2002 |
Biodiversity
Management in Rural Development This book takes a cross disciplinary approach to examine how better to accomodate biodiversity concerns in situations where poverty reduction and welfare improvement are the primary aims of development. It will be of interest to all people with a practical interest in managing biological resources or biodiversity in developing countries, those with a similar concern for economic or social development and improving the livelihoods of the rural poor, and also to staff of governments, donor agencies, NGOs and other organizations with responsibility for rural development or biodiversity conservation and management. |
2001 |
Pastoralism,
Drought and Planning: Lessons form Northern This book is based mainly on case studies from Northern Kenya, but also covers Botswana and Zimbabwe, drawing together lessons relating to drought management in the pastoral and agro-pastoral livestock sector. It covers districtlevel early warning systems, new technical possibilities for monitoring and forecasting drought, possible interventions in livestock marketing and grazing management, and local responses to and interpretation of drought. It will be of interest to policy-makers, planners and resource managers working in Africa. |
2001 |
Dimensions
of Participation: Experiences, Lessons and Tips This book explores dimensions of practical experiences with participation in agricultural research – farmer participation, teamwork and engaging with stakeholders. It includes practitioner’s candid accounts of their experience on agricultural research and extension projects in Africa, sharing the difficulties they faced along with the progress they made. This book is for those interested in the practical aspects of agricultural research and development, including practitioners, project managers, development specialists, advisors, donors, academics involved in development teaching and research and students of agricultural development. |
1999 |
Decision
Tools for Sustainable Development This book brings together up-to-date techniques for the collection and management of environmental and socioeconomic information. It describes practical decisionmaking tools for use at all levels from local to international, for rural communities, research services, the food industry and for institutional decision-makers. |
1993 |
Domestic
Markets for Non-timber Tree Products: Methodological
and Strategic Issues The value of growing trees on tropical farms for subsistence, commercial sale and environmental stability has been increasingly recognized in recent decades. However, there has been little research on the market potential for nontimber tree products NTTPs). This publication aims to provide a background on markets and methodological issues in market assessment and how they affect agroforestry and forestry projects, with reference to recent research carried out by NRI in Cameroon on NTTPs. The specific characteristics of NTTPs which make the assessment of their market potential difficult are outlined, strategic options for their development are discussed and conclusions are drawn which stress the importance of informal methods. [See also SES13 and SES11 below.] |
1997 |
Domestic
Market Potential for Tree Products from Farms
and Rural Communities: Experience from Cameroon A summary of results of research carried out in Cameroon on the domestic market potential for non-timber tree products (NTTPs) from farms and rural communities in response to the growing concern that agroforestry projects were failing because of poor marketing strategies. (See SES11, below, for an inventory of products and identification of market chains.) Four case studies are used to explore issues related to value added, domestication and the role of NTTPs as sources of income. Conclusions are drawn and areas for future research are also highlighted in this booklet. |
1997 |
Livestock
Production Extension: Issues, Case Studies and
Policy Options In this booklet the provision of livestock production extension is assessed with reference to case studies in Burkina Faso, Kenya and India. Existing systems are reviewed and their impact evaluated. Finally, the roles of different institutions and methodologies are evaluated, and lessons for the future are discussed. |
1997 |
Non-timber
Tree Products: A Partial Inventory of Products The value of tree-growing on tropical farms
for subsistence uses, commercial sale and environmental
stability has long been argued, but failure of
many agroforestry programmes has been attributed
to ‘market failures’. This inventory
has been produced as part of a project in the
highly biodiverse area of Mount Cameroon to explore
domestic market potential from farms and rural
communities, in response to the growing interest
in non-timber tree products. |
1995 |
Survival
Strategies of Poor Women in Urban Africa: The
Case of Zambia Urban poverty is increasing alongside growing
urban populations in sub-Saharan Africa. Women
constitute a significant proportion of the urban
poor, but their role is often neglected by development
projects. This publication highlights the range
of strategies that women have devised for themselves
in order to cope with difficult economic circumstances
in present-day Zambia. Natural resources figure
prominently in urban women’s activities,
not only as a source of food and fuel, but as
a source of income through trading activities.
Ways in which women’s livelihoods can be
improved are also discussed. |
1995 |
Labour
Strategies Among Smallholders Producing Perennial
Tree Crops in Ghana and Indonesia Recent policy reforms and technological innovations in perennial tree crop production have implications for smallholder labour strategies, but changes in these strategies are little understood. Modification in labour decisionmaking among four smallholder communities in Indonesia and Ghana is examined, and the consequences for policy and technology development are explored. The study concludes that there is a need to reassess the way the family is looked at: evidence suggests that the labour strategies are often enacted over a wide geographical area, and form a theme that is hidden by current research techniques used to inform planners and field workers. This publication will be of interest to agencies and individuals concerned with development issues and policy implementation. |
1995 |
Development
and Dissemination of Agroprocessing Technologies Technology development can assist in the generation
of small and medium-scale agroprocessing for sustainable
livelihoods in poorer communities because of the
backward links to agriculture and forward links
to processing. However, despite substantial support
from donor agencies, past performance has revealed
that failures are linked to shortcomings such
as operational problems or inadequate application
of appropriate procedures. This study reviews
current best practices, and suggests approaches
and methods that can make the technology development
programme of an organization more effective. It
will be useful to organizations whose primary
activity is the development of technology and
also to agencies that are only involved occasionally. |
1994 |
Tree
Resources and Environmental Policy: A Stakeholder
Approach The concept of stakeholder analysis is illustrated by case studies from Cameroon and Thailand. The conflicts of interest which may arise between different stakeholder groups (small farmers, logging companies, government departments, institutions and conservationists) and the trade-offs which may have to be made between the objectives of a particular group are classsified and discussed. The implications of the stakeholder approach are considered and will be of interest to anyone involved in environmental planning and research. |
1994 |
Indigenous
Agroforestry in Latin America: A Blueprint for
Sustainable Agriculture? This literature review outlines the merits of traditional agroforestry systems in the rainforests of Latin America. Possibilities and limitations to the adoption of these methods by new colonist farmers, as an alternative to largescale forest destruction, are discussed. Research priorities are proposed for the development of sustainable agroforestry in the region from the wealth of indigenous knowledge. This booklet will not only be of interest to policy-makers and donor agencies, but also to those interested in the preservation of the rainforests. |
1995 |
Gender
Issues in Integrated Pest Management in African
Agriculture In Africa women farmers are generally responsible for pest management activities. Research has shown that the technological needs and priorities of women farmers differ from those of men, but their specific needs are rarely addressed in the research and development of agricultural technology. Women's access to new technologies is seriously undermined owing to the failure of extension systems to establish contacts with women farmers. The book discusses the gender-related, socio-economic factors that influence the creation, adoption and effective implementation of IPM technologies. |
1995 |
The
Use of Geographical Information Systems in Socio-economic
Studies Geographical information systems (GIS) have found wide and growing applications, as digital remote-sensing data and computer technology have become more sophisticated, more easily available and less expensive. This report describes preliminary research recently undertaken by NRI into how GIS might be used to identify and potentially describe the non-physical, ‘human’ environment in which people make decisions relating to resource allocation. A number of general issues concerning the availability of suitable data sets, are highlighted in case studies. Recommendations are made about how data can be made more amenable to this type of application, and the criteria that should be applied in assessing the feasibility of projects involving the use of GIS in socio-economic studies. |
1993 |
The
Allocation of Labour to Perennial Crops: Decisionmaking
by African Smallholders This literature review highlights the factors, particularly nonfinancial, affecting the choice and use of labour during the production of perennial crops. It includes the effects of kinship, gender, age, AIDS and natural disasters and emphasizes the importance of the decision-making process during policy planning. |
1993 |
Commercialization
of Non-timber Forest Products in Amazonia Extractivism, in this case the removal of tree crops from the Amazonian rainforest, is reviewed with particular reference to its impact on the welfare of collectors and to the market opportunities for specific crops. |
1993 |
Needs
Assessment for Agricultural Development: Practical
Issues in Informal Data Collection Designed to provide a practical addition to the materials available to workers in the field as well as to generate discussion amongst those interested in Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) as an approach to the initial preparation of development projects. |
2000 |
Learning
and Livelihoods: The Experience of the FSIPM This book reflects four years of intensive fieldwork
by the Farming Systems Integrated Pest Management
Project with resource-poor farmers in the the
Blantyre Shire Highlands of southern Malawi. It
reviews the major lessons learned and outlines
an agenda for a follow-up project to address the
smallholders’ needs for food security, cash
income and information about new technology. A
publication which is relevant not only to those
interested in Malawi but also to those concerned
with the wider issues raised by the |
1999
|
Ethical
Trade and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Ethical trade is the management of financial, social and environmental aspects of production and marketing throughout the value chain. This publication describes the markets for ethical products, how different approaches operate, and what they achieve. It is aimed at anyone requiring an introduction to ethical trade in developing countries and anyone interested in understanding what ethical trade means to developing countries. |
1998 |
Food
Safety and the Developing World Food-borne illnesses, especially diarrhoea amongst
children, are a major public health problem in
the developing world. Unsafe food can seriously
interfere with both domestic and international
food trade and cause unnecessary suffering and
loss of income. This clearly laid-out colourful
book discusses some of the major causes of food-borne
disease (additives, bacteria, viruses, protozoa,
mycotoxins, natural toxins) and recent approaches
towards their control. Of special interest to
policy-makers and researchers and those in developing
countries involved in the production, utilization
and international trade of foods, and in human
health issues. |
1998 |
Extension
of Livestock Production Messages: Guidelines for
Policy and Implementation in Developing Countries The importance of conveying information on livestock
production to farmers is increasing with growing
demand for livestock products, new production
techniques and possibilities for improved animal
health. This clearly set-out book is based on
first-hand research in developing countries, and
examines the major types of institutions providing
livestock production extension, for example, national
extension systems, animal health services and
special projects. Concrete recommendations are
made for the planning of new services for crop
livestock producers and for special target groups,
and for the reform of existing institutions. |
1997 |
Economic
Issues in Trypanosomiasis Control Trypanosomiasis is a significant disease of
man and livestock, and in sub-Saharan Africa is
transmitted exclusively by the tsetse fly. Apart
from the suffering caused by the disease, trypanosomiasis
and its control have many direct and indirect
economic consequences. This Bulletin discusses
investigations carried out in Zimbabwe and Zambia
into the costs of four major techniques used for
tsetse control. A methodology for cost comparison
based on simple economic models is demonstated.
Of interest to planners and resource managers,
and all those concerned with trypanosomiasis control
and rural development in tsetse-affected areas
of Africa. |
1997 |
Mycotoxins
and their Control: Constraints and Opportunities This Bulletin will be of special interest to
policy-makers, researchers and those involved
in the production of foods and animal feeds, and
in the marketing of commodities, where the impact
of mycotoxins on human health, animal productivity
and international trade is significant. A ‘systems’
approach to the occurrence and control of mycotoxins
is adopted, which recognizes the interactions
occurring within and between conceptual models
of the commodity, spoilage, mycotoxin and control
systems. Mycotoxins of ‘world-wide’,
‘regional’ and ‘future’
importance are discussed, together with the metabolic
fate of selected mycotoxins. Control measures
and future research needs are also identified. |
1997 |
Assessment
of the Needs and Opportunities in Post-harvest
Systems of Non-grain Starch Staple Food Crops Non-grain starch staple food crops (cassava, sweet potato, yam, cocoyam and cooking banana/plantain) provide important sources of income and food security in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The accurate determination of the needs and opportunities in non-grain starch staples post-harvest systems is essential if research and development are to be correctly targeted and have impact. This manual provides the information and tools required to design and carry out a needs assessment study. It is designed for those involved in research and technology transfer projects where non-grain starch staples are important commodities. |
1995 |
Tree
Resources in Northern Thailand: Local Stakeholders
and National Policy A report of a study that aims to develop stakeholder
analysis as a tool for natural resource management.
Stakeholder approach was tested by applying it
to forest resource management in the highlands
of Northern Thailand, where the interests and
conflicts of the stakeholders (forest resource
users and managers) and the trade-offs they made
were analysed. Such an approach was demonstrated
to be a useful tool which can be applied to natural
resource management in other developing countries
and in other situations where conflicts between
stakeholders are evident. Of interest to all those
in government departments and institutions responsible
for making policies which affect natural resource
users and managers. |
1995 |
All
in Good Time: Women’s Agricultural Production
in Sub-Saharan Africa This bibliography is the first part of a study of women’s participation in agricultural production in the semi-arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa. The study looks at women’s agricultural strategies, especially their use of particular tools and crop production techniques. It focuses on ways in which the use of draught animals affects labour resource use, and generates increased income differentials at the household and community level. By bringing together existing information on women’s crop production and on how women presently address critical timing issues, it is of interest to all agencies and individuals concerned with development issues, especially those relating to women. |
1994 |
Food
Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A New Agenda for
Research and Donor Assistance Chapters collected in this book were all delivered
at an NRI/IFPRI symposium on critical food policy
issues for sub-Saharan Africa held in 1993. The
symposium brought together specialists on food
policy from a number of organizations to discuss
current research, future research agendas and
policy issues and decisions. The main issues arising
from discussions were how individuals respond
to incentives, the effects of technology and technology
policy, the fiscal crisis of the sub- Saharan
African state and its effect on agriculture, and
the search for effective means to support civil
society. |
| Policy
Series This series focuses upon policies which affect the management of natural resources in support of sustainable livelihoods, primarily in developing countries. Its core is issues which affect livelihoods of poor people in rural areas, but it also recognizes linkages – notably the role of non-natural resource components in livelihoods, the interests of the urban poor, and the role of associated factors such as health and education. It aims to provide topical analysis to inform development practitioners concerned with issues of poverty in development. These are available as printed copies (£5.00) or can be downloaded from: www.nri.org/publications/online.htm |
|
2002 |
Poor
People and the Environment: Issues and Linkages |
2001 |
Drought
Contingency Planning for Pastoral Livelihoods |
2001 |
Rural
Non-farm Activities and Poverty Alleviation in
Sub-Saharan Africa |
2001 |
Agricultural
Marketing in Developing Countries: The Role of
NGOS and CBOS |
2001 |
Ethical
Consumers and Ethical Trade: A Review of Current
Literature |
2000 |
Pastoralism
and Sustainable Livelihoods: An Emerging Agenda |
2000 |
The
Role of Natural Resources in the Livelihoods of
the Urban Poor |
2000 |
Performance
and Impact Assessment: Emerging Systems Among
Development Agencies |
2000 |
Improving
Smallholder Access to Purchased Inputs in Sub-Saharan
Africa |
2000 |
HIV/AIDS
and Rural Livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa |
2000 |
International
Trade in Agricultural Commodities: Liberalization
and its Implications for Development and Poverty
Reduction in the ACP States |
2000 |
|
1999 |
Agricultural
Sector Investment Programmes - Experience in Africa |
1999 |
Institutional
Development and Poverty Reduction |
1999 |
Rural
Finance |
2000 |
Natural
Resources Research |
Order from
Practical Action Publishing
Schumacher Centre for Technology and Development
Bourton-on-Dunsmore.
Rugby,
Warwickshire,
CV23 9QZ
publishinginfo@practicalaction.org.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 1926 634501
Fax: +44 (0) 1926 634502
Further Information
Prof Andrew Westby, Director, Food Technologist
a.westby@gre.ac.uk Work +44 (0)1634 88 3478 Fax +44 (0)1634 88 3386