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23 January 2003
Trees for life
The World Agroforestry
Centre describes agroforestry as ‘using trees on farms’. Although
the word ‘agroforestry’ is a recent one, the practice of growing
trees interspersed with food crops has been practised for thousands of years,
especially in rain-forest environments.
There are two types
of agroforestry systems – simultaneous and sequential. The simultaneous
system is where trees and crops grow together. In sequential systems, crops
are alternated with trees.
Last year, Chata ADP trained 44 farmers in simultaneous agroforestry techniques
and in soil and water conservation.
The trainers were fellow farmers who are volunteer ‘agricultural extension
workers’. The Government employs agricultural field assistants to
carry out farmer training, however the number has dwindled due to the impact
of HIV/AIDS and the Government’s financial constraints. The availability
of local, volunteer extension workers means that more farmers can be trained,
more quickly.
The farmers learnt how to under-sow nitrogen-fixing trees such as Tephrosia
vogelii with maize and conserve soil and water by planting vetiver grass
on ridges in their fields. The thick root system of the grass enables it
to store water and its clump of long, thin leaves trap crop residues and
silt eroded by runoff.
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Chata project profile
CHATA STORY ARCHIVE
2008
Plenty to smile about
Zakeyo’s farm
Snippets
HopeChild
Counting down
2007
Model village
Snippets
2006
A glass of fresh water
Sweet
Snippets
Rabbits, rabbits everywhere!
2005
Snippets
Food security
2004
Don’t adjust your set
Snippets
2003
Real answers
Trees for life
Snippets
Beans ‘n’ spuds
Thinking outside the square
No kidding
Cassava miracles
Hunger & cholera
View country profile Show Malawi on map
Blantyre Urban: Charity and Aisha
Mikolongwe: Trying it out
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Bangladesh show on map
Chitalmari: Reaching out
Kaliganj: Turning point
Laudob: Tailor-made
Sariakandi: No bride price
Tarash: Extra tuition brings top results
Cambodia show on map
Koh Andaet: Savings scheme
Oudong: Making water safe
Samrong Tong: Better sanitation means better health
Stong: Welcome to Stong
Honduras show on map
Concepcion: Changing for the better
Nueva Vision: Mobilising youth
Valle: Farewell to Valle
India show on map
Banswara: Snippets
Dahod: A man with a vision
Dumaria: Snippets
Gajapati: Snippets
Girideep: Good news from India
Mayurbhanj: Snippets
Mumbai West: Working woman
Ratlam: Snippets
Mali show on map
Koro: In their own words
Togogana: Welcome to Togogana
Yangasso: Time in the garden
Myanmar show on map
Myeik: Snippets
Nicaragua show on map
Aguas Azules: At the helm
Tlilican: School gets new lease of life
Niger show on map
Chadakori: Welcome to Chadakori
Goulbi N'Kaba: Successes
Papua New Guinea show on map
Port Moresby: Snippets
Vadavada: Snippets
Rwanda show on map
Kabuga: Welcome to Kabuga
Tubehoneza: Building a better world for children
Tanzania show on map
Budekwa: Snippets
Bugabo: Clinic has water at last!
Bukene: Snippets
Dakama: Conserving the future
Ibuga: Snippets
Ibwera: Snippets
Iselamagazi: Good News from Iselamagazi
Magugu: Snippets
Nkoma: Snippets
Nshamba: Snippets
Uganda show on map
Buyamba: Taking care of your own
Ngogwe: Welcome to Ngogwe
Pakwach: Farewell to Puvona
Panyimur: Snippets
Rakai-Kooki: Cool school
Vanuatu show on map
Tafea: Snippets
Zambia show on map
Mporokoso: Community leader
Nakonde: Good news from Nakonde
Siachitema: Time to know the truth
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