It is an FAO initiative that aims at improving access to information and knowledge about available proven technologies in order to enhance their adoption in agriculture, livestock, fisheries and forestry thus contributing to food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

  The database concentrates only on equipment and machinery for manual, animal or motorized operation which has been specially designed for the needs of Conservation Agriculture.

Meant to gather, store, organize and disseminate, updated baseline information on the state-of-the-art of crop biotechnology products and techniques, which are in use, or in the pipeline in developing countries.

  Fish capture technology encompasses the process of catching any aquatic animal, using any kind of fishing methods including artisanal fisheries, normally operated from a vessel.

  Hortivar is FAO's database on performances of horticulture cultivars in relation to agro-ecological conditions, cultivation practices, the occurrence of pests and diseases and timing of the production. It covers six categories of horticultural crops: fruits, vegetables, roots and tubers, ornamentals, mushrooms, herbs and condiments.

  Its main objective is to increase the development of activities of the global post- harvest sector for tropical agricultural products for a better access to technical data and an exchange of information among the different post harvest actors.

  The Livestock, Environment and Development Initiative (LEAD) targets the protection and enhancement of natural resources which are affected by livestock production and processing and also focuses on poverty reduction and public health enhancement through appropriate forms of livestock development.

  The FAO/IAEA database provides information on induced mutations suitable for breeding programme and genetic analysis. MVD collects information on crop mutant varieties, mutagen used and characters improved.

  A "strategic extension campaign" (SEC) methodology developed by FAO has been introduced in Africa, the Near East, Asia and Latin America. This methodology emphasizes the importance of people's participation in strategic planning, systematic management and field implementation of agricultural extension and training programmes.

  This publication is a compilation of existing information (both formally published and unpublished literature) on biodrainage, which consists in removing the excess of water through vegetation, rather than mechanically. The report aims to inform water professionals in general and drainage experts in particular of current knowledge of biodrainage and further research need.

  This paper deals with the specific problems of irrigation practices in sub-Saharian Africa. In particular, this review focuses on traditional and modern technologies for smallholders in a context of improving rural livelihoods.

  This paper reviews the development of treadle pumps in Bangladesh and its transfer to Africa. It represents a comprehensive review of the technological and socio-economical development of pumps based on reports from different African countries.

  The preliminary study began with rapid field data collection and assessment in three parts of the West Africa region: Niger, Ghana and the northern states of Nigeria. PDF

  Principes agronomiques, hydrauliques, organisationnels et financiers d'amélioration des performances des périmètres irrigués en Afrique de l'Ouest.

  This deals with the results of the impact assessment of the Irrigation Improvement Programme, the innovative and improved irrigation technologies, the conjunctive use of marginal and fresh water, and capacity building needs at national level.

  This report provides a prevailing overview of issues and priorities in water conservation research, development and technology transfer in Jordan.

  The main subjects covered are: general, cereal processing, fruit and vegetable processing, oilseed processing, roots and tubers, starch processing, sugar processing, quality assurance, membrane separation technology, biotechnology, miscellaneous bulletins on processing.

  Many aspects of rural living are labour intensive and time consuming, from fetching water and firewood, to preparing land, weeding and food processing. Agricultural engineers, extension staff and home economists can assist HIV/AIDS affected households by promoting technologies and practices which reduce or spread labour inputs.

  The precarious economic status of African women farmers has a direct bearing on the type of tools and the way they are used. Women's direct income from their farming activities is minimal, and this lack of hard cash reduces their possibilities of purchasing the necessary tools.  PDF

  It was decided to focus the self-assessment on two interrelated elements of the group's success. These are the technological practices on viable at the same time providing for sustainable natural resource management, i.e. the conservation agriculture practices; and the group's self organization, management and capacity building/empowerment.

  It provides training modules and other relevant material on water harvesting in five languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish) focusing on 'runoff farming systems' for improved production of crops, trees and rangeland species in drought-prone areas. The objective of this training materials are to raise awareness of technical staff, extension workers and other stakeholders on the water harvesting options available and to build local capacity on the use of available data for adequate planning, systematic design and sustainable implementation of water harvesting systems.

  This tool classifies the technologies in five sections that cover areas where a shortage of labour or other sources of power is undermining household food and nutrition security, and the sustainability of rural livelihoods: land preparation and cultivation, harvesting, post-harvest operations, household tasks, rural transport.

  This is a selection of electronic decision support tools for planners, researchers and extension agents, to enable them to make informed decisions and interventions regarding technology assessment, transfer, validation, adaptation and adoption.

  This publication brings together papers from a 2005 preparatory meeting in Turin, Italy and the background and summary documents from the subsequent e-mail Conference hosted by the FAO Biotechnology Forum and dedicated to 'the role of biotechnology for the characterization and conservation of crop, forest, animal and fishery genetic resources in developing countries'.  -Zip file

  In 2003, FAO launched an on-line searchable database called FAO-BioDeC, providing information on biotechnology products/techniques in use or in the pipeline in developing countries (including countries with economies in transition). A report by Z. Dhlamini and co-authors, entitled "Status of research and application of crop biotechnologies in developing countries: Preliminary assessment", has just been published which provides a first analysis of about 2,000 crop-sector entries from 71 developing countries contained in the database as of 31 August 2004. Entries cover genetically modified (GM) crops and non-GM biotechnologies (such as micropropagation, molecular markers, diagnostics [e.g. ELISA] and microbial techniques).

  Each conference was moderated, lasted roughly two months and focused on agricultural biotechnology in developing countries. The first four dealt with the appropriateness of currently available biotechnologies in the crop, fishery, forestry and livestock sectors, while the remaining two dealt with the implications of agricultural biotechnology for hunger and food security and the impact of intellectual property rights. The publication includes the background and summary documents for each of the conferences, as well as providing an introduction; information about participation in the conferences; general conclusions and, finally, additional references.

  The objective of the workshop was to offer research managers and decision-makers from the Caucasus and Moldova subregion an opportunity to discuss the outcome of the assessment, receive information on recent developments in the field of agricultural biotechnology and biosafety and to exchange updated biotechnology/biosafety information on their countries.

  This report addresses issues of agricultural biotechnology and biosafety in five Balkan States: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (TFYRM) and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY, now Serbia and Montenegro) and the Caucasian states: Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and Moldova. It provides information on the situation of agricultural biotechnology in transition countries and identifies areas requiring political, legal, financial and technical support.

  Description of main activities and mandate, links to main counterparners and regional research associations.

  A key challenge facing countries today is to determine how to participate in a fast-changing global trade environment. This is an environment where competition is constantly evolving with new products, processes and services emerging on a daily basis.

  Environmental technologies in agriculture are the technological means for ecosystem management that aim at improving agricultural production and post-production while conserving the regenerative and reproductive capacity of the natural resource base.

  FAO recognizes that biotechnology includes a new group of powerful tools for research that is already making important contributions to agriculture, forestry and fisheries development.

  The Joint FAO/IAEA Programme assists Member Countries of FAO and IAEA to use nuclear techniques and related biotechnologies for developing improved strategies for sustainable food security.

  Advisory services and technical assistance to countries for: formulating sustainable agricultural water management strategies; identifying, formulating and implementing capacity building projects; delivering information and building awareness.

  Activities in the post harvest sector are focused on ensuring enhanced value of food and agricultural products in developing countries through the application of cost-efficient and environmentally-sound post-harvest techniques, particularly those which contribute to reducing losses and to increasing the efficiency of the "post-production system".

  The Web site makes available a set of guidelines, procedures and relevant material for the development of a participatory training and extension programme for technical staff, extension workers and other stakeholders, to assist farmers to take charge of water management at field and scheme level and adopt, in a sustainable manner appropriate water technologies.