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ECHOcommunity Updates

Maresha Plow - ECHO Technical Note #102 Now Available 2024-10-15

ECHO's latest Technical Note is the owner's manual for the Maresha Plow! ECHO East Africa worked with Neil Rowe-Miller from 2018-2023 to develop and refine the Maresha plow, originally from Ethiopia, into a seeder for promotion of conservation agriculture in East Africa. This Technical Note includes details about the plow's benefits, parts, operation, calibration, trouble-shooting, maintenance, repairs, and economic considerations. 

Download Technical Note 102: Maresha Plow

Read the article online

EXCERPT: 

The maresha planter is fitted with two independent seed meters. Each of these meters has one compartment with large holes (flutes) and one compartment with small holes (flutes). Depending on which compartments you use, you can apply seed and fertilizer at the same time, or you can plant two different types of seed in alternating rows. Large flutes are used for large-seeded crops (maize, beans, groundnuts, etc.). Small flutes are used for fertilizer or small-seeded crops (sorghum, millet, small-seeded cowpea, etc.).

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Speaker Highlight: Robert Morris/Registration Closing Soon
EDN #166 Now Available

About ECHOcommunity

ECHOcommunity is a membership community that provides access to nearly all of ECHO’s resources online, as well as communications tools to help development workers connect with each other.   View a list of ECHOcommunity.org features here.

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Upcoming events

ECHO® International Agriculture Conference  - 2024
Tue, 12 November 2024 » Thu, 14 November 2024

ECHO Global Farm and Crowne Plaza Fort Myers Gulf Coast Hotel, Ft. Myers, USA  , USA

Visit The Conference Website Welcome to the 31st annual ECHO International Agriculture Conference! This event brings together industry leaders, practitioners, researchers, and educators dedicated to eradicating hunger and improving lives through agriculture and community development. Our plenary, breakout, and workshop sessions offer valuable opportunities for learning and collaboration. Attendees will have the chance to hear from speakers who share their agricultural challenges and...

ECHO Asia Tropical Agriculture & Development (TAD) Course
Mon, 18 November 2024 » Sat, 23 November 2024

ECHO Asia Small Farm Resource Center Chiang Mai, Thailand, Thailand

This 1-week course is designed for development workers, missionaries, and volunteers looking to engage their communities with low-cost, high-impact agricultural ideas and techniques. Participants will be introduced to various agricultural practices and technologies through classroom time and hands-on activities on the farm, learning to 'use what you have to make what you need.' This course is considered an 'introductory survey course' and will present a broad overview of many options suite...

ECHO North America: Introduction to Tropical Agriculture Development - January 2025
Mon, 20 January 2025 » Fri, 24 January 2025

ECHO North America, United States

Those interested in preparing for short to long-term involvement in international agriculture development are encouraged to participate in this five-day course.  Topics and discussions will focus on improved food security and agricultural livelihoods for small-scale farmers in developing countries.  Participants will be introduced to the complexities related to poverty and community development.  They will also be introduced to principles and practices that contribute toward maintaining healt...

The 8th ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium in collaboration with Hope International Burundi
Tue, 25 February 2025 » Thu, 27 February 2025

King's Conference Center (KCC), Burundi

We are soliciting potential presenters  and attendees for the 8th ECHO East Africa Biennial Symposium in collaboration with Hope International Burundi, to be held in Bujumbura from the 25th - 27th February, 2025, a three day sharing event to be held at the King's Conference Center (KCC)  in Bujumbura, Burundi. The event will draw participants from all across East Africa to address issues of sustainable agriculture and appropriate technologies. We prefer presentations with practical informatio...

ECHO North America: TAD II: Food Forests, Garden Design and Planning
Mon, 7 April 2025 » Fri, 11 April 2025

ECHO North America, United States

This is a five day, hands-on course that will focus on food forests and garden design. By taking this course you will learn how to design and start a food forest in your own backyard. Participants will walk through the design process with professional designers, starting from setting goals, surveying the piece of land, building a base map, considering earthworks, and creatively designing around constraints. Attendees will be able to see and apply these principles to a small garden or a lar...

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