguza Hotel over three days to evaluate the performance of […]