A project in Rwanda has shown how farmers can produce more from crops simply by using modern and higher quality varieties of seeds.
In one case, farmers were able to grow up to 10 times as many carrots on the same plot of land by swapping old seeds for new, more suitable versions.
With more extreme weather and new diseases hitting crops, the project seeks to make farmers more resilient, bolster food security and adapt to the effects of man-made climate change.
The “seed resilience” project, launched in 2023, also aims to help farmers make better use of natural resources and help feed a rising global population.
“It was a simple, basic idea,” Ben Rivoire, sustainability and crop value manager for the International Seed Federation (ISF), told The National on the sidelines of the Cop29 climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan.
“We just created a trial in a field on a farm where instead of having just one or two varieties that they were using for many years, we put those two in comparison with ... other varieties for five different crops.”
Trials were conducted in open fields and greenhouses near the capital Kigali spanning 2,200 sq metres, with the greenhouse area 600 sq m.
Varieties of carrot, cabbage, tomato, sweet pepper and onion were tested. The yield for all increased but the carrots were the best performer.
Yields on carrots (based on 90,000 plants per 0.1 hectare) on one plot surged from a national average of 1,332kg to 13,071kg.
Mr Rivoire warned that this would not always be the case but on average there was a six-fold to nine-fold increase. Full results are expected this month.
The project was a collaboration between the Rwanda agriculture and animal resources development board (RAB), the Fair Planet NGO and the ISF, which represents seed companies.
The seeds were sourced from companies regionally and abroad and were better adapted to conditions in Rwanda. It is a complex area but new seeds can be sourced from seed banks or cross bred with other varieties to suit unique conditions on the ground.
These seeds, which are not genetically modified, are also better able to withstand pests, don’t require as much water, need reduced levels of fertiliser and deliver bigger yields.
More than 60 were examined and more than 20 found the most suitable were planted.
Many think of new agricultural practices as smart farming involving hydroponics, vertical farms and drones to plant crops, but encouraging farmers to access new seeds is also crucial.
“We know there are a lot of discussions about sustainable farming practices, and we know that the population is increasing and that growing conditions are changing,” said Mr Rivoire. “That's why you need this innovation stream, where seed companies are providing some solutions together with others.”
UN figures show about a third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are linked to food. The largest part of this comes from agriculture and land use such as using certain fertilisers for crop production cutting trees for more farmland.
“All industry has a role to play when it comes to mitigation of climate change,” he said. “We want the agricultural sector to take part in the discussion and also take responsibility in the way we all together … help reduce the global emissions.”
According to the ISF, about 80 per cent of the world’s food comes from seeds. Improved varieties of seeds often remain out of reach to most farmers in Africa but the aim, through these types of projects, is to enable access to high-quality seeds and improved varieties which allow farmers, particularly smallholders, to grow more without needing more land.
The ISF, which operates across the world and this year marks 100 years in existence, is trying to help establish a seed supply chain and ultimately help the private sector’s contribution to empowering farmers, especially smallholders, and enhancing their seed choice.
"We don't necessarily think about this connection between the tomato we eat on our plate and the innovation that is needed at the beginning by some companies to spend the millions of dollars over 10 or 15 years to develop these specific varieties."
It now is hoped to extend the trials to reach 84,000 farmers across the country.
"In a rapidly changing environment, it is crucial to develop crop varieties tailored to the specific needs of smallholder farmers,” said Dr Alon Haberfeld, operations and technology manager at Fair Planet. “[This empowers] smallholder farmers to achieve high yields even under shifting climate conditions."
Food security and boosting resilience has become a more prominent part of Cops. At Cop28 in Dubai a UAE declaration on sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems and climate action has now been endorsed by about 160 countries.
Tuesday is dedicated to "food, agriculture and water" at Cop29, with a series of events planned and announcements expected.
The Cop29 presidency is also working on initiatives for farmers and reducing methane.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fight card
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) v Rey Nacionales (PHI)
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROM) v Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR)
Catch 74kg
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) v Omar Hussein (JOR)
Strawweight (Female)
Weronika Zygmunt (POL) v Seo Ye-dam (KOR)
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) v Walid Laidi (ALG)
Lightweight
Leandro Martins (BRA) v Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW)
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) v Sofiane Benchohra (ALG)
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR)
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Glen Ranillo (PHI)
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) v Aidan Aguilera (AUS)
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) Sasha Palatnikov (HKG)
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR)
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Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
if you go
Getting there
Etihad (Etihad.com), Emirates (emirates.com) and Air France (www.airfrance.com) fly to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Return flights cost from around Dh3,785. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Paris to Compiègne by train, with return tickets costing €19. The Glade of the Armistice is 6.6km east of the railway station.
Staying there
On a handsome, tree-lined street near the Chateau’s park, La Parenthèse du Rond Royal (laparenthesedurondroyal.com) offers spacious b&b accommodation with thoughtful design touches. Lots of natural woods, old fashioned travelling trunks as decoration and multi-nozzle showers are part of the look, while there are free bikes for those who want to cycle to the glade. Prices start at €120 a night.
More information: musee-armistice-14-18.fr ; compiegne-tourisme.fr; uk.france.fr
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
Honeymoonish
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
