English (en) | Change Language

MissionAssist Books - Agriculture and Farming (English)

Back to all resources in English



  1. DO NOT PUBLISH Olive Trees, Olives and Olive Oil
    This book tells you how to cultivate olive trees and how their fruit and wood can be used, along with some references to olives in the Bible. Written for MissionAssist. Illustrated by Carys Walsh. Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version NIV, Copyright 1973 1978...





  2. How to Manage Bees
    This explains how to manage bees: planning the work, inspecting the hive and understanding what you see. This uses material from "Basic Beekeeping Manual 1: How to Manage Bees" by Pam Gregory, who offers this as her gift to beekeepers in developing countries. (The content of the text in this case...





  3. Pig Farming
    A book about pig farming, taking you from choosing a site to keep pigs, deciding which breed to buy, feeding and caring for them and finally butchering them to obtain delicious meat. Additional sources of online help are listed and an easy recipe for cooking pork is included. Adapted from a...



  4. Food and Farming
    This book gives an overview of the Shell Books which have been written to help farmers and their families produce, process and store their precious food crops beyond harvest. Adapted from various "Practical Action" publications with kind permission. This edition published in the United Kingdom in...





  5. An Easy Way to Water Seeds
    Use a tin can or plastic bottle as a mini-reservoir alongside your seeds or seedlings. This uses material taken fromFootsteps- the literacy publication of TEAR Fund - with kind permission. This edition was published in the United Kingdom in 2019 by MissionAssist.





  6. Making Compost in a Pit or Box
    Farmers and gardeners use compost to improve their soils and increase their crop yields. This book describes one approach to making compost. This uses material from "Footsteps 107", the literary publication ofTearfund, with kind permission. This edition published in the United Kingdom in 2020 by...





  7. Gardening for Better Nutrition
    This book shows how crops grown in home gardens can add important nutrients to the family diet; there is also a recipe for a soup you can make from some of those home-grown crops. It uses material fromFootsteps 52, the literacy publication of Tearfund with kind permission Illustrations by...





  8. Small Livestock - Guinea Pigs
    Guinea pigs are easy to raise for households and small-scale farmers, as they are very productive, reproduce rapidly and produce good quality meat and fur. This uses material from "Footsteps 10" - the literary publication ofTear Fund, with kind permission. Illustrated by MissionAssist. This...





  9. Growing Bamboo
    Advice on how to cultivate bamboo plants from cuttings. This material was taken fromFootsteps- the literacy publication of TEAR Fund - with kind permission. This edition was published in the United Kingdom in 2019 by MissionAssist.





  10. Small Livestock - Rabbits
    Rabbits are useful animals for individual farmers, village groups and schools as they are very productive, reproduce rapidly and produce good quality meat and fur. This uses material from "Footsteps 10" - the literary publication ofTear Fund, with kind permission. Illustrated by MissionAssist....



  11. Small Livestock Farming - Grasscutters
    2023-08-18 How to farm grasscutters (also known as cane rats) as a small-scale home-based enterprise. Listing the advantages and disadvantages. Adapted fromAgrodok 52, Backyard Grasscutter Keepingmade freely available by Agromisa Foundation, Wageningen Netherlands This edition published in the United...



  12. Willow for Healthier Lambs
    2023-08-12 Willow trees grow in many different countries and can offer a natural tonic for sheep; this book describes the early results of on-farm research into the health benefits of feeding willow to lambs. The book was inspired by an Innovative Farmers webinar and also uses material from the public...



  13. Bokashi for Better Soil
    2023-02-10 This book explains the benefits of using bokashi to improve your soil’s fertility and describes how to make it. It uses material from the public domain Illustrated by MissionAssist This edition published in the United Kingdom in 2023 by MissionAssist Copyright 2023 MissionAssist



  14. Vetiver Grass
    2022-11-10 This book explains how to use Vetiver grass (Vetiveria Zizanoides) to prevent soil erosion and loss of rainwater on farms; it also describes some of the many other uses for this versatile plant. This work uses material from an article by James Biscoe with kind permission Diagrams reproduced...



  15. False Bananas
    2022-05-21 This book describes the cultivation and use of the false banana, ensete ventricosum, in Ethiopia and suggests that it could become a useful staple food elsewhere in Africa. Compiled from information available in the public domain Illustrations by MissionAssist This edition published in the United...



  16. Helpful Weeds
    2021-10-01 This book looks at three weeds that farmers may find beneficial to their crops, and a fourth that can be used to treat a common disease of chickens. It uses material fromFootsteps 48and65, the literacy publication of Tearfund with kind permission and from an article by James Biscoe in Journal...



  17. How to Store Grain Effectively
    2021-09-10 This book stresses the importance of fully drying grain before storage, with particular reference to maize and rice, outlining the risks to human health posed by mouldy grain and giving tips on the best low-cost ways of keeping stored grain dry. It also describes a sustainable farmer-to-farmer...



  18. Two Productive Gardens
    2021-09-10 “How much land is needed to feed a family for whom maize is the staple crop?” This book demonstrates two practical solutions to a family’s need for good nutrition and food security despite the challenges of global warming. It uses material from Practical Action Field Report July 2021 with kind...





  19. How to Extract Quality Honey
    2021-08-05 This explains what equipment and methods are needed to extract honey from the honeycomb. This uses material from "Basic Beekeeping Manual 1: How to Harvest Quality Honey" by Pam Gregory, who offers this as her gift to beekeepers in developing countries. (The content of the text in this case may...





  20. Two Farmers Talking about Conservation Agriculture
    2021-07-15 Two Farmers Talking about Conservation Agriculture: this book explores strategies used in conservation agriculture and hears from two happy and successful farmers. It uses material fromFootsteps 110the literacy publication of Tearfund with kind permission Additional illustrations by MissionAssist...





  21. Farming with Disabilities
    2021-07-10 This book shows how people with physical or mental disabilities can make a valuable contribution to the daily and seasonal work on a farm. Written and illustrated for MissionAssist This edition published in the United Kingdom in 2021 by MissionAssist Copyright 2021 MissionAssist



  22. Natural Regeneration - A Bonus for Farmers
    2021-02-12 This book explains how natural regeneration by farmers using simple, low-cost techniques can encourage the re-growth of trees from live stumps and from seeds in the ground. This uses material from "Footsteps 110", the literary publication ofTEAR Fund, with kind permission. Additional...





  23. Growing Mushrooms
    2021-02-12 Growing mushrooms can provide a useful extra income stream or supply additional protein for the family diet. This uses material from "Footsteps 99", the literary publication ofTEAR Fund, with kind permission. Illustrations by MissionAssist. This edition published in the United Kingdom in 2021 by...



  24. Hydroponics - Growing Crops without Soil
    2021-02-12 This book describes and illustrates six systems for growing fruit and vegetables hydroponically. This uses material from "Footsteps 110", the literary publication ofTEAR Fund, with kind permission. Illustrations by MissionAssist. This edition published in the United Kingdom in 2020 by...



  25. How to Make and Use a Donkey Plough
    2021-01-19 This book shows how to make a donkey-powered plough and how to ensure the donkey can pull it comfortably and well. This book uses material from "Practical Action" with kind permission. This edition published in the United Kingdom in 2021 by MissionAssist.





  26. Coping with Climate Change: Tips for Farmers
    2020-11-10 This book contains useful tips for farmers coping with climate change and other practical problems. It lists other Shell Books that give more detailed information for each topic covered. This uses material from "Footsteps 99", the literary publication ofTear Fund, with kind permission. This...





  27. Making a Bee-keeper’s Veil
    2020-08-26 How to make and wear a cheap and simple bee veil. This uses material from "Basic Beekeeping Manual 1: How to Make a Simple Bee Veil" by Pam Gregory, who offers this as her gift to beekeepers in developing countries. (The content of the text in this case may be freely used - including commercial...





  28. Making a Beehive
    2020-08-25 How to make a simple beehive from local and low-cost materials. This uses material from "Basic Beekeeping Manual 1: How to Make A Moveable Comb Top Bar Beehive" by Pam Gregory, who offers this as her gift to beekeepers in developing countries. (The content of the text in this case may be freely...





  29. How to Make Natural Pesticides
    2020-06-22 This booklet tells you how to use red chilli peppers to help keep pests away from your crops. Taken from "Footsteps 54" - the literacy publication of Tear Fund, used with kind permission. Illustrations on pages 4, 5 and cover courtesy ofClipArtEtc. This edition published in the United Kingdom in...





  30. Starting A Tree Nursery
    2020-06-22 How to create a tree nursery from the preparation of the ground to planting trees and caring for them. Adapted from "Footsteps 5" - the literacy publication of TEAR Fund, used with kind permission. This edition published in the United Kingdom in 2020 by MissionAssist.





  31. Growing Vegetables in Bags
    2020-06-01 This book contains useful tips for farmers coping with climate change and other practical problems. It lists other Shell Books that give more detailed information for each topic covered. This uses material taken fromFootsteps- the literacy publication of TEAR Fund - with kind permission.This...





  32. Rice Paddy, Book 1
    2020-06-01 This is the first in a series of four books on planting and maintaining a rice paddy. It looks at seedbeds, flowering and fruiting, preparing seeds, planting the seedbed, preparing the rice paddy, planting the rice, weeding and harvesting. Adapted from "Ini Sa Ukit Ta Egbael Basakan" 1993, SIL...





  33. Good Granary Design
    2020-06-01 A suggested design for a raised grain or food store to discourage raids by rats and mice. This uses material taken fromFootsteps- the literacy publication of TEAR Fund - with kind permission. This edition was published in the United Kingdom in 2019 by MissionAssist.





  34. Rice Paddy, Book 3
    2020-06-01 This is the third in a series of four books on planting and maintaining a rice paddy. It looks at problems with pests and includes insects that eat the rice before it is ripe, insects that eat it after the flower head has appeared, rats and birds. Adapted from "Ini Sa Ukit Ta Egbael Basakan"...





  35. Raising Goats
    2020-06-01 A goat is a good animal to keep because it gives very good milk and meat. It uses material from "Goat Raising", originally produced by the Bureau of Agricultural Extention, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, with kind permission.This edition was published in the United Kingdom in 2019 by...





  36. Rice Paddy, Book 4
    2020-06-01 This is the fourth in a series of four books on planting and maintaining a rice paddy. It looks at problems with diseases and covers blast, sheath blight, brown spot, narrow brown leaf spot, false smut, sheath rot, bacterial blight, bacterial leaf streak and viruses. Adapted from "Ini Sa Ukit Ta...





  37. Early Maize Seedlings
    2020-06-01 How to give maize seedlings an early start and save time between crops. This uses material taken fromFootsteps- the literacy publication of TEAR Fund - with kind permission. This edition was published in the United Kingdom in 2019 by MissionAssist.





  38. Rice Paddy, Book 2
    2020-06-01 This is the second in a series of four books on planting and maintaining a rice paddy. It looks at problems with poor soil and covers zinc deficiency, using zinc sulphate and nitrogen fertiliser. It advises on varieties of rice to give the best harvest, how to put fertiliser in the soil and how...





  39. Sterilising Seed Beds
    2020-06-01 This explains how to use the heat of the sun to sterilise seed beds as a cheap and simple method of sterilising soil. Sterile soil is best when planting a seed bed because there is less chance of disease. This was originally published in the United Kingdom in 2004.This edition was published in...





  40. Wood and Rice Husk Ash
    2020-06-01 This booklet explains how to keep pests from your crops by using ash from wood or rice husks. This uses material taken fromFootsteps 54- the literacy publication of TEAR Fund - with kind permission. This edition was published in the United Kingdom in 2020 by MissionAssist.





  41. Collecting and Keeping Seeds
    2020-06-01 Harvesting seeds enables farmers to avoid purchasing them from others each year. Collecting and saving seeds from tomatoes and members of the cabbage family, both of which favour temperate and colder climates, are explained. This booklet has been adapted from a Shell Book, "Ideias para guardar...





  42. How to Make and Use Compost
    2020-05-30 Instructions on how to make a compost container out of an old oil drum, how to make ventilation holes in it and what to put in it to develop a compost that will help with the fertilisation of plants. This has been adapted from a shell template produced by SIL in Papua New Guinea. The text is...





  43. Increase Chicken Production
    2020-05-30 This booklet helps you to increase the number of chickens you have. This material was taken fromFootsteps 59- a literacy publication of TEAR Fund - with kind permission.This edition was published in the United Kingdom in 2019 by MissionAssist.





  44. Cultivating Eru
    2020-05-30 Harvesting eru (an edible vine) in the wild can denude stocks.Advice is given to enable farmers to propagate cultivated eru from cuttings. This uses material from information published by Limbe Botanic Garden, Limbe, Cameroon, with kind permission.This edition was published in the United Kingdom...





  45. Keeping Fish and Ducks
    2020-05-30 Here are some basic suggestions for keeping ducks on a fish pond. This uses material taken fromFootsteps- the literacy publication of TEAR Fund - with kind permission.This edition was published in the United Kingdom in 2019 by MissionAssist.





  46. Harvesting Fruit the Easy Way
    2020-05-30 Some methods of harvesting fruit are dangerous and damage the fruit. Using a container on the end of a stick is safe and fruit can be picked without damage. This uses material taken fromFootsteps- the literacy publication of TEAR Fund - with kind permission.This edition was published in the...





  47. Raising Fish
    2020-05-30 Advice on siting, building and maintaining a fishpond, then buying, farming and harvesting the fish to go in it. Adapted, with permission, from the "Handbook on Small-Scale Freshwater Fish Farming", number 24 of a training series of handbooks published by the Publications Division of the Food and...





  48. Cattle Care
    2020-05-27 An interesting booklet on how to care for your cattle, including hints on milking, breeding and the care of your calves. This uses material from theAmazon Center of Peruvian Autonomous Languages- "Hugo Pesce" - Yarinacocha, Pucallpa, Peru, first published in June 1980 and used with kind...





  49. Chicken Care, Book 1
    2020-05-27 This is the first in a series of four books on the care of chickens. It introduces the subject and deals with thebuilding of a hen house and what sort of food to provide. This has been adapted fromAtallpakunata Wiñachina / La Cría De Gallinas- a shell template by SIL Peru, first published in...





  50. Chicken Care, Book 4
    2020-05-27 This is the fourth in a series of four books on the care of chickens. It dealswith the symptoms and treatment of fowl pest, internal worms, lice, infectiouslaryngotracheitis and cannibalism. This has been adapted fromAtallpakunata Wiñachina / La Cría De Gallinas- a shell template by SIL Peru,...





  51. Gardening in a Small Space
    2020-05-27 This contains three simple ideas for planting some herbs or vegetables where space is limited. This uses material taken from Footsteps - the literacy publication of TEAR Fund - with kind permission. This edition was published in the United Kingdom in 2019 by MissionAssist.





  52. Chicken Care, Book 3
    2020-05-27 This is the third in a series of four books on the care of chickens. It contains advice on how to select the right hens for reproduction, the right eggs for incubation and the care of newly hatched chicks. This has been adapted fromAtallpakunata Wiñachina / La Cría De Gallinas- a shell template...





  53. Fattening Cattle in your Backyard
    2020-05-27 How to buy a few cows, look after them, fatten them up and sell them for a profit. This content has been adapted from a source believed to have originated in the Philippines.This edition was published in the United Kingdom in 2019 by MissionAssist.





  54. Chicken Care, Book 2
    2020-05-27 This is the second in a series of four books on the care of chickens. It contains advice on the daily care of poultry, food and water and how to choose good hens. This has been adapted fromAtallpakunata Wiñachina / La Cría De Gallinas- a shell template by SIL Peru, first published in 1993. The...





  55. How to Treat Coccidiosis in Chickens
    2020-05-27 Coccidiosis is a disease in chickens which is caused by parasites. If left untreated, it can cause death. This book describes how to treat it, using seeds from a papaya plant. This uses material fromFootsteps 54- a literacy publication from TEAR Fund used with kind permission.This edition was...



  56. A Simple Chicken-feeder
    2020-05-15 This explains how to make a simple chicken feeder from a plastic bucket or similar container. This material was taken fromFootsteps- the literacy publication of TEAR Fund - with kind permission.This edition was published in the United Kingdom in 2019 by MissionAssist.