Training Manual for Organic Agriculture

Organic agriculture follows the principles and logic of a living organism, in which all elements (soil, plant, farm animals, insects, the farmer and local conditions) are closely linked to each other. This training manual will cover agronomic, biological and mechanical methods, following the principles of these interactions, using natural ecosystem as a model course.

Compiled by 

Ilka GOMEZ and Lisa THIVANT TECA Team – Research and Extension Division (DDNR) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (FAO) 

Edited by 

Nadia SCIALABBA Climate, Energy and Tenure Division (NRC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (FAO) 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

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.