Curated Content

In order to successfully disseminate agroforestry technologies, various hurdles that currently limit the scaling-up process must be tackled. The lack of tree seed, seedling and other planting materials (tree germplasm) is a major constraint to the scaling up of agroforestry innovations. Sustainable production of high-quality germplasm for a wide range of agroforestry species is the basis of a successful scaling-up process. Institutional and organizational procedures that are adequate and conducive to large-scale production and distribution of agroforestry seed are also needed.

A gliricidia–maize  simultaneous intercropping agroforestry system has shown to be a suitable option for soil fertility improvement and yield increase in highly populated areas of sub Saharan Africa where landholding sizes are very small and inorganic fertilizer use is very low.

The Forestry Compendium was conceived to meet the need for the improved dissemination of knowledge on forest trees. The pilot phase in Compendium development in 1994-95 resulted in a demonstration version of a PC-based multimedia system. This interactive demonstration version was produced by CABI in collaboration with the Oxford Forestry Institute (OFI; now part of the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, UK) in a project sponsored by the Forestry Research Programme of the UK Overseas Development Administration (now the Department for International Development - DFID). In 1995 CABI conducted a comprehensive survey of user needs for a Compendium for the Asia-Pacific Region, the results indicating an urgent need for the Compendium among a wide range of user groups.

The Agroforestree Database provides information on the management, use and ecology of a wide range of tree species which can be used in agroforestry.

While the database provides information on native and exotic trees globally, it also provides a searchable interface where users can search by country, native or exotics species, products and/or services provided, as well as the first letter of the species.

Currently, the database holds information on 600 tree species useful in agroforestry systems. The details on each of the species covered by the database include a species botanic description detailing the tree's characteristics, details on climate, distribution range, and ecology. Each species documentation also provides information on tree propagation, management and uses.

The timeliness and quality of land preparation are critical to ricenproduction. NERICA varieties are no exception. Good soil tillage practices generally enhance efficient fertilizer-use, soil porosity and aeration and then have positive impacts during germination, seedling emergence and stand establishment stages of plant growth, in addition to weed control.

This manual provides an overview of technical response options to water scarcity. It focuses on what individual farmers can do at the field level, with a brief discussion on response options at the irrigation system level. The manual is meant as a support document for training on water management in rice production. It combines scientific background information (with many literature references for further reading) with practical suggestions for implementation. The target audience is people involved in agricultural extension or training with an advanced education in agriculture or water management, who wish to introduce sound water management practices to rice farmers (such as staff of agricultural colleges and universities, scientists, irrigation operators, and extension officers).

This manual has been written with the intention of providing technicians and extension workers with practical guidelines on the implementation of water harvesting schemes. However it will also be of interest to a wider audience, such as rural development specialists and planners.

Solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) are a clean technology option for irrigation, allowing the use solar energy for water pumping, replacing fossil fuels as energy source, and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from irrigated agriculture. The sustainability of SPIS greatly depends on how water resources are managed.

This guide was prepared as a result of training sessions conducted between May
and August 2012 in Kenya and Tanzania for extension agents from the Ministry of Agriculture, Landcare and World Vision in Kenya; and from the Ministry of Agriculture
& Food Security, Division of Forestry & Beekeeping, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism in Tanzania as well as those from World Wildlife Fund (WWF). These agents work in partnership with the IFAD funded EverGreen Agriculture (EGA)project areas of Machakos County in Kenya, and Mbarali District in Tanzania. It is expected that they will be able to stay in touch and support farmers with knowledge gained at these trainings, to increase the adoption of Conservation Agriculture (CA) and Agroforestry (AF) as well as participation in Landcare approaches.

This publication provides practical and comprehensive information to IPM workers in rice fields throughout tropical Asia. It briefly discusses rice plant structure and growth stages and stresses their relation to pest management. There are separate sections on cultural control of rice pests, resistant rice varieties, natural enemies of rice insect pests, and pesticides. The biology and management of the major groups of rice pests — insects, diseases, weeds, and rodents — are discussed in separate sections. Finally, integrated control measures for the entire rice pest complex and the implementation of IPM strategies at the farmer level are described.