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FAO has developed the specialized database for equipment to be
used under Conservation Agriculture.
For the successful implementation of Conservation Agriculture, special
equipment is needed for planting and residue handing. Such
equipment has already been developed and is manufactured and solid but
only in certain locations and therefore it is not yet universally
available.
The Conservation Agriculture Technology database lists
commercially available equipment which is specifically designed or
is essential for the successful introduction of Conservation Agriculture.
Particular importance is given to small scale equipment. The database
addresses the needs of farmers, extension staff, technicians and others
involved in Conservation Agriculture projects and also anybody else
generally interested in equipment for Conservation Agriculture and the
sources where to obtain it. The database concentrates only on equipment
and machinery for manual, animal or motorized operation which has been
specially designed for the needs of Conservation Agriculture. In
particular:
* Zero Tillage seeders and planters as well as rippers
with fertilizer or seed attachments.
* Equipment such as rollers, mulch slashers or choppers, straw
spreaders or choppers (including combine harvester attachments) for
handling weeds and crop residues or mulch covers as well as equipment for
mechanical weeding through a mulch cover.
* Spray equipment which has been especially designed for the
application of herbicides in small-scale no-till farming situations. At this
stage the database has a very moderate contents of 40 implements by 18
manufacturers. Manufacturers can subscribe themselves free of charge and
display their equipment on that database. We understand that the first
major manufacturers have already started working on uptdating their
entries.
