Message-ID: <0J1TmD1w165w@baraka.org> Date: Tue, 23 Apr 1996 10:36:56 UTC+2 From: rose-marie barbeau <mailto:howard@BARAKA.ORG> Subject: Arabic version/Farming for the Future To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
>From: mailto:sustfarm@netvision.net.il
>
>FARMING FOR THE FUTURE
>P.O.Box 51647
>91516 Jerusalem
>Tel/Fax: +972 2 741770
>E-mail: mailto:sustfarm@netvision.net.il
>---------------------------------
>International Address: when direct communication is impossible
>ILEIA, P.O. Box 64, NL-3830 AB Leusden, Netherlands,
>Fax: +31 33 940791
>
>
>April 15, 1996
>
>
>concerning: Arabic publication "Farming for the Future"
> An Introduction to Low-External-Input
> and Sustainable Agriculture
>
>
>We would like to draw your attention to our efforts to publish
>the book "Farming for the Future" in arabic and adapt it to
>the Middle Eastern and North African environment.
>The book has been written by Coen Reijntjes, Bertus Haverkort
>and Ann Waters-Bayer (Macmillan/ILEIA, 1992)
>
>The project is an initiative of:
>Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC), the largest
>agricultural non-governmental extension organization in the
>West Bank and Gaza Strip and;
>Permaculture Development Programme in the West Bank and Gaza
>Strip.
>
>'Farming for the Future' examines the strategies and
>techniques of Low--External-Input and Sustainable Agriculture
>(LEISA) in the tropics. It is based on eight years' work by
>the Information Centre on Low-External-Input and Sustainable
>Agriculture (ILEIA) in conjunction with the ETC Foundation in
>the Netherlands. With the aid of its network of over 4000
>members, ILEIA has collected the experiences of innovative
>farmers, field workers and supporting scientists in developing
>productive and sustainable forms of agriculture. The
>scientific principles behind the various LEISA systems and
>techniques have been analysed, with the advisory support of
[more]>staff members from the Agricultural University of Wageningen
>and independent professionals.
>
>The central concern of the book is how development workers can
>assist small-scale farmers in making the best use of low-cost
>local resources to solve their agricultural problems. Emphasis
>is therefore on methods of Participatory Technology
>Development (PTD) to find site-specific solutions and raise
>the overall productivity of farmers in a sustainable way.
>
>'Farming for the Future' is written primarily for middle-level
>agricultural development staff in extension, research and
>training in and for the Third World. It should also be of
>great interest to lectures and students of agriculture and
>rural development, as well as to research scientists and to
>planners of agricultural related projects.
>
>Since its publication in 1992 "Farming for the Future" has
>been translated into Spanish, French, Portuguese and Chinese.
>
> * * * * *
>
>To our knowledge few literature on this topic is available in
>arabic. We believe that an Arabic version of this publication
>will be an important contribution to the discussion about the
>future of griculture in the Arab World. The book can also be
>use as an practical reference for students and extension
>staff.
>
>Although the main text will not be altered, we agreed with the
>authors to adapt the original to semi-arid conditions and
>concentrate on dry land and rain-fed farming experience in the
>Middle East and North Africa.
>In the Arabic version numerous of examples from the Middle
>East and North Africa wil be given to illustrate key
>principles and techniques of LEISA.
>
>Therefore, we are compiling information material of any sort:
>literature, articles, personal experience, interviews,
>illustrations, picture, diagrams and tables about LEISA in
>semi arid and arid regions, and in particular in the Middle
>East and North Africa.
>
>We hope that you are willing to share your LEISA experience
>and knowledge by contributing to the arabic version of
>"Farming for the Future".
>Naturally, we will acknowledged the author/source of the
>material we decide to insert.
>We plan to add arabic references (in arabic) to the original
>references.
>In addition we would like to extend the address list of
>organisations concerned with sustainable agriculture with:
>- arabic groups and institutions
>- dryland institutes
>- water management organisations
>
>The list attached to this letter contains the various topics
>which are dealt with in the book and we hope to be illustrate
>with appropriate examples and suggestions for our region.
>
>We are looking forward to your contributions.
>
>The project team,
>
>Gert de Bruijne
>Majdi al Dakiki
>Allan Howard
>
>
>
> * * * *
>
>REQUEST FOR TEXT, DIAGRAMS, TABLES AND FIGURES
>REGION: NORTH AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST
>CLIMATE: SEMI ARID & ARID
>
>TOPICS:
>
>agriculture and sustainability
>- impact of high external input agriculture
>* Drought follows the Plow, M.H. Glantz p.38/39/40
> West Africa Sahel
>
>
>
>- contraints of low external input agriculture
>* Drought follows the Plow, Will Swearingen
> Shortcoming of the traditional plow, p.121/122
>
>- scientist have neglected LEIA farmers
>- hybrids replacing climate resistant local crops
>- mechanisation versus animal power
>- re-evaluation of indigenous farmers knowledge
>
>technology development by farmers
>- farmer-led development unseen by outside experts
>- consultant appriciation of local traditional agriculture
>- indigious management of microclimate (soil conservation)
>- microclimate manipulation
>- Examples of indigenous farming principles:
> holistic world view
> community-based farming
> optimal use of local resouces
> reliance on genetic and diversity
> soil protection and recycling natural nutrients
> risk minimisation
> site-specific techniques
>- agrocentric culture
>- cases of experimenting farmers
>- types of experiments: curiosity/problem-solving/adaption
>
>basic ecological principles of LEISA
>- micronutrient drain
>- IPM as alternative for pesticides
>- trap plants to control pest
>- varieties to suit different needs and conditions
>- using vertical and horizontal space in home gardens
>- women's criteria for assessing plant varieties
>- women as managers of knowledge about indigenous plants
>
>development of LEISA systems
>- farmer response to land scarcity
>
>linking farmers and scientists in developing LEISA technology
>- combining internal and external inputs
>- smallholder corporations
>
>PTD in practice
>- organization inventory
>- community walks
>- using audiovisual prompts in problem analysin
>- community-led surveys
>- workshop of (female) livestock keepers
>- farmers ranking (of useful trees/crops/etc)
>- farmers 'indicators of soil types
>- study tours by farmers
>- systems diagrams to make joint decisions
>- supporting farmers' experiments
>- adjusting experimental design
>- stepwise testing
>- farmer focus groups
>- farmer field days
>- extension by folk drama
>- training farmer experimenters
>- farmers' manuals
>- methodes to linking farmers to other farmers and researchers
>
>Promising LEISA techniques and practices in the Middle East
>and North Africa
>
>soil and nutrient management
>- manure handling and improvment
>- composting
>- green manuring
>- experiences with improved fallow
>- diversified alley cropping
>- intercropping
>- use of mineral fertiliser
>
>managing flows of solar radiation, air and water
>- mulching
>- windbreaks
>- water harvesting, conservation and re-use
>- tied ridging, strip cropping, contour-line barriers
>- wetland use
>- water ponds
>- highland soil conservation
>
>pest and disease management
>- tackling a pest problem (according to checklist table A4)
>- intercropping
>- trap and decoy crops
>- constructed traps
>- repellents
>- biological control
>- protecting fruit trees from stray and wild animals
>- natural crop protection
>- innovative health care of livestock
>- pest control and community participation
>
>choosing, conserving and improving genetic resources
>- underutilised plant and animal genetic resources
>- producing and conserving genetic resource
>- fitting new animal species into farms
>- farmer based crop breeding
>
>integrated farm systems
>- bio-intensive gardening
>- terrass and contour farming
>- integrated forage production; fodderbanks
>- integrated crop-livestock-fish farming
>
>LEIA = low-external-input-agriculture
>HEIA = high-external-input-agriculture
>