Agroforestry belongs to sustainable farming practices. The practice is based on ecological principles that are observed in natural ecosystems. Trees greatly help to mitigate negative effects of modern agriculture on the environment. They offset pollution from farms and make food production systems more resilient. But learning about the disadvantages of this...

Too much drought can slow down growth and cause young fruits to fall. Water your okra regularly to avoid slowing down its growth. Get rid of weeds. Nourish okra crops by periodically applying a little compost, well-rotted manure or litter around the base of each okra plant.

Dried mango crisps are a tasty and a healthy snack that can be sold even out of season at a good price.

Le Rwanda possède un climat favorable, et une flore mellifère riche et variée propice au développement de l’apiculture. La présente fiche explique comment construire une ruche modèle traditionnelle qui se compose d’un cylindre allongé fabriqué avec des tiges de Pennisetum (Urubingo), de bamboo ou de papyrus. Ce modèle est très...

This technology describes the introduction of ridge sowing, Farm Yard Manure (FYM), and multi-cropping and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices for okra, sunflower, and sugarcane production in the Ghotki district in Pakistan. It provides also a cost-benefit analysis of this improved farming practice compared to the traditional practice. The main...

This ETFRN News edition brings together 24 articles and interviews from around the world that reflect on the following questions: How do such actions and their impacts differ between different smallholder types and organizations? How do they differ between countries, regions and corporate contexts? What are the effects of various...

Ce guide pratique contient des informations sur la création d’une nouvelle plantation d’anacardiers et est un outil didactique destiné aux encadreurs des producteurs d’anacarde. Il a pour but d'informer les exploitants à la production de noix de bonne qualité et la compétitives sur le marché national et international. Tout en...

Au-delà du miel, les produits de la ruche comme le pollen et la propolis des mélipones peuvent être récoltés facilement, représentant une possible source de revenu supplémentaire pour les agriculteurs. Cette fiche technique explique des procédures simples pour récolter le miel, le pollen et la propolis des mélipones (abeilles sans...

With great pleasure we release the IAHA Newsletter No. 6. We aimed to summarize the number of interesting ongoing research projects on organic livestock, financed by the European Union (under the Core Organic Plus programme) in this newsletter issue. I believe that these projects will increase and develop the need...

The growing need to intensify smallholder farming systems to enhance food security for a rapidly growing population in sub-Saharan Africa constitutes a major sustainability challenge. Intensification of agriculture has often resulted in degraded, highly vulnerable, exhausted and unproductive soils. Even though smallholder farming systems are heterogeneous and dynamic, conventional approaches...

Cocoa is a key crop for many Indonesian smallholder farmers, who own over 90 percent of the country’s cocoa production land. However, cocoa bean yields have fallen from around 750 kg/ha in the 1980s to below 400 kg/ha over the last two decades, with ageing trees, pests, diseases, poor soil...

The main aim of this handbook is to help farmers make their own farms more successful. This is done by providing information about using simple methods which strengthen, rather than damage the environment, and help to create sustainable livelihoods for future generations. The techniques described in the handbook are the results...

Le choix de matériel de multiplication de semences et de plantes biologiques de haute qualité issus de variétés appropriées est un facteur clé de la réussite de la culture biologique. Cela permet d’améliorer le rendement et la qualité des produits, d’assurer la résilience des cultures, d’utiliser judicieusement les ressources non...

El agua es esencial para la vida del ser humano; sin embargo, en algunas comunidades es un recurso con acceso limitado, especialmente durante el verano. Por esta razón, la FAO y el Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Alimentación (MAGA), impulsan en Guatemala la implementación de filtros artesanales de aguas grises. Estas estructuras...

L’élément concerne le savoir et les savoir-faire des mesureurs d’eau des foggaras (système d’irrigation), ou aiguadiers, des communautés ksouriennes du Touat et du Tidikelt. Les mesureurs d’eau participent à différentes opérations qui vont du calcul des parts d’eau à la réparation des peignes de répartition des eaux et la conduite...

Supplemental irrigation - the addition of limited amounts of water to essentially rainfed crops to improve and stabilize yields when rainfall fails to provide sufficient moisture for normal plant growth - is an effective response to alleviating the adverse effects of soil moisture stress on the yield of rainfed crops during dry spells. Supplemental irrigation, especially during critical crop growth...

This info sheet presents the key concepts related to Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS), where they are found, why they are suitable for smallholder farmers and the benefits. This info sheet was prepared under the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP/RAS/3510) on “Small-Scale Farmer Inclusion in Organic Agriculture Development through Participatory Guarantee...

For centuries bees, busy as they are known to be, have benefited people, plants and the planet. But did you know that bees are not the only ones that sustain life on earth? By carrying pollen from one flower to another, bees, butterflies, birds, bats and other pollinators facilitate and...

Agroecology is best practice: Biowatch's work with smallholder farmers explores the workings of eight homestead farms in northern KwaZulu-Natal, illustrating agroecology best practices through the personal experiences of each of the smallholder farmers. These farmers have shown that the land can take care of its people - if its people take...

European agriculture faces increasing restrictions on the use of external production inputs, such as artificial fertilisers, pesticides and antibiotics. Organic farmers have experience in dealing with these issues, which is why organic farming may open new avenues for soil management strategies, weed and pest control, and livestock health and wellbeing,...