An additional, important activity which ran in parallel throughout the main Workshop was the development of a first draft of an FAO document to guide member states on the development and adoption of Conservation Tillage (CT). This topic was also addressed in two short dedicated sessions which formed Part II of the Workshop held during the last two days. 

These Guidelines are an FAO initiative based on concern over the world-wide problem of soil degradation and erosion loss brought about by the continued use of conventional cultivation practices. They reflect the recognition that the problem exists on an international scale on both large mechanised farms and in numerous small scale farming communities where cultivation is responsible not only for severe environmental damage but also for other economic and social problems, especially in the tropics and sub tropics. The Guidelines are based on the experience of over 30 years of research and farm practice and the firm belief that the adoption of CT farming practices can resolve these problems in many parts of the world where other initiatives have failed to provide adequate solutions. 

It is envisaged that the FAO, Conservation Tillage Guidelines will eventually become a Code of Practice for member states for adoption into national laws. The Workshop provided a fitting initial forum in which to develop the framework of the Guidelines and to consider the experience of participants and the conclusions collected from the various Workshop sessions. 

The purpose of the Guideline is to draw on world-wide experience of CT farming for inclusion in a concise, clear document with several key objectives: 

• To increase awareness of member states of the deleterious effects of conventional cultivation practices and the value of a CT approach as a means of arresting and reversing these trends.

• To explain the overall benefits of CT farming. Not only those related to the protection and enhancement of soils and the conservation of moisture but also the other managerial, economic, and social benefits of the approach.

• To identify policies and actions to guide governments and other organisations to promote the development, dissemination and adoption of CT farming.

• To outline the current status of the technology and understanding related to CT farming to include, equipment for small and large farms, crop residue management, green manure and cover crops, weed management and fertiliser use.

• To develop awareness and provide ideas on how to foster the adoption of CT cropping by farmers.

• It is the intention that the Guidelines should be a dynamic document supported internationally to ensure that it is constantly updated and refined as the lessons and answers for CT uptake on farms become clearer.

In order to achieve the above, FAO invited a team of 9 international CT resource specialists plus 11 resource persons from Africa, to participate in the Workshop and help to develop the Guidelines. Representatives with wide experience of the development of CT systems over many years were present from North America, Latin America, Europe and New Zealand. From Africa, CT specialists from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe were present. 

In preparation for the gathering, FAO commissioned an initial draft set of Guidelines on which to base the discussion and the development of the framework and text during the Workshop. The intention is to incorporate the relevant experience of the experts and the messages from the Workshop into a revised draft for further development at a second dedicated workshop to be held in Rome later in 1998. 

The document now consists of a series of 13 Articles which address the above objectives. The current status is that information and opinion from the Workshop is being incorporated into a new draft, the international CT team are refining their ideas and inputs then, following the revision in Rome, drafts will be circulated to Harare Workshop participants for further information and comment.