This 61st edition of Tropical Forest Issues (formerly ETFRN News) includes a collation of 25 articles from a total of more than 100 contributors. There are more than 20 case studies from across tropical America, Asia and Africa, with others that explain the importance of the ecology, management and concepts related to fire...

Small-scale farmers in low- and middle-income countries face vastly different realities, which translate into diverse challenges and opportunities. Some businesses, governments and development agencies have been promoting smallholder inclusion in global value chains and smallholder commercialisation as an essential part of addressing challenges and creating opportunities. This is happening against...

Rekhadevi Bohora serves as the secretary of the Kalika Land Right Agriculture Cooperative, an essential role in her community. Inspired by her cooperative's support, she embarked on an entrepreneurial journey by securing a loan. With these funds, she established her own shop, a testament to her determination and the cooperative's...

Anita Kumari Chaudhary is a dedicated member of the Kalika Land Rights Agriculture Cooperative in Nepal. Through her affiliation with the cooperative, she gained essential tailoring skills and ventured into entrepreneurship with a cooperative-backed loan. Today, she not only manages her thriving business but has also created job opportunities by...

Shanta Neupane had a vision. From Panauti Municipality, in central Nepal, she could see how hard women in the rural forest and farming communities around her worked in their family smallholdings, helping to feed their households. But although, like Shanta herself, they were members of community forest user groups, these same...

Last 28 & 29 April, 2021 , high-level policy experts gathered at the digital event “Scaling up Agroecology in the Himalayas Together” to discuss and inspire key decision-makers on policies supporting agroecology and organic agriculture in the region. The Himalayas event was organised by IFOAM – Organics International and the...

Last 28 & 29 April, 2021, high-level policy experts gathered at the digital event “Scaling up Agroecology in the Himalayas Together” to discuss and inspire key decision-makers on policies supporting agroecology and organic agriculture in the region. The Himalayas event was organised by IFOAM – Organics International and the World...

The Sinja Valley in northwest Nepal is a breathtaking place with a rich history. Plunging mountainsides and rocky caves hide ruins of grand palaces and temples: remains of the capital city of the influential Western Malla kingdom that ruled the area between the 12th and 14th century. Nowadays, however, that city...

Small-scale farmers, and the resources they manage, provide food and incomes across value chains all over the world. They are fundamental to the livelihoods, health and nutrition of billions of people. They are also essential for improving agricultural biodiversity, food-system stability and adaptability to climate change. Integrating the perspective of...

Formed in 2007, Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group (FPS) creates science-based educational materials, which: identify highly nutritious local food plants, explain how to grow them in a sustainable, agroecological way, detail the nutritional value of the plants and describe why human bodies require those nutrients. The resources created by FPS allows people to better...

Formed in 2007, Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group (FPS) creates science-based educational materials, which: identify highly nutritious local food plants, explain how to grow them in a sustainable, agroecological way, detail the nutritional value of the plants and describe why human bodies require those nutrients. The resources created by FPS allows people to better...

This publication presents a collection of case studies by Mountain Partnership (MP) members from around the world, highlighting experiences of agroecological mountain farming systems. It aims to increase attention toward agroecological principles and approaches and showcase their potential. The MP, the only United Nations global voluntary alliance dedicated to sustainable...

Based on how much milk each cow gives, you can calculate the amount of balanced feed needed for your cows. You should also feed your cow green grass each day. This helps to increase the total quantity of milk as well as the amount of fat in the milk. It...

There are different ways of carrying out agricultural extension. Farmer Field Schools (FFS) represent a participatory approach that directly reaches farmers and addresses their day-to-day problems. The concept of FFS builds on the belief that farmers are the main source of knowledge and experience in carrying out farm operations. This...

Farmyard manure is a varying mixture of animal manure, urine, bedding material, fodder residues, and other components. This form of manure is the most common form of organic manure applied in the midhills of Nepal. This practice describes how collecting and good storage of farmyard manure can help improve land...

Poor farmers in marginal areas continue to grow old crop varieties that are often susceptible to pests and disease, and which are less suited to current constraints and opportunities experienced by farmers. These farmers have had little exposure to new varieties, whilst those that have been released are often not...

Drought resistance in rice is physiologically and genetically complex. There are a number of traits which are thought to contribute to drought resistance mechanisms. Drought-related traits are influenced by several or many genetic loci. Molecular linkage maps allow identification of Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs). Corresponding molecular markers can be used...

High potential rice production systems have diverse biophysical and socio-economic environments, but there is a lack of rice varieties matching this diversity. A number of advanced breeding lines have recently been developed to match these production systems. Therefore, suitable varieties for diverse rice-producing environments were developed in high potential production...

The objective of implementing the slope agriculture land technology (SALT) is to stabilize the slope and improve the terrace or the contours in order to control soil erosion along the slopes and improve soil fertility. This practice describes how to implement the SALT method.

The objective of this practice is to facilitate timely planting of the wheat crop while minimizing soil degradation and conserving residual soil moisture and energy with minimum or zero tillage in wet and marshy land, where land preparation is not possible.