Resource Library: Agriculture

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Gender in Agriculture Sourcebook

The Gender in Agriculture Sourcebook provides an up-to-date understanding of gender issues and a rich compilation of compelling evidence of good practices and lessons learned to guide practitioners in integrating gender dimensions into agricultural projects and programs.

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challenging_chains_to_change.pdf

This book provides numerous examples of how program implementers have included women in value chain activities including production and marketing.  Chapters within this 300+page book include the analytical framework, mitigating resistance by building on tradition, creating space for women, organizing for change, standards/certifications/labels, and gender responsible business.

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Honey Bee Diseases and Pests: A Practical Guide

Honey bees play a vital role in the environment by pollinating both wild flowers and many agricultural crops; they also  generate income for families. This is a practical guide for beekeepers and technicians of apiculture in order to control and prevent the diseases and pests of honey bees. It provides the basic and practical technology applicable to beekeepers in the world on the importance of various pests and diseases of honey bee.

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Leveraging Municipal Government Support for Agricultural Value Chains in Nicaragua

This resource, from Catholic Relief Services (CRS), outlines their 4-phase strategy for creating a value-chain-friendly environment. Until recently, municipal governments in Nicaragua had not considered agricultural development to be part of their institutional mandate, making it difficult for small producers to competitively engage in agricultural value chains. CRS and its partners created the Alliance to Create Opportunities for Rural Development through Agroenterprise Relationships (ACORDAR) project in 2007. Since then, ACORDAR has helped more than 3,000 Nicaraguan farmers achieve a 98 percent increase in sales and a 117 percent increase in net income.

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A Review of Empirical Evidence on Gender Differences in Non-Land Agricultural Inputs, Technology, and Services in Developing Cou

This paper reviews existing microeconomic empirical literature on gender differences in use, access, and adoption of non-land agricultural inputs in developing countries. This review focuses on four key areas: (1) technological resources, (2) natural resources, (3) human resources, and (4) social and political capital. In general, there has been more empirical research on inorganic fertilizer, seed varieties, extension services, and group membership than on tools and mechanization, life-cycle effects, and political participation. Across input areas, generally men have higher input measures than women; however, this finding is often sensitive to the use of models that control for other background factors, as well as the type of gender indicator implemented in the analysis.

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Livestock’s Long Shadow Environmental Issues and Options

This in-depth assessment explores the significant impacts of the world’s livestock sector on the environment—to help raise attention towards the substantial contribution of animal agriculture to climate change and air pollution, it’s impact on land, soil, and water degradation, and to the reduction of biodiversity. The paper includes technical and policy-related action to address these impacts.

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A Field Guide for On-Farm Experimentation

Experimental aspects of on-farm research should help on-farm researchers arrive at solid conclusions, taking into account, rather than eliminating, variation among farmers. The objective of this type of applied agricultural research is to identify new farming practices and materials that will improve the farmers’ production system and increase their productivity and well-being in a way that is sustainable.

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A Market Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Agroenterprise Development

This Market Facilitator’s Guide is a product of the experiences and lessons learned while implementing agroenterprise projects in eastern and southern Africa. The Guide is based on a resource-to-consumption framework, which is the central theme of the “enabling rural innovation” (ERI) approach for rural development. This approach seeks to empower farmer groups with the necessary skills to make informed decisions for their economic development, based on an analysis of their surroundings, assets and skills. The methodology also aims for outcomes that are equitable, gender focused and participatory.

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A Review of Empirical Evidence on Gender Differences in Non-Land Agricultural Inputs, Technology, and Services in Developing Cou

This paper reviews existing microeconomic empirical literature on gender differences in use, access, and adoption of non-land agricultural inputs in developing countries. This review focuses on four key areas: (1) technological resources, (2) natural resources, (3) human resources, and (4) social and political capital. In general, there has been more empirical research on inorganic fertilizer, seed varieties, extension services, and group membership than on tools and mechanization, life-cycle effects, and political participation. Across input areas, generally men have higher input measures than women; however, this finding is often sensitive to the use of models that control for other background factors, as well as the type of gender indicator implemented in the analysis.

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Adding Value to Livestock Diversity—Marketing to Promote Local Breeds and Improve Livelihoods

This book describes eight cases from Africa, Asia and Latin America where outside interventions have attempted to develop markets for specialty products from local breeds. The cases include wool, cashmere, meat, hides, milk and dairy products, from dromedaries, Bactrian camels, sheep and goats. The countries represented are Argentina, India, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritania, Mongolia, Somalia and South Africa. Some of the initiatives targeted urban markets within the country; others were aimed at the export market.