Category: M

melon: a plant of the cucumber family (Cucumis melo) with a sweet fruit. The flesh of the fruit varies from green to orange or white. Growing melons can provide farmers with a high-value crop, particularly for markets interested in fresh fruit.

marking: the practice of putting a mark on an animal to identify who it belongs to, e.g. a brand on the skin. Effective marking can help farmers manage their livestock more efficiently, ensuring better record-keeping and traceability.

monosaccharide: a simple sugar such as glucose. Understanding the role of monosaccharides can help farmers manage livestock nutrition more effectively, ensuring better health and productivity.

meter: a device to measure a physical property such as current, rate of flow or air speed. Understanding the uses and applications of meters can help farmers manage resources and operations more effectively, ensuring better productivity.

Miranda: a breed of cattle found in Portugal. The animals are dark brown in colour, with horns coloured white with black tips. Mirandas are bred for meat and for draught. Raising Miranda cattle can provide farmers with a versatile and productive breed, contributing to better income and farm sustainability.

mutation: a change in the structure of a gene, which may result in a change in a characteristic of an organism, and which can be inherited by later generations. Understanding the role and implications of mutations can help farmers improve their breeding programs and genetic studies.

mangosteen: a tree (Garcinia mangostana) which is native to Malaysia, but which is now cultivated in the West Indies. The fruit has a dark shiny rind and a soft sweet white flesh. Growing mangosteen can provide farmers with a unique and high-value crop, particularly in regions with suitable climates, contributing to income diversification and economic stability.

monocotyledon: a flowering plant which has only one seed leaf (cotyledon). Compare dicotyledon. Understanding the characteristics of monocotyledons can help farmers manage crop production and biodiversity more effectively.

mode of action: the way in which a pesticide acts. For example, organophosphorous compounds disrupt the nerve impulses in insects. Understanding the mode of action of pesticides can help farmers manage pest control more effectively, ensuring better crop health and yields.

mixed cropping: the practice of growing more than one type of plant on the same piece of land at the same time. Opposite monocropping. Understanding mixed cropping can help farmers optimize their crop production and improve soil health and biodiversity.