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ECHOcommunity Resources in English

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Resources for Schools and Teachers

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  1. Animals on the Farm – Science and ELA Level: Elementary-Middle School
    During the ECHO tour, students saw several members of the animal kingdom which play an important role on small-scale farms. After creating a graphic organizer, students will write stories, poems, construct posters, or design illustrated brochures or information sheets describing “How to Raise”...



  2. Designing Experiments – Science Level: Middle School
    Students will investigate recent field research studies on the ECHO-Florida Global Farm and the ECHO-Asia Regional Impact Center and then design their own experiments. Activity 1 ECHO-Florida initiated a multi-year gliricidia intercropping trial. Researchers are trying to determine if the shade...



  3. Gone Fishing! Math Level: Middle School
    Students will analyze data from the annual Tilapia harvest comparing the pond raised fish to the aquaponics grown fish. Guess what they found?



  4. A Pre-Visit Plan -- Please discuss this very important information with your students before you visit. 
    Frequently asked questions about ECHO, the farm visit, and safety rules for enjoying the ECHO-Florida Global Farm experience...



  5. Sweet Harvest! Math Level: Middle School
    Students will convert the annual sugar cane harvest data from weight to liquid measure, calculate the number of containers needed (gallons, quarts, and pints) for sale at a farmers’ market, and form a business plan including the calculation of costs and profits. An extension activity includes...
6 more Resources for Schools and Teachers

ECHO Asia Note Articles

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  1. Op-Ed: Forage Plants for Improved Human Development
    This article is from ECHO Asia Note # 33. I read David Price’s concerns about promoting invasive forage plants in Asia Note #25 [Eds’ Note: AN #25 was written in response to AN #23] and would like to respond based on my own experience and observations. My reply will be based on the following...
  2. An Innovative ‘Do-All’ Biochar Burner Design
    [Editor’s Note: There are many biochar burner designs currently in existence, intended for various scales and end uses in mind. This particular design has becomea favorite of the ECHO Asia farm staff, for its ability to produce larger quantities of pyrolyzed material and wood vinegar at the same...
  3. [Example] Small Farm Biosecurity Plan
    [Editor’s Note: This is only one example of a biosecurity plan for small-scale pig operations in one region and may be used as a template. It is unlikely that all measures will be practical or appropriate for your context and should therefore be adapted according to the needs and priorities of...





  4. Refugee Camps as Microcosm: Restoration & Sustainability in an Accidental City
    [Editor’s Note: This article seeks to address the broader challenges of food security in refugee camp environments, of which there are many within our Asia region, while offering individual practical options that may be implemented to address the need for nutritional diversity in these...
  5. I Suspect ASFV on my Farm
    What Steps Should I Take?
97 more ECHO Asia Note Articles

General Technical Documents

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  2. Transition and Third Culture Kid Resources
    Echo International Agricultural Conference Ellen Hargrave – Africa Inland Mission: ellen.hargrave@aimint.org
  3. Mobile Aquaponics System
    This system was designed by Daniel Brännström. You can view a video of this system here:http://edn.link/aquavideo The goal of this project is to place the fish farm in a 20 foot cargo container and connecting to the plant beds in a greenhouse or outdoor.In a standard 20 foot (about 6 m long)...



  4. Mobile Aquaponics System
    This system was designed by Daniel Brännström. You can view a video of this system here:http://edn.link/aquavideo The goal of this project is to place the fish farm in a 20 foot cargo container and connecting to the plant beds in a greenhouse or outdoor.In a standard 20 foot (about 6 m long)...



  5. Vermiculture_Garden_Composting
    Benefits 1. Efficient recycling of clean vegetable residues. 2. Feed and multiply earthworms to populate a garden area of up to 1000 sq. ft. (32’ X 32’). 3. Protect young worms from animal predators. 4. Worm numbers per bed increased 25 fold, over 6 months at ECHO in N. Fort Meyers, FL. 5....
63 more General Technical Documents

Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets

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  1. Carissa macrocarpa - Natal plum, Large num-num, Carissa
    Fruit Edible parts - Fruit A small evergreen shrub. It grows up to 5 m tall. It branches densely and has many forked spines. They are usually in pairs atthe top of shoots. The branches are smooth and light brown. branches exude milky latex when cut. The leaves are producedopposite one another....



  2. Lupinus mutabilis - Andean Lupin
    Legumes/vegetable Edible parts -Seeds, Vegetable An erect annual herb. It grows to 1.5 m tall. It has a thick taproot. It can keep growing from year to year. The stems arebranched, woody and mostly without hairs. The leaves have leaflets arranged like fingers on a hand. There are 7-9 leaflets....



  3. Vigna subterranea - Bambara groundnut
    Legumes Edible parts -Seeds, Leaves, Pods, Vegetable, Nuts An annual plant. It can either form a bunchy bush or be a trailing plant. Often the creeping stems are near ground level. It oftenappears as if bunched leaves arise from branched stems near ground level. It has a well developed taproot....



  4. Coccothrinax argentea - Silver Palm
    Vegetable Edible parts -Leaves, Cabbage, Palm heart A fan palm. The trunk is slender. It is 7 m high and 12 cm across. The upper part of the trunk is covered with woven fibres. Thecrown is sparse. It is 2 m wide and 2.6 m high. The leaf stalks are 60 cm long. The leaves are 1 m wide. The leaves...



  5. Dioscorea trifida - Sweet Yam
    Vegetables Edible parts -Tubers, Vegetable, Root A yam vine. The stem is square in cross section and does not have spines. The leaves are 25 cm long. They are opposite. Theleaf is divided like fingers on a hand into 3 or more segments. The male flower is on a long stalk and the female flower...
499 more Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets

ECHO Recipes

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  1. Main Dishes - Pork
  2. Breads
  3. Drinks
  4. Sauces and Dips
  5. Main Dishes - Starch
8 more ECHO Recipes

GODAN Open Data Management in Agriculture and Nutrition

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  1. Annex 3:4: Farm Advice Through Open Weather Data





  2. Lesson 2:3 Data Analysis and Visualisation





  3. Lesson 5:1 Intellectual Property Rights





  4. Lesson 3:3 Creating and Managing Open Data Repositories





  5. Lesson 2:1 Discovering Open Data
16 more GODAN Open Data Management in Agriculture and Nutrition

ECHO East Africa Notes

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  1. EAN Issue #5
    Moving towards energy self-sufficiency: addressing challenges to biogas technology uptake for improving rural livelihoods Improving soil nutrients by planting Jack Bean Parthenium hysterophorus



  2. EAN Issue #4
    New seed to try: Banana Passionfruit Sweet Potato Varieties in East Africa Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease in East Africa A Focus on Perennial Vegetables





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



  4. EAN Issue #7
    Families Benefited with Dairy Goats Project A Research Project:Packed Biogas in Bags Green Manure/ Cover Crops: jack bean



  5. EAN Issue #8
    2022-03-02 Symposium AmidCOVID 19 LILORocket Stove: a life-changing, clean & affordable energy Seed Bank Update:Hope in the Midst ofChallenges: Farmer Field School (FFS): A strategy of promoting Sustainable Integrated Agricultural Practices
3 more ECHO East Africa Notes

Food Plant Solutions - Publications

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  1. Potentially Important Food Plants of Chad
    This book is designed as a simple introduction to the more common food plants ofChad. It is hoped people will take greater pride and interest in these plants and become confident and informed about how to grow and use them. Many of the local food plants that occur in every country are very good...



  2. Potentially Important Food Plants of Malawi
    This book is designed as a simple introduction to the more common food plants of Malawi. It is hoped people will take greater pride and interest in these plants and become confident and informed about how to grow and use them. Many of the local food plants that occur in every country are very...
  3. Fresh Food for Families Event Guidelines
    Imagine - You are an immigrant to a country which, in contrast to all that you are familiar with, is in a different climate, with different soils, and different plants which will flourish in these conditions. You are keen to be a good provider for your family and the idea of growing fresh fruit...





  4. Calamus viminalis - Bitter Rattan
    Edible portion:Fruit, Shoots, Vegetable A vigorous climbing palm. It has fairly stout, prickly stems. The stems climb with the aid of flagella. The leaf sheaths are woolly white. The leaves are spreading and pale green. They are about 1 m long. They are divided into many narrow leaflets. These...
  5. Pollination Guide for Tasmania
    Practical ways of growing local food plants and doing it well.
126 more Food Plant Solutions - Publications

Christian Veterinary Mission (CVM) Publications

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  1. Raising Healthy Sheep
    This handbook will help the sheep producer select production goals, select the type of sheep most suitable for a particular area, and will serve as a guide for the production of healthy sheep.Sheep are one of the most common livestock and among the first to be domesticated. They are very...



  2. Disease and Parasite Prevention
    2006-01-20 Why do our farm animals get sick and how can we keep them healthy?" This is a question veterinarians and other specialists who work with small farmers hear frequently. Most of these farmers work very hard, giving time, effort, and loving care to their animals in the hope that their farm will be...





  3. Raising Healthy Goats
    2006-01-20 The author's sincere desire in preparing this booklet is that it will serve to be readily used as a reference and aid in the raising of goats. Veterinary information and assistance are in short supply or nonexistent in many areas of the world. The author has endeavored to write this booklet in a...



  4. Slaughter and Preservation of Meat
    2005-01-20 All countries have animals that are raised as a source of nutrition. It may be an individually raised animal, or a small herd, that meets the need of meat protein for the people. With this comes a means of slaughter. The proper methods for preparation of meat for human consumption are important...



  5. Raising Healthy Cattle
    2004-01-20 Cattle play important role in animal protein production for two reasons; first, the unique ruminant digestive system utilizes forage for food and secondary, much of the world offers marginal grazing systems on land not suitable for crop production. These feedstuffs would not be utilized were it...
8 more Christian Veterinary Mission (CVM) Publications

Amaranth to Zai Holes

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  1. Poem by Larry Fisher
    After 15 years of EDN, I guess it is not too much to include a bit of levity. Economists, agronomists and planners of late Have discovered a new way to pontificate. Beyond mere jargon, like "Success Enhancement," "Integrated Development," and "Rural Advancement." Working in all their infinite...



  2. Chapter 10. Food Science
    1996-10-19 The goal of most agricultural development is to improve people's nutrition, with an increase in quality, quantity, and diversity of food produced. Each issue of ECHO Development Notes discusses plants and techniques which can enable farmers to produce more food of higher nutritional value. Beyond...



  3. Chapter 12. Seeds and Germplasm
    1996-10-19 Many people's first thought about ECHO is "seeds." Our seedbank specializes in little-known plants with great potential to provide food under difficult growing conditions. We also have several improved varieties of common plants. Each year we distribute hundreds of trial seed packets to...



  4. Chapter 13. Energy and Technologies
    1996-10-19 Appropriate technologies can reduce tiresome labor and increase the efficiency of the rural family in their work at home and in the fields. There are many simple machines, tools, utensils, pumps, and other items which can make significant improvements in people's lives, but not all are suitable...



  5. Chapter 14. From Farm to Market
    1996-10-19 Farmers everywhere want to make money from their produce. But they may find that if there is considerable money to be made on a particular crop, so many farmers will grow it that the market is soon flooded. Consequently, development groups are often looking for ways to grow a popular crop out of...
40 more Amaranth to Zai Holes

Research - Posters

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  1. Leafy Greens for Health
    The Leafy Greens for Health poster shows 12 types of greens that are nutritious. The poster teaches through symbols, the micronutrients present in greens such as Protein, Iron, Calcium, Vitamin C, Vitamins B, Vitamin A, and Folate. It shows how we can add greens to different foods to make healthy...



  2. 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...





  3. 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...



  4. 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...





  5. Poster - Foods from the Rainbow
    The Foods from the Rainbow poster promotes eating foods from ALL color groups. It shows through symbols, the micronutrients that each color contributes such as Protein, Iron, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Folate, and Antioxidants. This educational tool has been used by health promoters to teach about...
21 more Research - Posters

World Bank Group - Open Knowledge Repository

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  1. The Little Data Book on Financial Inclusion 2022
    “World Bank. 2022.The Little Data Book on Financial Inclusion 2022. World Bank, Washington, DC. World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/38148 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.” The Little Data Book on Financial Inclusion 2022 is a pocket edition of the Global Findex Database 2021. The...



  2. Working with Smallholders : A Handbook for Firms Building Sustainable Supply Chains
    2019-01-20 “International Finance Corporation. 2019.Working with Smallholders : A Handbook for Firms Building Sustainable Supply Chains. Washington, DC. International Finance Corporation. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/29764 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.” The purpose of Working with...

Practical Action: Technology Challenging Poverty

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  1. Small-Scale Drying Technologies
    Globally, drying is the most widely used method for preserving foods for use in the home or for sale. When drying foods such as fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs and nuts value is added by dryingand in such cases an investment in improved drying technologies may be economically viable. This...



  2. Drying of Foods
    There are two main reasons for drying food: to prevent (or inhibit) the growth and activity of micro-organisms and hence preserve the food to reduce the weight and bulk of food for cheaper transport and storage. This technical brief describes some of the requirements for proper drying and...



  3. Biogas
    2007-01-01 Biogas is a well-established fuel for cooking and lighting in a number of countries. It is a gas mixture comprising around 60% methane and 40% carbon dioxide that is formed when organic materials, such as dung or vegetable matter are broken down by microbiological activity in the absence of air,...

COMPAS - Newsletter for Endogenous Development

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  1. CM8 Strengthening Local Economies
    In this issue, several authors indicate the causes of poverty in their area of work. For example Barkin (p.41) points at the processes of cultural oppression and agricultural modernisation that affected the indigenous peoples in rural Mexico; Satheesh (p.20) presents the influence of the Public...



  2. Book 021 Dialogues Within and Between Different Sciences: Issues and Strategies from Endogenous Perspective
    2021-01-01 This paper presents the following questions in an inter-cultural perspective: What are importantant differences in worldviews and how do these affect the ways of knowing? What is knowledge and what is science? What types of relationships can exist between dominant science and the different local...



  3. Book 019 CAPTURED End Evaluation Synthesis Report
    2012-01-01 This report provides the summary findings of the CAPTURED End Evaluation. In addition, three country evaluation reports have been produced, based on the work of the CAPTURED partners in Bolivia, Ghana and India. As noted in the ToR document, the purpose of this evaluation of the Program for...



  4. Book 015 Towards Co-Creation of Sciences #15
    2012-01-01 The objective of this book is to stimulate co-creation of sciences through an inter-cultural and inter-scientific dialogue – a dialogue in which each way of knowing expresses itself, where differences are positively and respectfully considered, and where options for complementarity (and aspects...



  5. 07 Endogenous Development Magazine June 2011
    2011-06-20 Policy support for endogenous development Seed diversity celebration in Peru Ghanaian community protects sacred groves from mining Holistic assessment program in Bolivia Recognion and support for traditional anti-malarial programmes Organic farming - India
32 more COMPAS - Newsletter for Endogenous Development

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 Announcements
    2021-03-17





  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

Sustainable Nutrition Manual, 2nd Edition (2016)

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  1. SNM Flyer Malawi Food List (2022.07.18 updated)
    Extracted from SNM Part 3 Health Designs Appendix 1&2



  2. Sustainable Nutrition Manual Part 1 Healthy Humans
    2016-01-20 HealthHumans isaboutthe human body and nutrition. You will also learn about foodchoicesand the benefits of diversity in diet. It has lots of useful ideas toimprove life and manydelicious recipes and suggestions for tasty, healthymeals. *Sustainable Nutrition Manual (SNM): Food, Water, Agriculture...





  3. Sustainable Nutrition Manual Part 2 Healthy Environments
    2016-01-20 HealthyEnvironments is about natural systems and sustainability. You will learn abouttheNature Cycle and the Water Cycle and natural sustainable systems. You willbe introduced toPermaculture ideas and gain an understanding of the benefitsof diversity in Nature. *Sustainable Nutrition Manual...



  4. Sustainable Nutrition Manual Part 3 Healthy Designs
    2016-01-20 HealthyDesigns is about designing for sustainable living. This book brings parts 1 and2together and guides you to make a personalised plan for SustainableNutrition. This book ispractical to design everything on your land. There islots of information in the appendicesabout foods of Malawi and...

Using ECHO Resources

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  1. ECHOcommunity legal and privacy notices
    The security of the users and members of ECHOcommunity is of utmost importance to us. These resources outline the policies that govern our data collection, the legal terms by which you may use this website and affiliated services, and what privileges are afforded to members. Please read these...



  2. ECHOcommunity.org
  3. ECHO Florida Community Garden Program
  4. ECHO Florida Programs





  5. ECHOcommunity Mobile App
    2021-01-20 Available on iOS 10.0+and Android 5.0+ Android version updated 8/2022 for Android 11, 12, 12.1 (available soon) Search "echocommunity" in the App Store on your iPhone or in Google Play on your Android phone. ECHO has provided resources to farmers and development workers for 40 years....

Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM) Publications

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  1. TOAM Poster - Sack Garden
    A sack garden is a small vegetable mound made from a nylon or similar sack. Please check the Kilimohai website for the latest additions to resources.





  2. TOAM Poster - How to make a natural pesticide
    Poster - How to make a Natural Pesticide. Some natural pesticide ingredients and the pests they repel. Kilomohai Training Materialshttp://www.kilimohai.org/kilimohai/training-materials





  3. TOAM - Agroforestry Systems
    Poster - Benefits of agroforestry systems. Increase the productivity of your farmland by introducting trees. Kilomohai Training Materialshttp://www.kilimohai.org/kilimohai/training-materials
  4. TOAM - Biodiversity
    Swahili download only Kilomohai Training Materialshttp://www.kilimohai.org/kilimohai/training-materials
  5. TOAM - How can I control pests and diseases in a natural way?
    Farmers consider crop-reduction organisms to be pests and diseases. Insects, birds or other animals are considered pests whenever they cause damage to crops or to stored harvests. Fungi, bacteria and viruses are identified as diseases, when they invade or alter vital plant growth activities or...
8 more Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM) Publications

SAWBO Publications

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  1. SAWBO One-Page Brochure
    Scientific Animations Without Borders (SAWBO) transforms expert knowledge into educational animations, which are then translated into multiple languages from around the world. We use a rigorous co-creation and review process to create highly accurate content.



  2. SAWBO Collaboration Document
    Scientific Animations Without Borders (SAWBO) is a Michigan State University based program. SAWBO transforms extension information on relevant topics such as agriculture, health and women’s empowerment, into 2D, 2.5D and 3D animations, which are then voice overlaid into a diversity of global...



  3. Breaking out: the turning point in learning using mobile technology
    2021-03-23 Despite considerable research on YouTube as a digital media platform, little research to date has quantified the device-type used to access that online media. Analyzing access-device data for videos on one YouTube video channel—Scientific Animations Without Borders (SAWBO), which produces...

ECHO Asia Seed Fact Sheets

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  1. 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....



  2. Sesbania grandiflora
    General description and special characteristics – Sesbania is a small, quick-growing, loosely-branching tree with compound, alternate leaves. Large pea-like flowers, white to pink, grow in clusters of 2-5 at the base of leaves. Bears narrow pods 30-50 cm long and 8 mm wide. Variety – Local Thai...



  3. Leucaena diversifolia
    General description and special characteristics – Leucaena diversifolia is a multipurpose tree species originally found in Central America. It is a leguminous tree or erect shrub from 3-20 m tall. It bears reddish-brown pods 10-13 cm long, 1-6 per flower. It can be distinguished from the more...



  4. Amaranthus cruentus
    General description and special characteristics – An upright, branched annual mainly grown forgrain. Young leaves and stems can be eaten like cooked spinach. The characteristically large inflorescences are bushy and somewhat droopy, containing many seeds which are high in protein. Varieties –...



  5. 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...
55 more ECHO Asia Seed Fact Sheets

Haitian Network Documents

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  1. La Mécanisation Agricole Appropriée - Appropriate Techonology Reference
    Creole Document - Appropriate Technology for Farmers





  2. Klamidiya nan Kabrit Chlamydia in Goats
    A creole document describing the 3 forms of Chlamydia in goats and zoonotic potential





  3. Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Terms In Haitian Creole
    Glossary of terms





  4. 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...





  5. Raj Powerpoint
    A powerpoint explaining rabies in general and in Haiti, how to combat it, signs, what do do if you are bit etc.
21 more Haitian Network Documents

CAN Nutricion

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





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





  3. Complementary Food - Poster Recipes for a 6-month-old baby
    Organización: ODIM





  4. Complementary Food - Unit 4. Complementary Feeding
    Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social





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

ECHO Research - Guidance

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  1. 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...



  2. 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...



  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 “...

USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines & Resources - SEG

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  1. USAID SEG Community-based natural resources management (CBNRM)
    Community-based natural resources management (CBNRM) attempts to address the problems of poverty and natural resource degradation simultaneously, even though their solutions are often seen as being in direct conflict. CBNRM is premised on the idea that communities will sustainably manage local...
  2. USAID SEG Micro and Small Enterprises
    Micro and Small Enterprises Introduction – MSEs and the Environment(2006) Mechanisms for MSEs to Control Environmental Impact(2006) Institutionalizing Environmental Capacity(2006) Sub-Sector Briefings Brick and Tile Production(2013) Food Processing(2013) Leather Processing(2013) Metal Finishing...



  3. USAID SEG Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining
    USAID’s Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Sector Environmental Guideline (SEG) are designed for project managers, project implementers, practitioners, or others working on artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) issues and in ASM communities. This SEG for ASM introduces the range of possible...



  4. USAID SEG Livestock
    The use of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, and other livestock offer many benefits to the growing global population and millions of farmers in the developing world. These animals are integral to rural livelihoods and local cultures, providing food (meat, eggs and other dairy products),...



  5. USAID SEG Integrated Pest Management
    Integrated pest management (IPM) is defined as a farmer-based and knowledge-intensive management approach that encourages natural and cultural control of pest populations by anticipating pest problems and managing their numbers to reduce losses, while permitting safer pesticide uses where...
9 more USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines & Resources - SEG

CTA Publications

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  1. Marketing Animals And Milk
    This 8-page leaflet, practical for use in the field and easy to read, helps pastoralists understand markets for animals and milk. It gives background information on types of products, market chains, adding value and different types of markets. Marketing processes are clearly outlined, along with...





  2. How To Keep Bees And Process Honey
    This 8-page fold-out leaflet, practical for use in the field and easy to read, covers the subject of bee-keeping and honey processing. It gives some background to the subject, outlines processes and provides tips, tables and explanatory line drawings.



  3. Medicinal Plants
    The valuable medicinal properties contained in certain plants are not, however, in doubt. In recent years, for example, the Chinese plant Artemisia annua, has become the essential ingredient in a new generation of anti-malaria drugs. The plant is now being grown in East African countries to...



  4. 10 Ways To Improve Milk Marketing
    2014-01-01 This 8-page leaflet, practical for use in the field and easy to read, describes 10 ways that pastoralists can make more money from their milk. Ideas include splitting the herd, organising a marketing group and starting a small processing plant. Illustrated throughout with line drawings, further...



  5. Producing Animals And Milk For Market
    2014-01-01 This 8-page leaflet, practical for use in the field and easy to read, describes how pastoralists can produce strong, healthy animals and high-quality milk that will fetch a good price. It gives background information on markets for animals and milk, choosing the right animal breeds, and animal...
17 more CTA Publications

Mkulima Mbunifu (MkM)

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  1. MkM Toleo la 119
    Agosti 2022,Toleo la 119 Mkulima Mbunifu (MkM) ni jarida linalotoa elimu ya kilimo.
  2. Mkulima Mbunifu
    2020-06-01 Juni, 2020,Toleo la 93 Mkulima Mbunifu (MkM) ni jarida linalotoa elimu ya kilimo.



  3. MkM Toleo la 1
    2011-07-01 Karibu mkulima uelimike Magonjwa ya kuku Unaweza kupata nakala yako Njia rahisi ya kutengeneza mbolea maji Jinsi ya kuzuia magonjwa ya kuku Faida za kutumia mbolea mboji Mahitaji ya ng’ombe ili aongeze maziwa Washirika wa Mkulima Mbunifu Namna ya kuwavutia nyuki

Zambia Agribusiness Society - ZAS

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  1. Farming Edible Snails – RIRDC



  2. Turkey Farming In Kenya – ZAS



  3. Stock Feed Making and Feed Formulation – Presentation – ZONFA



  4. Manual on catfish hatchery and production. A guide for small to medium scale hatchery and farm producers in Nigeria – FAO



  5. Small-Scale Poultry Keeping – Brooding and Rearing Chickens – NSW DPI
102 more Zambia Agribusiness Society - ZAS

VITA - Volunteers in Technical Assistance

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  1. Seeds, Weeds, and Pests
    This seed cleaner was developed in Afghanistan to remove round seeds of weeds from wheat grains. The round seeds could not be separated by a sieve because they were the same size as the wheat grains. The cleaner described here takes advantage of the round shape of the weed seeds to separate them...
  2. Poultry Raising
    The brooder is heated by a regular electric light bulb, placed under the brooder floor. Depending on the temperature rise required, the wattage of the light bulb will have to be chosen by experimentation. The metal floor and roof prevent predators such as rats from entering the brooder. If...



  3. VITA resources revived on ECHOcommunity
    Originally published by Volunteers in Techical Assistance between 1959 and 2005, an impressive collection of 137 VITA documents in 6 languages (English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish) have been republished. This list includes titles like: Understanding Evaporative Cooling,...



  4. Technology Transfer through VITA
    From Human Factors, 1968 A description of VITA at that time.
  5. Renewable Energy Dictionary
    1995-01-01 Soon after beginning a major program in renewable energy in 1979, VITA (Volunters in Technical Assistance) found that many of the technical terms commonly used in renewable energy literature were not understood by many of the laypeople for whom the information was meant. VITA also realized that...
134 more VITA - Volunteers in Technical Assistance

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 #98 Integrated Pest Management
    2022-05-20 The current global situation calls for a multi-pronged approach to pest management. To be widely applicable, this approach must provide farmers with options to control pests at various scales of production (from small farms to very large operations) with a diversity of resources. Integrated pest...





  3. TN #97 Small-Scale Nursery Management
    2021-03-29 Cultivating plants, sharing seeds and cuttings with neighbors, and seeking better crop varieties are as old as agriculture. We use the word “nursery” for places where we care for and nurture things that are precious and vulnerable, like children and plants. Creating habitats to grow healthy...





  4. TN #96 Earthbag Seed Banks
    2020-06-29 Seed storage in the tropics has been a frequent topic of ECHO publications and trainings due to its importance to the smallholder farmer. Access to quality seeds is imperative for agronomic and horticultural crop production. While on-farm seed saving benefits the smallholder farmer, cooperative...





  5. 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...
93 more ECHO Technical Notes

Feed the Future Publications

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  1. 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’...





  2. 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.





  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. “Push and Pull” in Combatting Fall Army Worm and Witchweed (Striga)
    In the Push-Pull system, crops that repel pests and/or attract pests’ predators are intercropped with maize, to ‘push’ pests away from the main crop. Plants that attract pests are planted around the field, to ‘pull’ pests away from the maize. Incorporating legumes in this system means that soil...

ECHO Development Notes (EDN)

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  1. EDN Issue #157
    2022-10-03 Bioliquid Fertilizer Update Considerations for crop selection Echoes from our Network:Tithonia and neem fermented liquid for termite control From ECHO's Seed Bank: ‘Asia Cayenne’: A Mild-Tasting Chili Pepper Books, Websites, and Other Resources:VITA resources revivedandThe Fertilizer and Seed...





  2. EDN Issue #156
    2022-07-01 Extending Postharvest Life of Fresh Fruit: Harvest for Quality Chicken Compost System Echoes from our Network:Microcontroller use From ECHO's Seed Bank:Allium cepa ‘Awahia’A Short-Day Onion Option Books, Websites, and Other Resources: Discount on Roland Bunch's Second Edition of "Restoring the...





  3. EDN Issue #155
    2022-04-12 Low-Cost Microcontrollers: Applications for Small-Scale Agriculture Echoes from our Network: A Deep Litter System for Natural Chicken Production From ECHO's Seed Bank: 'KDV-1' Maize Books, Websites, and Other Resources:WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal PlantsandCanadian Foodgrains Bank Video...





  4. EDN Issue #154
    2022-01-12 Extending Postharvest Life of Fresh Fruit: Harvest at the Right Time Echoes from our Network: Homegarden Agroforestry From ECHO's Seed Bank:Chipilín Books, Websites, and Other Resources:CTA publications,CVM publications, and App Translation





  5. EDN Issue #153
    2021-10-04 Moringa Productivity with Legume Intercropping Insect Pest Management:Evaluation and Assessment Echoes from our Network: Gliricidia-Annual Intercropping System From ECHO's Seed Bank:‘Lacinato’ Kale for Home Gardens Books, Websites, and Other Resources:Food Plant Solutions andDownloadable Books
163 more ECHO Development Notes (EDN)

CFGB Conservation Agriculture Newsletter

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  1. CFGB CA News Volume 8 Issue 3 - September, 2022
    2022-09-20 Inside this issue : CA Plus Enhances Irrigation Efficiency NatureBased Solutions Partner Profile: Anglican Development Services Central Rift, Kenya ALTA Travel Schedules

ECHO Asia Notes

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  1. AN Issue #48
    2022-03-03 Featured in this AN Playing with Water Wheels: Exploring Low-Cost Methods for Pumping Irrigation Water A 'Successful Failure': Introducting SALT Technology in Northern Thailand Virtual Training Opportunities- email us at echoasia@echocommunity.org



  2. AN Issue #47
    2021-09-15 Featured in this AN Establishing a Scaled-Up Black Soldier Fly System An Innovative 'Do-All' Biochar Burner Design



  3. AN Issue #46
    2021-06-14 African Swine Fever Virus: Overview and Prevention on the Small Farm [Editor’s Note: For questions, comments, or personal experience on this topic visit ECHOcommunity Conversations: African Swine Fever Virus] [Example] Small FarmBiosecurity Plan for the Prevention of African Swine Fever I Suspect...



  4. AN Issue #45
    2021-03-01 Featured in this AN Stingless Beekeeping (Meliponiculture) on Java [Editor’s Note: For questions, comments, or personal experience on this topic visit the echocommunity ‘conversations’ forum Meliponiculture: Stingless Beekeeping.] Production of Vegetable Fern (Diplazium esculentum Reytz.) Under...



  5. AN Issue #44
    2020-12-14 Featured in this AN The Martinez Airlift Water Pump Do All Parts of the Chaya Plant Contain Cyanide? Cyantesmo Paper for Detecting Cyanide
43 more ECHO Asia Notes

ECHO Best Practice Notes

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  1. BPN #8 - Tropical Dryland Agriculture
    2021-12-16 It is estimated that drylands occupy 40% of the earth’s surface.Drylands are regions where the average annual precipitation is less than 65% of the average annual potential evapotranspiration (an Aridity Index of < 0.65). The FAO Aridity Index is defined as a 30 year average of annual...





  2. BPN #2 - Farmer-Centered Climate Change Mitigation
    2020-12-14 ECHO recognizes climate change as a profound reality faced by small-scale farmers. Many of our publications have focused on helping farmers cope with related challenges such as heat and drought.Increasing farmer resilience and minimizing risk have been key elements of the practices we have...





  3. 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...





  4. 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...





  5. 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...
3 more ECHO Best Practice Notes

LEGS Publications and Resources

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  1. LEGS Participatory Techniques Toolkit
    2021-05-20 LEGS Participation Mini Module Suji Omeno In this Mini Module, LEGS provides key techniques to aid and facilitate community participation. Some of the techniques includeFocus Group Discussions,Key Informant Interviews,Proportional Piling, Simple Ranking,Pairwise Ranking,Matrix Scoring,Historical...





  2. Gender and Livestock in Emergencies
    2020-10-20 A Discussion Paper for the Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS) Karin de Jonge and Lucy Maarse The aim of this Discussion Paper is to outline the major issues at the crossroads of gender and livestock in the context of humanitarian response, for the Advisory Committee of LEGS...





  3. The Quality of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals
    2020-10-20 A Discussion Paper for the Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS) Holly Hufnagel The objective of this discussion paper is to inform the LEGS Technical Advisory Committee on issues relating to the quality of veterinary pharmaceuticals for livestock responses in emergency situations....





  4. Livestock and Nutrition
    2020-09-20 A Discussion Paper for the Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS) Kate Sadler This discussion paper was commissioned by LEGS to review the key issues relating to nutrition in the context of livestock-based emergency interventions, with particular attention to the following key...





  5. Livestock Insurance
    2020-09-20 A Discussion Paper for the Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS) Yacob Aklilu This paper was commissioned to assess livestock insurance schemes and explore what evidence exists regarding the effective implementation of livestock insurance schemes to support the livelihoods of...
7 more LEGS Publications and Resources

Greenhouse Management

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  1. Greenhouse Management -September 2021
    2021-01-01 Greenhouse Managementmagazine is the leading trade publication serving greenhouse growers. Growers depend on us because of the in-depth educational content we provide month after month. Our team provides the most up-to-date independent research, trends reports and relevant business information...

ECHO Research Notes

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  1. ECHO Research Notes Volume 2
    2021-01-01 ECHO ResearchNotes are topic-specificpublications about crops and agricultural practicesimportant to those working in the tropics and subtropics. Our material is authored by ECHO staff (past and present) as well as outside writers, all with experience and knowledge of their subject. These...





  2. ECHO Research Notes Volume 1
    2020-01-01 ECHO ResearchNotes are topic-specificpublications about crops and agricultural practicesimportant to those working in the tropics and subtropics. Our material is authored by ECHO staff (past and present) as well as outside writers, all with experience and knowledge of their subject. These...

Grower Talks

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  1. Grower Talks - Insecticide, Miticide, and Fungicide Guide
    2021-01-01 GrowerTalks magazinemay be the best-known greenhouse trade publication in the world. While it’s published in America’s Midwest, just outside of Chicago, its reach and influence is global, with its editors historically on the road and in the air to find the stories, trends and news. ARTICLES FROM...

FAO Publications

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  1. Top 10 Benefits of Pastoralism
    2021-01-01 This publication provides information on the top 10 benefits Pastoralism on a community and the environment.Pastoral activities span more than 100 countries, and contribute to global development and food security. This presents opportunities for securing widespread benefits of pastoralism and its...



  2. Weather and Desert Locusts
    2016-01-20 Desert Locust plagues can be an important contributing factor to famines and a threat to food security in many regions of the world. The Desert Locust plague of 1986–1989 and subsequent upsurges during the past two decades demonstrate the continuing capacity of this historic pest to threaten...



  3. FAO : Pulses - Nutritious seeds for a sustainable future
    2016-01-20 Pulses have been an essential part of the human diet for centuries. Yet their nutritional value is not generally recognized and their consumption is frequently under-appreciated. Undeservedly so, as pulses play a crucial role in healthy diets, sustainable food production and, above all, in food...



  4. Cassava - A Guide to Sustainable Production Intensification
    2013-01-20 Cassava is a tropical root crop, originally from Amazonia, that provides the staple food of an estimated 800 million people worldwide. Grown almost exclusively by low-income, smallholder farmers, it is one of the few staple crops that can be produced efficiently on a small scale, without the need...



  5. Good Emergency Management Practice : The Essentials
    2011-01-20 A guide to preparing for animal health emergencies Nick Honhold, Ian Douglas, William Geering, Arnon Shimshoni, Juan Lubroth An animal disease emergency, such as an outbreak of a transboundary animal disease (TAD), can have serious socio-economic consequences which, at their extreme, may affect...

Other Farmer Training Guides

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  1. Lead Farmer Training - Facilitator's Guidebook
    2020-04-20 The source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in the CFGB database. The source documents are updated periodically so check here for the most current formats. We encourage you to adapt the source for your purposes. This guidebook is designed to help facilitate a Lead...



  2. Natural Pesticides - Facilitator's Guide
    2020-04-20 The source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in the CFGB database. The source documents are updated periodically so check here for the most current formats. We encourage you to adapt the source for your purposes. Intended Learning Outcomes – Participants will be able to:...



  3. Integrated Soil Fertility Management - Facilitators Guide
    2020-04-20 The source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in the CFGB database. 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...



  4. Insect Identification and Monitoring - Facilitators Guide
    2020-04-20 The source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in the CFGB database. 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 common...



  5. Safe and Effective Grain Storage - Facilitators Guide
    2020-04-20 The source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in the CFGB database. 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...
6 more Other Farmer Training Guides

Conservation Agriculture Core Training Guides

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  1. 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 CFGB database. The...





  2. 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 CFGB database. The...

ILEIA Newsletter - LEISA Magazine - Farming Matters

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  1. FM 2020 Farming Matters Vol 36 #1
    2020-01-20 In this issue: Agroecology and feminist economics The path to feminist agroecology The economic potential of agroecology in Europe The rise of rural women's movements in Southern Africa Care ethics in agroecology Highland agriculture Growing equity through agroecology in Uganda



  2. FM 2018 Farming Matters Vol 34 #1
    2018-03-20 Community supported agroecology thriving in China Farmers ensure safe water for New York City Agroecology is the way forward for Africa Organic and agroecology Women in Brazil build autonomy with agroecology Land grabbing threatens agroecology Rice Intensification in India Peasant agroecology in...



  3. FM 2017 Farming Matters Vol 33 #1
    2017-04-20 Agroecology for food sovereignty Food versus the big city of Istanbul Human-centred agriculture fighting exploitation and racism Food sovereignty taking root in women's knowledge Locally rooted ideas and initiatives from the field The vitality of everyday food Food sovereignty stories from...



  4. FM 2016 Farming Matters Vol 32 #4
    2016-12-20 Listening to pastoralists Pastoral Parliament - a platform to be heard and seen Migrant shepherds sustain pastoralism in the Mediterannean Pastoralists' breeds represent generations of knowledge Pastoralist women have the capacity to lead Adapting traditional land goverance in Somalia...



  5. FM 2016 Farming Matters Vol 32 #3
    2016-09-20 The true cost of food Seeing is believing - urban agroecological transition How peasants read their farm Short chains bring long-term gains Ideas and initiatives from the field Agroecology contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals New books on assessing impact of agroecology How to...
126 more ILEIA Newsletter - LEISA Magazine - Farming Matters

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

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 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



  4. 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...



  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

Agrodoks

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  1. Agrodok 055, Beef Production
    2016-01-01 Beef, meat from cattle, is produced worldwide in an enormous variety of systems; by nomads in semi desert areas, to intensive dairy farmers who sell male calves for their meat and cull cows that no longer produce enough milk, as well as ranchers whose main aim is to produce meat. The main aim of...





  2. Agrodok 053, Crop Residues for Animal Feed
    2015-01-01 Especially in Stall-Feeding The idea for this booklet on straw feeding emerged some years ago during a meeting, while discussing an Agrodok on dairy cattle husbandry. That Agrodok was to have a chapter on animal feed, especially fodders such as grasses and crop residues. However, this would have...





  3. Agrodok 054, Edible Insects in Africa
    2015-01-01 An Introduction to Finding, Using and Eating Insects When you first saw the title of this book, you may have found the idea of eating insects unfamiliar or strange. Actually, we all eat insects every day without knowing it. Insects or parts of insects are present in almost all processed food....





  4. Agrodok 051, Improving Lowland Rice Cultivation
    2014-01-01 Useful Management Practices for Smallholders in Tropical Africa This Agrodok on lowland rice is primarily meant for smallholders in tropical Africa, because the advocated cultivation and processing practices reflect the main circumstances encountered by rice farmers on this continent. The aim of...





  5. Agrodok 052, Backyard Grasscutter Keeping
    2014-01-01 This Agrodok provides up-to-date information on grasscutter farming to benefit the informed farmer and extension and rural development officers. 1 Introduction 8 It targets farmers wishing to diversify their farms as well as their families’ diet, and those considering growing grasscutters for the...
50 more Agrodoks

ECHO Summaries

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  1. 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...





  2. 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....





  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

Heifer International - Selected Publications

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  1. Integrated Smallholder Dairy Farming Manual - 2015
    2015-01-20 Dairying as an enterprise has got a place alongside other viable tools of poverty alleviation, besides creating job opportunities to jobless families in Tanzania. Statistics from the ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development show that there are about 800,000 improved dairy cattle in...
  2. A Guide to Improved Dairy Cattle Rearing
    2010-01-20 Swahili Only Ufugaji bora wa ng'ombe wa maziwa-2





  3. A guide for better dairy goat rearing - 2010
    2010-01-20 Swahili only Mwongozo wa ufugaji bora wa mbuzi wa maziwa





  4. Pig Husbandry Manual
    2010-01-20 Pig farming in Tanzania has primarily been for a long time of backyard and informal sector producers. However in order to secure both food and nutritional security to rural Tanzania households, there is a need of embracing integrated approaches in livestock farming. Pig farming in Tanzania is...
  5. A Guide to Keeping Local Chickens
    2008-07-20 Swahili Only Kitabu cha kuku wa asili
5 more Heifer International - Selected Publications

USDA Agriculture Handbooks

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  1. Tropical Nursery Manual
    2014-01-20 A Guide to Starting and Operating a Nursery for Native and Traditional Plants This handbook was written for anyone endeavoring to start and operate a nursery for native and traditional plants in the tropics. Because the tropics cover a vast area of the world, however, the scope of the handbook is...



  2. 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...



  3. 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...



  4. 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...



  5. 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 more USDA Agriculture Handbooks

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 17 Resource Recovery Tour
    2005-01-20 Unused resources are called waste. If you use the waste in your compost, you turn it into fertilizer. It’s no longer waste, right? There’s no longer any need to have organic waste filling our landfill. We can use all of it in our system. For our purposes the opposite of waste would be useful....



  2. Sustainable Agriculture Book - Preface
    2005-01-20 This helpful book has been provided free of charge by the Aloha House to the wider network. ECHO Asia believes that these resources are well researched and useful to the majority of ECHO Asia network members. For more information, please contact Keith Mikkelson, the author....



  3. Sustainable Agriculture Book - Chapter 15 Insect Habitat
    2005-01-20 Insect habitat is Fundamental #9. Insects populate and bring stability to your system if you allow the predators and beneficial species a place to live. Plant insect habitat for beneficial species and bait crops for the bad guys. Many pest problems can be minimized with habitat that promotes...



  4. Sustainable Agriculture Book - Chapter 16 Livestock Integration
    2005-01-20 The best way to finish off your dream farm or garden is to balance it with a small livestock unit. Animal integration is Fundamental #10. It will create a low cost high quality fertilizer source as well as produce food to eat. Livestock properly managed will bring the tropical farmer higher...



  5. 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...
24 more A Natural Farming System For Sustainable Agriculture In the Tropics

Books

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  1. Working With Smallholders: A Handbook for Firms Building Sustainable Supply Chains
    2018-01-01 The purpose of thisWorking with Smallholdershandbook is to enable the development of more sustainable, resilient and productive supply chains for agribusinesses and to illustrate the substantial development impact. Smallholder farmers are both an opportunity and a challenge for food and...





  2. La production des semences à petite échelle avec l'àmélioration des variétés de céréales et de légumineuses à graines
    2004-01-01 La production de semences et l'entretien des cultivars végétaux par les petits paysans a reçu de plus en plus d'attention cette dernière décennie. La dominance croissante d'entreprises multinationales pour le commerce de semences, la controverse au sujet de l'inénierie génétique et la...



  3. Healthy Soil for Healthy Communities - An Introduction to Soil Health Practices for Africa
    2021-01-20 The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) is a broad alliance of civil society actors who are part of the struggle for food sovereignty and agroecology in Africa. AFSA brings together farmers, pastoralists, fishers, indigenous peoples, faith groups, women’s movements, youth, and consumer...
7155 more books
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  1. Potentials of Natural Preservatives to Enhance Food Safety and Shelf Life: A Review
    Teshome E, Forsido SF, Rupasinghe HPV, Olika Keyata E. Potentials of Natural Preservatives to Enhance Food Safety and Shelf Life: A Review. ScientificWorldJournal. 2022 Sep 23;2022:9901018. doi: 10.1155/2022/9901018. PMID: 36193042; PMCID: PMC9525789. Food-borne illnesses are a significant...
  2. Biopreservation Overview
    Biopreservation is defined as the extension of shelf-life achieved by the use of a natural or controlled microbiota and/or their antimicrobial compounds (Stiles, 1996).



  3. Contribution of omics to biopreservation: Toward food microbiome engineering
    Abstract, Frontiers in Microbiology, 2022 Biopreservation is a sustainable approach to improve food safety and maintain or extend food shelf life by using beneficial microorganisms or their metabolites. Over the past 20 years, omics techniques have revolutionised food microbiology including...
3364 more links

Presentations

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  1. Intro to Neglected & Underutilized Species (NUS)



  2. Overview of the 300 L/Day Biosand Water Filtration System_with Thai



  3. Seed Storage Fundamentals_with Thai
1046 more presentations

Plant Information Sheets

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  1. Abyssinian Gooseberry
  2. 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...
  3. Adzuki Bean
    Adzuki bean is a bushingor vining, nitrogen-fixingannual 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.
667 more plant information sheets

Videos

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  1. Mobile Aquaponics System
    This video describes a mobile aquaponics system designed byDaniel Brännström. To read more about the system, please look at his guide here:http://edn.link/mf3pwt
  2. Faith, Farming, and the Future of Food
    Session :How can the church practically connect faith and farming? What does gardening have to do with the gospel? Can agriculture be a natural means of making disciples of Jesus? In this talk Noah Sanders will reflect on his journey to live forJesus, excel in sustainable agriculture, and make...
  3. Meeting Needs with Service: Improving Livelihoods of Smallholders Through Service
    Session :Developing country smallholder farmers need information on technologies and practices that will sustainably increase their yields – but they also need inputs and profitable markets for their products. The USAID-funded Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program strongly focuses on farmer...
556 more videos