Training Manual for Organic Agriculture

Contents: 1. Introducttion to organic agriculture. 2. Considerations for conversion to organic agriculture. 3. step by step conversion to organic agriculture. 4. Mulching in organic agriculture: Water management in organic agriculture: i. Increasing infiltration: Water storage. ii. Crop planning and management in organic agriculture. iii. Nutrient management in organic agriculture. iv. Pest and disease management in organic  agriculture. v. Weed management In organic agriculture. vi. Soil cultivation and tillage in organic  agriculture. vii. Plant propagation in organic agriculture. vii. Animal husbandry in organic agriculture.

The production of this manual is a joint activity between the Climate, Energy and Tenure Division (NRC) and the Technologies and practices for smallholder farmers (TECA) Team from the Research and Extension Division (DDNR) of FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy.

The realization of this manual has been possible thanks to the hard review, compilation and edition work of Nadia Scialabba, Natural Resources officer (NRC) and Ilka Gomez and Lisa Thivant, members of the TECA Team. Special thanks are due to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) for their valuable documents and publications on organic farming for smallholder farmers. (jacket)