Based on hard real-life experience, the women of the Maria village have devised some very effective techniques for seed preservation. The video describes the importance of storing seeds in airtight containers, using insecticidal plants and other clever practices that Bangladeshi women apply to preserve rice seeds. This video presents the...

Although all the colonies of Apis Mellifera in Asia belong to the same racial group, no unified colony-management scheme exists which is suitable for the entire continent. How a beekeeper handles his colonies at a given time of year depends on the bees, their environment and how they react to changes in...

​La culture du sol comprend toutes les mesures mécaniques pour assouplir, retourner ou mélanger le sol, telles que le labour, le creusage, le binage, le hersage, etc. Une culture du sol prudente peut améliorer sa capacité de rétention d'eau, son aération, sa capacité d'infiltration, de réchauffement, d'évaporation, etc. La culture...

The following technology provides features about the use of improved seeds and less labour-intensive crops. It also details the advantages and disadvantages of their use. The advantages include labour-saving, livelihood resilience strengthening, livelihood diversification, inputs, skills, cost and infrastructure. Disadvantages include inputs, costs, infrastructure and risk.  Description Plant seeds are saved from...

Farmers face great difficulties with drying their seeds because seed absorbs moisture from the soil. As a result, seed quality deteriorates, and no-one can expect good yields by using poor quality seed. In this video you can see how farmers of the Maria village in Bangladesh solved this problem by...

Homestead gardening is a well-known practice in the rural areas of Bangladesh, creating opportunities for year-round income, even when other income sources fail particularly due to water scarcity and drought. Homestead gardens use the small raised areas (chalas) around the homesteads. The management of close by homestead gardens benefits from...

Propolis or “bee glue” is a resinous mixture that honey bees collect from tree buds and plant resins. Propolis is used by the bees in the hive for its antimicrobial and anti-viral properties. Humans can also benefit from these properties of propolis. Owing to its healing power, propolis becomes a...

The solar maize dryer is a construction that dries maize through solar energy. It is a construction that resembles a greenhouse. It takes three days to reduce the moisture content of maize from 24 to 14 percent. Drying maize reduces the risk of mould and aflotoxins and helps farmers to...

La Brachiaria brizanta es un pasto permanente y amacollado, con tallos vigorosos que alcanzan alturas de 1,5 a 2 metros. El valor nutritivo se considera entre moderado y bueno, si se compara con otras especies de Brachiarias, en relación con su palatabilidad, consumo, digestibilidad y composición química. Por eso, el...

The following technology provides an overview and details features of hand seeders and planters including jab planters to plant in rows. The advantages (labour saving, livelihood resilience strengthening, equipment, skills and cost) and disadvantages (labour and cost) are also highlighted.  Description Details of planting in rows for closely and widely spaced crops...

When farmers take out their seeds from storage and open the lid of the container, they may find flying insects. To confirm if the seeds have been attacked, farmers take a sample of seeds in their hands and on close observation may find holes in the seed. Insects eat the...

The organic matter content of the soil is an indication of soil fertility. Low organic matter content can worsen the water-holding capacity of the soil which is crucial during drought periods. Several methods can be used to enrich soil and increase its fertility, for example through the use of farm...

These guidelines are based on research on Asian river systems funded by the Government of the United Kingdom's Department for International Development. They deal with five basic questions with regard to floodplain fishery resources. 1. Why manage? 2. What to manage? 3. Who should manage? 4. How to manage? 5....

The Illipe species (Shorea spp.) are Southeast Asian forest trees that are highly suitable to be cultivated on tropical peatlands. The nuts and timber of these trees have a high commercial value. At the same time, Illipe plantations conserve peatlands. Peatlands not only hold a large pool of carbon but also...

The following provides an outlook on the main renewable energy sources of biomass, solar, hydropower and wind. It highlights their advantages in terms of labour saving, livelihood resilience strengthening, livelihood diversification and cost. Disadvantages include technical issues, equipment, cost, skill, knowledge, risk, and infrastructure.  Description 1. Energy sources 1.1 Biomass energy The wood used...

There are many problems with poor quality seeds. Spotted and discoloured seeds are some of the major ones. Spotted seeds cannot be removed by winnowing or seed flotation. They can only be removed by manual sorting. By watching this video you will learn how to clean seeds as one of...

Without access to reliable information to enable farmers to make better use of their natural resources, a majority of artisanal fishing communities are unable to halt trends towards reduced fish catches. Stock assessments are an important component for managing fisheries. These assist in the provision of advice on recommended exploitation...

A very important part of the skill of beekeeping is to learn to handle bees with confidence and manage them well. FAO’s publication Beekeeping in Asia discussed Pongthep Akratanakul’s experiences with European honeybees (Apis mellifera) introduced in northern Thailand; It also discussed the principal features of beekeeping activities in the...

Lack of assessment methodology for culture-based fisheries has been identified as a major problem in the development of fisheries. The optimal stocking density, size at harvesting and fishing mortality are interrelated. Over-fishing is equivalent to under-stocking, and overstocking is equivalent to under-fishing. This model of quantitative population dynamics for culture-based...

A period of over a century of widespread movable-frame beekeeping with the common honeybee Apis mellifera in many parts of the world has resulted in the development and marketing of virtually all types and sizes of beekeeping equipment. Many innovations in design and the use of different materials enable beekeepers...