Bamboo splits and slivers are longitudinal sections of a bamboo pole (culm). They are the primary materials used for weaving a wide range of products. On a small scale, they may be used for handicraft items and objects for daily use. On a large scale, one of the most useful...

AFA through the Asia Pacific Farmers Program (APFP) invited the youth members of farmers organizations under the AFOSP-MTCP and APFP platform to join the Young Farmers Dance Challenge. The dance contest aimed at attracting young people to join Farmers Organizations, build friendship and cooperation among young farmers, and finally, raising awareness...

In honour of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (17 June), Access Agriculture is proud to announce the launch of the Hindi version of its video platform www.accessagriculture.org/hi, which offers a rich resource of multilingual training videos on agroecological principles and rural entrepreneurship for the Global South. Access Agriculture,...

Wood is the major raw material for manufacturing matchsticks. However, the match industry has been dependent on only a few wood species for making match splints and these species are now in short supply. Therefore, bamboo, one of the faster growing plants, is a sustainable raw material source for manufacturing...

Sri Lanka’s National Fisheries Policy needs to be remodelled to incorporate the SSF Guidelines in order to attain the goal of securing sustainable small-scale fisheries. The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development (MFARD) of Sri Lanka recently prepared a White Paper on National Fisheries Policy in 2018, which was approved...

Bamboo and rattan are ideal resources for development that integrates poverty reduction and environmental sustainability, and the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan- INBAR priority is giving people at all levels the knowledge and skills they need for long-term development involving bamboo and rattan. Therefore, bamboo mat board, a plywood-like...

Despite Jason’s father, Victoriano I. Tagupa, being involved in organic farming for 30 years at the time, he never imposed his beliefs on Jason, or influenced his career decisions. That is why he was supportive of Jason when he did not choose to work on the farm but instead in...

Local chickens often produce few chicks because of various reasons. To improve both eggs and chick production, there are some simple measures you can take. By producing more local, healthy chickens, you can better feed your family and make some money.

This practice describes how to manage water in organic agriculture. It provides in depth techniques on how to keep water in the soil ranging from keeping soil moisture to evaporation reduction and how to make better use of seasonal rainfall. Water management also encompasses how to harvest water through a...

In India, tomato is both a high value crop, often exported to the Middle East, and an important subsistence vegetable grown mainly by women. Tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV) and its whitefly vector, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.), are two of the most serious constraints to tomato production in India. When populations...

Helping to write a script for a farmer training video on vermiwash triggered my interest in trying it out myself, as I began to wonder if ideas from tropical India could work in temperate Belgium.  

Mulching is the process of covering the topsoil with plant material such as leaves, grass, twigs, crop residues, straw etc. A mulch cover enhances the activity of soil organisms such as earthworms. They help to create a soil structure with plenty of smaller and larger pores through which rainwater can...

The objective of this practice was to focus on the suitability and replication potential of salt-tolerant rice varieties as alternatives in saline impacted areas, and thus contribute to the region’s resilience and food security. The Philippines is among the most disaster-prone countries in the world. More than 200 climate-related natural...

In mountain areas, water continues to be a scarce commodity not only for irrigation purposes but even for drinking and other domestic uses. These challenges are encountered very frequently in India. These difficulties are present, inspite of the fact that important rivers namely the Sutlez, Beas, Ravi and their tributaries...

The Philippines is among the most disaster prone countries in the world. More than 200 climate-related natural disasters were recorded in the last two decades. Alone in 2011 the country was hit by 33 disasters, claiming 1 430 lives. Typhoons trigger landslides, flashfloods, mudslides, widespread flooding, and cause significant destruction...

SEVA in association with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), IFAD assisted Post Tsunami Sustainable Livelihood Project trained women, self-help group members on herbal treatment for animals upto 21 days. Selected women members were trained intensively to work as Community Livestock Volunteers (CLVs). Then they train local village...

Homestead gardening, which is not designed for marketing/profit-making, aims primarily to improve ongoing access to nutritious food and buffer the sudden fluctuations in prices of the major crops of the farming households during calamities and enhance family nutrition. The use of hazard tolerant crop varieties (like drought-tolerant) in homestead gardening...

The objective of implementing the slope agriculture land technology (SALT) is to stabilize the slope and improve the terrace or the contours in order to control soil erosion along the slopes and improve soil fertility. This practice describes how to implement the SALT method.

Natural vegetative strips (NVS) are narrow live barriers comprising naturally occurring grasses and herbs. Wide strips are left unploughed to allow vegetation to grow and to slow surface runoff. Natural terraces form over time as a result of the eroded soil accumulation on the strips. The vegetation on the established...

Baobab fruit juice made from the pulp is very healthy, and can be added to porridge and sauces. However, the quality of the pulp can be greatly affected if fruits are not handled well during and after harvest. When baobab pods are damaged and have splits in the shell, moisture...