[Manure Management] Training: Manure Management in the (Sub-)Tropics: Manual for Extension Workers

The primary objectives of this manual are to integrate manure management practices into livestock systems and improve existing practices to reduce SLCPs and other harmful emissions to the environment, capture methane as an energy source, and optimize nutrient utilization for crop production by managing and removing barriers to action with a view toward enhancing food security and sustainable development.

It focuses on three regions: South and East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Central and South America. One of the identified barriers for practice change is a lack of knowledge about the value of livestock manure and integrated manure management at multiple levels in government and society. Ultimately livestock farmers are responsible for practice change in regard to manure management. They have to do it, but often lack the knowledge to make successful changes.

Knowledge dissemination by government and non-government extension workers is the key to bridge this knowledge gap. Opportunities to change manure management practices at farm level through training of extension workers have been identified in all three focus regions. This eventually has initiated the concerted action of all project partners to compile this practical training manual. 

This publication is co-authored by Asaah Ndambi and David Pelster, scientists from the Livestock Systems and Environment (LSE) program of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), along with two other scientists from the Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It was co-published by WUR and FAO in October 2015 and is supported by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.