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Best Practice Note 8: Tropical Dryland Agriculture Now Available!

Best Practice Note 8: Tropical Dryland Agriculture Now Available! 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 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. 

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Excerpt: 

In the face of uncertain weather each year, one way to reduce the risk of crop failure is to grow a major staple or cash crop along with at least one alternative crop. In general, a farmer would plant approximately 10% of his or her crop area to a crop better adapted to dry years than the main crop. For example, if the main cash crop is maize, then ~10% of crop area would be planted to sorghum. The factors that influence the farmer’s decision are market prices, tolerance of risk, personal preferences, as well as other social, economic, and cultural practices. Another option for diversifying is to plant annual bushes and trees that can better withstand yearly variations in rainfall.

Resource Spotlight: FMNR Introduction Video

Resource Spotlight: FMNR Introduction Video 2021-11-23

This video from WorldVision Australia demonstrates the value of the Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) system. 

"In a balanced ecosystem, people and animals thrive. But when trees are cut down and land is burned, that balance is lost. Deforestation effects include soil erosion and a reduction in biodiversity. Through farmer managed natural regeneration (FMNR), World Vision programs empower farmers to reverse land degradation. The simple act of pruning tree regrowth and managing land sustainably can turn small shrubs and stumps into mature trees, promoting soil restoration and increasing crop yields, firewood and livestock fodder."

ECHO International Agriculture Conference - Last Chance to Register

ECHO International Agriculture Conference - Last Chance to Register 2021-11-02

Tomorrow, we will be coming together for ECHO's Online International Agriculture Conference! If you have not yet registered for the Online Conference, please do so soon so you can begin to interact with other attendees!

EDN Número 153 Disponible Ahora

EDN Número 153 Disponible Ahora 2021-10-04

Temas de Relieve:

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Productividad de la moringa intercalada con leguminosas

Tim Motis

Excerpto:

La gente a menudo pregunta cuánto polvo de hoja puede esperar de sus árboles de moringa. La Tabla 1 muestra la suma de nuestras dos cosechas durante cada año. Durante el segundo año después de la siembra, sin leguminosas, los árboles de moringa produjeron un total de 76 g/árbol de polvo de hoja, el equivalente a 255 kg/ha. Eso significa que, durante un segundo año después de la siembra, 1 ha de una plantación de moringa como la nuestra puede producir un año de polvo de hojas para personas que consuman 5 g de polvo al día. Witt (2013) proporciona el contenido nutricional de 5 g (15 mL o 1 cucharada en volumen) de polvo de moringa, una cantidad descrita como una porción realista.

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Fill It Full: A Simple Way to Reduce Weevil Damage in Maize Seed Stored in Airtight Containers

Fill It Full: A Simple Way to Reduce Weevil Damage in Maize Seed Stored in Airtight Containers 2021-09-27

Postharvest losses inflicted by insect pests in stored grains represent major challenge smallholder famers face in the global South. The maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) is one of the most important postharvest pests in maize. With dry maize stored in woven polypropylene bags, Likhayo et al. (2018) found that insect pests (maize weevils and another maize pest called the lesser grain borer [Prostephanus truncatus]) reduced grain weight by 36%. Such losses threaten farmers’ food security and overall financial stability.

East Africa  

ECHO East Africa Virtual Symposium

ECHO East Africa Virtual Symposium 2021-09-14

Jisajili sasa kwa ajili ya Kongamano la ECHO Afrika Mashariki

Jisajili sasa kwa ajili ya Kongamano la ECHO Afrika Mashariki 2021-08-17

Kongamano la Kilimo Endelevu na Teknolojia mbadala

septemba 28-30 2021

Kwenye mtandao

Jisajili leo!

Kuangalia ratiba ya tukio

EDN Número 152 Disponible Ahora

EDN Número 152 Disponible Ahora 2021-07-22

Temas de Relieve:

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Opciones para controlar las poblaciones de plagas

Stacy Swartz

Excerpto:

Se puede arrancar o aplastar orugas a mano. Los escarabajos, chinches hediondos y otros insectos más grandes pueden meterse en un cubo de agua jabonosa. El jabón rompe la tensión del agua, haciendo que los insectos se ahoguen en el cubo. Las aspiradoras de baja tecnología aspiran las plagas de las plantas en recipientes que luego se vierten en agua jabonosa; este método se utiliza sobre todo para recoger especímenes para la identificación de plagas. 

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EDN #152 Now Available

EDN #152 Now Available 2021-07-06

In this issue:

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Insect Pest Management: Options for Controlling Pest Populations

Stacy Swartz

Excerpt:

Mechanical interventions for pest control are generally categorized as passive or active. Passive options include films, dusts, oils, soaps, and traps. Films such as kaolin clay can deter insects from landing on plants and/or deter feeding behaviors, but such films need to be reapplied as the plant generates new growth. Dusts such as diatomaceous earth can be placed around the base of plants to keep crawling pests from accessing the plant. Dusts can also be placed on the leaves as a feeding deterrent. Oils and soaps that kill pests are physical controls because their effect is short-term, and they act physically on the pest by smothering them or breaking down sensitive exterior tissues. Oils and soaps must contact pests and are most effective against soft-bellied insects such as aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, spider mites, and scales. Repeated application is often required to control a population because oils and soaps are most effective at controlling young individuals. 

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Asia Note #46 Now Available

Asia Note #46 Now Available 2021-06-14

Featured in this AN

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