In this technology description the use of animal traction and single-axle tractors for direct seeding is explained. In particular different instruments or implements for direct seeding are described and Illustrated with a range of Pictures. The main working elements of the direct seeders are: (1) a disc to cut through the...

This technology explains and illustrates with a range of Pictures which equipment is needed to use tractors with, and how to use it for direct seeding. In particular, it discusses the row cleaner, cutting discs and the furrow opener. The row cleaner is used to remove excess mulch from the plant...

Par essence, l’agriculture, l’aquaculture et la pêche ainsi que certaines activités artisanales et industrielles du secteur alimentaire, sont liées au rythme des saisons et aux éléments naturels, notamment météorologiques, qui conditionnent leurs productions tant en termes de quantité que de temporalité. Toutefois, la saisonnalité recouvre plusieurs dimensions qui, i, au...

This document provides a review of the scientific literature on agreocology, including global, regional, national and local studies. In the Annex, the performance of various agroecological management systems are described and compared. Based on these findings, key steps towards an agroecological transition are outlined.

Innovation in organic agriculture is about finding the right balance. Although organic farmers want to boost their output - yields from organic farms are typically 75%-80% of that from conventional modern farming - they do not want to do it at any cost. The challenge is to produce more without...

Organic farming represents a deliberate attempt to make the best use of local natural resources and is an environmental friendly system of farming. It relies much on ecosystem management which excludes external input, especially the synthetic ones. Ander son, Jolly and Green (2005) stated that organic farming is a production...

The FAO-Finland Programme is supporting Tanzania in its efforts towards developing and implementing national efforts on integrated fire management as a key factor to reduce deforestation and forest degradation. All stakeholders1 see the fire situation in Tanzania as complex, difficult, widespread and of significant concern. The detail of the fire...

Globally, agricultural production systems are under pressure to meet multiple challenges: to sustain or increase production from the same area of land and reduce negative impacts on the environment amid uncertainties resulting from climate change. As farming systems adapt to meet these challenges, one of agriculture’s greatest assets in meeting...

Sustainability is about ecosystem integrity, social well-being, economic resilience, and good governance. According to the current state of knowledge and development, how does organic agriculture contribute to each of these sustainability dimensions?

Documentaries on the Best Practices in Rural Development carried out by young farmers that have been granted support under EU Rural development policies.

The potential benefit of indigenous chicken (Gallus domesticus) production is still under exploited in Kenya despite the efforts by different stakeholders to mainstream this production system as a pathway to rural development. The production system is often characterized by low input-low output productivity and low commercialization of the enterprise. This...

This document contains descriptions of 40 fallow-period cover crop species that are used in organic cropping systems.It is a complementary resource associated with the technical guide Choosing and managing cover crops in organic agricultural systems, which was published in July 2012. The guide is available for download on the ITAB...

Since 2009, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Self- Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) of India have been collaborating in an interactive and mutual learning process: the Exposure and Dialogue Programme (EDP). The EDP comprises a short home stay and a sequence of reflections and...

Farm mechanization is a crucial input for agricultural production. Without farm power and the appropriate complementary tools, implements and machines, farmers would struggle to emerge from subsistence production. With demands being exerted on the planet’s natural capital by ever intensifying population pressure, the need for sustainable mechanization becomes increasingly urgent....

En el marco del proyecto Mercados campesinos, proyecto regional andino ejecutado por AVSF en Bolivia, Perú y Ecuador  de enero 2011 a diciembre 2013, el equipo de AVSF en Ecuador y sus socios implementaron el programa de “Capacitación de técnicos, productores y líderes locales en el fortalecimiento organizativo y comercialización campesina”. La...

This synthesis report summarises the results of a dialogue on food security and water security. between policy makers, researchers, national leaders responsible for water and agriculture policy and members of the international development community at the International Conference on Policies for Water and Food Security in Dry Areas, held in...

L’intégration de l’élevage dans les exploitations agricoles est l’un des principes de l’agriculture biologique. Dans les zones tempérées et arides, l'élevage des animaux joue un rôle important dans le recyclage des nutriments, alors qu'il est moins souligné dans les tropiques humides. Les soins, la formation et l'alimention des animaux sont...

This technical report series captures and documents the work in progress of the Iraq Salinity Project, in its seven research themes, working at the regional, farm and irrigation system scales. Technical reports feed into the Iraq Salinity Assessment, a synthesis and solutions to solving the problem: Situation Analysis (Report 1);...

The new Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security outline principles and practices that governments can refer to when making laws and administering land, fisheries and forests rights. The guidelines are based on an inclusive consultation process started...

Continued population growth, urbanization and rising incomes are likely to continue to put pressure on food demand. International prices for most agricultural commodities are set to remain at 2010 levels or higher, at least for the next decade (OECD-FAO, 2010). Small-scale producers in many developing countries were not able to...