Devex

Rahilla Zafar

Rahilla Zafar served as a former Devex fellow in Washington, D.C., from April to July 2008 after returning from Afghanistan, where she worked for the International Organization for Migration and the NATO-led mission. Her writing has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, the Guardian and Knowledge@Wharton. Rahilla has a bachelor's in public policy from DePaul University and a master's in social policy and planning in developing countries from the London School of Economics.

Latest Articles

  • Biotechnology Doubles Yields For Indian Farmers
    7 Apr 2009

    Many countries have adopted biotechnology. One example is India, according to Denise Dewar, executive director of plant biotechnology at CropLife International.

  • Free Africa of Hand Weeding
    6 Apr 2009

    Eliminating hand weeding can improve living conditions in rural Africa. Because farmers are no longer too tied to the land, they can engage in other economic activities that boost incomes, says Leonard Gianessi.

  • CropLife Hopes for Wider Herbicide use in Africa
    6 Apr 2009

    CropLife Foundation is working to build support for herbicide use in Africa. One concern is the level of donor backing for infrastructure in Africa, says Leonard Gianessi.

  • Caution on Using Herbicides
    6 Apr 2009

    Herbicides can kill crops if used wrongly. This is why it is important to know the appropriate method and herbicides for specific weeds, according to Leonard Gianessi.

  • Optimal Harvest in Africa Hinges on Weed Control
    6 Apr 2009

    Solving weed problems can greatly benefit African agriculture. According to Leonard Gianessi, it will enable farmers to maximize production.

  • Weed Science: The Forgotten Discipline
    6 Apr 2009

    Over the past decades, most crop scientists in Africa focused on the problems caused by insects and plant diseases. Weed science was taken granted because weeds were never seen as a serious threat to farming, according to Leonard Gianessi.

  • Herbicides = Higher Yields = More Exports
    6 Apr 2009

    Farm production has not kept up with the needs of people in Africa. As such, African exports are on a decline and imports are up, says Leonard Gianessi.

  • Herbicides Can Boost African Agriculture
    6 Apr 2009

    The prospect of performing hand weeding has prompted many young Africans to turn away from farming. That’s the reason herbicides are a blessing to African agriculture, suggests Leonard Gianessi.

  • CropLife Foundation: What it is
    6 Apr 2009

    CropLife Foundation is an independent, nonprofit research and education organization. It is funded by the agrochemical industry and belongs to the global CropLife family, says Leonard Gianessi.

  • Herbicides: Cheaper Than Hand Weeding and Fertilizers
    6 Apr 2009

    Many African farmers are concerned about the cost of herbicides. According to Leonard Gianessi, weed control through herbicides only comes to $5 per hectare per day.

  • See all articles by Rahilla Zafar