Manuals and training materials

Nematodes: plugging the knowledge gap

If not much is known about nematodes, that’s down to the nature of the beast: these tiny worms are invisible to the naked eye, feed on crop roots below the soil surface where they can’t be detected, and produce few tell-tale signs of the damage they cause, which is often attributed to other factors.

This highly popular manual plugs the knowledge gap. Originally co-published by three international research institutions and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), it has since been endorsed by the private-sector company Syngenta, which ordered a reprint of the English edition and sponsored translation into French and Portuguese. The clear, technical yet readable text is accompanied by more than 200 illustrations.
 

“My personal thanks on this, which I believe to be a great piece of work.”­

Danny Coyne, Nematologist, IITA

IPM for vegetable production

Integrated pest management (IPM) – the science, or rather art, of protecting crops without poisoning entire ecosystems – has been around since the early 1980s. Yet there are still gaps in the literature needed to support its application. Practical guidance on IPM in vegetables has been particularly lacking in West Africa, despite this region’s growing appetite for these crops.

That gap has now been filled. Authored by scientists at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), this manual provides development workers, technicians and farmers with a comprehensive inventory of pests and a menu of options for controlling them. It’s well edited, nicely illustrated (with over 100 photos) and spiral bound for ease of use in the field.
 

“Thanks for making this happen in such a timely manner.”

Braima James, IITA