The process of separating the grain from the ear or panicle (the most energy intensive operation); sorting the grain from the straw; and winnowing the chaff from the grain is called threshing. This practice explains how threshing works, as well as its advantages and disadvantages.  Description Threshing involves two distinct operations. Manual separation...

Many farmers in low potential areas own cattle and milk them for their own consumption and sale. However, in the dry season, natural grazing and crop residues are inadequate to support lactation, making supplementary feed necessary to maintain milk production. This practice includes descriptions of techniques for growing the crops...

This report, co-developed by Biovision, IPES-Food and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), zooms in on the all-important financial flows in food system research to sub-Saharan Africa, with a view to understanding more about the limitations in current trends to unlock sustainable transitions and where the opportunities lie for sparking agroecological transition. From the Green...

Black bean aphid - Aphis fabae Scop. is a polyphagous species, attacking over 200 plant species: ornamental shrubs, represent primary hosts (such as the spindle tree - Euonymus europaea, Viburnum shrubs, or the mock-orange Phyladelphus coronarius) and herbaceous plants (celery for seed production, spinach, beans, corn, poppy, sugar beet, are...

This technology describes the cultivation of drought-tolerant maize varieties in the central cattle corridor of Uganda, a region particularly exposed to dry spells. The benefits and constraints compared to local varieties are shown in a cost-benefit analysis.

This practice describes compost production and its application in planting pits (zai) by farmers on fields near their homes. It also raises issues regarding land use and provides detailed remarks on its application.

Human porterage (either on the head, shoulders or back) is common in many rural areas, particularly where access roads are in a poor condition. The following describes the features of carrying aids such as wheelbarrows, handcarts, bicycles, and trailers. Their advantages and disadvantages are also explained.  Description 1. Features of carrying aids...

During a series of DFID Livestock Production Programme (LPP) workshops on smallstock, it became apparent that there was a need to improve the effectiveness of nutritional studies designed to support the contribution of smallstock to the well-being of resource-poor farmers and communities in developing countries. At the fourth LPP workshop...

The high germination percentages of the seed samples and the growth of the derived plantlets are the main criteria to assess the quality of seed batches. The seed quality can be evaluated by seed germination tests. In the Council Directive 2002/55/EC of 13 June 2002 on the marketing of vegetable...

This technology describes the testing of multi-stress tolerant bean varieties in the central cattle corridor of Uganda, a region particularly exposed to dry spells. The benefits and constraints compared to local varieties are shown in a cost-benefit analysis.

Farmyard manure is a varying mixture of animal manure, urine, bedding material, fodder residues, and other components. This form of manure is the most common form of organic manure applied in the midhills of Nepal. This practice describes how collecting and good storage of farmyard manure can help improve land...

Prior research has demonstrated that restocking has had little long-term impact on the lives and livelihood of poor pastoralists. Given the forces of change impacting pastoralist communities, restocking projects need to account for shifting community values, aspirations, norms and behaviour regarding livestock-keeping. The objective of this study was to develop...

Common bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli is a very important disease of field bean in many regions of the world and can lead to high losses of production (25 to 60%). The bacterium is primarily transmitted through infected seed. Xanthomonas can survive over 15 years in seed...

Trash lines of organic material, composed of weeds and crops, laid in bands across the slope of annual crop fields, constitute a traditional land husbandry practice in south-west Uganda. These trash lines incorporate organic matter into the soil after decomposition and help to maintain soil fertility and control runoff. The...

This practice describes methods to clean and separate the trash of threshing, providing features of cleaning grains and pulses, by manual and motorised ways. The advantages and disadvantages of this practice are additionally highlighted.  Description Traditional threshing methods often leave a lot of rubbish mixed with the grains and pulses. Separating the rubbish...

The traditional way of suspending meat for drying by hanging strips over tree branches, wire or rope is not recommended; This is because meat pieces remain in contact with these supporting devices or may touch each other, and thus not dry properly in these contact areas. The following description is...

Bioproducto desarrollado por AGROSAVIA para el control de la polilla guatemalteca de la papa (Tecia solanivora), en almacenamiento de papa para semilla y papa de consumo; es inocuo para la salud humana y el medio ambiente. Además, reemplaza el uso de insecticidas y no afecta la brotación del tubérculo. Más Información: Bibliografía...

Une réponse au besoin d’améliorer les opérations de séchage et de fumage de poisson à petite échelle, le FTT‑Thiaroye (la technique de traitement FAO‑Thiaroye) fait en sorte que les opérations de traitement de fumage et de séchage du poisson Thiaroye respectent les exigences en matière de sécurité des denrées alimentaires...

This practice explains the basic technical features of the groundnut lifter used with animal power. It also describes advantages and disadvantages of groundnut lifter methods providing features of groundnut lifter manually.  Description 1. Features of groundnut lifter The groundnut lifter is an extended ploughshare with steel rods replacing the mouldboard part of the...

Participatory rural appraisals identified a number of major limiting factors in farming systems in Bolivia. These included the husbandry of draught animals, their health, nutrition, feeding, and housing, as well as the improved use of draught animals. The project developed, tested and disseminated a range of appropriate tillage and transport...