Latest Publication

EDN 169 Now Available!

EDN169 Figure 3 dried foods from drier — Figure. A variety of foods that have been dried successfully: a) cabbage; b) bananas; c) tomatoes; d) grated coconut; e) carrots; f) onions; g) turmeric; h) black nightshade; i) mango slices; j) papaya; k) cooked beans; l) chinese mustard; m) mango puree; and n) amaranth leaves. Source: James Dontje

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Direct Solar Dryers: A simple, cheap option for solar food drying

Echoes from Our Network: In-Field Grafted Avocado and Fertility Ditches with Elephant Grass and/or Bananas

From ECHO’s Seed Bank: Moth Bean Vigna aconitifolia, a Multipurpose Legume for Arid Climates

Books, Websites, and Other Resources: New Book Release - Community Seed Bank Options

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ECHO Development Notes (EDN)

In ECHO Development Notes (EDN) we share the most helpful, practical information that we come across about growing food under difficult circumstances. Within each issue you'll find featured techniques, practices, information, and experience to help guide your work in tropical and subtropical agricultural development.

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ECHO Technical Notes (TN)

ECHO Technical Notes (TNs) share in depth information about topics important to those working in the tropics and subtropics. Each document introduces and explains the general concept behind the technological solution, and some include examples or step-by-step instructions.

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ECHO Research Notes (RN)

ECHO Research Notes (RNs) share results of first-hand trials and experiments, done by ECHO staff or by network members. Material is authored by ECHO staff (past and present) as well as outside writers, all with experience and knowledge of their subject.

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ECHO Best Practice Notes (BPN)

ECHO East Africa Notes is a technical e-bulletin containing articles of interest to agriculture and community development workers in East Africa. Besides English, articles may be translated into Swahili.

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ECHO Books

ECHO has two ECHO authored and published books: Amaranth to Zai Holes and Agricultural Options for Small-scale Farmers (also available in epub and separate chapters). ECHO has also published books written by Network members including Roland Bunch's second edition of Restoring the Soil and Dan Foutain's Let's Restore Our Land.

Community Contributions

ECHO welcomes submissions to our publications. For information about submitting an article please see the Author Instruction page.

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Below is an optional training video to help you learn about ECHO's writing style.

Publications by Release Date

Tire, Sack, and Keyhole Gardens

Tire, Sack, and Keyhole Gardens

Home gardens are typically small growing areas near the homestead that contain crops of specific importance to the family. Home gardens offer quick access to herbs, fruits, and vegetables that help boost household nutrition. This article will detail step-by-step instructions for how to make a tire garden, sack garden, and keyhole garden.

EDN Issue #168

10-Day Organic Liquid Protective Fertilizer Raw, Boiled, and Fermented Banana Stalk Comparison for use in Farm-generated Pig Feed Grey Water for Watering Plants From ECHO’s Seed Bank: Vigna vexillata, A Multi-Purpose Legume with Edible Tubers Books, Websites, and Other Resources: Invitation to Submit an Article and Underutilized Crops Symposium Speaker Highlights

EDN Issue #167

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 others

EDN Issue #166

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 located in CAC. This RIC will be dedicated to developing contextualized sustainable options for smallholders. This issue of EDN features a technique, a CAC partner system, and a crop relevant specifically to the CAC region and with global potential as well! Nixtamalization Echoes from our...

EDN Issue #165

Towards the use of Biopesticides Echoes from our Network: Fall Armyworm Question and Answer with 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

EDN Issue #164

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

EDN Issue #163

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

EAN Issue # 12

Symposium Shared Lessons, Technologies, and Experience Expand and Strengthen the ECHO East Africa Network Member Transformative Impact of Internships on Young Individuals Support the Mission of Work Through Partnership/Collaboration Upcoming Joint Symposium in Juba, South Sudan

AN Issue #43

Featured in this AN Mycorrhizal Fungi - Our Tiny Underground Allies Tomato Grafting in Southeast Asia: A Useful Technique for Rainy Season Production

AN Issue #44

Featured in this AN The Martinez Airlift Water Pump Do All Parts of the Chaya Plant Contain Cyanide? Cyantesmo Paper for Detecting Cyanide

AN Issue #45

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 Varying Levels of Shade ECHOcommunity Mobile App Now Available! Virtual Training Opportunity with ECHO Asia- email us at asiahospitality@echocommunity.org!

AN Issue #46

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 Farm Biosecurity Plan for the Prevention of African Swine Fever I Suspect ASFV on my Farm: What Steps Should I Take? ECHOcommunity Conversations: Find Practical Answers from a Global Network of Agriculturalists

AN Issue #47

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

Small-Scale Nursery Management

Small-Scale Nursery Management

Cultivating plants, sharing seeds and cuttings with neighbors, and seeking better crop varieties are as old as agriculture. We use the word “nursery” for places where we care for and nurture things that are precious and vulnerable, like children and plants. Creating habitats to grow healthy seedlings is an integral part of the farming cycle, an important contribution to a thriving community, and both a rewarding and challenging business opportunity. A nursery can be as small as a farmer’s seedbed for the immediate planting of a single crop, or as large as a complex business with hundreds...

Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management

The current global situation calls for a multi-pronged approach to pest management. To be widely applicable, this approach must provide farmers with options to control pests at various scales of production (from small farms to very large operations) with a diversity of resources. Integrated pest management (IPM), a strategy based on farmer innovations, is highly adaptable to specific contexts and reduces dependency on pesticides while still recognizing their use. IPM is a management approach that focuses on the larger system and aims for long-term prevention of pests using a combination...

Black Soldier Fly Larvae Production

Black Soldier Fly Larvae Production

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 source to fish and soy meals for agricultural livestock feed. The authors encourage adaptation to fit needs, resources, and constraints of your local context. The end of this article includes some considerations for household-level operations.

Animal Production Litter Systems

Animal Production Litter Systems

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 conditions like those in animals’ natural environments. Litter systems also help capture animal waste and convert it to usable forms for crop production. Animals can be kept on a litter system for part or all the production cycle depending on the farmer’s context. These systems do not produce as...

Bamboo Load-Centered Wheelbarrow

Bamboo Load-Centered Wheelbarrow

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 distance hauling on narrow paths. The load-centered wheelbarrow is an ancient Chinese design. Cargo was placed around and above a large (about 1m diameter) wheel. This allowed operators to transport heavy loads (including passengers) many kilometers on narrow footpaths. ECHO developed a design that...

EDN Issue #162

Contour Cultivation and Live Barriers for Small-Scale Farmers Taro (Colocasia esculenta) From ECHO’s Seed Bank: Oven-Dried Rice as a Desiccant for Seed Drying Books, Websites, and Other Resources: ECHOCommunity Mobile App - Resource Management

EAN Issue #7

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

EDN Issue #161

Factors that Impact Seed Germination Echoes From our Network: Moringa Spacing Considerations From ECHO’s Seed Bank: Clay Beads for Drying and Preserving Seeds Books, Websites, and Other Resources: Aprovecho.org- Information on Fuel-Efficient Cookstoves

EDN Issue #160

Low-Cost Seed Storage Technologies Extending Postharvest Life of Fresh Produce: After-harvest handling Echoes From our Network: Experiments to Control Millipedes with Locally Available Ingredients From ECHO's Seed Bank: Erythrina berteroana

EDN Issue #159

Triage and Recovery of Small Fallen Trees 2022 ECHO International Agriculture Conference: Topic Summaries Echoes from our Network: Low Resource Control of Leaf Cutter Ants From ECHO's Seed Bank: Guazuma ulmifolia, a multi-purpose tree Books, Websites, and Other Resources: Trees with Edible Leaves by Eric Toensmeier

EDN Issue #158

Is Drip Irrigation Right for Me? Recap of Options for Storing Grains Echoes from our Network: Hermetic Sealing in Haiti From ECHO's Seed Bank: 'Starfighter' Lettuce Books, Websites, and Other Resources: Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE)

EDN Issue #157

Bioliquid Fertilizer Update Considerations for crop selection Echoes from our Network: Tithonia and neem fermented liquid for termite control From ECHO's Seed Bank: ‘Asia Cayenne’: A Mild-Tasting Chili Pepper Books, Websites, and Other Resources: VITA resources revived and The Fertilizer and Seed Recommendations Map for West Africa

EDN Issue #156

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

EDN Issue #155

Low-Cost Microcontrollers: Applications for Small-Scale Agriculture Echoes from our Network: A Deep Litter System for Natural Chicken Production From ECHO's Seed Bank: 'KDV-1' Maize Books, Websites, and Other Resources: WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants and Canadian Foodgrains Bank Video Series on Conservation Agriculture and Marketing

EDN Issue #154

Extending Postharvest Life of Fresh Fruit: Harvest at the Right Time Echoes from our Network: Homegarden Agroforestry From ECHO's Seed Bank: Chipilín Books, Websites, and Other Resources: CTA publications, CVM publications, and App Translation

EDN Issue #153

Moringa Productivity with Legume Intercropping Insect Pest Management: Evaluation and Assessment Echoes from our Network: Gliricidia-Annual Intercropping System From ECHO's Seed Bank: ‘Lacinato’ Kale for Home Gardens Books, Websites, and Other Resources: Food Plant Solutions and Downloadable Books

EDN Issue #152

Insect Pest Management: Options for Controlling Pest Populations From ECHO's Seed Bank: Everglades (Wild) Tomato Echoes from our Network: Acacia angustissima Farming Improvement Experience Books, Websites, and Other Resources: Soy Kit as an Appropriate Technology for Women Entrepreneurs - A Review

EDN Issue #151

Insect Pest Management: Options for Monitoring Pest Populations From ECHO's Seed Bank: Apios americana Echoes from our Network: Subscribe to ECHO Asia Notes! Books, Websites, and Other Resources: Review of Agroforestry Design ToolTM

EDN Issue #149

Farmer-Centered Climate Change Mitigation: Part 2 of 2 From ECHO's Seed Bank: A Seed Trial Report - How Seeds from ECHO Grew in a Dry-Season Garden in Uganda Echoes from our Network: Grafting Tamarillo and Other Solanaceous Crops for Nematode Resistance Books, Websites, and Other Resources: AT Fair Summary ECHO International Agriculture Conference - ONLINE EVENT

EDN Issue #150

Perennial Vegetables and Nutrition From ECHO's Seed Bank: Factors to Consider when Selecting a Pigeon Pea Variety Echoes from our Network: 2020 ECHO International Agriculture Conference Books, Websites, and Other Resources: ECHOcommunity Mobile App Announcement

Farmer-Centered Climate Change Mitigation

Farmer-Centered Climate Change Mitigation

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 written about over the years. We encourage “no regret” strategies, approaches that steward the land well and improve livelihoods, regardless of whether or not farmers face immediate changes to climate. However, we also view farmers as having an integral role in mitigating some of the driving forces of...

Best Practices for Tropical Dryland Agriculture

Best Practices for Tropical Dryland Agriculture

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 precipitation divided by annual potential evapotranspiration. Thriving and even surviving in dryland climates has always been a challenge. Similarly, yearly rainfall has always been variable with droughts and floods occurring regularly for millennia.

EDN Issue #148

Farmer-Centered Climate Change Mitigation: Part 1 of 2 Are Crickets a Practical Source of Protein in Tropical Countries? From ECHO's Seed Bank: Cowpea Varieties for Warm Rainy Season ECHOes from our Network: Emergency Gardens in a Quarantine World Books, Websites, and Other Resources: New ECHO Branding, New Technical Note on Earthbag Seed Banks, Restoring the Soil- Second Edition now available through Amazon.com Inc®

Earthbag Seed Banks

Earthbag Seed Banks

Seed storage in the tropics has been a frequent topic of ECHO publications and trainings due to its importance to the smallholder farmer. Access to quality seeds is imperative for agronomic and horticultural crop production. While on-farm seed saving benefits the smallholder farmer, cooperative seed storage through the creation of seed banks bolsters farmers at the community level. Seed banks provide secure structures for seed storage, while also serving as genetic repositories for important plants in the community. Centralizing the seed saving process also allows for cooperative...

AN Issue #42

Featured in this AN Making On-Farm Pig Feed: Farm-Generated Formulas vs. Commercial Feeds Join the ECHOcommunity.org Conversation about this topic- CLICK HERE! ECHOs from the Network: Integrated Pest Management on the Island of Bali Coffee Drying "Bunk Beds for Vegetable Production"

EDN Issue #147

Responding in the Case of an Epidemic or Pandemic A Tip of the Hat to the Tippy Tap Promoting Biodiversity on Maize Smallholdings: Importance of Birds From ECHO's Seed Bank: Fast-Growing Plants for Household Food Supply Echoes from Our Network: 100-Fold Gardens in Honduras Books, Web Sites, and Other Resources: A Post-Program Review of Grain Amaranth in East Africa

AN Issue #41

Featured in this AN A Snapshot of the ECHO Asia Small Farm Resource Center & Seed Bank Black Soldier Fly System of the Frangipani Langkawi Organic Farm

EDN Issue #146

Low Oxygen Methods for Insect Control in Seeds ECHO International Agriculture Conference 2019: Topic Summaries Echoes from our Network: Roger Gietzen on the topic of syntropic farming Books, Web Sites and Other Resources: Vetiver Latrine

AN Issue #40

Featured in this AN State of Land in the Mekong Region - Brief Highlighted Resources from the Asia Agriculture & Community Development Conference Research Update: Heavy Metal Uptake in Tire Garden Planters

EDN Issue #145

Pest Prevention: The Foundation of Integrated Pest Management Echoes from our Network: Nutrition Education in the Context of Community Agriculture Programs From ECHO's Seed Bank: New Lima Bean Cultivars Available Books, Web Sites, and Other Resources: Syntropic Farming Guidebook by Roger Gietzen

AN Issue #39

Featured in this AN Backyard Vermicomposting Systems: Examples from Myanmar New Book Spotlight: Animal Integration and Feeding Strategies for the Tropical Smallholder Farm

EDN Issue #144

Introducing 100-Fold Gardens: Wicking Beds for High-Density Planting of Vegetables Where Water is Scarce Echoes from our Netwok: Literacy and Agriculture and Termite Harvesting in Ghana From ECHO's Seed Bank: Earthbag Houses for Storing Seeds Books, Web Sites, and Other Resources: Restoring the Soil, Second Edition Book Release

ECHO Notes de l'Afrique de l'Ouest Numéro 3

ECHO Notes de l'Afrique de l'Ouest Numéro 3

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 Évènements à Venir

100-Fold Vegetable Gardens with Low-Cost Wicking Beds

100-Fold Vegetable Gardens with Low-Cost Wicking Beds

I discovered 100-fold gardens while researching ways to irrigate plants directly in the root zone. I wanted to know how to practically and affordably control some of the variables that influence plant growth, such as water availability and soil fertility. I read about “wicking beds,” which are watered from below as water moves up towards plants’ rooting zone from a reservoir lined with plastic. Watering from below prevents water loss while maintaining constant soil moisture and supplying water and nutrients in accordance with plant needs. Wicking beds are a way of maximizing vegetable...

AN Issue #38

Featured in this AN: Refugee Camps as Microcosm: Restoration & Sustainability in an Accidental City Low-Cost Natural Building Options for Storing Seed in Tropical Southeast Asia

EDN Issue #143

Learning about and from local seed systems Germination to Detoxify Jack Bean Techniques to Boost Plants’ Stress Tolerance and Extend Fruit Marketability From ECHO's Seed Bank: Fever Tree Books, Web Sites and Other Resources: Planetary Health Diet Proposal

AN Issue #37

Featured in this AN: Gracious Greetings from the New Regional Director of ECHO Asia Preventing Insect Damage of Stored Seed Using Low-Cost Control Options Rice Hull Gold: 10 On-farm Uses of Rice Hulls

Parasitic Plants in African Agriculture

Parasitic Plants in African Agriculture

This Technical Note provides an overview of parasitic plants of agricultural significance in Africa. Parasitic weeds cause drought stress and stunted crops. Affected plants include cereal grains (e.g., sorghum [Sorghum bicolor] and maize [Zea mays]) and grain legumes (e.g., cowpea [Vigna unguiculata]) that farmers rely on for food. Damage to these and other crops is generally heightened by low soil fertility and drought stress, conditions that are faced by many African smallholders. Parasitic weeds can lead to severe yield losses, making them an important constraint to food security in many...

AN Issue #36

Featured in this AN: Soil Amendments for Healthier Soils The Value of a Seed: Growing a Network of Community Level Seed Banks in Asia Is it possible to never (or rarely) need to shop for meat again? Book Review : Secret Livestock of Survival

EDN Issue #142

Understanding Agriculture-Nutrition Linkages EIAC 2018 Topic Summaries Echoes from our Network: Intercropping Native Shrubs From ECHO's Seed Bank: Rollinia Books, Web Sites and Other Resources: Feed the Future Technical Briefs

Vacuum-Sealing Options for Storing Seeds

Vacuum-Sealing Options for Storing Seeds

Two broad categories of seeds exist, referred to as recalcitrant and orthodox. The former must be kept moist and planted soon after they are collected; large-seeded fruits such as mango and avocado are typical examples. The second type of seeds are discussed in this document. Orthodox seeds are generally smaller than recalcitrant seeds and represent almost any grain, legume, or vegetable crop. Orthodox seeds can be dried and stored for extended periods of time—often for many years, depending on the crop and storage conditions. This document presents ways to remove air from seed...

AN Issue #35

Featured in this AN: Livestock Integration on the Tropical Smallholder Farm Putting Biochar to use at the Edge: Quality, Soils, and Measurement

EDN Issue #141

Shea Nut: The Butter Tree For How Long Should Chaya Leaves be Boiled? Green Leafy Vegetables: Leaf Powder for Improved Nutrition From ECHO's Seed Bank: Jewels of Opar, An edible ornamental SPRING Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Training Resource Package

AN Issue #34 Special Edition

AN Issue #34 Special Edition

Conference Proceedings The 6th Biennial ECHO Asia Agriculture and Community Development Conference Editors’ Note In an effort to expand the dissemination of technical materials and best practices presented during this year’s ECHO Asia Agriculture & Community Development Conference, the ECHO Asia team has compiled a collection of technical papers contributed by network members and conference participants. The papers compiled in this Special Issue of ECHO Asia Notes seek to address a variety of topics relevant to the work of ECHO in the region, and summarize past and...

EDN Issue #140

Farmer Field School Trials of 2:4:2 Maize/Legume Intercropping Laurel Wilt Disease: "Save the Guac!" Echoes from our Network: Metal silos for grain storage From ECHO's Seed Bank: Culantro Let’s Restore Our Land and Farming for Change curriculum

Bamboo for Construction

Bamboo for Construction

Many plants deemed as invaluable for the smallholder farmer offer nutritious food for the family, fodder for animals, or timber for construction. Remarkably, bamboo offers all three of these assets from the same perennial plant! This Technical Note will focus on how to most effectively harvest, preserve and use bamboo as timber for construction purposes. What’s Inside: Introduction Plant Description Harvesting Preservation & Post-Harvest Treatment Construction Conclusion References and Resources

AN Issue #33

Featured in the AN: An Innovative, Inexpensive, Environmentally Friendly Method to Pasteurize Mushroom Media in the Tropics Using a Styrofoam Box Op-Ed: Forage Plants for Improved Human Development

EDN Issue #139

Anthropology as a tool for facilitating agricultural development Invasion of the Fall Armyworm Echoes from our Network: Millepede Damage From ECHO's Seed Bank: Passionfruit Books, Web Sites and Other Resources: Permaculture for Refugees in Camps

LACN Issue #4

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"

AN Issue #32

Featured in this AN: Inexpensive Mass Propagation Techniques for Introducing Improved Potato Varieties in the Tropics Comparing Locally Available Waste By-Products as Feedstocks for Gasifier Cook-Stoves Book Review: Sustainable Agro-Watershed Management

EDN Issue #138

Yellow Shoot, Green Fruit: Citrus Greening Disease EIAC 2017 Topic Summaries Echoes from our Network: edible insect feedback From ECHO's Seed Bank: Tree Lucerne (Tagasaste), multipurpose forage crop for the highlands eBook Release: Agricultural Options for Small-Scale Farmers