News
 
Using water well
Water is a critical factor in vegetable farming around the world. Most fresh vegetables are more than 90% water, so expanding vegetable production essentially means repackaging a lot of H2O. In Asia and Africa vegetable production is expanding as more small farmers realize they can increase their incomes and reap more nutrition per unit of crop area. However, rising water scarcity, linked with a lack of irrigation technology suitable to small-scale farming, prevents farmers in the tropics from benefiting from the opportunities provided by improved vegetable production practices. Microirrigation systems can help. Read more
 
Rot -- or not? Can food waste be halved by 2025?
With about one third of the horticultural crops produced globally for human consumption never reaching consumers, it's time to take a closer look at the global food chain. In the developed world, most food waste occurs at the end of the chain, through excessive processing and packaging. In the developing world, it's the opposite: Fresh produce is lost right at the start of the chain due to a lack of improved seed, poor postharvest handling methods, and weak transportation infrastructure. Two tomato varieties bred at the World Vegetable Center have helped farmers in Tanzania harvest more produce in better condition, enabling them to forge new links to export markets. Read more
 
Tomatoes in Thiès
During a recent trip to train enumerators in Senegal, World Vegetable Center geographer Shilpi Saxena had the opportunity to visit some vegetable markets in the capital, Dakar, and spend time with organic farmers in Thiès. Some export markets for organic produce are opening up for African farmers, but there’s also a growing local demand for organic vegetables. Read more
Events
14th Africa Region Vegetable Production and Research Training in Arusha
3 July - 4 Nov 2008, Arusha, Tanzania
The intensive training course on vegetable crops production and research is addressed to African professionals who currently undertake most of their vegetable research and development activities in the Africa region. The course consists of theoretical and practical oriented components.
General information (PDF, 852 KB) / Course contents (PDF, 81 KB) / Training curriculum (PDF, 111 KB) / Application form (MS Word, 148 KB)
27th Regional Training Course on Managing Vegetable Production and Marketing
3 Nov 2008 - 30 Jan 2009, Thailand
Addressing the growing needs of the South East Asian region for the efficient production and marketing of vegetables in the face of globalization and other emerging production and marketing challenges, AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center will continue with its annual 3 month modular Regional Training Course (27th). The course is designed to provide vegetable researchers and extension workers with the necessary skills and technical knowledge, emphasizing on good agricultural practice (GAP), impact assessments, indigenous vegetables, post- harvest technologies and farmer education.
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