A new microinsurance scheme promises to help.Kilimo Salama, which in Kiswahili means "safe farming", uses a combination of mobile phones and 30 automated solar-powered weather stations to provide crop insurance.
Besides index-based livestock insurance pilots, index-based crop insurance schemes (Kilimo Salama, meaning safe farming) are being tested.
Ensuring safe farming practices is the first step in food supply chain traceability, and reasonable pesticide use is a main feature of food safety and sustainable production.
Further study may lead to the adoption of more sustainable and safe farming practices and more informed housing locations, which may prevent loss of property, crop, and transport routes.
However, they believe that if farmers and local collectors join a sustainable coffee program, their waste-disposal processes, and use of fertilisers and pest control are controlled and managed properly due to the introduction of related actors to train and educate farmers on the benefits of sustainable and safe farming practices.
"Our goal is to position Taiwanese bananas as a brand and appeal to consumers who are willing to pay extra for fruit because it tastes better and was grown using safer farming methods," said Chao Chih-ping, director of the institute.
Agriculture and public health experts proposed a strategy of education and safer farming practices and selling conditions to impede the spread of avian flu, which has led to the deaths of 54 people and the loss of 140 million birds in the past two years.
Particular attention should be paid to reducing exposure to hazardous pesticides, favouring safer farming practices and promoting labour-saving technologies, especially for those tasks typically performed by children.
Janda says that he is optimistic about working with closantel because it has already proven safe in farm animals.
Apparently months late, US regulators have declared genetically engineered fish safe to farm and eat, but final approval could be some way off.
