History and present circumstances influence how well individuals use their natural talents and how well countries utilise their natural resources. Not all are created equal yet some, seemingly poorly endowed, achieve surprising success while others, with obvious potential, struggle. In New Agriculturist this month we reflect the potential and the challenges facing two very different countries, Nepal and South Africa. Nepal still depends heavily on agriculture and agro-processing industries but it is starved of infrastructure and liable to erosion on a dramatic scale. In contrast, South Africa boasts good communications, schools, hospitals and research, and is often more associated with sophisticated industry and mining. Yet, South Africa must feed its people and prepare to assuage the land-hunger of its dispossessed without jeopardising its agriculture base. And, while South Africa is resource rich, the majority of the people, certainly in the rural areas, are resource limited. In both Nepal and South Africa they are striving to unlock their resource 'block'.

In many countries, where agriculture remains the engine of economic growth, diversification is recognised as a key to achieving greater productivity and prosperity. Aquaculture has long been seen as a natural extension to integrated crop and livestock production, but it has often failed to live up to its promise, particularly in Africa. New research and a better understanding of fish biology now offers new approaches to aquaculture as a viable proposition for resource-poor, small-scale farmers (Focus on).

Diversification of product use can also secure and even expand markets for crops. The discovery that cayenne pepper contains a fungicide useful for plant protection and human health (news) is one example. Also reported in News brief is the successful substitution of agrochemicals by kaolin in cotton pest control, and examples of how new methodologies are significantly increasing potential yield of two major root crops, potatoes and yams.

Finally, an agricultural crisis that has swept Western Europe, Britain in particular, is the worst ever epidemic of Foot and Mouth Disease. For three months the virus has appeared to rage out of control as veterinary experts, epidemiologists, politicians and farmers have argued the relative costs and benefits of slaughter versus vaccination as means of control. The argument has yet to be decided but some of the views can be seen and heard in Points of View. The lessons learned will, hopefully, benefit farmers and consumers in other parts of the world and those responsible for coping with other virulent pathogens affecting livestock.

The FMD outbreak is likely to result in fundamental changes in UK agriculture, and perhaps major changes throughout the European Union. In many EU countries there is a growing feeling that the countryside should largely be for leisure and that food can be bought abroad. Many in agriculture are pessimistic for the future. To close, the opinion of the Director General of Agriculture in South Africa, who is our guest in Perspective: "Our natural resources, in relation to the people we have to feed, have potential, but we need to harness that capacity. With the right minds thinking about things and coming together, I think it's a positive outlook."

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Points of view Management of Livestock Disease Focus on Aquaculture Hole in the ground - muddy and bare Fishing for a solution Hooked? Keeping a lid on disease Reproducing the results Making a GIFT selection Starting small From dilemma to decision In Print Brave New Seeds: The Threat of GM Crops A Field Manual of Camel Diseases: Traditional and modern health care Rubber Agricultural Science Policy: Changing global agendas Social and Institutional Issues in Watershed Management in India Critical Choices: The United Nations, networks and the future of global governance Understanding and Using Market Information The Current Pandemic of Cassava Mosaic Disease in East Africa and its Control Coffee: Recent Developments Cover Crops in Smallholder Agriculture: Lessons from Latin America The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture Plant Invaders: The threat to natural ecosystems Environmental Indicators for Agriculture Volume 3: Methods and results Going to Scale: Can we bring more benefits to more people more quickly? People, Plants and Protected Areas: A guide to in situ management

Perspective Innovating to Release the Potential of Agriculture in South Africa by Bongiwe Nomandi Njobe News Responding to foot and mouth - Argentina and the UK Outlook is unsettled for the world's poorest Helping the hardest hit - FAO appeals for funds Stakeholders rule the reefs Taming Kenya's wild fruit The silence is broken - Yams take centre-stage Pucker up! Stunt worms reveal all Farmers put their money on low-cost options Making a connection O.K Bud: The Texan solution to weevils South Africa and New Zealand team up to tackle TB Juliet's one log wonder Chilli heat to fight fungi Size matters - but so does quality of seed Building bridges in Zambia's wetlands Developments Cultivating 'Cinderella' trees Tumani Tenda: Reaping the rewards of community effort Too common to cause commen India's Pesticide Industry: struggling to reach its potential Zambezi 2000 - and onward Country Profile Nepal

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