Co-publications

CTA produces many information products in partnership with other organisations and individuals; it is particularly keen to work with ACP authors and publishers. Through the co-publication programme, many titles on agricultural development in ACP countries are published that might otherwise be rejected for commercial reasons.

Co-published materials, in print and electronic format, include series, technical publications, co-seminar proceedings and reports, CD-ROMs/multimedia, databases, videos and sound files. Emphasis is placed on publications relating to CTA's priority information themes, new ICTs and information and communication management (ICM).

An internal Information Products Committee meets monthly to look at the proposals for support sent to CTA. The main selection criteria are:

To consider proposals, CTA needs the following information:

• the proposed structure or table of contents (if no manuscript or sample text is available);
• if available, the complete manuscript or sample chapters (for book proposal), script or scenario (for film or video proposal), sample or prototype (for CDs, database);
• information on the author(s);
• the target audience;
• distribution/access considerations;
• an itemised estimate of production costs (and information on other potential partners)

The support that CTA gives may involve financing translation (into English or French) and production costs, and/or distributing copies free-of-charge to Publications Distribution Service subscribers.

Series

You will find details on the series co-published by CTA in the Publications Catalogue. Here is a brief description of these series:

• 'Opportunities in food processing'. Aimed at people involved in small-scale food processing enterprises and compiled by practitioners in ACP countries working with CTA staff, this series was launched in 2001 with the publication of Setting Up and Running a Small Food Business. This book covered product selection, supplier/retailer contracts, buildings, equipment and legal, financial and management issues. Other books in the series will deal with specific food products, such as bakery products, meat, fish, milk, fruit and vegetables.
• 'Agrodok'. These simple, low-priced manuals on agricultural practices are aimed at farmers and field workers. They are published with Agromisa, an association of students and graduates of the Wageningen University and Research Centre. There are now 35 titles in English, 32 in French and 12 in Portuguese.
• 'The Tropical Agriculturalist'. There are now 40 titles in this series of practical guides on plant and animal production, launched in 1987 with Macmillan. The books are aimed at extension agents and development workers. They are also used in training and secondary education. The concise texts and small format make them ideal for use in the field.
• 'Land and Life'. With Terres et Vie, CTA published five titles in this series. Aimed at people in extension and training, these well-illustrated books discuss simple, inexpensive technologies suitable for use in developing countries, particularly in Africa.
• 'Practical Agricultural Booklets'. With CTA support, five manuals were translated from Kiswahili and published by Friends-of-the-Book Foundation and Acacia Stantex Publishers in Kenya. These simple manuals deal with using fertiliser, making compost and growing soya beans, sweet potatoes and onions, garlic and leeks. New titles in the pipeline focus on farm accounting, compost manure, growing bananas and raising ostriches.

CONTACT: guiot@cta.int