Natural hazards such as floods, landslides and drought occur frequently in different parts of Nepal with varying dimensions and magnitude. These hazards constitute the major causes of land degradation and deterioration of natural ecosystems. The introduction of a multi-storied agroforestry cropping system ensures the best combination use of crop-tree intercropping...

Le rôle principal des abeilles mâles, appelé aussi faux bourdons, est de s'accoupler avec une reine non fécondée. La valeur des larves de mâle en tant que complément nutritionnel a déjà été prouvée et ces larves ont été utilisées depuis des milliers d'années par les civilisations les plus anciennes. Elles...

Beeswax has unique physical and chemical characteristics that are exploited in a multitude of applications (candles, food processing industry, textile industry, pharmaceutical industry, etc.). Wax can be an additional source of income for beekeepers, therefore, it is important that beekeepers know how to collect and prepare the wax for further...

Low income farmers in semi-arid tropics, such as in the low rainfall areas of southern India traditionally combine different activities to diversify livelihoods so as to reduce the impact of natural hazards like drought. The Acacia Leucophoea and Cenchrus Ciliaris sylvi-pastoral system is an integrated sylvi-pastoral farming system that provides...

In Bangladesh, both in flood years and in dry years, rice crop is under growing risks of yield losses due to disasters. The three-tier weather forecasting scheme provides information on the coming weather and allows to plan agricultural activities accordingly, following the ordinary cropping pattern in case of early or...

Growing mango is full of challenges and farmers should know about them to succeed in the mango production. The more farmers know, the better they will succeed. This short film (and its description) deals with a disease called Anthracnose. It is a very wide spread disease in humid environments, like...

This entry gives an overview of the concept, the fundamental principles and the benefits of conservation agriculture (CA). CA is an approach to managing agro-ecosystems for improved and sustained productivity as well as increased profits and food security while preserving and enhancing the resource base and the environment. CA is...

Cultivating lotus in raised beds is a local adaptation practice in flood prone areas of the Quang Tri province of north central Viet Nam. Communities traditionally collected lotus seeds from plants grown in common water bodies and sold them in markets. However, there was no initiative to further develop, promote...

Frequent landslides in mid-hill districts in Nepal have caused damage to productive land at the lower basin and affected human settlements and agriculture activities both upstream and downstream. Extensive areas of productive land were left fallow because of their vulnerability to landslides, and many settlements were displaced, mostly from the...

This practice describes how water logging tolerant wheat varieties can mitigate the impact of water-logging and drought spells on wheat crops through the introduction of more hazard resilient varieties and innovative cultivation technologies. This practice aims to mitigate the impacts of drought spells on wheat crops through the introduction of...

This practice describes the most common diseases attacking sweet potato in sub-Saharan Africa. It will help the farmers to identify them and to treat the plants.

Viral honeybee diseases are spread throughout the world. They can cause serious economic losses if combined with other bee diseases. Their impact is usually underestimated by beekeepers. Following is a list of the main honey bee viruses and a brief overview of the symptoms of the main viral diseases of...

The losses caused by seasonal floods in the agricultural sector in the Juye county, in the southwest of the Shandong Province, have increased during the last decade. The Juye county is the lowest lying area of a topographical depression zone in the region. Rain water from the nearby other six...

Northwestern Bangladesh is increasingly exposed to drought, climate variability and slowly increasing temperatures. Strategies enhancing the ability to withstand the negative impact of natural trends and hazards on agriculture are a means to strengthen the livelihoods of the two thirds of the population employed in this sector. One such strategy...

In the highlands of Bolivia, recurrent cold waves and related extreme events severely increase the mortality rate of camelids, which represent the main source of livelihood for the local population. This technology describes the introduction “Corralones”, semi-roofed shelters aimed at protecting livestock from extreme weather and climate events in the...

The following practice is very important for farmers and extension workers in understanding the most serious insect pests affecting sweet potato in sub-saharan Africa and the extent of damage they can cause and their management. It provides background information on different pests such as sweet potato weevils, sweet potato butterflies,...

The construction of low-cost and hazard‑resistant poultry units is a disaster mitigation measure as it ensures immediate post-disaster food availability and protects income sources. The construction of hurricane-resistant farm structures was recommended during a national workshop in Grenada as one of the most easily reproducible, effective, affordable, and sustainable disaster...

Between the elevations of 1 000 and 2 000 m in the mid-hills of Nepal, over 12 million people subsist on land-holdings of less than 0.5 hectare. Farmers rely on rainfall and organic manures for soil fertility maintenance. A declining soil fertility is of increasing concern in the Bari lands...

O secador solar de milho é uma estrutura, semelhante a uma estufa, que permite secar o milho recorrendo à energia solar. Em funcionamento, a secagem demora três dias para reduzir o teor de humidade do milho de 24 para 14%. A secagem do milho reduz o risco de desenvolvimento de...

European foulbrood (EFB) is a bacterial disease of the honeybee brood. The genetic resistance to EFB of some bee species can fight the infection without causing serious damage, especially if environmental conditions are favourable. However, although chances of recovery from EFB are higher than those from American foulbrood (AFB), in...