[Colombia-CIAT Agreement: A Business of Broad Horizons for the Llanos] This publication presents the results of research conducted by CIAT in the Eastern Plains of Colombia from 1993 to 2002, under the Technical and Scientific Collaborative Agreement subscribed with Colombia's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. 20 p. 21.5 x 28 cm. 

Keywords: Agricultural development; International cooperation; Productivity; Manihot esculenta; Oryza sativa; Rice; Zea mays; Maize; Varieties; Pasture improvement; Animal husbandry; Innovation adoption; Plant biotechnology; Sustainability; Gross margins; Food security; Land improvement; Training; Tropical fruits; Colombia

[Tropical Forages Database] This database offers cumulative information on CIAT's tropical forages project. Data are presented on Characterization of Materials, Evaluating and Selecting Materials, and germplasm evaluation networks for regional adaptation trials, establishment phase, and production phase. Information on genotype ? environment interaction is also provided for the Arachis and Desmodium spp., together with information on nutritional requirements and pests and diseases. A catalog on rhizobia strains is included. 

Keywords: Feed crops; Germplasm conservation; Evaluation; Research networks; Nutritional requirements; Rhizobium; Plant diseases; Pests of plants; Databases

ISBN:0

To most smallholder livestock producers in Southeast Asia, planted forages are much more than simply a new variety of a crop with which they are already familiar. 'Planting forages' is an entirely new concept, requiring major changes in the way farmers think about and manage their crop-livestock systems. Such significant changes do not happen easily unless there are strong pressures for change...and these pressures are coming fast in Southeast Asia, in the form of disappearing traditional feed resources and rapidly increasing demand for livestock products. The most promising way to support the emergence of significant impacts from forages in smallholder livestock systems comes from matching the best varieties available with participatory approaches to research and extension. Since 1995, CIAT has been working with national partners throughout the region to apply this approach in six countries of Southeast Asia. To date two studies have documented and assessed the economic and social impacts of the new forage technologies on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. This publication refers to the first study carried out in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Participatory evaluation tools together with conventional survey techniques were used to compare the livestock production systems of early and recent forage adopters. Results were stratified by wealth categories and other important cultural factors. The studies document the scale of social and economic impacts and highlight lessons that have emerged for future development.  

Keywords: Feed crops; Pasture improvement; Innovation adoption; Socioeconomic environment; Animal husbandry; Farming systems; Participatory research; Asia; Indonesia

This set of three databases covers selected accessions of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), and forage germplasm held in the FAO- designated collection at CIAT. It includes passport data, and characterization and evaluation information. Through these databases, which are accessible through Internet, you can make on-line requests for germplasm you need. The Web site also provides, in English and Spanish, an introduction and additional information about the databases.  

Keywords: Germplasm conservation; Phaseolus vulgaris; Manihot esculenta; Beans; Cassava; Feed crops; Databases

ISBN:0

Smallholder farmers traditionally feed their animals on otherwise valueless but freely available feed resources such as crop residues, grasses, herbs, and leaves. However, livestock numbers and cropping areas have increased, limiting the availability of these once-abundant resources and obliging farmers to travel farther to graze their animals or cut feed. Many farmers must now decide between keeping fewer animals or finding new feed resources. Supplementing traditional feed by planting forages is one simple solution. However, for most farmers, planting forages for their animals is a new, untried, concept that must be tested first by planting forages in small plots near their houses. Only when they see benefits will farmers expand planting areas or integrate forages with other cropping and farming activities. This book provides basic information about how to grow, manage, and use forages on smallholder farms in Southeast Asia. It follows on from a previous book in this series ("Developing forages with smallholder farmers: How to select the best varieties to offer farmers in Southeast Asia") which provided information about forage varieties that can grow in a wide range of conditions and either are being used successfully by smallholder farmers or have significant potential in Southeast Asia. All language versions of the books (currently English, Indonesian, Lao Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese and soon to include Burmese and Khmer) are available from the CIAT office in Vientiane. Individuals and organizations from both developing and developed countries may request a free hardcopy of the book. Orders for multiple copies are sold at US$5 per copy (which includes postage). 

Keywords: Feed crops; Feed grasses; Feed legumes; Small farms; Technological changes; Animal nutrition; Palatability; Digestibility; Supplements; Teaching materials; Asia

ISBN:1 86320 339 7

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