"Small is beautiful" was famously brought into common parlance by Dr E.F.Schumacher with his book of the same name three decades ago, but is it true of small-scale agriculture today? The question demands an appropriate answer if future agricultural policies are to be framed and future developments executed to optimise human, economic and natural resources.

In this edition of New Agriculturist a wide range of opinions on that question are offered in Points of View: can small farmers be the 'engine of growth' for national economies that many expect of them? While opinion is divided, it is undisputed that small-scale agriculture must change if it is to have any chance of survival: new crops, new uses for traditional crops, new markets and new ways of farmers working together must all be exploited. Perspective offers a personal view on the need for small island nations to explore diversification and to add value to products, whereas News - A new twist to sisal - demonstrates that when one end use is lost to competition another may be found to replace it. Small farmers can also strengthen their economic position by working communally, as instanced by reports in Developments on herb production in Albania, livestock management in Namaqualand in South Africa, forestry in Vanuatu, eco-tourism in Kenya, and (News) the production of mezcal, an alcoholic beverage, in Mexico.

It has been observed that the mobilization of mutual interest is a powerful force; however, it is usually vested self-interest that is dominant in human affairs (see Country Profile-Fiji). Yet, the latter can be converted to the former, as demonstrated by EU policies on import and export of beef (see Focus on), and there is a gradual dawning that human activities, including agriculture, must not make future generations hostage to environmental catastrophe (see In print - Eco-economy and The world according to Pimm). News that a massive international effort is to be made to rehabilitate the agriculture of Afghanistan is welcome (see also Focus on - Restocking) but it should also provide an indication of what is required so urgently in many other places currently out of the public eye.

Please let us know if you experience any problems with accessing New Agriculturist. Please also suggest topics that you would like to see covered in future editions and send us your suggestions for making New Agriculturist even easier to use.

Points of view Do small farms remain 'engines of growth' & central to national development? Focus on Livestock trends Meeting the demand Nourishing waste The livestock revolution - devouring the planet? A practical, profitable route out of poverty? Animal welfare - in the mire? Something to beef about? Restocking: What's in store for the future? In Print Eco-Economy: Building an economy for the Earth Seeds of Contention: World hunger and the global controversy over GM crops Agroecological Innovations: Increasing food production with participatory development The World According to Pimm: A scientist audits the Earth Securing the harvest: biotechnology, breeding and seed systems for African crops The Overstory Book: Cultivating connections with trees Waste-Composting for Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture: Closing the rural-urban nutrient cycle in sub-Saharan Africa The Politics of Precaution: Genetically modified crops in developing countries Uncovering the Hidden Harvest: Valuation methods for woodland and forest resources State of the World 2002 Goose Farming Rice IPM: An interactive information and identification system for Integrated Pest Management of rice Development Policy Review Volume 19, Number 4: Rethinking rural development

Perspective Challenges facing island agriculture By Carl Greenidge News Agricultural assistance for Afghanistan Green light for Bt cotton in South Africa Wide awake to sleeping sickness Grave concern for Agave A sweeter source of sorghum Getting the goat in Uganda Eliminating Hunger: DFID consultation paper CCHF gives cause for concern A new twist to Tanzanian sisal Medfly eradication: not 'SIT'ting pretty Boosting coffee and tobacco production in Zambia Alfafa for acid soils Breaking new ground in groundnut production A refreshing approach to tea cultivation Improving Support for Enhancing Livelihoods of the Rural Poor Developments A sustainable future for southern Africa's community rangelands? Wildlife tourism - spreading the benefits Sustaining Albania's wild herb exports When the chips are down Going public Country Profile Fiji

To access an earlier edition of New Agriculturist visit the back issue page. Here we provide access to all articles in previous editions of New Agriculturist. The latest information on courses and conferences is contained in the current edition only.

Alternatively if you are looking for an article on a specific subject, you can also search the site.

To suggest a subject for a future edition of the New Agriculturist, or to offer material to us, please use our suggestions page.

Interacting with New Agriculturist

You are free to print copies of the articles contained within the New Agriculturist and distribute them to those who do not have internet access. Articles may also be used in other publications on the condition that New Agriculturist is credited as the source of the material, and a sample is sent to WRENmedia. For all other uses please ask permission of the authors.

Photographs are from the photo library of WRENmedia unless otherwise stated and may only be duplicated with express permission. Please contact Susanna Thorp for further information.

Organizations and companies wishing to display services in New Agriculturist and to be linked with this site should contact Patrick Harvey.

For information on WRENmedia services, simply click on the logo below.

Editorial team:
Michael Pickstock, Susanna Thorp, Patrick Harvey, Sarah Reynolds and Mike Davison.

Webmaster:
Patrick Harvey

The authors of the New Agriculturist do not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in the New Agriculturist, nor do they accept responsibility for errors or omissions or their consequences. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of WRENmedia.