Agrodoks

Agrodok 041, Small-Scale Mushroom Cultivation - 2 - 1/1/2007

Agaricus and Volvariella

Mushrooms contain a lot of proteins and minerals, several B vitamins and are regarded as a healthy food or food supplement. Moreover, due to certain chemical compounds valued for their medicinal properties, mushrooms gain more and more interest from the health food industry.

In this Agrodok information is given on the cultivation of Button Mushroom, which is consumed worldwide, and Rice Straw Mushroom, which is much valued in Asia. The specific cultivation methods of each of these mushroom species have been described in separate chapters.

Version 1, 2007 

Agrodok 042, Bee Products - 1/1/2005

Properties, Processing and Marketing

Honey bees live in colonies, as described in detail in Agrodok 32 Beekeeping. The worker bees in the colony collect various substances in nature, which their colony uses, for example to feed the adult bees and make the colony grow, as nesting material or to protect the colony. By collecting from the vegetation the bees also have an impact on the vegetation: cross-polination leads to better fructification and to seed formation by flowers that produce fruits or seeds.

Version 1, 2005 

Agrodok 043, Rainwater Harvesting for Domestic Use - 1/1/2006

In many areas RWH has now been introduced as part of an integrated water supply, where the town water supply is unreliable, or where local water sources dry up for a part of the year. But RWH can also be introduced as the sole water source for communities or households. The technology is flexible and adaptable to a very wide variety of conditions. It is used in the richest and the poorest societies, as well as in the wettest and the driest regions on our planet.

This Agrodok discusses the potential of rainwater for local communities at household and community level. It strives to give practical guidance for households, CBOs, NGOs, local government staff and extension workers in designing and applying the right systems, methods and techniques for harvesting rainwater on a small scale (varying from 500 – 60,000 litres). It explains the principles and components of a rooftop rainwater system for collecting and storing rainwater. It also strives to guide the process of planning, designing and actual construction.

Version 1, 2006 

Agrodok 044, Ethnoveterinary Medicine - 1/1/2007

A Practical Approach to the Treatment of Cattle Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa

Until 1989, ethnovet practices were mostly carried out at individual level, with little coordination. In 1989 the Cameroon Ethnovet Council was founded. This council has about 300 members, all practising ethnovets. Bringing ethnovets together allows members to share ideas and work together, for example creating ethnovet gardens, doing research and gathering knowledge.

This manual has been compiled from information contributed by members of the ethnovet council in Cameroon and pastoralists in Kenya. It describes ethnovet practices in Cameroon and Kenya, but these practices are valid for other East and West African countries as well.

Version 1, 2007

Agrodok 045, Mitigating the Effects of HIV/AIDs in Small-Scale Farming - 1/1/2008

Mitigating the effects of HIV/AIDs in small-scale farming is a handbook for agricultural extension officers and those who support them in government, NGOs and international organizations. Much of what is contained in this Agrodok has been dealt with in much greater detail in the many HIV/AIDS related publications available in print and online. Unlike more specialized literature Mitigating the effects of HIV/AIDS provides a brief, straightforward account of how HIV/AIDS undermines community welfare and the productive capacity of farmers. It suggests some ways in which farming practices can be adapted to mitigate these effects.

The tools and approaches described in this Agrodok will be familiar to many readers. They have been tried and tested in small-scale farming communities throughout the world. Many of the insights and experiences referred to here come from Sub Saharan Africa. They can be used and adapted to encourage community members – irrespective of age, sex, material status or ethnic and religious identity – to work together to define their problems and find solutions using their own local resources.

Version 1, 2008

Agrodok 046, Zoonoses - 1/1/2008

Diseases Transmitted from Animals to Humans

Zoonoses are infectious diseases – including parasitic infections – that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Zoonoses pose a significant threat to human health, especially when humans and animals live close together and when humans are in contact with animal products Examples are: rabies, bovine tuberculosis and many diarrhoeal diseases.

This Agrodok has been written for people who live and work with animals or animal products, to arouse awareness among its readers of the significance of zoonoses to human health. It provides information about the prevention of these diseases in humans and in animals, explaining the causes, the transmission and how to protect against them. The focus is on developing countries and on rural and urban situations.

Version 1, 2008 

Agrodok 047, Snail Farming - 1/1/2008

Production, Processing and Marketing

There is no reliable documentation on when and where humans started consuming snails as a food supplement. In many places where snails occur, especially in tropical and sub-tropical areas like West and East Africa, natives gather snails, eat them and sell the surplus as a source of income.

This booklet aims to provide ideas to farmers who would like to produce snails on a small scale for consumption or marketing. It is not primarily intended for entrepreneurs wishing to engage in large-scale snail farming for the export market. Attention is focused here on three major species, Achatina achatina, Achatina fulica and Archachatina marginata, that are common in tropical areas, especially in Africa.

Version 1, 2008 

Agrodok 048, Entering the Organic Export Market - 1/1/2010

Entering the Organic Export Market

The aim of this Agrodok is to provide smallholder farmers’ organisations and similar groups with the information that they need to decide whether organic export marketing activities might be right for them and what they need to do to become involved in these activities. This Agrodok provides the knowledge, information and links to resources to help you prepare yourself to start an organic export business. Supporting organisations, such as development NGOs, government departments and consultants, who are intermediates in developing organic chains will also benefit from this Agrodok, as will business people.

Version 1, 2010 

Agrodok 049, The Rural Finance Landscape - 1/1/2008

A Practitioners Guide

Rural financial services vary in scale and objective. Community-based savings and lending groups, for example, make small but essential amounts of money available to their members. Where agricultural production, processing and marketing is more capital intensive the demand for more formal financial service providers is stronger.

This Agrodok describes current savings, lending, and insurance practices, identifies the service providers working in the informal, semiformal and formal sector and discusses current approaches and methodologies. It targets those who want to know more about rural finance as well as development practitioners concerned with identifying the financial services most appropriate for their project or organisations.

Version 1, 2008 

Agrodok 050, Packaging of Agricultural Products - 1/1/2011

This Agrodok is written for small-scale producers and traders in developing countries who package (or are interested in packaging) agricultural products for storage or selling. It describes methods and materials to pack foods that are grown and/or processed on farms and then transported to wholesale markets or processors, or in some cases to retailers for sale to customers.

The aim of this Agrodok is to enable producers and traders to improve (or start) the packaging of their products and to thereby reduce losses caused by damage or spoilage. Fewer losses mean greater profits.

Version 1, 2011