This web site describes a series of workshops on cover crops and managed fallows, cropping practices that can contribute significantly to the sustainability of tropical farming systems. The purpose of the site is to raise awareness about the series among the general public and to provide interested persons with the opportunity to gain access to details regarding the organization and outputs of the workshops. The Workshop Series will address agricultural researchers and extentionists as well as community-based development workers, representatives from farmer organizations and officials responsible for agricultural policy. By combining field visits, scientific presentations and focused discussion, the workshops will examine technical options and identify socio-economic constraints to adoption. The overall goal of the series is to identify the strategic actions needed to fully explore the potential of cover crops and managed fallows to improve and sustain the productivity of tropical farming systems.

The Workshop Series
Brazil- Global (17 K)
Workshop title: Green Manure - Cover Crop Systems for Smallholders in Tropical and Subtropical Regions.
Overall goal: To develop a strategic agenda of promotion and research of GMCC systems for smallholders worldwide, building upon an exchange of experiences about research, development, evaluation, and adoption of cover crop, green manures, and managed fallow systems by smallholders in different tropical and subtropical regions.
Chapeco (Santa Catarina, Brazil), April 6-12, 1997

Central America - Regional (17 K)
Workshop title: Regional Workshop in Central America to Produce an "Information Kit" on Green Manure/Cover Crop Technologies.
Drawing on key informants and experiences (from farmers, technicians, researchers) a digest of practices with potential for application elsewhere will be prepared and critically evaluated by a diverse group of practitioners during a two-week long workshop.
Honduras, August 1996

West Africa (17 K) (Version fran&ccedilaise) (26 K) - Regional
Workshop title: Cover Crops in Sustainable Agriculture in West Africa : Constraints and Opportunities.
Drawing on regional experiences, the major opportunities and constraints on adoption of cover crops by smallholders in West Africa will be identified. Cotonou, Benin, October 1-4, 1996

Southeast Asia - Regional (17 K)
Workshop title: Indigenous Strategies for Intensification of Shifting Cultivation in Southeast Asia. Review of case studies where farmers have successfully developed strategies for intensification of shifting cultivation.
Bogor, Indonesia. June 23-27, 1997

Latin America- Regional
Workshop title: Cover Crops: Components of Integrated Systems
The workshop, which is primarily for rural promotors and researchers who work directly with campesino producers, is intended to systematize existing cover crop experiences, facilitate collaboration and the integration of perspectives, and discuss the implications for research and development.
Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, February 3-6, 1997 (This workshop is not formally affiliated with the "workshop series" described on this website. It is organized by several individuals representing the Yucatan:London Inter-University Collaborative Project, NRI - Greenwich University and Humbold University of Berlin; it is funded by the Overseas Development Administration, UK).

Africa - International
Symposium title: The Science and Practice of Short-term Improved Fallows in Humid and Sub-humid Tropics. Focuses upon short term fallows (1-5 years) of shrubs, herbaceous species and trees whose primary objective is the maintenance or restoration of soil fertility.
Lilongwe, Malawi. March 11-15, 1997
(This symposium is not formally affiliated with the "workshop series" described on this website. It is sponsored by ICRAF, ISSS, and IUFRO).

Series Organizers

Background Documents

Archive of selected messages posted to GMCC-L (closed mailing list) (17 K)

Related web sites (K)