New Agriculturist: In print

In print

Communicating for Development: Human Change for Survival
by Colin Fraser and Sonia Restrepo-Estrada
published by I.B. Tauris, Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, London WC1B 4DZ
Hardback 294 pp £39.50 ISBN 1 86064 347 7
Paperback £14.95 ISBN 1 86064 238 1

"Unfortunately there can be no universal recipe for how to use communication to help re-education and change," is a point honestly made by the authors of "Communicating for Development: human change for survival." "Too general," they admit, is often the complaint of those expecting oven-ready solutions from those who try to advance the cause of better communication. Making valiant attempts to pre-empt this criticism, Colin Fraser and Sonia Restrepo-Estrada illustrate their general points with examples of successful and less successful strategies for getting a message across.

They speak with authority on the subject as both have worked in development communication for many years, in many countries and for many agencies. Colin Fraser was a pioneer in the use of communication for development, founding this area of work in the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization and running the unit responsible for 17 years. Sonia Restrepo-Estrada has specialized in communication for health and nutrition, working for several years with UNICEF. Naturally their experience colours the book, in particular the case studies which they present in some detail: UNICEF's campaign in the late '80s to immunize 80% of the world's children by 1990; the World Bank funded, PRODERITH campaign for the tropical wetlands in Mexico, using video to motivate change for which FAO provided technical assistance; two radio programmes: the BBC's The Archers, and Acción Cultural Popular (ACPO) in Colombia; communicating population and family planning issues in Indonesia (BKKBN) and elsewhere; and the Tambuli Community Radio Project in The Philippines which encourages community action to improve living standards.

What remains of the book, after explaining the need for better communication and presenting the case studies, is a relatively short section devoted to guidelines for future communication strategies. Much of this is common sense. The acknowledgment that past successes have almost always been due to the outstanding personal qualities of those in charge, and that democracy at the appropriate level is also a pre-requisite for successful communication, may leave the reader wondering what the book has to offer apart from a well-written and interesting read, especially when considering the hardback price of £39.50. Furthermore, there are patches of political correctness and linguistic style, characterized by words and phrases such as 'paradigm', 'envision' and 'interiorize (information)', which some may feel cloud communication. But genuine enthusiasm for the subject does shine through in much of the book and should convert the unconverted to the value of getting the communication element of any development programme properly established from the start. "Communication can no longer be treated like the fifth wheel of a car - nice to have but something of a luxury," say the authors, "Communication needs to be converted into the steering wheel to help guide the enormous changes necessary . . ." Communicating for Development is not like a car manual that needs to remain close at hand in the 'development' vehicle in case of breakdown, but it might be a useful book to read before deciding what type of 'vehicle' to buy in order to minimize the risk of breakdown in the first place.

Termites: biology and pest management
by M. J. Pearce, 1997
published by CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8DE, UK
Email: s.bell@cabi.org
192pp, price £35.00 (US$65.00), HBK, ISBN 0 85199 130

Termites are of great interest to both entomologists and those concerned with pest management. On the one hand their complex social systems and nest building make them fascinating for students of insect behaviour, while on the other they are major pests of crops and buildings in the tropics and subtropics.

This book provides a general scientific introduction to the termites, including their biology, behaviour, pest status and control. Commonly used ecological and laboratory techniques are described in appendices. There has been no such general book published for many years and so this title will fill a definite gap in the market. It is aimed at advanced students of entomology and pest management, as well as professionals concerned with urban and agricultural pest control.

New seed and old laws: regulatory reform and the diversification of national seed systems
by Robert Tripp, 1997
published by IT Publications, 103-105 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4HH, UK
Email: orders@itpubs.org.uk
259pp, price £12.95, PBK, ISBN 1 85339 417 7

This book argues that the development and diversification of national seed systems, which are currently taking place, require a thorough re-examination of public regulatory responsibilities. New seed and old laws Featuring case studies from a wide range of countries, it presents both a summary of current experience and a set of practical suggestions about how regulatory reform can contribute to the growth of national seed systems.

The book presents options for seed regulatory reform that are needed to address failures in government seed provision; innovations in community-level seed activities; the growth of the private seed sector; and the challenges of plant variety protection.

The book is addressed to all those concerned with agricultural development, including policy-makers, researchers, donors, voluntary agencies, and commercial seed producers.

Market gardening
by M. Kroll, 1998
published by Macmillan Education Ltd, Houndmills, Basingstoke RG21 6XS, UK
in association with Maisonneuve et Larosse and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA)
Email: p.oflannagan@macmillan.co.uk
120pp, price £7.00, PBK, ISBN 0 333 65449 8

This book introduces readers to vegetable production and guides them through the process of growing a profitable crop in tropical or subtropical climates. This is an important topic and an area of agriculture which is growing in importance. The book covers the conditions needed: climate, soils etc. shade and shelter, production methods, growing for export and for urban markets, main vegetables grown, post-harvest and marketing, including markets in EU countries. Market gardening includes appendices which describe common pests and diseases and suggests methods of control.

The book will be of interest to market gardeners world-wide but especially those in Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda and other tropical countries with developing horticultural industries; markets in EU countries; agricultural diploma, degree and vocational students as well as teachers and lecturers.

Camels
by T. Wilson, 1998
published by Macmillan Education Ltd, Houndmills, Basingstoke RG21 6XS, UK
in association with Maisonneuve et Larosse and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA)
Email: p.oflannagan@macmillan.co.uk
160pp, price £7.00, PBK, ISBN 0 333 60083 5

This is an excellent handbook on modern camel keeping. Chapters deal with origins and domestication and the distribution and importance of these animals. There is a detailed description of types and breeds and the uses to which these are adapted. There is a wealth of practical information on management, production and the potential of camels as producers of milk, meat and wool as well as their still important role in transport and providing farm and small-scale power.

The book will be of particular interest to farmers, university and college students and lecturers, extension workers, development workers and research scientists in all arid lands of Africa, Asia, Australia and the Middle East.

The genetics of the pig
edited by M. F. Rothschild and A. Ruvinsky, 1998
published by CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8DE, UK
Email: s.bell@cabi.org

The theory and application of mammalian genetics have evolved rapidly over the last two decades to include immunogenetics and molecular genetics, creating fresh insights into biological processes. These developments, together with improved management practices, have revolutionized pig production.

This book is a comprehensive reference work on pig genetics and its integration with livestock management and production technology to improve performance. All relevant tropics have been included, from phylogeny, morphological traits, disease and behaviour to transgenics, performance traits, genetic conservation and genome mapping. Linkage maps and the latest list of identified loci are included. Chapters have been specially commissioned for the volume by internationally recognized experts from Europe, North America and Australia. The book will be invaluable to advanced students and research workers in all branches of animal genetics and breeding, livestock, producers and veterinarians.

Livestock production extension: issues, case studies and policy options
by J. Morton, R. Matthewman and D. Barton, 1997
published by Natural Resources Institute, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK
Email: n.a.p.davison@gre.ac.uk
48pp, price £5.00, PBK, ISBN 0 85954 480 X

In this booklet, the provision of livestock production extension is assessed with reference to case studies in Burkina Faso, Kenya and India. Existing systems are reviewed and their impact evaluated. Finally, the role of different institutions and methodologies are evaluated, and lessons for the future are discussed.

Economic issues in trypanosomiasis control
by J. Barrett, 1997
published by Natural Resources Institute, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK
Email: n.a.p.davison@gre.ac.uk
183pp, price £20.00. PBK, ISBN 0 85954 483 4

Trypanosomiasis is a significant disease of man and livestock, and in sub-Saharan Africa is transmitted exclusively by the tsetse fly. Apart from the suffering caused by the disease, trypanosomiasis and its control have many direct and indirect economic consequences. This bulletin discusses investigations carried out in Zimbabwe and Zambia into the costs of four major techniques used for tsetse control. A methodology for cost comparison based on simple economic models is demonstrated. The publication will be of interest to planners and resource managers, and all those concerned with trypanosomiasis control and rural development in tsetse-affected areas of Africa.

Epidemiology and management of rice tungro disease
edited by T. C. B. Chancellor and J. M. Thresh, 1997
published by Natural Resources Institute, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK
Email: n.a.p.davison@gre.ac.uk
108pp, price £10.00, PBK, ISBN 0 85954 433 8

At a workshop on Rice Tungro Disease Management held from 11-14 November 1993 in Malaysia, researchers from five major rice producing countries met to discuss the present status of the disease and the progress of research into its management. This publication outlines current options for integrated management of tungro and critically reassesses vector control strategies. The publication will be of interest to scientists and officials from national agricultural departments who have to make decisions on the management of this important disease.

Agroforestry for soil management, 2nd edition
by Anthony Young, 1997
published by CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8DE, UK
Email: s.bell@cabi.org
320pp, price £25.00 (US$45.00), PBK, ISBN 0 85199 189 0

The previous edition of this book, entitled Agroforestry for soil conservation, was based on indirect evidence from agriculture forestry and soil science. The present work provides a new synthesis, drawing on over 700 published sources dating largely from the 1990s. These include both results of field trials of agronomy systems, and research into the plant-soil processes which take place within them. Soil conservation in its narrower sense, the control of erosion, is treated alongside other equally important aspects of soil management, such as nutrient cycling.

The new edition summarizes the present state of knowledge and indicates needs for research. It is essential reading for all concerned with agroforestry, whether as students, research scientists, or for practical purposes of development. It is also of interest to soil scientists agronomists and foresters.

Monographs

A number of extremely useful monographs comprising a comprehensive compilation of relevant information on individual tree species have been produced by the School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, UK. They are complemented by a series of practically-based handbooks for extension workers.

They are:

Parkia biglobosa - a monograph, 107pp, price £15.00 (£7.50 students)

Vitellaria paradoxa - a monograph, 105pp, price £15.00 (£7.50 students)

Parkia biglobosa - The Dawadawa Tree (Néré) and Vitelaria Paradoxa - The Shea Butter Tree (Karité), handbook for extension workers 30pp, price £4.00 (£2.00 students). Copies of transcriptions also available in Hausa and French

Acacia seyal - a monograph, 88pp, price £15.00 (£7.50 students)

Acacia seyal, handbook for extension workers, 30pp, price £4.00 (£2.00 students). Copies of transciptions also available in Hausa, French and Swahili

Balanites aegyptiaca - a monograph, 65pp, price £15.00 (£7.50 students)

Balanites aegyptiaca, handbook for extension workers, 35pp, price £4.00 (£2.00 students). Copies of transciptions also available in Hausa, French