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      • Trusted Partner
        Animal husbandry
        January 1992

        Nutritive Requirements of Ruminant Animals

        Protein

        by Agricultural and Food Research Council Technical Committee

        This books discusses the nuritive requirements of ruminant animals

      • Trusted Partner
        Technology, Engineering & Agriculture
        December 2021

        Conservation Agriculture in Africa

        Climate Smart Agricultural Development

        by Saidi Mkomwa, Amir H Kassam

        Tillage agriculture has led to wide-spread soil and ecosystem degradation globally, and more particularly in the developing regions. This is especially so in Africa where traditional agricultural practices have become unsustainable due to severe exploitation of natural resources with negative impacts on the environment. In addition, agriculture in Africa today faces major challenges including increased costs, climate change effects and a need for more sustainable production intensification methods. Conservation (no-tillage) agriculture has emerged as a major alternative sustainable agriculture practice in Africa and has spread to many African countries in the past decade as more development and research has enabled its extension and uptake. This landmark volume is based on the material presented at the Second Africa Congress on Conservation Agriculture which was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, 9-12 October 2018. The main theme of the Congress was: Making Climate Smart Agriculture Real in Africa with Conservation Agriculture: Supporting the Malabo Declaration and Agenda 2063. The Congress was aligned to mobilize stakeholders in all agriculture sectors to provide development support, impetus and direction to the vision and agenda for transforming African agriculture as set out by the Malabo Declaration and Agenda 2063. This book is aimed at all agricultural stakeholders in the public, private and civil sectors in Africa engaged in supporting the transformation of conventional tillage agriculture to Conservation Agriculture. This includes: researchers, academics, students, development stakeholders and policy makers as well as institutional libraries across the world.

      • Trusted Partner
        Medicine
        February 2019

        Agriculture for Improved Nutrition

        Seizing the Momentum

        by Shenggen Fan, Sivan Yosef, Rajul Pandya-Lorch

        Approximately 800 million people suffer from hunger, 2 billion from lack of micronutrients and more than 2 billion from excessive weight and obesity. There is renewed interest in reshaping agricultural and food systems at global, regional and national levels, so that poor and vulnerable people have access to nutritious sustenance. This book reviews research findings, results from on-the-ground programmes and interventions, and policy experiences from the past 5-10 years. It examines the direct and indirect effects of agriculture on nutrition, following the agricultural value chain to explore this complex relationship, from biodiversity and crop fortification, to programme evaluation, to the impact of agricultural policies on consumers' choices and actions. It explores the roles of various stakeholders along the chain including women and the private sector, and cross-cutting themes such as data and capacity building. Developing country experiences and the knowledge and action gaps that remain in truly integrating agriculture and nutrition aims and related practices are considered. Key features: -Considers the evidence base on the relationship between agriculture and nutrition. -Includes insights from internationally renowned researchers. -Presents data from real-world settings that is highly relevant to the challenges currently faced by developing countries. This book is ideal for policy-makers and students studying agriculture, international development and nutrition.

      • Trusted Partner
        Technology, Engineering & Agriculture
        August 2023

        Parasitic Plants in African Agriculture

        by Lytton John Musselman, Jonne Rodenburg

        Parasitic Plants in African Agriculture brings together for the first time in a single volume, the ecology, biology, damage, and control of all groups of African parasitic plants including both the relatively few parasites introduced to the continent as well as those native parasites that have spread from within Africa. The book covers the well-known witchweeds and broomrapes but also groups and species that have received less attention including mistletoes, dodders, rice vampire weed, and other species posing threats. The book distinguishes between stem and root parasitic weeds and between holoparasites and (facultative or obligate) hemiparasites. Based on their research and experience collectively spanning six decades, the authors provide an authoritative and state-of-the-art overview of the distribution, biology and impact of these highly specialized weeds and include recommendations for their management. Since parasitic plants in African agriculture primarily affect smallholder farmers, these weeds are explicitly discussed within a context of resource limitations and global changes. Readers are informed on all parasitic plant species relevant to African agriculture and the impact these plants have on crop production and livelihoods of smallholders in a changing world. Current and future management strategies are outlined in terms of their principles and effectiveness as well as their feasibility and affordability for farmers, all of which determine farmer adoption. The final chapter synthesises some of the relevant findings and statistics regarding parasitic weed distribution and their host crops and discusses implications in terms of future crop protection concerns in African agricultural systems. Key features: · Authoritative text based on extensive field and laboratory work. · First comprehensive state-of-the-art overview of parasitic plants and their management in Africa. · Highly illustrated with photos, graphs and species distribution maps. · Reviews previous basic and applied work, with relevance to smallholder farming systems. This book will be a valuable reference for students, researchers, extension workers, development officers, national agriculture researchers, plant pathologists, food security specialists, weed scientists, agronomists and botanists.

      • Trusted Partner
        July 2024

        The Untold Stories of African Agriculture

        Lessons from Ethiopia

        by Tsedeke Abate

        This landmark volume presents the results of a comprehensive and coherent in-depth assessment of Ethiopian agriculture and draws lessons from it to generate actionable recommendations that will inform policy decisions and priority setting for agricultural transformation across Africa. Policy makers in Africa are faced with the challenges of ensuring food and nutrition security and the economic wellbeing of their rapidly growing populations while at the same time maintaining the integrity of their natural resource base. Between 2000 and 2021, 74% of the growth in overall crop production on the continent was derived from increases in land area expansion, while increases in yield contributed only 26% of the growth. This unchecked expansion of land use puts the sustainability of the natural resource base under severe pressure. Even though some countries have made substantial increases in their farm productivity over the last two decades, the overall performance for Africa is far behind other regions. For the most part, in Africa, agriculture is not fulfilling its expected functions of food and nutrition security, increased export earnings, import substitution, and raw material supply for local industries. Attempts have been made to transform African agriculture over the years, but few countries have succeeded in achieving sustainable change. Using examples from Ethiopia this book identifies the major factors for success and the root causes of underperformance, and offers evidence-based recommendations for future decision making, policy change and the creation of growth. This book: · Draws on a unique set of case studies from Ethiopia described and told from a truly African perspective. · Emphasises to policy makers in Africa that development cannot be outsourced and there are no shortcuts; it is only through consistent effort and sustained support for their agricultural research and development that positive change can be brought about. · States that past agricultural development efforts by the international community have not properly included a strong African voice, and that therefore, all future academic research, policies and strategies dealing with the continent's agriculture and food security should be formulated by Africa's own leading thinkers and experts. · Is not a polemic; its arguments are knowledge and evidence based, building a compelling picture of how agricultural development can be sustained for the future.

      • Trusted Partner
        August 2023

        Nanoformulations for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Risk Mitigation

        by Zeba Khan, Nicoleta Anca Sutan

        Nanotechnology research and its application in agriculture has become a major focus in recent years. Nanoformulations offer the possibility to develop more efficient and less damaging agrochemicals in the environment. Smart delivery systems for nanosensors, molecules that can help to detect biotic or abiotic stresses before they can affect production, are being developed and applied. Nanotechnology also provides new techniques for genetic manipulation and plant breeding. The use of nanoformulations in agriculture is increasingly being used to enhance food values, reduce agricultural inputs, improve nutrient contents and create a longer shelf life for many products. Nanotechnology is also being applied to many aspects of food security, disease treatment, new tools for pathogen detection, effective delivery systems and packaging materials. It is hoped that all these applications will help meet the needs of a growing population, and help mitigate the effects of climate change and other ecological disturbances. This book highlights new applications of these nanoforms in the field of agricultural science.It is written by an international team of experts from across this broad discipline.The book is essential reading for graduate students, researchers and practitioners involved in the application of nanotechnology in agriculture. The book · examines the role of nano-formulations in crop yield improvement whilst reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. · covers specially enabled delivery systems for the release of nanoformulations, field-sensing systems to monitor environmental stresses, and improvement of plant traits against environmental stress and diseases · is well written, unambiguous, simple, lucid, scientific and precise and chapters are supplemented with ample illustrations and case studies to clarify and summarize key points.

      • Trusted Partner
        April 2022

        Sustainable Agricultural Intensification

        A Handbook for Practitioners in East and Southern Africa

        by Mateete Bekunda, Jonathan Odhong, Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon

        This book provides an insight into the background, lessons learned, and the methodology of facilitating the application of best-bet/best-fit agricultural technologies to smallholder farms in East and Southern Africa (ESA). All technologies highlighted within this book, except those on livestock feeding, were trialed and demonstrated in farmers' fields over an eight-year period [2012 - 2020] as part of the Feed the Future/USAID funded research-for-development Africa RISING ESA Project and supported by the CGIAR. The livestock feed technologies were compiled from Eastern Africa literature and included to offer a full set of technologies relevant for farmers in mixed farming systems. Topics covered include the introduction of resilient and nutrient-dense crops, better arrangement of crops in the field to amplify intercrop benefits, and the management of soils to improve soil fertility and minimize physical soil and nutrient loss. The publication also features technologies for postharvest loss reduction, livestock feeding, food processing, and in the later chapters, important expositions on how multiple technologies can be creatively integrated in a farming system and how key products of research can be taken to scale. In the first chapter and throughout the handbook, the importance of taking gender dynamics into account to ensure technologies produce equitable outcomes is emphasized. This book: provides evidence-based descriptions of sustainable agricultural intensification technologies that have been validated iteratively with smallholder farmers. a convenient, easy-to-read, and science-based 'how-to' guide for successful deployment of improved agricultural technologies that will ensure readers from development/scaling agencies save time and resources for research trials and instead focus on technology deployment. gives evidence of how building research and development partnerships can be a critical element for successful delivery and scaling up of agricultural technologies. The book is aimed primarily at development practitioners who seek new competences in taking new technologies to scale. However, the breadth of topics covered makes this book an essential resource for agricultural scientists as well as university and college students aspiring to apply systems thinking in future agricultural research and development work.

      • Trusted Partner
        July 2022

        Next-generation Sequencing and Agriculture

        by Philipp Bayer, David Edwards

        This book summarises the impacts that the genome sequencing revolution has had in all areas across animal and plant agriculture, including cattle, orphan crops, cash crops, and more, with reference to applications in many species and locations. It explains new techniques and their use in understanding epigenetics, breeding and conservation.

      • Trusted Partner
        Science & Mathematics
        August 2018

        Plant Parasitic Nematodes in Subtropical and Tropical Agriculture

        by Richard A Sikora, Danny Coyne, Johannes Hallmann, Patricia Timper, Antoine Affokpon, Shamsul Bhuyian, John Bridge, J Alfonso Cabrera, Buncha Chinnasri, Biodun Claudius-Cole, Cleopas Chinheya, Amer A S Dababat, Richard F Davis, Donald W Dickson, Larry Duncan, Santhosh J Eapen, Fahiem El-Borai, Howard Ferris, Rafael Galbieri, H S Gaur, Driekie Fourie, Robin Giblin-Davis, Nalini C Gnanapragasam, David J Hunt, Charles Johnson, Natsumi Kanzaki, Hannah Wangari Karuri, Rosa Manzanilla-Lopez, Beira Hailu Meressa, Keerthi Mohotti, Sara Sánchez Moreno, Björn Niere, Juan Emilio Palomares-Rius, Rakesh Pandy, Deliang Peng, Trinh Quang Phap, Patrick Queneherve, Prabashnie Ramouthar, Philip A Roberts, Sônia Maria de Lima Salgado, Ebrahim Shokoohi, Edward Sikora, Brent S Sipes, Sonia Steenkamp, Sergei Subboten, Luc Villain

        Covering all aspects of practical plant nematology in subtropical and tropical agriculture, the third edition of this definitive global reference work is fully revised and in full colour throughout. It covers the presence, distribution, symptomology and management of all economically important plant parasitic nematodes damaging the world's major food and cash crops. This includes: rice, cereals, solanum and sweet potatoes (and other root and tuber crops), food legumes, vegetables, peanut, citrus, fruit tree crops, coconut and other palms, coffee, cocoa, tea, bananas, sugarcane, tobacco, pineapple, cotton, other tropical fibres, spices and medicinal plants. New content for this edition includes: - A chapter on nematode soil biodiversity and soil health. - Reflections on the future impact of nematodes and nematology on food security. - The importance of climate change, emerging threats, and new management technologies for large and small subsistence growers. - Significant revisions to the IPM chapter and chapters on vegetables, citrus, legumes, tuber crops, cotton, peanut and banana where major advances in nematode management have occurred. This book is highly illustrated, with up-to-date practical guidance on methods of extraction, processing and diagnosing of different plant and soil nematodes and on integrated pest management. It remains an invaluable resource for those studying and working in the area of crop protection.

      • Technology, Engineering & Agriculture
        March 1905

        The First Book of Farming

        by Charles L. Goodrich

        This book is a result of the author's search for these facts and truths as a student and farmer and his endeavor as a teacher to present them in a simple manner to others. The object in presenting the book to the general public is the hope that it may be of assistance to farmers, students and teachers, in their search for the fundamental truths and principles of farming.

      • Trusted Partner
        September 2023

        Managing Risk in Agriculture

        A Development Perspective

        by Ashok K. Mishra, Subal C. Kumbhakar, Gudbrand Lien

        The book addresses and documents farmers' risks in developing and emerging economies. It draws lessons from experimental economics on measuring risk preferences, attitudes, gender differences in managing risks, and risk management strategies in countries across Africa and Asia. It argues policy makers, especially in emerging economies, need a better understanding of farmers' attitudes toward risk and choices of risk management strategies when designing policies to support production agriculture. The book includes chapters on three themes: understanding risk attitudes and preferences; using experimental economics to measure risk, preferences, and risk management strategies; and understanding climate change, risk, and risk management. The book critically examines the currently held beliefs about risk preference, attitudes, and empirical estimation of risk management strategies, emphasizing developing and emerging economies (DEE). "The agricultural development space is an inherently risky one and this welcome collection belatedly helps to plug an important hole." Jock R. Anderson, Emeritus Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of New England, Armidale, Australia "Over time, agricultural production practices have evolved, as have the markets and value chains for food and agricultural products. A constant consideration, however, and one that continues to define agriculture worldwide, is risk. The risks that impinge on agriculture come in all shapes and sizes. Of course, production risks are ubiquitous. But so are market risks. And the same is true for macroeconomic and financial risks and the risks associated with an evolving climate. This book will be a valuable, comprehensive resource for any applied economist desiring to understand the risk management principles relevant to modern food and agricultural systems." Matthew Holt, Prof. and head of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.

      • Trusted Partner
        Agriculture & related industries
        July 2006

        E' Issues in Agribusiness

        The What, Why and How

        by Kim P Bryceson

        This book looks into the 'what' is electronically enabled agribusiness? 'Why' would an agribusiness want to embrace it? And 'how' does one go about doing it? The book pulls together a number of major issues facing people moving into the electronically enabled agribusiness environment. This book is both an introduction to electronic business issues and a comprehensive guide to more detailed business processes and strategic planning matters associated with the technologies involved. In particular the following key areas are addressed, concepts, technology in business, e-enabled business models and e-strategies, management concepts and innovative education.

      • Trusted Partner
        Agriculture & related industries
        December 2012

        Developing Successful Agriculture

        An Australian Case Study

        by Zhang-Yue Zhou

        Agriculture remains an important industry to both developed and developing economies. Unfortunately, many developing countries are still suffering from a lack of agricultural growth, especially those in Africa and South Asia. Australia's agricultural system has developed from almost non-existence 220 years ago to one of the most advanced and efficient in today's world. It is also one of the least distorted, receiving little government assistance. This book provides an updated and comprehensive account of a successful agricultural story, which can stimulate policy makers, researchers, agribusiness consultants and students to relate the Australian experience to their own agricultural development.

      • Trusted Partner
        Agriculture & related industries
        March 1995

        Agribusiness Reforms in China

        The Case of Wool

        by John W Longworth, Colin G Brown

        China is emerging as an agribusiness giant. Domestic reforms and the readmission of China to GATT will integrate rapidly the massive Chinese agribusiness sector into international markets. China has already become a dominant player in world wool markets. Developments in relation to wool, therefore, are a harbinger of what is likely to happen in regard to many other agribusiness commodities. This book, published in collaboration with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), provides a detailed analysis of how the Chinese are reforming their wool marketing system. Wool is grown mainly by people of minority nationalities who are among the poorest in China and who live in the environmentally fragile pastoral region. As a result, wool markets have an impact on social, environmental and developmental issues as well as being of major relevance to China’s strategic and trade interests. This book, therefore, is concerned with many of the most difficult issues confronting Chinese society and its interaction with the world community. By examining these aspects of contemporary China through the case of wool, the authors provide first hand insights into the detailed impact of the economic reform process on particular social groups and institutions. Most of the earlier literature on economic reforms in China has concentrated on general economic reforms and sector-wide or industry-wide effects.

      • Trusted Partner
        Zoology & animal sciences
        May 2021

        Nutrition and Feeding Organic Cattle

        by Robert Blair

        Organic cattle farming is on the increase, with consumer demand for organic milk and meat growing yearly. Beginning with an overview of the aims and principles behind organic cattle production, this book presents extensive information about how to feed cattle so that the milk and meat produced meet organic standards, and provides a comprehensive summary of ruminant digestive processes and nutrition. Since the publication of the first edition, global consumers have increasingly become concerned with the sustainability of meat production. Here, Robert Blair considers the interrelationships of sustainable practices and profitability of organic herds, reviewing how to improve forage production and quality, and minimizing the need for supplementary feeding using off-farm ingredients. This new edition also covers: - Managing a recurrent shortage of organic feed ingredients, due to increased GM feed crop cultivation worldwide - Current findings on appropriate breeds and grazing systems for forage-based organic production - Diet-related health issues in organic herds and the effects of organic production on meat and milk quality. Required reading for animal science researchers, advisory personnel that service the organic milk and beef industries and students interested in organic milk and meat production, this book is also a useful resource for organic farming associations, veterinarians, and feed and food industry personnel.

      • Trusted Partner
        Economics
        June 2007

        Agricultural Biotechnology and Intellectual Property

        Seeds of Change

        by Edited by Jay Kesan

        Scientists are becoming progressively more involved in developing methods for increasing agricultural productivity and designing plants with certain qualities. As such, genetic engineering has given plant breeders a means to exercise property rights over different varieties of plants. This has created many implications and given way to much controversy, with most objections being raised against the idea of owning life. With the use of comparative studies, this book discusses the legal, agribusiness and public policy issues that connect intellectual property protection with advancements in agricultural biotechnology.

      • Trusted Partner
        Business, Economics & Law
        April 2022

        Youth and the Rural Economy in Africa

        Hard Work and Hazard

        by James Sumberg, Jordan Chamberlin, Barbara Crossouard, Máiréad Dunne, Justin Flynn, Marjoke Oosterom, Carolina Szyp, Dorte Thorsen, Felix Kwame Yeboah, Thomas Yeboah

        This book brings together recent findings from quantitative and qualitative research from across Africa to illuminate how young men and women engage with the rural economy, imagine their futures and how development policies and interventions find traction (or not) with these realities. Through framing, overview and evidence-based chapters, it provides a critical perspective on current discourse, research and development interventions around youth and rural development. It is organised around commonly-made foundational claims: that large numbers of young people are leaving rural areas; have no interest in agriculture; cannot access land; are stuck in permanent waithood; that the rural economy provides (or can provide) a wealth of opportunity; and that they can be the engine of rural transformation. It draws from existing literature and new analysis arising from several multi-country and multi-disciplinary studies, focusing on gender and other aspects of social difference. It is a major contribution to current debates and development policy about youth, agriculture and employment in rural Africa.

      • Trusted Partner
        September 2024

        Entomopathogenic Nematodes as Biological Control Agents

        by David I Shapiro-llan, Edwin Lewis, Steven P. Arthurs, Anil Baniya, Rubén Blanco-Pérez, Mary Barbercheck, Helge Bode, Raquel Campos Herrera, Julie G. Chacon-Orozco, Harun Cimen, Regina K. Cruzado Gutiérrez, Surendra K. Dara, Adler Dillman, Larry Duncan, Ioannis Eleftherianos, Shane Foye, Patrick Frettinger, Fernando Garcia-del-Pino, Itamar Glazer, John Goolsby, Dawn Gouge, Parwinder S Grewal, Richou Han, Sebnem Hazal Gulsen, Canan Hazir, Selcuk Hazir, Ivan Hiltpold, Ganpati B. Jagdale, Rinus Knoetze, Albrecht Koppenhofer, Gabriela Lankin, Luis Garrigós Leite, Diana Karime Londono, Antoinette P. Malan, Dana Ment, Jayashree Ramakrishnan, Gadi V P Reddy, Cesar Rodriguez-Saona, Weibin Ruan, Michael Samish, Ernesto San-Blas, Ramandeep Kaur Sandhi, Ana Luiza Sousa, Tatyana Stefanovska, Glen Stevens, S. Patricia Stock, Yoelvis Sulbaran, Ghada Tafesh-Edwards, Mustapha Touray, Stefan Toepfer, Derya Ulug, Bart Vandenbossche, Christopher Williams, Sheng-Yen Wu, Xun Yan

        Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are biocontrol agents that are used to control a wide variety of insect pests within agriculture and forestry. In addition to their use as bio-pesticides, EPNs have a fascinating biology and are thus considered model organisms in ecology, symbiosis and pathogenesis. This book presents basic knowledge and diverse applications to illustrate how EPNs play an important role as potent biocontrol solutions. It describes: Fundamental concepts such as biology, taxonomy, symbiosis genomics and behavioural ecology. Aspects of commercialization, including mass production, formulation, safety and regulation, and marketing. Diverse cropping systems e.g. maize, wheat and grains, citrus, orchard systems, berries, vine crops, vegetables and turf. Other applications including urban, nursery, forestry, greenhouse, veterinary and medical. Ecological considerations and applications in conservation biocontrol. This book is a must have for all pest management professionals including those practicing integrated pest management strategies.

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