Farming Systems
A farming system is defined as a population of individual farm systems that have broadly similar resource bases, enterprise patterns, household livelihoods and constraints, and for which similar development strategies and interventions would be appropriate. Depending on the scale of the analysis, a farming system can encompass a few dozen or many millions of households.
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03-10-2022 ECHO often receives questions about crop selection as network members start new agricultural initiatives or enter a new area. Each agroecosystem is complex and should be evaluated for production, environmental, and socioeconomic tradeoffs as you consider the selection of a crop for cultivation,...
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In every region of the world it is necessary to find or develop appropriate techniques for agriculture. A large part of the surface of the world is arid, characterized as too dry for conventional rain fed agriculture. Yet, millions of people live in such regions, and if current trends in...
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In far-flung Seloto Village, Babati district, Manyara Region, Northern Tanzania, a trail-blazing farmer participating in the Africa RISING project shows researchers how farming system integration works. Farmer Andrea Mayi is successfully integrating crop, livestock, and tree farming in his 6-acre...
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icipeis a tropical organisation with a tropical agenda. But why study insects? Because in the tropics, insects are a fact of life to be reckoned with. Insects pose a great risk to food production, often causing the loss of entire crops and destroying about half of all harvested food in storage....
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The concept of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) is distinct from, and more complex than, a conventional heritage site or protected area/landscape. A GIAHS is a living, evolving system of human communities in an intricate relationship with their territory, cultural or...
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20-01-2018 Rice is the most important food crop, both worldwide and for China. To achieve a transition towards sustainable rice production based on agroecology, biodiversity is a crucial component. Through China’s long history of agricultural development, many rich experiences of harnessing biodiversity in...
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A farming system is defined as a population of individual farm systems that have broadly similar resource bases, enterprise patterns, household livelihoods and constraints, and for which similar development strategies and interventions would be appropriate. Depending on the scale of the analysis,...
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Through its trainings and publications, Ecology Action has catalyzed projects worldwide. The projects below had their beginnings through connections with Ecology Action or through people who had connections with us. All of the projects have since put down strong roots and have been the means by...
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Key Resource 19-01-1972 Tropical Crops: Monocotyledons presents the basic information on the botany and agronomy of tropical monotyledonous crops, which are either used locally or are partly or wholly exported. The space given to each crop is dependent upon its importance and the amount of work which has been devoted to...
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Key Resource 19-01-1980 The first part of the book, which assumes an elementary knowledge of agriculture, biology, and allied sciences, covers in detail the methods best suited to the cultivation of crops in the wet tropics. It advocates the use of intensive systems of agriculture which are less destructive to the...
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Access Agriculture Training Video Zaï as they are known in Burkina Faso, or tassa in Niger, are wide deep planting pits. They act as a microcatchment and can be used to rehabilitate soils when used with manure. They have been very successful in West Africa during the last 25 years. Available...
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Danny Blank Extending the Growing Season, Nation-2-Nation, 2012 Danny Blank teaches tropical farmers how to take advantage of their climate to have year-round food production. With many helpful photos and illustrations, Blank lays out numerous strategies to dramatically increase the food supply...
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Key Resource 19-01-2068 Tropical Crops: Dicotyledons presents the basic information on the botany and agronomy of tropical dicotyledonous crops, which are either used locally or are partly or wholly exported. The space given to each crop is dependent upon its importance and the amount of work which has been devoted to...
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Key Resource 28-12-1996 Based on the author's widely used earlier text African Farm Management, this account updates the economic analysis of tropical agriculture and broadens its perspective to include examples from all parts of the developing world. Writing in a clear, concise style, Professor Upton explains the...
- Maintenance of biological diversity and nutrient cycling mechanisms are global principles that are common to all agroecosystems and therefore essential in the design of sustainable agricultural systems. Regional or site-specific factors include climate, soils and socio-economic preferences and...
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The first comprehensive scientific analysis of how agrobiodiversity can make our vulnerable food system more resilient, sustainable and nutritious has been carried out by leading agrobiodiversity research centre Bioversity International. The 200-page guide provides solid evidence that investments...
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If researchers knew what kept farmers from adopting natural methods to grow healthier plants and vanquish pests, curbing hunger worldwide might be more feasible. That assumption underpins a new joint research project at Virginia Tech. Trichoderma, a fungus, and cocopith, the dust of a coconut,...
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Access Agriculture Training Video The main aim is to reduce costs and improve profitability. Soil health is improved as is soil moisture. Zambia is leading the way in Sub-Saharan Africa and this programme shows how the technique is practised. Available languages Arabic Bambara Burmese English...
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Key Resource 01-06-1998 This is a much needed practical handbook which bridges the gap between nutritional problems and agricultural solutions. This book helps community workers and local groups identify nutritional needs and grow the required food crops organically.
- Advantages and challenges of multi-storey cropping systems Why vegetables and fruits are required for the daily diet Fruits and vegetables in the Ethiopian diet What we need to eat to stay healthy Nutrition information on local vegetables and fruits Priority vegetable species for multi-storey...
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The Food Systems Dashboard combines data from multiple sources to give users a complete view of food systems. Users can compare components of food systems across countries and regions. They can also identify and prioritize ways to sustainably improve diets and nutrition in their food systems....
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Phiri, A. T., Zhao, X., & Chen, Q. (2024). Revitalizing Smallholder Farming in Africa: Insights from China’s Science and Technology Backyard Model.Research on World Agricultural Economy,5(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.36956/rwae.v5i2.1042 Smallholder farmers are crucial to African agriculture,...
- Abstract, Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 2014 April Farming systems for pest control, based on the stimulo-deterrent diversionary strategy or push–pull system, have become an important target for sustainable intensification of food production. A prominent example is push–pull developed in...
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19-01-2011 For more than 4,000 years, Asian farmers worked the same fields repeatedly without sapping the land's fertility and without applying artificial fertilizer! How they accomplished this miraculous feat is described by author Franklin Hiram King, a former official of the U.S. Department of...
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03-03-2016 The Bio-Integrated Farm is a twenty-first-century manual for managing nature’s resources. This groundbreaking book brings “system farming” and permaculture to a whole new level. Author Shawn Jadrnicek presents new insights into permaculture, moving beyond the philosophical foundation to practical...
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01-01-1995 A manual of sustainable methods of plant production helpful in meeting food needs everywhere.
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01-01-1989 With more than 45,000 sold since 1989,The New Organic Growerhas become a modern classic. In this newly revised and expanded edition, master grower Eliot Coleman continues to present the simplest and most sustainable ways of growing top-quality organic vegetables. Coleman updates practical...
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The papers presented in this publication provide a review of soybean cropping systems research from a variety of viewpoints, including those of international, national, and regional programs. There are also a number of papers from the private sector. In reviewing the papers, a number of points...
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01-01-2000 Areas covered in this publication are: water system, single dug, double dug, mulch system, no-till gardening /mini-farming/mini-ranch, no-till farming and no-till livestock/dairy farming. (2 Copies)
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01-01-1984 The results of this study should, therefore, be of use not only in Taiwan where labor shortage has already forced complex cropping systems in some areas to give way to monoculture, but as a key to general principles of farm decision-making for other nations where cropping intnesity is increasing....
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The presentation explains what systems are all about and how they allow to comprehend realties and facilitate the formulation of working hypotheses. The basic concepts of a system, such as its boundaries, structure, function, state and types are explained. The presentation then highlights the...
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21-04-2008 This book is an important work for tropical agriculture. There are very few resources that are truly "organic" and practical for the everyday farmer in the tropical setting. This book covers material that is extremely useful for the day-to-day operation of a farm or garden. It contains planning...
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- 19-01-1971 The natural, economic, and socio-institutional conditions of agricultural production vary widely from place to place and over periods of time. In the process of adapting cropping patterns and farming practices to the conditions of each location and the aims of the farmers, more or less distinct...