Improving agricultural technologies in HIV/AIDS infected/affected communities and for elderly farmers: The case of sub-Saharan Africa

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has proven to be one of the single biggest obstacle in attaining household food security in sub-Saharan Africa. This review explores the extent of HIV/AIDS pandemic and its downstream effects on agriculture. This publication discusses how low input technologies can be used to improve the rural and small scale agriculture based livelihood and discusses the possible ways of transforming the vulnerability of the HIV affected communities and the old people. The objective is to make tasks associated with agricultural production easier through the use of drip kits, jab planters, simple hand tools and zamwipe for applying herbicides. Changing to sustainable farming systems such as conservation agriculture, mycorhizal inoculation technology, suitable cropping systems and biochar based soil amendments. If properly implemented these have potential to increase security. By selecting compatible techniques, the vulnerable portion of the population can move to self sustainance.