Noticia(s) 307 de 431

Promoting Cover Crops for African Farmers

1999-03-29

Established two years ago with funding from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), an information centre in Benin is helping to spark interest in cover crops as a tool for improving African soil productivity.

In October 1996, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Sasakawa 2000 project hosted a workshop on cover crops and green manure, held at the IITA station in Cotonou, Benin. Initiated by IDRC, the workshop was attended by 49 people from nine African countries, Canada, France, Indonesia, and the United States. One of its outcomes was the 1997 birth of the Center for Cover Crops Information and Seed Exchange in Africa (CIEPCA).

Sustainable agriculture

Cover crops are plants — such as legumes — that can improve the fertility of nutrient-depleted soils or control noxious weeds. "At IITA, cover crops have been recognized for years as being critical to sustainable agriculture," said Robert Carsky, an IITA agronomist and CIEPCA project leader. "But it's hard to sell farmers on their benefits because they have to forgo planting food crops in order to grow cover crops," he noted during at a recent seminar at IDRC headquarters.

When farmers do grow cover crops, "it's not always for soil fertility reasons," added Dr Carsky. For example, thousands of farmers in southern Benin are now using Mucuna pruriens, a fast-growing plant that densely covers fallow fields, partly because it suppresses the tenacious Imperata cylindrica weed. Cover crops may also help overcome shortages of feed for livestock.

Attractive alternative

According to IDRC program officer, Daniel Buckles, cover crops are becoming increasingly attractive compared to other methods for improving soil fertility. For example, the productivity of traditional shifting agriculture systems has plummeted, while access to subsidized chemical fertilizers is declining in many African countries.

To fulfill its mandate, CIEPCA is involved in: (i) collecting and disseminating information on cover crops and on organizations and individuals working with cover crops in Africa; and (ii) identifying, screening, multiplying, and disseminating cover crop seeds. CIEPCA maintains a library, French e-mail discussion list, and website, and publishes a bilingual newsletter twice a year.

John Eberlee is the Managing Editor of IDRC Reports online.

Resource Persons: 

Albert Chabi Etèka, CIEPCA Coordinator, 08 PO Box 0932 Tri Postal, Cotonou, Benin; Tel: (229) 350-188; Fax: (229) 350-556; E-mail: a.eteka@cgiar.org

Robert J. Carsky, Agronomist, 08 PO Box 0932 Tri Postal, Cotonou, Benin; Tel: (229) 350-188; Fax: (229) 350-556; E-mail: r.carsky@cgiar.org

Daniel Buckles, Senior Program Officer, IDRC, PO Box 8500, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 3H9, Canada; Tel: (613) 236-6163, ext. 2358; Fax: (613) 567-7749; E-mail: dbuckles@idrc.ca

Links to explore ...

Cover Crops for Sustainable Agriculture

Cover Crops in Hillside Agriculture: Farmer Innovation with Mucuna

Cover Crops in West Africa: Contributing to Sustainable Agriculture

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