ECHO Asia News




  1. This article by ECHO Asia Staff membersPatrick Trail, Yuwadee Danmalidoi, and Boonsong Thansrithong, appeared in ARI's'Eudoo' Journal of Rural Future Study(May, 2021) A number of motivations exist for saving seed at the community level, including crop biodiversity preservation, food sovereignty...















  2. An overview of the workshop topics including integrated pest management, natural herbicides, Beuveria, Trichoderma, etc.



  3. 2016-11-20
9 more ECHO Asia News

Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets




  1. Fruit, Vegetable Edible parts -Fruit, Seeds, Spice, Vegetable, Flowers A shrub. It grows up to 2-6 m tall. It has short thorns. It can grow up to 10 m tall. Usually trees lose their leaves at one seasonduring the year. The trunk is covered by reddish-brown bark. Trees often sucker near the base....



  2. Edible Portion: Shoots A running bamboo. It grows 7-12 m tall. The culms can be 10 cm across. They have a white ring under each node.



  3. Edible:Leaves A herb which keeps growing from year to year. It grows in water. The stems can be branched. They are slender and 15-30 (-90) cm long. They can be erect or lie over. The top rises out of the water. These aerial stems have glands while the under water stems are smooth. The leaves...



  4. Edible:Fruit, Seeds - oil, Leaves - tea A shrub 2m to 12 m high. The leaves have short stalks. The leaves are 3-10 cm long by 1.5-4.5 cm wide. The leaves are oval and have teeth along the edge. The flowers are single and in the axils of leaves. They are white and fragrant. The fruit is a capsule....



  5. Edible :Seeds, Leaves, Pods, Sprouted Seeds, Vegetable, A herb. It is a climbing bean plant with a slender hairy vine. It is twining and an annual plant. It grows from seed each year. It grows to 1.5-3 m long. Stems are hairy. Leaves have 3 leaflets which can vary in shape. They are mostly oval...
964 more Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets

Tropical Production Systems






  1. This technical manual focuses on the development, compilation, validation, and transfer of sustainable and profitable foodcrop-livestock-forestry management practices that favor rural families with limited financial resources on less-fertile hill-lands in the Humid Lowland Tropics; giving...





  2. This technical manual focuses on the development, compilation, validation, and transfer of sustainable and profitable foodcrop-livestock-forestry management practices that favor rural families with limited financial resources on less-fertile hill-lands in the Humid Lowland Tropics; giving...





  3. This Technical Note reports on the seed collection of 2 native cultivars of the “Sieva” group, during the major dry period in years 2008 and 2009. The cultivars were collected in the Humid Lowland Tropics in Southeastern Guatemala in Q’eqchi’ Mayan communities in the regions of Sumach-Rio Pita,...

MissionAssist Books - Agriculture and Farming






  1. Advice on how to cultivate bamboo plants from cuttings. This material was taken fromFootsteps- the literacy publication of TEAR Fund - with kind permission. This edition was published in the United Kingdom in 2019 by MissionAssist.



  2. This book gives an overview of the Shell Books which have been written to help farmers and their families produce, process and store their precious food crops beyond harvest. Adapted from various "Practical Action" publications with kind permission. This edition published in the United Kingdom in...





  3. Rabbits are useful animals for individual farmers, village groups and schools as they are very productive, reproduce rapidly and produce good quality meat and fur. This uses material from "Footsteps 10" - the literary publication ofTear Fund, with kind permission. Illustrated by MissionAssist....





  4. This book tells you how to cultivate olive trees and how their fruit and wood can be used, along with some references to olives in the Bible. Written for MissionAssist. Illustrated by Carys Walsh. Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version NIV, Copyright 1973 1978...





  5. This booklet tells you how to use red chilli peppers to help keep pests away from your crops. Taken from "Footsteps 54" - the literacy publication of Tear Fund, used with kind permission. Illustrations on pages 4, 5 and cover courtesy ofClipArtEtc. This edition published in the United Kingdom in...
53 more MissionAssist Books - Agriculture and Farming

ECHO Asia Note Articles






  1. This article is from ECHO Asia Note # 42 The integration of livestock on the smallholder farm is often a key component to the long-term sustainability of the farm, specifically by means of critical nutrient cycling. Livestock play a unique and critical role on the farm, transforming plant and...





  2. 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...



  3. This article is from ECHO Asia Note # 42 Dear ECHO Asia network members, It is my utmost gratitude to touch-base with you amidst this COVID-19 pandemic, and to extend my best wishes in behalf of the ECHO Asia team! I also hope that all of you are healthy and safe from the threats of the pandemic....



  4. This article is from ECHO Asia Note #43 Soil microbes influence almost every food production system on earth. Microbial life helps build and maintain human society because they are among our greatest agricultural allies. Ten years ago, I began studying an exceptional group of soil microbes called...





  5. Tomatoes are difficult to grow during Southeast Asia’s hot and humid monsoonal rainy season. A combination of waterlogged soils, increased disease pressure, and high temperatures often kill young tomato transplants or significantly reduce yields. As an introduced crop, originally from South...
100 more ECHO Asia Note Articles

General Technical Documents




  1. A photo-based manual on bucket drip irrigation, produced by Steven Kovach (PhD), in conjunction with a Winrock training event in Guinea.



  2. Khanal, Paras, Acharya, Shyamhari, Shrestha, Milan, Chitrakar, Sailesh, Neopane, Hari, 2021/08/01 This paper presents development of river water pump that can operate without fuel and electricity mostly applicable in rural communities that are close to a water stream. The river water pump...



  3. Pandey, Bishal,Dhakal, Prabin,Bhatta, Nabin,Giri, Bibek,Rimal, Samita,Kayastha, Atmaram,2016/08/01, This project is aimed to fabricate the water pumping machine. Due to the topographical variation in Nepal’s Himalayan regions, people are facing problems of water in both drinking and irrigation...
  4. Januari, 2016,Toleo la 40 Mkulima Mbunifu (MkM) ni jarida linalotoa elimu ya kilimo.
  5. This document was provided by Lance Edwards as an outline of the process of building a 100 Fold Vegetable Garden using Foundation for Farming principles. He includes a description of wicking bed technology by Colin Austin The irrigator’s dilemma If the irrigator applies frequent but shallow...
82 more General Technical Documents

USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines & Resources - SEG




  1. Shelter is a basic human need. Thus, providing adequate housing is a fundamental development objective but it is also highly complex. Successful housing activities can rarely be isolated from the development of associated infrastructure—e.g., water, sanitation, transport—and social services. The...



  2. 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...



  3. 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),...



  4. 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...
  5. 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...
9 more USAID Sector Environmental Guidelines & Resources - SEG

VITA - Volunteers in Technical Assistance




  1. From Human Factors, 1968 A description of VITA at that time.



  2. 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,...
  3. 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...
  4. 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...





  5. 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...
133 more VITA - Volunteers in Technical Assistance

MissionAssist Books - Information and Education






  1. This book describes the important contribution to student learning enabled by solar lamps and the books that can be studied by their light when school has finished for the day. It also gives a link to free information on how to set up and maintain a light library in your own school or community....





  2. An illustrated description of the practice and benefits of farming the protein-rich sakondry bug Zanna tenebrosa for human consumption. Part of a series of books about insects: The Complex World of Insects Controlling Insect Pests by Natural Means Edible Insects Bugs and Beans for Breakfast?...





  3. This book gives a brief introduction to the diversity of insects that inhabit our shared planet, describes the vital part they play in a variety of ecosystems and examines their importance as a source of protein for humans and animals. Part of a series of books about insects: The Complex World of...





  4. This book describes how to raise crickets for human consumption and suggests some recipes. Written and illustrated for MissionAssist This edition published in the United Kingdom in 2021 by MissionAssist Copyright 2021 MissionAssist





  5. This book highlights the value to human diets of edible insects in both their larval and adult forms and includes tasty recipes from Asia, Europe and South America. Part of a series of books about insects: The Complex World of Insects Controlling Insect Pests by Natural Means Edible Insects Bugs...
58 more MissionAssist Books - Information and Education

Research - Posters






  1. 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...



  2. 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. 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. 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. Test
23 more Research - Posters

MissionAssist Books - Health and Hygiene






  1. Emphasising the importance of good nutrition for young children, this book includes 3 recipes for protein-packed porridge. It uses material fromFootsteps 52and65, the literacy publications of Tearfund with kind permission Additional illustrations by MissionAssist This edition published in the...





  2. This book gives advice on how to have a healthy diet. It explains the symptoms of a bad diet, especially for children. It describes foods that give strength and energy to the body. It also describes those that protect from illness. It explains symptoms of certain illnesses that an unhealthy diet...





  3. For children with conditions that make it difficult for them to walk, a few simple aids can make all the difference; this book explains how they can be used. It uses material fromFootsteps 108, the literacy publication of Tear Fund with kind permission This edition published in the United Kingdom...



  4. This book gives a brief overview of the most common diseases and problems affecting eyes, along with a description of their causes and possible treatments. It also offers practical advice on how best to manage everyday life with impaired vision or even total loss of sight. This book uses material...





  5. Basic instruction for people who have no medical knowledge on how to care correctly for sick or injured persons whilst awaiting the arrival of medical experts. This uses material fromFootsteps 18- a literacy publication from TEAR Fund used with kind permission. This edition published in the...
44 more MissionAssist Books - Health and Hygiene

Mkulima Mbunifu (MkM)

  1. Februari 2024,Toleo la 130 Mkulima Mbunifu (MkM) ni jarida linalotoa elimu ya kilimo.
  2. Desemba 2018,Toleo la 75 Mkulima Mbunifu (MkM) ni jarida linalotoa elimu ya kilimo.
  3. 2020-06-01 Juni, 2020,Toleo la 93 Mkulima Mbunifu (MkM) ni jarida linalotoa elimu ya kilimo.



  4. 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

የምግብ እፅዋት መፍትሄዎች - አስፈላጊ የምግብ እፅዋት

  1. Potentially important food plants of Rwanda Food plants for healthy diets in Rwanda Also available in:Kinyarwanda (rw) Potentially important leafy greens and vegetables in Rwanda Potentially Important Fruit, Nuts and Seeds of Rwanda Good gardening and growing root crops in Rwanda If you...
  2. Potentially Important Food Plants of the Western Pacific Potentially Important Fruits and Nuts of the Western Pacific Potentially Important Leafy Greens and Vegetables in the Western Pacific Also available in:Français (fr)Bislama (bi) Food plants for healthy diets in the Western Pacific Also...



  3. If you download a publication, please contact Food Plant Solutionsat –info@foodplantsolutions.org Feedback on any publication is invited and much appreciated –info@foodplantsolutions.org Return to the Publications List
  4. If you download a publication, please contact Food Plant Solutionsat –info@foodplantsolutions.org Feedback on any publication is invited and much appreciated –info@foodplantsolutions.org Return to the Publications List
  5. Growing the Major Food Plants of Papua New Guinea Food Plants of Papua New Guinea Diseases of Food Plants in Papua New Guinea Growing Food Plants - Southern Highlands Insect Pests of Food Plants Sago and Gardening FOI Katubu Food Composition of Plants in Papua New Guinea Suggestions on Food...
139 more የምግብ እፅዋት መፍትሄዎች - አስፈላጊ የምግብ እፅዋት

Feed the Future Publications




  1. Whether you are just starting an activity design or implementation exclusively aimed at developing a new digital tool in Feed the Future activities, or if you are simply planning on using existing digital technology within development programming, this toolkit is for you. This toolkit has been...





  2. 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. This short document contains graphs that show how zero tillage leads to increased water infiltration and increased water retention in soil.





  4. 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...





  5. 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...
1 more Feed the Future Publications

FAO Publications




  1. Parent page Adopted Standards (ISPMs)



  2. The FAOSmallholder Farmers’ Dataportrait is a comprehensive, systematic and standardized data set on the profile of smallholder farmers across the world. It can generate an image on how small family farmers in both emerging and developing countries live their lives. It is about putting in...



  3. 2022-01-20 FAO, Rikolto and RUAF.2022.Urban and peri-urbanagriculture sourcebook– From production to food systems.Rome, FAO and Rikolto. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb9722en The purpose of this book is to set out the key lessons learned and to provide recommendations and guidance based on existing cases and...





  4. 2022-01-20 FAO. 2022. Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture (AGORA) User guide. Rome. https://doi. org/10.4060/cb8611en AGORA is a programme of Research4Life – a public-private partnership between Cornell and Yale Universities, FAO, the International Association of Scientific, Technical and...



  5. 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...
9 more FAO Publications

Using ECHO Resources

  1. 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. 2021-01-20 Available on iOS 10.0+and Android 5.0+ Updated 8/2024. 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 over 40 years. ECHOcommunity.org contains thousands of documents and videos...

Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM) Publications






  1. 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. 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. Poster - Benefits of agroforestry systems. Increase the productivity of your farmland by introducting trees. Kilomohai Training Materialshttp://www.kilimohai.org/kilimohai/training-materials
  4. Swahili download only Kilomohai Training Materialshttp://www.kilimohai.org/kilimohai/training-materials
  5. 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...
6 more Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM) Publications

SAWBO Publications




  1. 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. 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. 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




  1. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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...
56 more ECHO Asia Seed Fact Sheets

Haitian Network Documents






  1. Creole Document - Appropriate Technology for Farmers





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





  3. Glossary of terms





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

ECHO East Africa News






  1. In this issue: Nanenane Agricultural show Appropriate technology ECHO EA seedbank updates Highlights Innovation News in brief ECHO RIC‟s Best Practices





  2. 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





  3. 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



  4. 2021-03-17
11 more ECHO East Africa News

COMPAS - Newsletter for Endogenous Development




  1. Methodologies to support endogenous development The social mobilisation approach facilitates community change in Sri Lanka Promoting health care in India - by reinforcing local health traditionsrang Ghanaian community approach AGRUCO's methods strenthen self esteem and cultural identity Reviving...



  2. 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...



  3. 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...



  4. 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. 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...
34 more COMPAS - Newsletter for Endogenous Development

CTA Publications




  1. 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. 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...





  3. 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.



  4. 2014-01-01 This 8-page leaflet, practical for use in the field and easy to read, describes the services that pastoralists need to market their animals, milk and hides effectively. It gives information on markets, financial services, transport, market facilities and processing plants. Tips, including on...



  5. 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...
18 more CTA Publications

Other Farmer Training Guides




  1. The editable source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in many other languages fromthe 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. The marketing exercises...



  2. The editable source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in many other languages fromthe 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 –...



  3. The editable source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in many other languages fromthe 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 –...



  4. 2020-04-20 The editable source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in many other languages fromthe 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 –...



  5. 2020-04-20 The editable source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in many otherlanguages fromthe 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 –...
9 more Other Farmer Training Guides

Seeds for a Future Publications




  1. This PDF goes into greater detail about the Seeds for a Future Program, and what we’ve learned and incorporated along the way.



  2. Daillen Nordell Culver, Originally submitted August 2020,MSc International Development, University of Edinburgh,School of Social and Political Science Chronic malnutrition’s disproportionate impact on indigenous Guatemalans remains an obstacle to rural development. Emerging research suggests the...



  3. During 2014 – 2017, the Institute for Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP) scientifically documented Seeds for a Future’s Integrated Program, and its positive health impacts for the Program’s participants.
  4. La vulnerabilidad de las familias guatemaltecas a la inseguridad alimentaria y nutricional, es un problema que se ha agravado ante la crisis de la pandemia del coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19); ante esta circunstancia adversa, la Aldea Chocolá no es la excepción. Bajo este contexto, se ha evaluado la...

MissionAssist Books - Crafts and Skills




  1. A tent drier can be used to dry fruit and vegetables in the heat of the sun. Food so preserved will keep long past harvest time and can be sold later in the year in the market place. This material was taken from Footsteps - the literacy publication of TEAR Fund - with kind permission.This edition...





  2. Advice on how to protect buildings from lightning strikes. This material was taken fromFootsteps- the literacy publication of TEAR Fund - with kind permission. The original text was by Ronald Watts, Zambia. This edition was published in the United Kingdom in 2019 by MissionAssist.
  3. Two women sell passion fruit and pineapple mixed juice. One has not made it correctly so it makes her customers ill. The other knows how to make it safely and she tells the other woman what to do. Full instructions on how to manufacture mixed juice are included in the appendix. This uses material...





  4. This book explains how to make indigo dye: the best plants to use and the equipment needed. Written and illustrated for MissionAssist. This edition published in the United Kingdom in 2020 by MissionAssist.





  5. Howto make chutney from green, unripe mangoes or tomatoes. This material was taken fromFootsteps- the literacy publication of TEAR Fund - with kind permission.This edition was published in the United Kingdom in 2019 by MissionAssist.
57 more MissionAssist Books - Crafts and Skills

MissionAssist Books - Illness and Disease






  1. A story to encourage people to have their blood pressure checked, with advice on how to prevent high blood pressure, and what to do if one has it. The second part of the book is more practical; it explains what hypertension is and what causes it, and has more detail on prevention and cure....





  2. This booklet describes what cholera is; what you can do to stop people catching it; how to recognise if someone has it and how to help them get better. This booklet uses material from a number of web sites and from the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency with kind permission. This edition...





  3. This booklet contains notes on the prevention and treatment of glandular tuberculosis. This has been adapted from "La Tuberculosis Pulmonar" (Pulmonory Tuberculosis) by the Ministry of Health of Peru, in collaboration with SIL Peru. Text and illustrations 1976 Ministry of Health of Peru and SIL...





  4. This book gives advice on how to live with diabetes and other non-communicable diseases. Adapted from "Footsteps 87", the literary publication ofTearfundwith kind permission. This edition published in the United Kingdom in 2021 by MissionAssist.





  5. There is no cure for dengue fever but this book gives details on how to help people suffering from the disease. This uses material from "Dengue Fever" by Three Strands Consulting Services Pvt. Ltd. with kind permission. 2018, Chiranjib Chatterjee This edition published in the United Kingdom in...
14 more MissionAssist Books - Illness and Disease

ECHO East Africa Notes






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



  2. Food from the Wild Sweet Potato Promoting Biodiversity on Maize Smallholdings



  3. Families Benefited with Dairy Goats Project A Research Project:Packed Biogas in Bags Green Manure/ Cover Crops: jack bean



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



  5. New seed to try: Banana Passionfruit Sweet Potato Varieties in East Africa Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease in East Africa A Focus on Perennial Vegetables
7 more ECHO East Africa Notes

ATTRA Publications on Sustainable Agriculture




  1. Butterfly Pea: A Cover Crop for Hot and Humid Areas – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture Butterfly peas (Clitoria ternatea) are known for their showy flowers, but their twining, delicate-stemmed growth habit also makes them a great cover crop candidate. They have pinnate leaves with five to seven...





  2. Cover Crop Options for Hot and Humid Areas – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture Cover crops can be better adapted to some regions better than others. This publication discusses the characteristics of cover crops that are better suited for areas with hot, humid summers, like the southern portions of...





  3. https://attra.ncat.org/publication/biochar-and-sustainable-agriculture/ Biochar is a potentially valuable soil amendment produced from biomass, through pyrolysis. Biochar improves soil aggregation, enhances nutrient- and water-holding capacity, provides habitat for soil organisms, modulates...





  4. 2016-01-20 https://attra.ncat.org/publication/companion-planting-resources/ Certain plants can benefit others when planted in close proximity or used as botanical pesticides. This publication discusses the scientific and traditional basis for companion planting associations including trap cropping, weed...

International Biochar Initiative Publications






  1. Biochar can be made from a wide variety of feedstocks and under a wide variety of conditions, yielding a wide variety of potential product characteristics. Not all biochars are suitable for soil application as supplied. This Technical Bulletin covers two rapid tests that can be used to assess the...



  2. Biochar should always be tested for safety before applying to soil (see IBI Technical Bulletin #101: Quick tests to determine whether a biochar material contains compounds that are potentially harmful to plants). Biochar is not a single material and can vary in its composition according to how it...



  3. Biochar is mostly composed of highly stable forms of black carbon and it can be used as a tool for carbon sequestration in soil. There is also interest in using biochar to create permanent landscape art, including as part of projects (such as 350.org) aimed at raising public awareness about...



  4. Biochar has been shown to be beneficial for growing crops. For farmers and gardeners, biochar provides a unique opportunity to improve soil fertility for the long term using locally available materials. Used alone, or in combinations, compost, manure, and/or synthetic fertilizers are added at...



  5. 2015-02-20 Marta Camps, Massey University; and Thayer Tomlinson, International Biochar Initiative February 2015 Both compost and biochar production are methods to utilize and recycle organic wastes. This paper provides information on the use of biochar in composting and highlights the potential benefits,...
7 more International Biochar Initiative Publications

USAID Crop Publications




  1. USAID - Pakistan - Chili Production, Harvest & Post-Harvest Management



  2. Onions are one of the oldest vegetables in continuous cultivation, dating back to at least 4,000 BC as recorded by ancient Egyptians. This fact is documented in the Bible and Holy Quran. » The common dry onions (Allium cepa), a member of the Amarylli-daceae family, originated in central Asia...



  3. 2012-01-20 This manual was prepared to assist USAID-Inma field staff in working with cooperating growers. It does not cover all issues or answer all questions. The USAIDInma horticulture team or Ministry of Agriculture specialists can be consulted to answer additional questions. Onions clearly represent an...

Zambia Agribusiness Society - ZAS




  1. Chickens have very basic needs: food and water, adequate shelter and space, and predator protection. Chicken owners go to all different lengths to meet those needs, from the simplest to the very elaborate. The beauty of raising chickens is that there is no set formula and no way that you must do...



  2. Organic Livestock Farming refers to the treatment and growth promotion of livestock with Natural products. Topics discussed in this resource include: Organic Farming Natural and Organic Products Poultry Infections and Diseases Tips on Management



  3. Onions are consumed in almost every household in Zambia. Not only are onions grown for domestic consumption but are also grown for commercial purposes. Onions are one of the few crops in Zambia that will always have a ready market. This simple guide will equip onion growers with recommended...



  4. Onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivation in Jamaica dates back to more than 50 years ago (ADC, 1963). It is a culinary ‘must use’ for Jamaican diets and more than 10 million kg is consumed annually. Over the last 18 years, onion production has declined significantly from 4,200 tonnes in 1996 to 680...



  5. Topics reviewed in this resource includes: Onion economy Growing onions Varieties Growth stages Favorable growth conditions Nutrition and fertilization Soil analysis guide Leaf analysis guide
107 more Zambia Agribusiness Society - ZAS

Grower Talks




  1. 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...



  2. 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...

ICIPE Publications




  1. Ticks and tick-borne diseases cause great economic loss to livestock in the world and have adverse effects on them in several ways and even leads to their death. Ticks parasitise a wide range of vertebrate hosts and transmit a variety of pathogenic agents than any other group of arthropods. The...



  2. Nematodes are difficult to diagnose due to their nonspecific, cryptic disease symptoms, lack of apparent damage, limited diagnostic capabilities, and inadequate understanding of nematodes and expertise to manage the pests. Nematodes are often misdiagnosed or attributed to other causes.





  3. 2013-01-20 Many of the important agricultural and horticultural crops cultivated worldwide belong to the genus Brassica. The main brassicas grown in East Africa are cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata); kale, also called choumolea (B. oleracea L. var. acephala); Chinese cabbage (B. campestris L....



  4. 2006-01-20 This field guide provides agricultural scientists, extension workers and quarantine specialists with information on the life cycle, damage symptoms, distribution and host plants of major fruit fly species of fruits and vegetables in Africa. The purpose, tools and methodology for fruit fly...

Infonet Biovision Publications




  1. Diagnostic chart based on disease signs and observations



  2. 2016-02-20 Diagnostic chart based on disease signs and observations



  3. 2012-01-20 Infonet-Biovision, an initiative of Biovision Farmer Communication Programme, provides small-scale farmers, communities, NGOs, and trainers with practical information and knowledge on simple, workable and ecologically compatible practices and methods that sustain farming and household incomes. It...



  4. 2005-01-20 Mango is one of the most important fruit crops in the tropical and subtropical lowlands. It is a fruit growing in popularity worldwide and well suited to East Africa as a commercial crop. These guidelines are for farmer-to-farmer leaders of a training programme. They are accompanied by a field...

ECHO Research - Guidance




  1. 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. 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. 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 Newsletter




  1. December 2024 is the third issue of ECHO Research Newsletters. To correspond with ideas and feedback about the topics ofthis newsletter, email publishing@echonet.org. Engagement Opportunities:IV International Symposium on Underutilized Plant Species andSpecial journal issue on Agriculture and...



  2. 2024-08-23 August 2024 is the secondissue of ECHO Research Newsletters. To correspond with ideas and feedback about the topics ofthis newsletter, email publishing@echonet.org. Engagement Opportunities: Monitoring and evaluation, Plant nutritional information Knowledge Exchange: A research round table and...



  3. 2024-05-02 May 2024 is the first issue of ECHO Research Newsletters. To correspond with ideas and feedback about the topics ofthis newsletter, email publishing@echonet.org. Engagement Opportunities: Monitoring and evaluation, Plant nutritional information Knowledge Exchange: A research round table and...

ECHO Technical Notes






  1. 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. 2024-09-18 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,...





  3. 2023-12-20 A standard wheelbarrow, with the wheel at the front, places about half the weight of the load on the operator. A load-centered wheelbarrow places the wheel in the center of the load, shifting 90% or more of the weight to the wheel instead of the operator. This allows the device to be used for...





  4. 2023-11-21 Litter systems are an approach to hygienic, integrated animal production in which animals are raised in an enclosed space on a floor of organic bedding. Systems with thick bedding material are sometimes called deep litter systems. Litter systems allow you to prioritize animal health by providing...





  5. 2023-06-09 This guide expands on a summary by Chalermliamthong and Trail (2021) of the black soldier fly larvae production system at the ECHO Asia Small Farm Resource Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The production system there serves as an approach for scaling up larvae production as an alternative protein...
97 more ECHO Technical Notes

Christian Veterinary Mission (CVM) Publications






  1. Dr. Maureen Birmingham and Dr. Peter Quesenberry,Revised Edition 2016 ISBN 978-1-886532-45-8 The idea for a book "Where There is No Vet" was conceived years ago. Work was officially started in 1985 by the late Dr. Bill Baker who worked as a veterinarian in Haiti for eight years. Dr. Baker...



  2. 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...





  3. 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. 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...



  5. 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...
9 more Christian Veterinary Mission (CVM) Publications

World Bank Group - Open Knowledge Repository




  1. “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. 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




  1. 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. 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. 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,...

Sustainable Nutrition Manual, 2nd Edition (2016)




  1. Extracted from SNM Part 3 Health Designs Appendix 1&2





  2. 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...



  3. 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...



  4. 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...

Food Plants International - Publications




  1. 2024, Bruce R French, Food Plants International Some are used as vegetables Some for flavouring Some are used to make tea drinks They are added to soups and stews Usually it is the young leaves that are used Often a mixture of leaves are eaten together Normally cook all leaves to remove bacteria...



  2. Ghana has a population of about 30 million people. There are slightly over 1,200 edible plant species currently growing in Ghana. But life gets more difficult in the drier Sahel zone to the north of the country. There are possibly 4-5 million people who live in this more arid zone. Tree are...



  3. 2024-05-01 This book is designed as a simple introduction to the more common food plants for healthy diets in Magdelana Milpas Altas region. 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...



  4. 2013-01-20 These trees are adapted to poor soils, so grow less-well with fertilisers and irrigation.

Resources for Schools and Teachers




  1. Students will investigate recent field research studies on the ECHO-North America Small Farm Resource Center and the ECHO-Asia Small Farm Resource Center and then design their own experiments. Activity 1 ECHO-North America initiated a multi-year gliricidia intercropping trial. Researchers are...



  2. Frequently asked questions about ECHO, the farm visit, and safety rules for enjoying the ECHO-North America Small Farm Resource Center experience...



  3. 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...



  4. 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”...



  5. Students will analyze data from the annual Tilapia harvest comparing the pond raised fish to the aquaponics grown fish. Guess what they found?
6 more Resources for Schools and Teachers

Amaranth to Zai Holes

  1. 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. 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...



  3. 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. 1996-10-19 Health care encompasses many areas: improved quality of life, better nutrition, safety, building good relationships, and prevention and cure of illness and disease. This chapter presents resources and ideas you may use in promoting health in your community. There are many resources available for...



  5. 1996-10-19 Vegetables and small fruits supply essential vitamins and minerals while adding variety and interest to the diet. Produce can also bring a high price in the market and provide additional household income. Vegetable use varies by region, culture, and social group. One of the first changes people...
40 more Amaranth to Zai Holes

Conservation Agriculture Core Training Materials

  1. The editable source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in many other languages fromthe 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. Poster List : What is CA?...





  2. 2020-04-20 The editable source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in many other languages fromthe 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. Conservation Agriculture...





  3. 2020-04-20 The editable source documents (.docx and .pub)of these materials are available in many other languages fromthe 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. Why Use Conservation...

ECHO Development Notes (EDN)






  1. 2024-12-16 Harvesting Water with Hafirs : Lessons from East Africa Echoes from our Network: Six Mulching Principles From ECHO’s Seed Bank: Adzuki Bean Books, Websites, and Other Resources: Tools for Underutilized Crop Selection - VACS Explorer, CropBase, ISHS Symposium on Underutilized Crop Species and...





  2. 2024-10-01 ECHO is excited to share with you that we are re-engaging with our Central America and Caribbean (CAC) partners and network members through the establishment of a Regional Impact Center (RIC). We have heard the needs in the region and are focusing our efforts on being able to fully support a RIC...





  3. 2024-08-01 Towards the use of Biopesticides Echoes from our Network: Fall Armyworm Question and Answerwith Dr. Allan Hruska, Ph.D. From ECHO's Seed Bank: Cucurbita Mochata 'Thai Kang Kob' Open-source Journals:The Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico and Ag4Dev





  4. 2024-06-03 Poly-propagators Coffee Parchment as a Feed Supplement for Dairy Cattle Echoes from our Network:Paddy Rice Seed Assessment Using Salt and Eggs From ECHO's Seed Bank:Wild Marigold for Natural Pest Control and More Books, Websites, and Other Resources:Compendium of Forgotten Foods in Africa





  5. 2024-04-01 Harvesting and Drying Considerations for Quality Moringa Leaf Powder Echoes from our Network:Options for Snail Control From ECHO's Seed Bank:Jute Mallow ‘Thai‘ Books, Websites, and Other Resources:ECHOcommunity Mobile App – Plant Records Tutorial
173 more ECHO Development Notes (EDN)

CFGB Conservation Agriculture Newsletter






  1. 2024-12-01 Inside this Issue: The Power of Conservation Agriculture and Small-Scale Irrigation Soil Cover is the driver of adoption of conservation agriculture by small-holder farmers Partner Profile: Lutheran World Federation, LWF-Burundi.





  2. 2024-04-01 Inside this Issue: Creating an Enabling Environment for Conservation Agriculture Soil Ecosystems are Bolstered by Conservation Agriculture Practices Partner Profile: ADRA ALTA Travel Schedule





  3. 2024-01-01 Inside this Issue: AdvocatingforConservationAgriculturePromotion Introducing Lidet Sitatow, Agriculture and Livelihoods Technical Advisor for Ethiopia Fall Armyworm Management Update Partner Profile: Anglican Development Services - Central Rift, Kenya





  4. 2023-09-20 Inside this issue: Green Manure Cover Crops for Regions with Bimodal Rainfall Scaling Conservation Agriculture-based Sustainable Intensification in Ethiopia (SCASI) CA Farmer Profile: Asnakech ALTA Travel Schedule





  5. 2023-06-20 In this Issue: Farming as a Business Telling the Story with Photographs Partner Profile - ODE, Burkina Faso CA Farmer Profile And much more!!
29 more CFGB Conservation Agriculture Newsletter

ECHO Best Practice Notes




  1. 2024-11-06 This ECHO Best Practice Note distills insights from farmers and other specialists who collaborated in promoting livestock as a means to improve rural livelihoods. Acknowledgment is given especially to Heifer International and to all its partners who developed a substantial program that still...



  2. 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...





  3. 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...





  4. 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...





  5. 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...
4 more ECHO Best Practice Notes

Practical Action Publications




  1. 2023-01-20 In the drylands and mountains where pastoralists live, uncertainty is everywhere. In these settings, negotiating access to resources, navigating volatile markets, making use of varying social relations in times of stress, and responding to conflict and complex political dynamics is essential if...



  2. 2015-01-20 The message of Sustainable Livelihoods and Rural Development is clear: livelihoods approaches are an essential lens on questions of rural development, but these need to be situated in a better understanding of political economy. The book looks at the role of social institutions and the politics...

ILEIA Newsletter - LEISA Magazine - Farming Matters




  1. 2022-12-20 ILEIA - Centre for Learning on Sustainable Agriculture, had its start in 1984. It started from the observation that family farmers in remote, diverse and risk-prone farming conditions did not benefit from ‘modern’ agriculture based on external inputs: chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and...



  2. 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



  3. 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...



  4. 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...



  5. 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...
131 more ILEIA Newsletter - LEISA Magazine - Farming Matters

LEISA India Publications




  1. 2022-09-20 We have come a long way on the path of development, which we can be proud of. But development comes with a huge cost in terms of its effect on environment, climate and communities. Farmers, already a vulnerable lot, become more vulnerable when they have to deal with the aberrations in climate,...



  2. 2022-06-20 Education in any discipline needs to foster continuity and change. In applied sciences like Agriculture, Engineering, needs to be responsive to changing needs from the field. In case of agriculture, farming is pursued by rural majority, many of them illiterate too. They are the actual ‘...



  3. 2022-03-20 When we first conceived urban agriculture as a potential theme, we were aware of some known initiatives across country both in urban and peri urban areas. However, it was heartening to see the wonderful response – individual efforts; efforts galvanised by State support; social media enthusiasm in...

ECHO Asia Notes




  1. 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. 2021-09-15 Featured in this AN Establishing a Scaled-Up Black Soldier Fly System An Innovative 'Do-All' Biochar Burner Design



  3. 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. 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. 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

World Health Organization Publications






  1. 2021-10-15 This report is the first of its kind. It brings together various data sets to present the current status of hand hygiene, highlight lagging progress, and call governments and supporting agencies to action, offering numerous inspiring examples of change. During the COVID-19 pandemic, hand hygiene...

Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards Publications and Resources




  1. 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. 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. 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. 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...





  5. 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...
7 more Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards Publications and Resources

Aprovecho Publications




  1. 2021-01-20 Appendixes featuring CAD drawings of the • Natural Draft Sunken Pot Rocket Stove • Kirk Harris Natural Draft Top Lit Up Draft (TLUD) Stove • Side Feed Bottom Air Forced Draft Rocket Stove • Top Lit Forced Draft Stove • Charcoal Stove



  2. 2021-01-20 Since its inception, the stove movement has consistently maintained that the users and local stakeholders must be the drivers of innovation. The German development agency, GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), and many other organizations, have made it clear that...

Greenhouse Management




  1. 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






  1. 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. 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...

CAN Culinaria






  1. 2019-11-20





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

ECHO West Africa Notes






  1. 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. 2018-01-03 Techniques de production avicole traditionnelle epublication:Options de restauration des sols improductifsetOptions où l'eau est rare





  3. 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

Postharvest Education Foundation Publications




  1. 2019-01-20 This book features many videos, effective teaching tools not only for readers but for this author. I literally watched people from all walks of life who have posted videos of themselves demonstrating useful skills and scientific concepts. (I screened **dozens** of onion and garlic braiding videos...



  2. 2015-11-20 Effective management during the postharvest period, rather than the level of sophistication of any given technology, is the key in reaching the desired objectives. While large-scale operations may benefit from investing in costly handling machineryand high-tech postharvest treatments, often these...

ECHO Latin America and Caribbean Notes (LACN)






  1. 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. 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. 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. 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




  1. 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. 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. 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



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

Agrodoks






  1. 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. 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....





  3. 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...





  4. 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...





  5. 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...
50 more Agrodoks

ECHO Summaries




  1. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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




  1. 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. 2010-01-20 Swahili Only Ufugaji bora wa ng'ombe wa maziwa-2





  3. 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...





  4. 2010-01-20 Swahili only Mwongozo wa ufugaji bora wa mbuzi wa maziwa
  5. 2008-07-20 Swahili Only Kitabu cha kuku wa asili
5 more Heifer International - Selected Publications

USDA Agriculture Handbooks




  1. 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. 2008-07-20 This handbook on the seeds of woody plants would not be possible if not for the pioneering work of many individuals in past years. They worked without the modern laboratory and information retrieval services that we now routinely use and take for granted. Their early efforts in the first half of...



  3. 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...



  4. 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...



  5. 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...
6 more USDA Agriculture Handbooks

CAN Agricultura






  1. 2014-01-20 5ta Edición revisada y ampliada Chile Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura Spanish Only.

World Agroforestry Center




  1. 2013-01-20 Munjuga MR, Gachuiri AN, Ofori DA, Mpanda MM, Muriuki JK, Jamnadass RH, Mowo JG. 2013.Nursery management, tree propagation and marketing: A training manual for smallholder farmers and nursery operators. Nairobi: World Agroforestry Centre



  2. 2008-01-20 Mbora A., Lillesø J-PB., Jamnadass R. 2008. Good Nursery Practices: A Simple Guide. Nairobi. The World Agroforestry Centre. 36 pp. Agroforestry plays an important role in the socio–economic development of communities, as trees planted on farms provide timber, fuelwood, fodder, fruits, medicine,...



  3. 2008-01-20 As part of Novella Africa programme on ‘Domestication of AB Trees in Africa’, ICRAF aims to develop jointly, with national partners in participating countries, options for appropriate propagation and management practices for AB trees, to enhance the efficiency, level and stability of tree...



  4. 1999-01-19 Good tree nursery practices for research nurseries is more than a checklist of do’s and don’t’s for nursery managers and researchers. It presents concise but thorough information on all aspects of raising high-quality planting stock, with lists of contacts and nursery suppliers. In addition to...

A Natural Farming System For Sustainable Agriculture In the Tropics




  1. 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...



  2. 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...



  3. 2005-01-20 With all the instant gratification available to the consumer these days, nature seems to take a long time. Stabilizing your soil, pasture and livestock areas don’t happen over night. Nevertheless, Microbial Management with foliar sprays and fertilizers can help in the transition.



  4. 2005-01-20 In our training seminars, every student gets a bottle of EME. We teach them by making it in class. They also are trained on how to use their bag of five different soil amendments. This encourages students to use them in the project that they have already started. Some students are just starting...



  5. 2005-01-20 Miscellaneous info on Aloha House
24 more A Natural Farming System For Sustainable Agriculture In the Tropics

Books

  1. 2024-01-20 Vétérinaires Sans Frontières International (2024). Handbook for planning and managing CAHW programmes: How to build quality and sustainable community-based animal health services. Brussels, Belgium. In many countries around the world, Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) provide basic animal...



  2. 2012-01-20 Young M., Alders R., Grimes S., Spradbrow P., Dias P., da Silva A. and Lobo Q. 2012. Controlling Newcastle disease in village chickens: a laboratory manual. 2nd edn. ACIAR Monograph No. 87. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research: Canberra. 143 pp Newcastle disease (ND) is a...



  3. 2002-01-20 This manual summarizes the basic laboratory procedures used to produce and test experimental I-2 thermostable Newcastle Disease vaccine in the research and training progammes associated with the John Francis Virology Laboratory, University of Queensland, Australia.
7279 more books



  1. Tillers International is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that leads in teaching essential homesteading skills. Our offerings include toolmaking, timber framing, woodworking, coopering, and blacksmithing. We nurture leaders in food security from emerging regions through hands-on experience...



  2. Ajayi FO, Bamidele O, Hassan WA, Ogundu U, Yakubu A, Alabi OO, Akinsola OM, Sonaiya EB, Adebambo OA. Production performance and survivability of six dual-purpose breeds of chicken under smallholder farmers' management practices in Nigeria. Arch Anim Breed. 2020 Nov 12;63(2):387-408. doi:...
  3. B. Kassa, Y. Tadesse, W. Esatu, T. Dessie, On-farm comparative evaluation of production performance of tropically adapted exotic chicken breeds in western Amhara, Ethiopia, Journal of Applied Poultry Research, Volume 30, Issue 4, 2021, 100194, ISSN 1056-6171,...
3834 more links

Presentations






  1. Invasive alien species have become a concern for many including, agriculture, pasture land, natural ecosystems and wildlife.



  2. 2024-11-14 This session will share learnings gained from collaborating with church partners for over 30 years, promoting integrated livestock projects across Africa. It will address some causes of success, frequent mistakes, and ways to create sustainability including exit strategies.



  3. 2024-11-14 Over the last 4 years, HOPE International has combined their experience in forming and supporting savings groups with the power of regenerative agriculture. Both the process and the outcomes – in success and failure – have resulted in significant learning about how to design and implement...
1118 more presentations

Plant Information Sheets

  1. Abelmoschus caillei originated and is now grown mostly in West and Central Africawhere it has become an important vegetable crop. This species of okra is particularly popular with subsistence farmers as it can produce a food crop year round, has a higher market value as it is available in the dry...
  2. 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...
717 more plant information sheets

Videos







  1. In this video we show you how to make a basic Top Lit Up Draft Biochar Machine. Warm Heart have been teaching hundreds of farmers in the Northern Thailand how to make these machines in order to help reduce the smoke produced in the area. We aim to restore the environment while creating economic...
599 more videos