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Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Climate love

Empowering Farmers: Cabo Verde's Journey with FAO and South-South Cooperation

Cabo Verde, a small island developing State, is combatting climate change with assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Through a collaborative initiative known as South-South cooperation, FAO facilitates experts from China to share their expertise with farmers in this West African nation.
Located in the central Atlantic Ocean, Cabo Verde comprises 10 islands, nine of which are inhabited. Despite its name, which means "Green Cape" in Portuguese, the country experiences harsh dry seasons, with scorching temperatures intensifying until the onset of the rainy season in July.
During these dry periods, water scarcity becomes a critical issue for farmers, who often deplete their reserves from the previous rainy season and are compelled to purchase water, impacting their profits. Climate change exacerbates challenges by causing soil erosion, depleting soil fertility, and creating favorable conditions for new pests to thrive.
The arrival of pests like the fall armyworm, fruit flies, and tomato maggots has wreaked havoc on crop yields since 2017. In response, Cabo Verde sought assistance from FAO to address these challenges, finding support from China through the South-South cooperation framework.
South-South cooperation involves technical partnerships among developing countries, combining the technological expertise of visiting countries with the needs of host countries. In this case, China shared knowledge gained from its rural areas, similar to those in Cabo Verde, particularly Santiago, the largest island.
Farmers like Willy and Nena, who cultivate land affected by drought and pests, benefited from training on soil management and pest control provided by FAO under the FAO-China South-South cooperation program. Willy, in particular, found the training invaluable, learning to recognize soil nutrient deficiencies and adopting practices like using goat manure and crop residues to enhance soil quality.
Since receiving training, Willy has shared his knowledge with other farmers, fulfilling a key objective of the project: ensuring that training disseminated to farmers is further spread within the farming community. This collaborative effort underscores the importance of knowledge exchange and collective action in addressing climate-related challenges in Cabo Verde.




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  • George Kariuki

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    36 w

    This is exactly the kind of collaboration we need to see for a more resilient future.

    8
    • walter lungayi

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      36 w

      Great initiative!! Such international cooperation and knowledge-sharing can be instrumental in helping small island nations like Cabo Verde address the complex, multifaceted challenges posed by the climate crisis.

      6
      • Ann Nyambura

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        36 w

        @walter_lungayi This initiative is a shining example of how collective efforts can make a difference.

      • Joseph Githinji

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        36 w

        This is a great initiative by FAO that will impart the people of Cabo Verde with crucial information about farming to aid them in boosting food security and win the war against draught.

        10

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