Fruit flies are a major constraint to the production and export of fruit and vegetables in South Asia. Two techniques were developed. Bait Application Technique (BAT), in which food baits are mixed with a small amount of insecticide to attract and kill adults. Male Annihilation Technique (MAT) is where synthetic...

Fruit flies are a common pest damaging fruits and vegetables. The video in this practice explains how to build a safe, simple and cost effective fruit fly trap with a plastic bottle, a pheromone and an insecticide. This practice describes step by step how to build a trap to control...

This practice provides basic information on how to set up a small-scale fish farm for subsistence purposes with regards to daily protein needs. Since fish farming practices are so diverse, this manual focuses on land-based freshwater fish farming. In the tropics, pond fish farming is the most common form of...

This technology gives information about how compost can be applied in the tropics and subtropics. It gives a simple description of the processes taking place in the soil and during composting. Practical suggestions are given for constructing a compost heap. A few selected compost methods and applications are given and...

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are a concern to both smallholders and commercial producers involved in intensive vegetable production. Although not all smallholders will recognize nematodes as a production constraint. The following describes the development, through public-private sector partnership with a commercial horticulture producer, techniques for the production of bio control agents...

Pruning is the selective removal of unproductive shoots and branches. There are several reasons why to prune a mango tree. The practice allows for light and air to be admitted into the canopy of a tree, it enhances flowering to achieve high quality fruits and it improves effective control of...

Plants that belong to the legume family (Leguminosae) have pods in which beans grow. Legumes absorb nitrogen from the air. Many crops that are unable to do this are dependent on the nitrogen that is present in the soil. Most soils in tropical areas do not contain sufficient nitrogen, an...

Sweet Potato Virus Diseases (SPVD) are an important biotic constraint to sweet potato production in parts of East Africa. Technologies consisting of participatory selection procedures and an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) package were developed to improve the performance and farmer-acceptability of locally selected sweet potato clones resistant to SPVD. These...

Since its introduction, the papaya mealy bug (Paracoccus marginatus) causes serious damages to papaya plantations in Ghana. Conventional control with pesticides was unsuccessful because the mealy bug has become resistant to them. A promising solution that proved to be successful is the biological control of mealy bugs using small parasitic...

This technology describes the various processes of propagating the seeds of Allanblackia. Allanblackia seeds do not germinate easily. The use of growth promoters to break dormancy has been explored, but does not promote seed germination. The storage of fruit for six weeks before seed extraction and/or removal of the whole testa do however...

This technology describes management practices involved in successful rearing of ducks in the tropical regions. Advantages and disadvantages of duck keeping compared to chickens are provided along with clarifications on the different types of breeds. Different processes of breeding and breeding stock are explained as well as explanations on how...

Fish feed/aquafeed is one of the most expensive inputs for small aquaculture farms. At the same time, it is very important to have a well-balanced feed. This practice describes different kinds of fish feed with step by step description on the preparation of fish feed. Two simple recipes for a...

Integrating animal husbandry into crop producing farms is one of the principles of organic farming. In temperate and arid zones, animal husbandry plays an important role in the recycling of nutrients, while it is less emphasised in the humid tropics. The caring, training, and nurturing of animals is considered an...

Through proper guidelines, rabbit rearing not only requires minimal capital investment but also provides increased livelihood income and yield. This step-by-step guide details rabbit breeds, behaviour, and handling. It instructs how to construct rabbit hutches, kindling boxes, weaner cages and where to place the rabbits. Information on breeding management is...

This technology describes the various stages of propagating Allanblackia species by grafting. Grafting is a technique widely used in horticulture and forestry for the mass production of selected plants. It is one of the most successful methods for propagating Allanblackia. The technique involves the formation of a union between scions taken from desirable...

This practice provides a wealth of useful information on how to overcome the main constraints in small-scale poultry production and deal with threats like predation and infectious diseases. It is a practical practice with chapters on hatching, housing, nutrition and health.

This technology describes the introduction of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and compost practices for wheat production in Ghotki district in Pakistan under dry spell conditions, during the Rabi season in 2018 (January to April). It also provides a cost benefit analysis of the describe practice compared to the traditional wheat...

Compost has many advantages. It is a well‑balanced fertilizer, it improves long term soil fertility and it helps to suppress soil borne diseases. The following video shows a good way of how to make compost in Ghana.

The following was written by three of the foremost experts in the field of Newcastle Disease control in the developing world. It presents the latest understanding of Newcastle Disease (ND), its characteristics, epidemiology, symptoms and control. It will be of practical value to state and private veterinarians and to all...

Tradicionalmente la adaptación de las prácticas agrícolas toma en cuenta las consecuencias de los desastres y fenómenos naturales, su prevención y mitigación. Una de las prácticas que intenta reducir el impacto de las sequías, inundaciones y de los ciclones tropicales y lluvias, es la construcción de graneros llamados localmente “Colombier”....