The need for better access to and exchange of information on the use of cover crops and improved fallows in sustainable agriculture was identified. To meet this need a structure will be established to receive and disseminate information on regional and international experiences with these practices relevant to the major agro-ecologies of West Africa (arid and semi-arid zones, humid and sub-humid zones).

The objective of this structure is to facilitate access to information. IITA (Dr. R. Carsky and Albert Eteka) will present a proposal to various donors (IDRC, SG2000, etc.) regarding this initiative. Mr. Eteka was chosen by the workshop participants to be the facilitator for the clearing house, a mechanism that will be light-weight, non-bureaucratic efficient and low cost. The activities of the clearing house include: the compilation, translation, classification and diffusion of documents concerning cover crops. It is also expected that the clearing house will establish an Internet Web Page to exchange information. A close relationship will be developed with the International Clearing House for Information on Cover Crops (CIDICCO) in Honduras central America.

The proposal will also call for the establishment of a fund to be used to contract specific studies aimed at increasing understanding of the potential impacts of cover crop extension. Selected studies will be presented at an international meeting on cover crops in Brazil, planned for April, 1997 (see below). A Steering Committee comprised of national scientists and donors will establish priorities and manage the fund.

Access to seeds of cover crops is a major constraint to promotion and adoption of cover crops. IITA, represented by Dr. Carsky, was asked by the participants to characterize and maintain cover crop accessions. This will be facilitated by a crop pathologist currently employed by IITA and ILRI. A contact person from each country at the workshop was identified to serve as a facilitator for diffusion of the cover crop varieties.

Senegal: Gueye, Fatou
Cameroon: Youri, Alphonse
Benin: Eteka, Albert
Burkina Faso: Segda Zacharie
Ghana: Osei-Bonsu Palterson
Togo: Fantchede Ambroise
Mali: Bengaly M'Pie
Ivory Coast: Becker, Matias (WARDA)
France: Marnotte Pascal (CIRAD)
Elie Dembele (CMDT, Mali)
Zambia: Freddie Kwesiga (ICRAF)

The Sasakawa/Global 2000 project will multiply large quantities of key cover crops in countries where it has activities. In the case of Mali, Mr. Elie Dembele (CMDT) will also increase seed.

The proceedings of the workshop presentations will be published in French and English, in printed form and on the Internet. Dr. Osiname will be responsible for review of papers submitted and, if necessary, request clarification of the content. The authors who have not already submitted their papers, should do so by October 31, 1996, addressed to Organizing Committee, Attn. Mr. Albert Eteka, 08 BP 0932 Tri Postal, Cotonou, Republique du Benin, West Africa. Other participants in the workshop, including those who presented posters, who wish to share their experiences with cover crops through the proceedings are encouraged to send articles for inclusion in a seperate section of the document. Participants are encouraged to include relevant photographs with their submissions. Documents should be submitted on floppy disk.

The translation of the final version of the proceedings will be managed by IDRC. The Workshop Organizing Committee will facilitate distribution of the proceedings among participants. With luck, the proceedings will be available before the end of the year.

The Organizing Committee for this task is comprised of: O. Osiname, A. Eteka, M. Galiba, R. Fassassi, K. Aihou, P. Vissoh, F. Fagbohoun, G. Gokou, G. Dagbenonbakin, D. Buckles.

The West African group has been invited to an International Conference on Cover Crops in Brazil, and will present an overview paper on regional experiences. This paper will be supported by key case studies on research and extension with cover crops. The Organizing Committee of the Benin workshop will continue to function so as to facilitate the participation of the group at this conference. People from other West African countries are encouraged to share their experiences and collaborate with the committee.

The case studies suggested during the Benin workshop include:

• Mucuna relay crops and improved fallows, Sub-humid tropics;
  
• Use of Stylosanthes in the humid zones of West Africa;
  
• Cover crops (Pueraria) under tree plantations in humid zones;
  
• The Use of Sesbania rostrata in irrigated plots;
  
• The Use of Dolichos to integrate crop-livestock systems;
  
• Fodder banks using Aeschynomene;
  
• Use of Acacia albida with cereal crops in peasant farming systems;
  
• Improved fallows with Calopogonium in rice-based systems (Dogbe);
  
• The Use of Mucuna, Dolichos and Canavalia for human consumption (Osei-Bonsu);
  
• The production of legume forage in flooded savanah plains of the Ivory Coast (Becker);
  
• Improved fallows in upland rice systems of the Ivory Coast (Becker)

Constraints on the use of cover crops in human and animal nutrition is a bottleneck for extension. Three actions will be taken:

• A formal study of the toxicology of Mucuna flour will be contracted through IDRC with the University of Wagenningen, Netherlands;

• A review of literature on the use of Mucuna as animal feed will be contracted with a specialist by IDRC. The results of both studies will be available through the Cover Crop Clearing House.

• The results of the studies will be used to orientate research and extension on the use of Mucuna seeds in human and animal nutrition.

Additional practical actions were proposed during the workshop:

1. by Adelabou Jeremie (Benin)

• Evaluate the impact of Mucuna on maize in the Department of Atacora, Benin.
  
• Organize information and training on the advantages of cover crop in integrate crop- livestock.
  
• Propose improved fallow based on Mucuna rotation.
  
• The Research and Development Unit of CARDER Atacora should carry out investigation on an attempt to fence Mucuna plots with legume trees.

• Widespread diffusion of the results of the Benin workshop on the opportunities and the experiencies of countries with the use of cover crops to improve soil fertility, control weeds and improve fodder supply.
  
• Sensitize the production units, via the year-end meetings, concerning the use of cover crops in upcoming campaigns.
  
• Provide information on extension to the representative of the Clearing House, Mr. Eteka.
  
• Foster the use of Senna siamea as an agroforestry species (Research and Development Unit, Sikasso, Mali).

3. By Dagbenonbakin, Gustave (Benin)

• Test short-cycle Mucuna varieties in northern Benin.
  
• Test legume species with natural phosphates and lime (Onigbolo).
  
• Study the pH of farmers' fields where Mucuna is used.
  
• Study legume associations for soil fertility management.

4. By Amidou, Moutaharou (Benin)

• Determine the appropriate application rates for chemical fertilizers following one, two and three year periods of fallow improvement with Canavalia ensiformis and Aeschynomene histrix.

5. By Agossou, Valerien (Benin)

• Study short cycle legume varieties for northern Benin.
  
• Test plant species for use as living fences for the protection of improved Mucuna fallows.
  
• Determine farmer perceptions on the incorporation of Mucuna biomass at the end of the rainy season.

6. By Houngnandan, Pascal (Benin)

• Study the symbiotic properties of soil bacteria needed to improve the establishment of Mucuna in diverse systems and soils of Benin.
  
• Study the diverse process of organic matter management with Mucuna species.
  
• Study the efficiency of the use of organic and inorganic nitrogen in Mucuna relay crop systems.
  
• What is needed: Finances and materials to continue the research activities mentioned above both on station and in farmer fields in diverse agroecological zones in Benin.

7. By Gokou, Gerard (Benin)

• Diffuse cover crops in the coastal zone of Benin to control speargrass.
  

• Evaluate the local adaptation of Dolichos lablab, Canavalia ensiformis and short-cycle cover crops.

9. By Amadji, Firmin (Benin)

• Investigate the plant diseases affecting Mucuna and identify the causes (in collaboration with IITA).
  
• Study the evolution of organic matter in the tillage systems of Oueme and non-tillage systems of Mono, in collaboration with CENAP.
  
• Study the use of Mucuna to control invasive weeds other than speargrass.

10. By Zoumana, Kouyate (Mali)

• Determine the recipes for use of Dolichos and Sesbania rostrata in human nutrition.

11. By Vissoh, Pierre and Fantchede, Ambroise (Benin)

• Study the impacts of Mucuna on Striga in northern Benin and Togo.
  

• Make available Mucuna seeds to animal herders in northern Benin.
  
• Prepare a project for the study of hedgerows/living fences for the protection of forrage crops.

13. By Mbarga Alega, Celestin (Cameroon)

• Integrate Mucuna cover crops in the shifting cultivation systems of Cameroon, to reinforce environmental protection.

14. By Aihou Kouessi (Benin)

• Evaluate quantitatively and qualitatively, the varieties of Mucuna spp. in the Niaouli collection.
  
• Study the effects of the interaction of cover crops, organic soil ammendments and chemical fertilizers on maize yields.
  
• Study the maize-Mucuna rotation, maize-Canavalia maize-Egusi, Canavalia-Tephrosia, and maize-cassava on the productivity of soil.

15. By Nonguierma, Edouard (Burkina Faso)

• Extension of Mucuna for soil fertility improvement in tree plantations and abandoned lands
  
• Determine how to prevent soil degradation by using Mucuna and Dolichis
  
• Needs: Mucuna seeds.

16. By Bengaly M'Pie (Mali)

• Identify Mucuna varieties adapted to semi-arid zones (800-1000 mm rainfall with 4-5 month growing season) that can be associated with cereals.

17. By Zougmore, Robert (Burkina Faso)

• Determine the adaptation of climbing Mucuna and Canavalia varieties in the arid zone.

18. By Segda, Zacharie (Burkina Faso)

• Diffuse Mucuna pruriens, Canavalia ensiformis, Centrosema pubescens and Calopogonium mucunoides in farmers' fields.

• Test use of Mucuna as a cover crop to control Cromelina sp. in northern Cameroon.
  
• Test use of Dolichos as a cover crop to produce forrage and increase milk production.

20. By Sock, Issa (Senegal)

• Introduce Mucuna in the irrigated areas of northern Senegal;
  
• Test the adapatation and growth of Mucuna in farmers' fields in irrigated, fertilized rice systems.
  
• Need: Access to Mucuna seed

21. By Wilson, Dogbe (Ghana)

• Experiment with Mucuna rotations.
  
• Plant in border alleys, pigeon pea, Leuceana, and glyricidia, Mucuna, and Dolichos.
  
• Plant cereals in band alleys composed of pigeon pea, leuceana and glyricidia, Mucuna and Dolichos.
  
• Plant mixtures of legumes (Mucuna/canavalia; Mucuna/puraria; Mucuna/lablab; Calopogonium/Stylosanthes; Stylosanthes/Mucuna).

22. Freddie Kwesiga (Zambia)

• Evaluate accessions of Mucuna for sub-humid zones in Zambia
  
• Needs: At least 5 accessions of Mucuna sent to Germplasm centre in Nairobi, Mr. James Were, MPT-GRC, ICRAF, Box 30677, Nairobi.
  
• Send Mucuna seed for 5 hectares of demonstration plots to SG 2000 in Zambia.

23. Becker, Matias (Ivory Coast)

• Needs: List of seed suppliers in the region (siratro, Tephrosia, Aeschoynome, Stylosanthes, Dolichos, Cajanus)
  
• Information on experiences with legume mixtures

24. Fianu, (Ghana)

• Study effect of dietary levels of Mucuna forage on the performance of ruminants.
  
• Study effect of dietary levels of Mucuna seed meal on the performance of pigs and poultry.

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