PSB 65 (1) 2019 describes improved agricultural production technologies for ensuring adequate food production.
production; (3) Crop diseases and pests; (4) Smallholding farms; (5) Common cultivation practices; (6) Pre- and postharvest field operations; (7) Cereal production; (8) Root and tuber crops; (9) Leguminous crops (beans, groundnuts, Bambara groundnuts); (10) Vegetable production (cabbage, okra, onion, pepper, pumpkins, rape, tomato); (11) Fruit production (banana, pineapple, sugarcane); and (12) Perspectives for improvement (seed quality, irrigation, storage structures, improving extension services).
Although all photographs are not credited, numerous topical illustrations and a map enrich the textbook considerably. Tables taken from the U.S. Department of Agriculture provide nutritional values, per 100 g raw material of select local vegetables, including cabbage and okra. The contents are broad (i.e., include useful information, even about crop origins and geographical distribution); Food Crop Production evaluates traditional therefore, it should provide answers to most cultivation practices used by smallholder basic student questions. farmers, adding the latest information on The foreword by Dr. S. Nteranya, Director increasing crop yield through adoption of General, IITA, notes that this textbook was innovative techniques. It catalogs smallholder inspired by lack of such a resource for the cultivation practices and recommends Southern African region and includes the strategies for improvement, including expressed hope that the information will be management practices that reduce net carbon helpful to growers, research and extension emissions and technologies that improve soil services, and students and professionals in structures and conserve natural resources. institutions of higher learning. He writes Some attention is given to empowering that while agriculture is at the core of local women’s contributions along value chains and life, agricultural productivity for subsistence urging government commitment to adopt farmers has always been very low because of policies that enhance agriculture productivity recurrent droughts, use of traditional farming by encouraging farmers to use environmentally systems, and outbreaks of pests and diseases. sound cultivation technologies. The book closes with a 14-page bibliography, Muimba-Kankolongo’s specialty in plant a 4-page glossary, and a 15-page index. Its cost pathology is pervasive throughout the might be prohibitive, in terms of accessibility textbook, in consideration of traditional for student-farmers, hence it may be better farming techniques that have often produced described as a useful reference work. negative impacts on the environment, resulting in crop vulnerability. Pests and –Dorothea Bedigian, Research Associate, Misdiseases, weeds, and invasive plant species souri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Missouri, put populations at risk of poverty, hunger, USA and malnutrition. Food Crop Production
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