The scarcity and deterioration of fresh water is one of the most alarming problems facing humanity today. As a solution strategy, different competent administrations, such as UNESCO and the Royal Legislative Decree of Spain, have proposed the reuse of wastewater. Cuba is not exempt from these problems and its national...

During the last decades, soil organic carbon (SOC) attracted the attention of a much wider array of specialists beyond agriculture and soil science, as it was proven to be one of the most crucial components of the earth’s climate system, which has a great potential to be managed by humans....

Maria Tekülve, the Deputy Head of Division and Focal Point for Rural Development and Agroecology at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) reflects on the role of agroecological approaches in international cooperation in an interview with Silvia Richter for the International Journal for Rural Development. The material reflects Maria Tekülve's personal opinion. ''A significantly...

Crop rotations dominated by winter annual crops and relying on the use of herbicides to control weeds have resulted in weed communities dominated by a few highly specialized species such as Alopecurus myosuroides. Integrated weed management (IWM) represents a sensible strategy to target such difficult weeds, through a combination of preventive,...

Choosing the optimum time for transplanting is a most essential prerequisite for rice cultivation, to ensure proper and optimal growth of plants and increase the yield and to synchronize cultivation practices for irrigation and control of pest, diseases or rats. T. aman (transplanted aman) rice is planted under rain fed...

Theobroma cacao (cocoa) is an ecologically beneficial crop in tropical agroecosystems, and can serve as a cash crop for farmers in developing countries. The growing demand for cocoa products coupled with increasing disease pressures has led to the concept that enhanced germplasm with disease tolerance and high yields could dramatically...

The potential of composting to turn on-farm waste materials into a farm resource makes it an attractive proposition. Composting offers several benefits such as enhanced soil fertility and soil health, thereby increased agricultural productivity, improved soil biodiversity, reduced ecological risks and creating a better environment. While traditional composting procedures take...

Adaptation options to climate variability and change in northwestern Bangladesh need to consider alternative cropping patterns and cultivation practices to support the most efficient use of limited natural resources. Diversification and adjustment of cultivated crops is a traditional adaptation practice contributing to minimize the risk of crop failure due to...

Intercropping drought-tolerant fruit trees into rice-based farming systems in the uplands of the Barind tract in north-western Bangladesh reduces exposure to and risk of drought. It also provides households with alternative livelihoods sources, enhanced food and nutrition security and diet diversification. This practice describes how to intercrop mango and jujube...

The potential of composting to turn on-farm waste materials into a farm resource makes it an attractive proposition. Composting offers several benefits such as enhanced soil fertility and soil health, thereby increasing agricultural productivity, improving soil biodiversity, reducing ecological risks and creating a better environment. While traditional composting procedures take...

The potential of composting to turn on-farm waste materials into a farm resource makes it an attractive proposition. Composting offers several benefits such as enhanced soil fertility and soil health, thereby increased agricultural productivity, improved soil biodiversity, reduced ecological risks and creating a better environment. While traditional composting procedures take...

Many national legal frameworks still do not include laws and measures specifically intended to tackle climate change in the agriculture sectors. However, national laws and institutional frameworks are necessary for good governance and can operate to support the implementation of national policy and international commitments, including on climate change. Indeed,...

Chemical insecticides are usually used to fight pests and save crops from damage. However, chemical pesticides are harmful to farmers’ health and to the environment. An alternative to chemical insecticides is botanical insecticides, which are made from plants and are useful against insect pests without harming the environment or having...

To reduce crop loss due to climate uncertainties, rural communities in Bangladesh need to implement risk management strategies. Crucially important is the transplanted t. aman rice, since it is the most widespread crop. Protective measures include the adoption of flexible timing of transplanting in order to bypass the consequences of...

Based on how much milk each cow gives, you can calculate the amount of balanced feed needed for your cows. You should also feed your cow green grass each day. This helps to increase the total quantity of milk as well as the amount of fat in the milk. It...

For healthy crops you need a healthy soil, because a healthy soil contains many good microbes and earthworms. To prepare biofertilizer for half a hectare, you need 10 kg fresh cow dung, cow urine, flour from chickpeas or another pulse, jaggery or unrefined sugar, and a handful of healthy soil....

La récupération des eaux de pluie est le captage et la concentration de l’eau de ruissellement à la surface du sol avant qu’elle ne s’écoule dans un ruisseau ou une rivière. L’eau de pluie ainsi collectée sert pour des travaux agricoles, des besoins ménagers ou autres. Cette technologie décrit des...

The potential of composting to turn on-farm waste materials into a farm resource makes it an attractive proposition. Composting offers several benefits such as enhanced soil fertility and soil health, thereby increased agricultural productivity, improved soil biodiversity, reduced ecological risks and creating a better environment. While traditional composting procedures take...

Honey bees may provide livelihood or a source of income for many beekeepers all over the world. This could happen through the services provided by the bees (mainly pollination service, apitherapy and apitourism), or directly through the bee products. The last include: alive bees to guarantee always new queen bees...

The drought-prone areas of western Bangladesh are characterized by high rainfall variability, with different types of seasonal droughts (initial, mid and terminal) posing regular threats to rice production. During monsoon season in wide areas of NW Bangladesh T. aman rice is cropped on rainfed basis. Risk management options need to...