This handbook is the second of a series of three seed production handbooks. It was written for people who have no formal training or experience in seed production, oriented especially toward small-scale farmers, entrepreneurs, and community-based institutions, such as schools and churches, that are interested in producing seed of various crops for sale. Local NGOs or extension agents are also a valuable source of assistance in understanding the topics covered in this handbook. The handbook on business skills for seed producers does not focus on any one crop. In this context, "seed" also refers to vegetatively reproduced crops, forages, and trees. Handbook 1, "Producing bean seed", is specifically intended for bean seed producers. Handbook 3 is a guide for trainers who are supporting small-scale seed enterprise development. 90 p. 15 x 21 cm. Also available in French, Luganda, Portuguese, and Runyankore.  

Keywords: Seed industry; Decision making; Enterprises; Planning; Cost analysis; Business management; Small farms; Market research; Phaseolus vulgaris; Teaching materials; Beans; Manuals; Africa

This handbook is the third of a series of three seed production handbooks. It was written for people who have no formal training or experience in seed production, oriented specially toward small-scale farmers, business people and rural institutions interested in producing seed of various crops for sale. This handbook is a guide for trainers who are supporting small-scale seed enterprise development. Handbook 1, "Producing bean seed", is specifically intended for bean seed producers. Handbook 2, "Business skills", is specifically intended for small-scale farmers, entrepreneurs, and community-based institutions. 27 p. 15 x 21 cm. Also available in French. 

Keywords: Seed industry; Market research; Varieties; Selection; Seed production; Seed; Quality; Investment; Planning; Small farms; Teaching materials; Africa

[Cassava Sour Starch in Colombia, volume II: Processing Plant, and Equipment Description and Plans] The production of cassava sour starch on a small scale has become a traditional option that today adds value to cassava. The demand for information on the production of this starch and the need to transfer the technology for initiating such production, as manifested in the countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia, justified the development of a project between CIRAD and CIAT. This research also received cooperation from the Universidad del Valle, the Corporacion Universitaria Autonoma de Occidente, and two NGOs (CETEC and COAPRACAUCA), all in Colombia. The study has also attracted the attention of EPN, FACE, FUNDAGRO, and UATAPPY of Ecuador, and the collaboration of CERAT-UNESP of Brazil. One result of this study was the publication of this two-volume work. Volume 1, printed in 1998, described the technological and economic context in which cassava sour starch is obtained in Cauca, Colombia. Volume 2, presented here, describes a model production unit, whose maximum processing capacity is 625 kg of fresh roots per hour. Principal aspects include civil engineering, flow diagram, distribution within the plant, conditioning of equipment, motor power, characteristics of materials, and treatment of effluents. Because of its technical and practical nature, this publication is expected to disseminate results of 10 years' work, in which participated entrepreneurial producers of cassava starch in Cauca, educational and research institutions, and development entities. Such dissemination of knowledge will contribute to the transfer of such technology and its adoption by processing units (rallanderias) of cassava starch already in operation or likely to be installed on three continents. 251 p.  

Keywords: Manihot esculenta; Cassava; Starch industry; Industrial equipment; Tapioca; Starch; Sieving; Decanting; Fermentation; Drying; Markets; Agroindustrial complexes; Colombia

ISBN:958-694-036-5

Traditionally, rural development has lacked an entrepreneurial approach because it has given priority to the search of options to market its produce, without studying the market demand to offer other alternatives of agricultural production. This handbook is a tool that offers market orientation to small rural producers, located in a given microregion. It describes a methodology that aims to identify, assess, and take advantage of market opportunities. 

Keywords: Agroindustrial complexes; Natural resources; Resource management; Participatory research; Interest groups; Soil management; Watersheds; Living standards; Poverty; Market research; Small farms; Simulation models; Land use; Socioeconomic environment; Project design; Teaching materials

[Cassava Sour Starch in Colombia, volume I: Production and Recommendations] Two projects at CIAT have studied, since 1988, in collaboration with CIRAD-AMIS of France, cassava processing at local, small-scale, starch-extraction plants known as rallanderias to obtain both natural (or native) and sour (or fermented) starch. This manual brings together knowledge, obtained from the western Andean region of Colombia, on applied technology (washing, peeling, and grating of roots; sieving and sedimentation of the grated mass; and fermentation, drying, and packing of the starch). The manual also describes characteristics of the equipment used. 35 p. 21.5 ? 28 cm.  

Keywords: Manihot esculenta; Cassava; Varieties; Cultivation; Tapioca; Starch; Agroindustrial complexes

ISBN:958-9439-67-5

Copyright © Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical 2010.  All rights reserved.