Properly spaced trees help provide many of the same benefits of a complete perennial cover. Fine soil particles contain most of the humus and nutrients in the soil, and if lost, soil fertility is reduced, while windbreaks help protect cropland by reducing wind velocities for a distance approximately 15 times...

Usually, farmers fatten male sheep and goats because they grow faster. To fatten the animals, it is important to find the right animals. To fatten sheep and goats, also give them protein rich feed for about 3 to 6 months. Along with good food, you must also make sure that...

In the Shrubs for Change project, 300 ‘trainers of trainers’ learn how to get more milk from dairy cows by feeding them nutritious leaves from shrubs. These trainers will in turn train and support 120,000 dairy farmers in Kenya and Malawi to start growing shrubs in their own gardens. Research has...

This brief is based on experience gained from the Master’s Programme in Agroecology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in particular, and on contributions from our partner programmes at Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) and Martyrs University in Uganda (UMU). The brief provides an overview of agroecology,...

There is wide agreement on the need to change the prevalent agricultural models, given their negative impacts and their incompatibility with current societal issues. Agroecological transition has been promoted as a potential solution to the ecological, social and economic problems generated by these models. It however involves a systemic, multi-scale...

This article traces how ‘agroecology’ is co-produced as a global socio-technical object. The site of co-production, the Global Dialogue on Agroecology, was convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in different cities around the world between 2014 and 2018 (Rome 2014; Brasilia, Dakar, Bangkok 2015;...

This Regional Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Monitoring and Surveillance Guidelines Volume 1 provides guidance in the development of AMR surveillance plan for food-borne bacteria, underscoring the key elements for harmonized AMR data generation, data collation and reporting of findings, while taking into consideration the standing context of the region. It aims...

Some practical advice on the management of date palms with suggestions for reducing humidity levels, trimming, intercropping and weeding.

The best compost for sack mounds is the one made using poultry manure and plant remains. If you use such compost, the sack mound will yield a lot of vegetables for a long time.

Case studies compiled recently by Global Forest Coalition (GFC) members and allies in Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Paraguay underline the role of agribusiness in peasant farmers´ and Indigenous Peoples´ lives. These examples help to deconstruct the myth that large-scale, industrial agriculture is "feeding the world", and that it is compatible with other...

What are mycorrhizal fungi? Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiosis with > 90% of land plants They live in the soil and colonize plant roots Mycorrhizae provides better absorption of nutrients and increased water uptake to the plant in exchange for carbon supply They cannot function without living plants Plants control the symbiosis, root exudates trigger spore...

Agricultural practices contribute considerably to emissions of greenhouse gases. So far, knowledge on the impact of organic compared to non-organic farming on soil-derived nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions is limited. We investigated N2O and CH4fluxes with manual chambers during 571 days in a grass-clover– silage maize – green...

Dans le Sud de Madagascar, AVSF a contribué à travers 2 projets à la promotion de l'agroécologie, au développement de l'agriculture familiale et l'amélioration de l'accès aux services de proximité et de l'accès à l'eau.

Coating seed with good microbes and organic fertilizer protects crops from diseases and gives them a healthy start. You can also prepare your own organic solution with cow dung, cow urine, lime, cow milk or yoghurt and water.

With the help of multiple partners, FAO has developed a global analytical framework for the multidimensional assessment of the performance of agroecology: the Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE), which aims to:  · Inform policy makers, development institutions, and other stakeholders by creating references to the multidimensional performance of agroecology and...

One of the key ingredients to a #ZeroHunger future is the soil beneath our feet. Although it may not look like much, soil is full of water, nutrients and microorganisms that are vital for growing our food. However, soil is a finite resource – restoring even a few centimetres of...

La tropilaelapsose affecte les larves et les pupes des abeilles. Elle est causée par des acariens du genre Tropilaelaps. Les parasites se nourrissent de larves et de pupes d'abeilles et provoquent des malformations, la mort et, en conséquence, l’essaimage ou le déclin des colonies. Les acariens tropilaelaps sont des parasites naturels communs...

Agroforestry belongs to sustainable farming practices. The practice is based on ecological principles that are observed in natural ecosystems. Trees greatly help to mitigate negative effects of modern agriculture on the environment. They offset pollution from farms and make food production systems more resilient. But learning about the disadvantages of this...

Too much drought can slow down growth and cause young fruits to fall. Water your okra regularly to avoid slowing down its growth. Get rid of weeds. Nourish okra crops by periodically applying a little compost, well-rotted manure or litter around the base of each okra plant.

Dried mango crisps are a tasty and a healthy snack that can be sold even out of season at a good price.