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ECHO Asia Note Articles

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  1. Preparation of Modified Mat Nurseries (MMN) for Improved Rice Seedling Production
    This article is from ECHO Asia Note #9 Editor: The System of Rice Intensification (SRI), an unconventional approach to rice production that has spread throughout many parts of the world since the late 1990s, is comprised of a set of flexible management practices. CEDAC, based in Cambodia,...





  2. Feed Options for Ruminants in the Tropics
    This article is from ECHO Asia Note # 31. The amazing multi-stomached ruminant comes in many forms, with varied nutritional requirements. Ruminants are even-toed, cloven-hoofed, four-legged, cud-chewing mammals of the suborder Ruminantia (within order Artiodactyla). Cattle, water buffalo, goats,...





  3. Preventing Insect Damage of Stored Seed Using Low-Cost Control Options
    This article is from ECHO Asia Note # 37. Seed saving in sub-tropical and tropical climates is challenging. Without equipment designed to maintain dry and cool environments, the quality of seeds may quickly deteriorate. High temperature and humidity during storage increase seed metabolism and...





  4. Creating a Low-Cost Seed Dryer for Use in Local Seed Banks
    This article is from ECHO Asia Note # 31. Saving your own seeds can be a cost-effective way to access crop seed for future planting and to help maintain the planet’s plant biodiversity. Whether you plant your own saved seeds, give them away to friends and neighbors, or distribute them through...





  5. Rice Hull Gold - 10 On-Farm Uses of Rice Hulls
    This article is from ECHO Asia Note # 37. One of the great challenges of sustainable agriculture is the sourcing of adequate and affordable organic (carbon based) resources that can be used on-farm for the production of food and feed. Utilizing composts, manures, mulches, and other organic inputs...
85 more ECHO Asia Note Articles

CAN Nutricion

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  1. Diabetes - How to prevent and live healthy with diabetes? Hospitalito, Kaqchiquel
    Spanish with Kaqchiquel Organización: Hospitalito de Atitlán





  2. Diabetes - How to prevent and live healthy with diabetes? Hospitalito, Tzutujil
    Organización: Hospitalito de Atitlán Spanish withTzutujil
  3. Diabetes - How to prevent and live healthy with diabetes? Hospitalito, Quiché
    Organización: Hospitalito de Atitlán Spanish withQuiché





  4. Complementary Food - Poster Porridge mirror, nutritive density
    Organización: ODIM





  5. Complementary Food - First Month Meal Plan
    Organización: ODIM
3 more CAN Nutricion

General Technical Documents

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  1. Minimal Soil Disturbance and its Effect on Soil Moisture Availability
    This short document contains graphs that show how zero tillage leads to increased water infiltration and increased water retention in soil.





  2. How to Process Jack bean (and other types of beans) as human food
    Jack bean is an excellent plant for enriching soil, because it grows under very difficult conditions. However, the beans contain toxins that normally make them unsuitable for human consumption. This document describes how to germinate jack bean to remove the toxins and increase the beans’...





  3. Green Manure/Cover Crop approach in RAMA-BC
    This document distinguishes between ‘anchor’ cover crops (that are intercropped with a main crop such as maize) and ‘secondary’ cover crops (that don’t compete with the main crop because they have a short life cycle, and that can help cover the soil at the start of the growing season). The...





  4. Farmer Own Soil Fertility Analysis
    Four nutrient deficiencies--phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, and magnesium--can be diagnosed by observing maize leaves. This document includes photos of a healthy maize leaf and of maize leaves demonstrating each of these nutrient deficiencies. It also contains suggestions for how to address each...



  5. Germination as an Effective Method for Processing Jack Bean for Human Consumption
49 more General Technical Documents

ECHO Research - Posters

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  1. Poster - Soil Salinity Measurement Trial
    Salt buildup typically occurs in dry areas where evaporation exceeds precipitation. Over time, as water evaporates, the minerals left behind begin to accumulate. Plants need a certain amount of soluble salts, but when the salt content of soil water is greater than that of the water inside plant...



  2. Poster - Maize/Legume Intercrop Based on IITA 2-4-2 Design
    The 2:4 maize–double cowpea system consists of 4 rows of cowpea and 2 rows of maize, all planted on the same day. The second cowpea crop is planted after the first has been harvested (about 60 days after planting).1 The maize and cowpea are densely planted. The objective of this trial is to gain...



  3. Poster - Seed Storage: Effectiveness of containers on temperature and relative humidity control
    After modifications to the ECHO Global Seed Bank storage unit, seed storage techniques already in use were assessed for effectiveness in achieving appropriate seed storing conditions within the renovated cooling and dehydrating system.Seed type influenced the effect of container on relative...



  4. Poster - Oxalates present in monstera fruit and plant matter
    Plants contain oxalates for a few reasons. The first is that plants do not have an excretory system like animals, so oxalates allow plants the ability to bind up excess calcium (Webb 1999).Plants high in oxalates can have negative effects on the ability of animals to absorb calcium after eating...





  5. Poster - Cyantesmo Paper for Detecting Cyanide
    Some tropical crops contain cyanogenic glycosides, toxic substances that release hydrocyanic acid (HCN; also referred to as cyanide) when cells are crushed. Consuming these plants without cooking them can cause cyanide poisoning, with varying effects depending on cyanide levels and how long a...
18 more ECHO Research - Posters

ECHO Asia Seed Fact Sheets

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  1. Crotalaria juncea
    General description and special characteristics – Sunn hemp is an erect, Photo: ECHO Asia staff annual legume with rapid, vigorous growth, bright yellow flowers, and plump,pubescent seed pods. The plant generally grows unbranched from the ground to approximately 60 cm (2 ft.) up the stem. Above...



  2. Vigna unguiculata
    General description and special characteristics – Cowpea is an indeterminate, drought-tolerant, bushy annual that is useful for forage and as an edible pulse. A native to central Africa, this legume can be used as a green manure and is a good control for soil erosion due to its rapid growth....



  3. Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis
    General description and special characteristics – Yard long bean most likely originated in southern China. It is a legume closely related to the common cowpea, typically cultivated for its edible immature pods. The pods hang in pairs and can be between 30 and 90 cm in length, although generally...



  4. Zinnia elegans
    General description and special characteristics - Zinnia is an upright, bushy flower with a yellow and black inner flower and petals of varying color. Variety -Thung Khang Tong: a local Thai variety with a mix of purple and white flowers.



  5. Tagetes erecta
    General description and special characteristics – Marigolds are prolific bloomers with large yellow, orange, and gold double flowers on vigorous bushy plants. They grow to 0.9-1.2m (3-4 ft.) in height. Variety – Heirloom variety from United States, with a mix of yellow and orange flowers.
54 more ECHO Asia Seed Fact Sheets

ECHO Research - Guidance

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  1. Formalizing Your Research: How to Carry Out an Agricultural Experiment
    As you work in agricultural development, there may be times that you find yourself wondering about the answer to a specific question you have. For example, should plants be spaced 30 cm or 60 cm apart to achieve the highest yield? Which one of three tomato cultivars would grow best in a...



  2. Toward more Fruitful Agricultural Experimentation
    For many of us the idea of “research” is scary. We are not trained in it. We picture rigorous statistical analyses that we are unfamiliar with. We have seen glossy scientific journals with technical words that we do not understand. Besides, isn’t our goal to directly help smallholder farmers? Why...



  3. Using Science to Help the Poor: Low-budget Research Ideas
    2000-10-20 Halfway through my doctoral studies in biochemistry I had an opportunity to travel to a developing country to visit some missionaries and the people they served. Thanks to that visit I began my “mid-life” crisis in my mid-twenties. My research at Indiana University was in what one would call “...

ECHO Research

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  1. Alternative Germination Mixes for Starting Transplants
    We at ECHO are sometimes asked what we recommend for a germination medium in situations where seeds or seedlings need to be started in pots or plastic sacks before going out to the field. This past summer, we conducted a trial at ECHO to make and evaluate potting mixes that could serve as...
  2. The Auger Bit Oil Press
    As I studied more about Moringa seed, I learned that its valuable edible oil and this led me to start researching ways of extracting the oil. There are commercial chemical extractions, but these are too costly for the tribal people we work with. There are also cold and warm commercial presses,...



  3. Winged Bean Revisited
    In finding a niche for winged bean, determine which part(s) and attributes of these plant parts will be of greatest benefit to farmers. Varieties differ in how much of a particular plant part they produce. Among seven varieties evaluated in a trial at ECHO, ‘Ribbon’ and ‘Bogor’ were the highest...



  4. Maize Production with Manure- Amended Compost
    2011-12-01 Information from ECHO Network member Daryl Edwards from his work in Zimbabwe suggested that using quality compost containing 10% cow manure results in a maize harvest similar to that obtained with 100% cow manure. This could be significant to farmers who have small farm sizes and limited...

ECHO East Africa News

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  1. East Africa Newsletter Issue 14
    In this issue: 1. Nutrition in dryland areas symposium 2.Nanenane Agricultural show 3. Appropriate technology 4. ECHO EA seed bank updates 5..Parthenium 6. Upcoming events 7. News in brief





  2. ECHO East Africa Newsletter Issue 2
    In This Issue Seed Bank Update Students Visit ECHO EA Local CA Training Events Staff Transitions Resources for Organic Certif. The Debate over GMOs New Online Resources





  3. ECHO East Africa Newsletter Issue 12
    In this issue: Nanenane Agricultural show Appropriate technology ECHO EA seedbank updates Highlights Innovation News in brief ECHO RIC‟s Best Practices



  4. East Africa Newsletter Issue 16
    2019-10-01 Introduction to Soil Structure and Health Acidic Soils of the Tropics Testing and Replenishing your Soils Soil Texturing Flowchart Project Highlights and Impact Stories Staff Spotlight





  5. East Africa Newsletter Issue 15
    2019-04-20 In this Issue : 5th Symposium on Sustainable Agriculture and Appropriate Technologies Environmental Conservation Empowering Small-scale Farmers with Seeds History of Maresha Plow
10 more ECHO East Africa News

ECHO East Africa Notes

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  1. EAN Issue #2
    A Combination of Approaches to Conserve Soil and Water Tephrosia: A Multipurpose Tree for GM/CC, Soil Conservation and IPM



  2. EAN Issue #3
    2014-01-01 Linking Small Scale Farmers to Markets through a Value Chain Approach and the Role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) “Value chain” has recently emerged as a popular business and development concept. The growing integration of the global economy has provided the opportunity for...





  3. EAN Issue #1
    2013-07-01 Conservation Agriculture in East Africa: An Update What’s happening on ECHOcommunity.org? Telfairia pedata: Oyster Nut, Kweme or Zanzibar Oil Vine

Haitian Network Documents

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  1. Raj (Rabies)
    A Creole document describing rabies. How animals get rabies, Signs of rabies, What should you do if you suspect an animal has rabies, How to know if an animal is rabid, What to do if you are bit by an animal.





  2. Vetiver Latrine Guide
    A “how to” guide to successfully install a natural, sustainable latrine using vetiver grass The use of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) replaces the need for a concrete block lined pit, creates privacy and actively helps decompose the waste. Jiji grass (Achnatherum splendens) can be used...





  3. Raj Powerpoint
    A powerpoint explaining rabies in general and in Haiti, how to combat it, signs, what do do if you are bit etc.





  4. Maladi Nou Ka Anpeche Nan Ayiti Ak Vaksen - Illnesses we can prevent in Haiti
    A creole document describing illnesses in Haiti that can be prevented with vaccine available in Haiti





  5. Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Terms In Haitian Creole
    Glossary of terms
20 more Haitian Network Documents

ECHO Technical Notes

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  1. TN #16 A Beginners Guide to Small-Scale Tropical Agriculture
    So you want to help people in the tropics. Beautiful! The tropics are waiting for you. No matter what your abilities, you can make life better for others in the tropics. Your concern for the physical and spiritual well-being of people can be translated into fruitful service. Your first asset is...





  2. TN #95 100-Fold Vegetable Gardens with Low-Cost Wicking Beds
    2019-07-23 I discovered 100-fold gardens while researching ways to irrigate plants directly in the root zone. I wanted to know how to practically and affordably control some of the variables that influence plant growth, such as water availability and soil fertility. I read about “wicking beds,” which are...





  3. TN #94 Parasitic Plants in African Agriculture
    2019-03-21 This Technical Note provides an overview of parasitic plants of agricultural significance in Africa. Parasitic weeds cause drought stress and stunted crops. Affected plants include cereal grains (e.g., sorghum [Sorghum bicolor] and maize [Zea mays]) and grain legumes (e.g., cowpea [Vigna...





  4. TN #93 Vacuum-Sealing Options for Storing Seeds
    2019-01-07 Two broad categories of seeds exist, referred to as recalcitrant and orthodox. The former must be kept moist and planted soon after they are collected; large-seeded fruits such as mango and avocado are typical examples. The second type of seeds are discussed in this document. Orthodox seeds are...





  5. TN #92 Bamboo for Construction
    2018-05-17 Many plants deemed as invaluable for the smallholder farmer offer nutritious food for the family, fodder for animals, or timber for construction. Remarkably, bamboo offers all three of these assets from the same perennial plant! This Technical Note will focus on how to most effectively harvest,...
89 more ECHO Technical Notes

ECHO Asia Notes

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  1. AN Issue #42
    2020-05-29 Featured in this AN Words of Gratitude & Solidarity from the ECHO Asia Director Making On-Farm Pig Feed:Farm-Generated Formulas vs. Commercial Feeds ECHOsfrom the Network: Integrated PestManagement on the Island of Bali ECHOs from the Network: Coffee Drying ‘Bunk-Beds’ for Vegetable...



  2. AN Issue #41
    2020-03-13 Featured in this AN A Snapshot of the ECHO Asia Small Farm Resource Center & Seed Bank Black Soldier Fly System of the FrangipaniLangkawi Organic Farm ECHO Asia Upcoming Events Small Scale Fish Culture Workshop ECHO Asia CareerOpportunities Career Opportunity: ECHO Asia Agricultural Training...



  3. AN Issue #40
    2019-11-29 Featured in this AN State of Land in theMekong Region - Brief Highlighted Resources from the Asia Agriculture & Community Development Conference Research Update:Heavy Metal Uptake in Tire Garden Planters Upcoming events in 2020 at the ECHO Asia Farm New Seedlings Available Opportunities from...



  4. AN Issue #39
    2019-08-30 Featured in this AN Backyard Vermicomposting Systems: Examples from Myanmar New Book Spotlight: Animal Integration and Feeding Strategies for the Tropical Smallholder Farm ECHO Asia Conference is fast approaching! Spotlight on plenary speakers and site visits! Call for Articles & Insights



  5. AN Issue #38
    2019-05-15 Featured in this AN #38: Refugee Camps asMicrocosm: Restoration & Sustainability in anAccidental City Low-Cost Natural Building Options for Storing Seed in Tropical Southeast Asia ECHO Asia Upcoming Events- Register for ECHO Asia Conference 2019! Opportunity from the Network Ethiopian Kale...
37 more ECHO Asia Notes

Other Farmer Training Guides

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  1. Insect Identification and Monitoring - Facilitators Guide
    2020-04-20 The source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in the author's dropbox. The source documents are updated periodically so check here for the most current formats. We encourage you to adapt the source for your purposes. Learning Outcomes – Participants will: 1. Identify...



  2. How to experiment on your farm - Facilitator's Guide
    2020-04-20 The source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in the author's dropbox. The source documents are updated periodically so check here for the most current formats. We encourage you to adapt the source for your purposes. Learning Outcomes – Participants will: 1. Understand the...



  3. Preparing CA Fields with Ox-Drawn Rippers - Facilitators Guide
    2020-04-20 The source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in the author's dropbox. The source documents are updated periodically so check here for the most current formats. We encourage you to adapt the source for your purposes. Learning Outcomes – Participants will: 1. Appreciate the...



  4. Safe and Effective Grain Storage - Facilitators Guide
    2020-04-20 The source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in the author's dropbox. The source documents are updated periodically so check here for the most current formats. We encourage you to adapt the source for your purposes. Learning Outcomes – Participants will: 1. Analyze the...



  5. Using Pesticides Safely - Facilitator's Guide
    2020-04-20 The source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in the author's dropbox. The source documents are updated periodically so check here for the most current formats. We encourage you to adapt the source for your purposes. Learning Outcomes – Participants will be able to: 1....
6 more Other Farmer Training Guides

Conservation Agriculture Core Training Guides

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  1. Conservation Agriculture Facilitator’s Guidebook
    2020-04-20 Guide Book alsoavailable in Amharic /Chichewa /Kinyarwanda; Posters also available in Amharic / Kiembu / Kikuyu / Kikamba / Kinyarwanda / Chichewa /Alur; Farmers' Booklet also available in Kinyarwanda The source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in the author's dropbox....





  2. Conservation Agriculture - Core Lesson Farmer Booklet
    2020-04-20 Guide Book alsoavailable in Amharic /Chichewa /Kinyarwanda; Posters also available in Amharic / Kiembu / Kikuyu / Kikamba / Kinyarwanda / Chichewa /Alur; Farmers' Booklet also available in Kinyarwanda The source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in the author's dropbox....

ECHO Development Notes (EDN)

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  1. EDN Issue #147
    2020-04-14 Responding in the Case of an Epidemic or Pandemic A Tip of the Hat to the Tippy Tap Promoting Biodiversity on Maize Smallholdings: Importance of Birds From ECHO's Seed Bank:Fast-Growing Plants for Household Food Supply Echoes from Our Network: 100-Fold Gardens in Honduras Books, Web Sites, and...



  2. EDN new template view
    2020-03-03 This is just to see what the new template looks like on ECHO Community Low Oxygen Methods for InsectControl in Seeds ECHO International Agriculture Conference 2019:Topic Summaries Echoes from our Network:Roger Gietzen on the topic of syntropic farming Books, Web Sites and Other Resources: Vetiver...





  3. EDN Issue #146
    2020-01-27 Low Oxygen Methods for InsectControl in Seeds ECHO International Agriculture Conference 2019:Topic Summaries Echoes from our Network:Roger Gietzen on the topic of syntropic farming Books, Web Sites and Other Resources: Vetiver Latrine





  4. EDN Issue #145
    2019-10-18 Pest Prevention: The Foundation of Integrated Pest Management Echoes from our Network:Nutrition Education inthe Context of Community Agriculture Programs From ECHO's Seed Bank:New Lima Bean CultivarsAvailable Books, Web Sites, and Other Resources: Syntropic Farming Guidebook by Roger Gietzen





  5. EDN Issue #144
    2019-07-24 Introducing 100-Fold Gardens: Wicking Beds for High-Density Planting of Vegetables Where Water is Scarce Echoes from our Netwok: Literacy and Agriculture and Termite Harvesting in Ghana From ECHO's Seed Bank: Earthbag Houses for Storing Seeds Books, Web Sites, and Other Resources: Restoring the...
152 more ECHO Development Notes (EDN)

CAN Culinaria

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  1. Chaya Recipe Book
    2019-11-20





  2. Healthy cookbook for children
    2019-01-20 RECETARIO WUQU’ KAWOQ Versión 2018-2019 Elaborado por: Valeria Morales. Spanish Only.

ECHO West Africa Notes

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  1. ECHO Notes de l'Afrique de l'Ouest Numéro 3
    2019-07-22 Le système de riziculture intensive (SRI) Qu'est-ce que le SRI ? Les étapes de mise en œuvre du SRI L'irrigation des plants Le sarclage et le sarclo-binage, quels sont les avantages ? Le rendement du SRI Etude comparée entre le SRI et la pratique traditionnelle de riziculture Intérêt du SRI...





  2. ECHO Notes de l'Afrique de l'Ouest Numéro 2
    2018-01-03 Techniques de production avicole traditionnelle epublication:Options de restauration des sols improductifsetOptions où l'eau est rare





  3. ECHO West Africa Note Issue 1
    2017-08-01 Foundations For Farming, an alternative for small-scale farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa How to prepare compost in 3 weeks? The preparation of organic liquid fertilizer eBook Release:Fundamentals of Agricultural Development epublication

Haiti Development Notes

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  1. Nòt Devlopman Ayiti - Haiti Development Notes Issue 5
    2019-03-20 Kreyòl





  2. Nòt Devlopman Ayiti - Haiti Development Notes Issue 4
    2018-12-20 Kreyòl





  3. Nòt Devlopman Ayiti - Haiti Development Notes Issue 3
    2018-08-20 Kreyòl





  4. Nòt Devlopman Ayiti - Haiti Development Notes Issue 2
    2018-04-20 Kreyòl





  5. Nòt Devlopman Ayiti - Haiti Development Notes Issue 1
    2018-01-20 Kreyòl

ECHO Latin America and Caribbean Notes (LACN)

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  1. LACN Issue #4
    2018-02-22 Green Leafy Vegetables and Powders for Improved Nutrition in Honduras Member Highlight: Elioena Arauz,Artists for Soup, Nicaragua Echoes from our Network: Deep Litter System ECHO Resource Highlight: Green Leafy Vegetables Technical Note Spotlight: "Linking Smallholder Farmers to Markets"





  2. LACN Issue #3
    2017-12-04 ECHO in Latin America and the Caribbean Experimenting with Medicinal Plants in Matagalpa, Nicaragua Staff Highlight Tech Note Spotlight: "Introducing new seeds overseas" Tech Note Spotlight: "Introduction to Tropical Root Crops" Echoes from our Network Resources: Wuqu' Kawoq (The Maya Health...





  3. LACN Issue #2
    2017-07-31 Las Cañadas Agro-ecological Chickens Module Introducing New Team Leader: Cecilia Gonzalez Tech Note Spotlight: "Cafeteria Feeding" of Chickens From ECHO's Seed Bank: Ethiopian Kale Member Highlight: Javier Ignacio Silva Rivera Our Vision:Honoring God by Empowering the Undernourished with...





  4. LACN Issue #1
    2017-03-30 Making Silage in Vichada Tech Note Spotlight: Biosand Water Filter Echoes from our Network: Member Highlight Adria and Job From ECHO's Technical Respose Team: Appropriate forage crops for clay soils From ECHO's Seed Bank: Forage peanut

ECHO Research Notes

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  1. Performance of Five Alley-Cropped Sweet Corn Varieties Grown in Bohoc, Haiti
    2017-12-19 This trial was conducted in 2004 to compare growth and yield parameters of five sweet corn (Zea mays) varieties (‘NE-EDR’, ‘ZC2451F’, ‘Golden Queen’, ‘Hawaiian Supersweet’, and ‘True Gold’) grown between rows of leguminous trees (mostly Leucaena leucocephala) trees in the Central Plateau of...



  2. Creating an Optimum Potting Mixture for Resource-Constrained Growers in Thailand
    2017-12-19 In a tropical setting, growing seedlings can be difficult. A major factor of concern for nursery production is water logging (Zhu et al. 2007). During the rainy season, oversaturated soils can effectively suffocate root systems of a seedling by restricting flow of oxygen and other important...



  3. Pumpkin Variety Trial
    2017-11-22 Tropical varieties of pumpkin, Cucurbita sp., vary widely in their production, fruit size and quality, and taste. This variety trial and analysis includes eleven varieties available at the ECHO farm in Florida in 2006. All varieties were evaluated for seed viability, total production, fruit size...



  4. Okra Variety Trial: Abelmoschus esculentum & Abelmoschus caillei
    2017-10-04 A comparison trial of okra species and varieties was conducted at the ECHO farm in North Fort Myers (zone 9a/10b), Florida. Thirteen varieties ofAbelmoschus esculentumand two varieties ofAbelmoschus cailleiwere evaluated for pod production and taste. Plants were started from seed in trays, with...





  5. Soil Quality Assessment: Why and How
    2013-12-20 Soil quality, also known as soil health, is the capacity of the soil to function – how well it fills the roles we need it to, whether in a natural or managed ecosystem. A variety of measures are used to gauge soil health; although we can use these characteristics as indicators of soil quality,...
3 more ECHO Research Notes

ECHO Best Practice Notes

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  1. BPN #7 - Selecting Legumes as Green Manure/Cover Crops
    2017-05-26 By integrating legumes into cropping systems, small-scale farmers in low-resource settings can invest in the long-term health and resilience of their soils. Success or failure depends largely on choosing the right legume(s). With that in mind, this document presents insights on legume selection...





  2. BPN #6 - Conservation Agriculture
    2016-09-28 Farmers in many parts of the world, because of human population growth, have little choice but to crop their land continuously, with scarce resources to replace nutrients withdrawn by each successive crop. Crop residues are often lost as a source of organic matter and mulch, usually through...





  3. BPN #5 - Seed Storage in the Tropics
    2016-03-22 Yearly production of grains, pulses, and vegetables depends on a reliable supply of quality seed. This is true for the farmer growing a crop to feed their family as well as for the agricultural worker evaluating and growing out seeds of a new crop species or variety that could improve lives. In...





  4. BPN #4 - Institutional Agricultural Design
    2014-04-01 ECHO frequently receives questions from members of our network, asking how available land could be used to grow food and/or create income to augment an otherwise non-agricultural project. Broadly speaking, they are asking how to begin an institutional agriculture project—a coordinated agriculture...



  5. BPN #3 - Assisting Pastoralists
    2014-02-26 Pastoralism is a livelihood whereby people depend upon herding domesticated livestock. In East Africa, pastoralists depend primarily upon cattle, sheep, donkeys, goats and camels— listed in order of least resilience as one moves into drier and more arid lowland areas. Pastoralists play an...
2 more ECHO Best Practice Notes

Agricultural Risk Assessment and Management

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  1. Risk Assessment/ Measurement and Prioritization in Agriculture
    2017-01-20 A Comprehensive Agricultural Risk Assessment Survey should include key informants like those listed below, to assess risk at both: the farmer/ARE level and the value-chain level. It will never be possible to include all the informants listed below, but the best risk assessment resulting in the...



  2. Agricultural Risk Management Services: A Key to Increasing Financial Inclusion of Farmers
    2013-03-13 Within the internationally recognized field of agricultural risk assessment and management, riskscan be evaluated according to three basic criteria : 1. Impact: In other words, how severe will the risk event be if it actually happens? Some risks can destroy the whole year's farm income and even...



  3. Ag Risk Management Planning Process and Scoring Grid
    2013-01-20 Risk Management Planning assumes that assessment of risks has taken place, and that risks have been prioritized according to severity, likelihood, and manageability of the risks. The resulting risks can then be placed on the scoring grid below and actions identified to address the risks. Once...



  4. Ag Risk Assessment Practical Exercise Koboko
    2013-01-20 This Risk Assessment Exercise is bestused in conjunction with the other Risk Management materials provided by Steve Hodges



  5. Ag Risk Assessment Prioritization Worksheet
    2013-01-20 This information in this worksheet is bestused in conjunction with the other Risk Management materials provided by Steve Hodges, Managing Director/Consultant,African Agriculture Risk Management Services, Uganda. Steve spoke at the 2012 ECHO International Agriculture Conference

ECHO Asia News

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  1. Asia News #10
    2016-11-20



  2. Asia News #9
    2016-05-20



  3. Asia News #8
    2015-09-20



  4. Asia News #7
    2015-03-20



  5. Asia News #6
    2014-11-20
5 more ECHO Asia News

ECHO Summaries

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  1. Farmer Engagement in Agriculture Extension
    2015-08-05 Good intentions and viable solutions will have little impact unless we engage with farmers in ways that are meaningful to them. Farmers put a great deal of confidence in what they learn from fellow farmers’ experiences, and they are more likely to trust what they see over what they hear....



  2. Analyzing and Supporting Gender Responsive Value Chains
    2015-08-05 The complexity of the global food system creates a diverse group of actors ranging from smallholders to large corporations involved in the agriculture sector. Each of the many actors in an agriculture value chain has different needs, objectives, strengths and weaknesses. With women accounting for...





  3. Effective Use of Workshops in Agriculture Extension
    2015-07-14 Workshops are an often-used and effective tool that extension workers can use to teach new skills to groups of farmers. This document, drawn from the USAID/MEAS Technical Note on Presenting Workshops to Adults, explains how a workshop setting differs from that of a classroom/teaching setting, and...



  4. Lessons from Small Farm Resource Centers
    2015-07-13 Based on a MEAS paper entitled, The Current and Future Roles of Small Farm Resource Centers in Extension and Advisory Services: Synthesis Report from Seven Case Studies in Southeast Asia, this document highlights key take-a-ways of an assessment by ECHO of seven SFRCs in Southeast Asia. Through...



  5. Teaching in Field Settings
    2015-06-03 Field-based teaching provides first-hand experience about the subject matter being discussed. An on-site encounter allows farmers to observe innovations in practice, discuss them, and ask questions. Farmers exposed to new ideas will be much more likely to understand and apply the information if...
7 more ECHO Summaries

CAN Agricultura

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  1. A garden for all - Self-instruction manual
    2014-01-20 5ta Edición revisada y ampliada Chile Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura Spanish Only.

A Natural Farming System For Sustainable Agriculture In the Tropics

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  1. Sustainable Agriculture Book - Chapter 3 Co-infect_The_Art_of_Inoculation
    2005-01-20 There are billions of microbes in a handful of soil. 90% of these microbes are neutral; they don’t affect the soil toward disease or health when left on their own. However, according to Dr. Higa, in abused or diseased-chemical based soils, 5 to 10% of the overall colony is pathogenic made up of...
  2. Sustainable Agriculture Book - Chapter 10 Composting
    2005-01-20 Composting is Fundamental #4. Compost will build up organic matter and create humus for your soil. The finished product of decomposition is called compost. Composting is a controlled process in which we capture a high percentage of nutrients from our crop residue and return it back to the soil in...



  3. Sustainable Agriculture Book - Chapter 8 Legume Usage
    2005-01-20 Legume usage is Fundamental #2. It helps nitrogen fixation. Rotate a legume through every year to add free nitrogen to your system. This is one of the biggest expenses in chemical based agriculture and can be minimized and even replaced by biological practices. Bacteria help the farmer by adding...



  4. Sustainable Agriculture Book - Appendix 2 Advanced_Bokashi_Production
    2005-01-20 Bokashi is the Japanese word for fermented plant matter. There are thousands of types of bokashi for you to make and explore. Once you learn the fundamentals of bokashi production you will find many creative ways to capture seemingly worthless organic materials and turn them into a powerhouse of...



  5. Sustainable Agriculture Book - Chapter 18 Planning Session
    2005-01-20 Plans should be drawn up before any effort is wasted. Think through your traffic routes and flow of materials. Integrate your resource recovery plan in this process. Set your goals and lay down the steps that you think are needed as you see it now. Write it down; it will be a flexible starting...
24 more A Natural Farming System For Sustainable Agriculture In the Tropics

USDA Agriculture Handbooks

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  1. Tropical tree seed manual
    2002-01-20 File: Download [PDF File] 38MB Author(s): Vozzo, J. A.,United States. Forest Service. Subject(s): Trees -- Tropics -- Seeds.,Trees -- North America -- Seeds.,Tropical plants -- Seeds -- Identification.,Tropical plants -- North America -- Seeds -- Identification. Format: 899 p. Coverage: tropics...



  2. Perennial edible fruits of the Tropics : an inventory
    1987-01-19 File: Download [PDF File] Author(s): Martin, Franklin W.,Campbell, Carl W.,Ruberte, Ruth M.,United States. Agricultural Research Service. Subject(s): Plants, Edible -- Tropics.,Tropical fruit. Format: 247 p. Coverage: tropics Language: English Publisher: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural...



  3. Tropical yams and their potential. Part 5, Dioscorea trifida
    1978-01-19 File: Download [PDF File] Author(s): Martin, Franklin W.,Degras, Lucien. Subject(s): Yams. Format: iv, 26 p. Language: English Publisher: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Year: 1978 Series: USDA agriculture handbooks Rights: This item is authored by federal employees as part of their official duties...



  4. Tropical yams and their potential. Part 6, Minor cultivated dioscorea species
    1978-01-19 File: Download [PDF File] Author(s): Martin, Franklin W.,Degras, Lucien. Subject(s): Yams -- Tropics. Format: iii, 23 p. Coverage: tropics Language: English Publisher: Science and Education Administration, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture in cooperation with Agency for International Development Year:...



  5. Tropical yams and their potential. Part 4, Dioscorea rotundata and dioscorea cayenensis
    1977-01-19 File: Download [PDF File] Author(s): Martin, Franklin W.,Sadik, Sidki. Subject(s): Yams -- Tropics. Format: iv, 36 p. Coverage: tropics Language: English Publisher: Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture in cooperation with Agency for International Development Year: 1977...
4 more USDA Agriculture Handbooks

Books

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  1. Outlines of perennial crop breeding in the tropics
    1969-01-19 In predominantly agricultural tropical countries the need to raise the production of good-quality foodstuffs and raw material is today greater than ever. The rise in production efficiency, so essential for our very existence, can be obtained only partly by improved cultural practices, increased...
  2. Seeds in Emergencies: A technical handbook
    2010-01-20 Seeds are critical for addressing the dual challenges of food insecurity and climate change. Farmers depend on quality seed of appropriate varieties to attain food security. However, in recent times, natural disasters, such as droughts, floods and hurricanes, and human-caused disasters, such as...
  3. Enduring Farms: Climate Change, Smallholders and Traditional Farming Communities
    2008-01-20 This book, published in 2008, explains the challenges facing farmers and describes how traditional farming practices have adapted to harsh conditions for centuries.
6396 more books
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  1. Comparative analysis of seed size, germination, and vegetative allocation in annual and herbaceous perennial crops and their wild relatives in Lupinus and Phaseolus (Fabaceae)
    Abstract,bioRxiv, 2019 Herbaceous perennial species are receiving increased attention for their potential to provide both edible products and ecosystem services in agricultural systems. Many legumes (Fabaceae Lindl.) are of special interest due to nitrogen fixation carried out by bacteria in...



  2. Enhancing Crop Domestication Through Genomic Selection, a Case Study of Intermediate Wheatgrass
    Abstract, Frontiers in Plant Science, 2020 Perennial grains could simultaneously provide food for humans and a host of ecosystem services, including reduced erosion, minimized nitrate leaching, and increased carbon capture. Yet most of the world’s food and feed is supplied by annual grains....



  3. Harnessing perennial and indeterminant growth habits for ratoon cotton (Gossypium spp.) cropping
    Abstract,Ecosystem Health and Sustainability, 2020 Ratoon is the stub or root of a perennial plant that is commonly retained after harvest to produce a following crop. This paper presents a review of ratoon cotton in relation to a broader framework that has been examining perennialization of...
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Presentations

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  1. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) - Producing more rice with less inputs - 3 years of experience from Mali
    2010-09-21



  2. Seed Saving Steps and Technologies
    2010-09-21





  3. Possibilities for producing off-season tomatoes based on organic manure for improve and support the standard of living of rural populations in cropping systems of small scale in Gambia (West Africa)
    2010-09-21
970 more presentations

Plant Information Sheets

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  1. Acacia mangium
    Acacia mangium can grow to be a tall tree up to 30 m. It is a fast-growing tree that can tolerate acidic and degraded soils. This tree grows best with moderate rainfall and full sunlight. It is one of the major leguminous species used in plantation forestry programs throughout Asia and the...
  2. Adzuki Bean
    Adzuki bean is a bushy or vining, nitrogen-fixing, annual plant that is moderately drought tolerant. This bean grows best in temperate climates or higher altitudes in the tropics. The young pods, fresh seeds and dry beans are used for human consumption.
  3. African Mahogany
    Khaya nyasica is a large evergreen or semi-deciduous forest tree up to 60 m in height. It has a rounded crown that provides dense shade. This tree is an important timber species and the wood is also used for furniture, firewood, tools, carving and for canoes.
319 more plant information sheets

Videos

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  1. Best Practices NGOs can adopt to improve human Nutrition especially for vulnerable groups
    Session: The Sustainable Development Goal number two is about Zero Hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. To respond to this goal, stakeholders can engage themselves into activities falling into the seven targets of this goal including promotion...



  2. Soil biodiversity and productivity
    Session: Conservation agriculture (CA) (zero tillage + organic inputs as surface residue) is believed to improve soil nutrient status, soil structure, control soil erosion, and also enhance soil fauna diversity. Despite the widespread interest in CA, empirical evidence of the benefits of CA on...



  3. Agricultural Risk Management: a new way of thinking
    "Agricultural Risk Management: a new way of thinking" - (C) PARM 2016 The Platform for Agricultural Risk Management (PARM) presents a short animated awareness video to explain how agricultural risk management (ARM) can significantly contribute to improving the resilience of vulnerable rural...
294 more videos