We support community leaders to train farmers in agroforestry using Inga trees, planted in rows (alley-cropping) with crops between. Mulch from trees builds long-term fertility and replaces regular burning of forest (ash gives 2 years growing). Farmers teach farmers village by village.
Categories
Beneficiaries
Situation
Slash-and-burn agriculture is a major contributor to deforestation and CO2 emissions in Africa and South America. It is the biggest cause of forest loss in Africa. It is hard to control and after only 2 harvests the soil is exhausted. It is detrimental to communities who have to burn new plots every couple of years. Young people leave for cities or turn to poaching for ivory or bush meat to sell. The result is a damaging cycle of environmental degradation and societal decline.
Solution
We educate farmers in the Inga alley cropping technique, an agroforestry method that builds soil fertility year-after-year. Inga trees are planted in rows with crops in between. The trees shade out weeds; after c2 years growth trees are pruned to 1m 50, the brush makes mulch on the ground to build soil. This chemical-free method eliminates the need to slash and burn new plots. We create nurseries and work with community leaders and individual farmers to establish and maintain long-term plots.
