Curated Content

The information in this guide to making and using compost has been developed from working with Ethiopian smallholder farmers since 1996, particularly in the dry and degraded highlands of northern Ethiopia. It is based on the Tigrinya booklet by Arefayne Asmelash (1994 EC/2002 GC), the ISD Project Of cer based in Mekele, Tigray. It is hoped that smallholder farmers and local agricultural experts in many parts of the world, and particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, will be able to identify and use the most appropriate and applicable method for making compost in their own areas.

Growing concerns relating to land degradation, threat to eco-systems from over and inappropriate use of inorganic fertilizers, atmospheric pollution, soil health, soil biodiversity and sanitation have rekindled the global interest in organic recycling practices like composting. The potential of composting to turn on-farm waste materials into a farm resource makes it an attractive proposition. Composting offers several benefits such as enhanced soil fertility and soil health – thereby increased agricultural productivity, improved soil biodiversity, reduced ecological risks and a better environment.

The publication of this field manual has been a significant achievement for SSLLP. Each module in this series forms the basic information required for training of community animal health workers selected by and based within their respective communities. The field manual is based on practical local knowledge with assistance from government departments, FAO and academic institutions. It has already been widely used as the basis of training programs for some 600 community animal health workers. Its publication has been made possible through the generous assistance of the Flemish International Cooperation Agency (FICA).

This manual aims to present information that will enable veterinary departments and development agencies to implement a sustainable Newcastle Disease control program. Topics discussed include the characteristics of ND, collection and submission of samples for the diagnoses of ND, ND control measures emphasising vaccination with thermostable vaccines, gender and ethnoveterinary aspects of ND control and the development of an extension program for ND control.

Overview of Integrated Manure Management Integrated Manure Management is the optimal handling of livestock manure from collection, through storage and treatment up to application (crops and aquaculture). Through this process it is possible to prevent nutrient losses to a large extent under the site-specific circumstances. Healthy soils produce more food and are more resilient to climate change. Manure contains nutrients and organic matter essential for good soil fertility and soil health. Manure is a valuable resource of crop fertilizer, soil amendment and renewable energy. Manure is not a waste; not properly using manure is a waste.

Genetics makes use of natural variation among animals. Selecting preferred animals as parents can yield permanent and cumulative improvements in the population. More efficient animals can greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and feed costs. Breeding, including cross-breeding between indigenous and imported species, can also improve resilience to diseases and heat stress and increase reproductive performance.

Improving milk production in East Africa faces multiple constraints, however lack of farmer understandingof the productive cows’ nutritional needs – and how to satisfy them – are frequently a “ rst-limiting”consideration. In recognition of this an intensive, four week training has been developed to improve farmer understanding and ability in this critical area. This manual forms the underlying learning material for this course and is also designed as a reference resource for all course participants.

This manual is primarily a working guide (Part I) for diagnosing, treating and preventing common food animal diseases, for proper feeding of food animals and for useful husbandry practices for raising healthy and productive food animals. It also contains guidelines (Part II) addressed to primary animal health care worker's trainers and supervisors and Part III contains guidelines for adapting the manual to different conditions in various countries.

Quick and easy to read, the Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) country profiles give an overview of the agricultural challenges in countries around the world, and how CSA can help them adapt to and mitigate climate change. Developed by CIAT and CCAFS, in partnership with the World Bank, Costa Rica’s CATIE, and USAID’s Bureau for Food Security, the majority cover Latin America, as well as part of Africa and South Asia.

Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is an approach to address the interlinked challenges of food
security and climate change, and has three objectives: (1) sustainably increasing agricultural
productivity, to support equitable increases in farm incomes, food security and development;
(2) adapting and building resilience of agricultural and food security systems to climate
change at multiple levels; and (3) reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture
(including crops, livestock and fisheries). This paper examines 19 CSA case studies, to assess
their effectiveness in achieving the stated objectives of CSA, while also assessing other cobenefits,
economic costs and benefits, barriers to adoption, success factors, and gender and
social inclusion issues. The analysis concludes that CSA interventions can be highly effective,
achieving the three CSA objectives, while also generating additional benefits in a costeffective
and inclusive manner. However, this depends on context specific project design and
implementation, for which institutional capacity is key. The paper also identifies serious gaps
in data availability and comparability, which restricts further analysis.