PUBLICATIONS ON COVER CROPS
A few aspects of Mucuna utilization in rural areas of Benin Republic
by M. Aklamavo and G. A. Mensah
Article published in the Bulletin de la Recherche Agronomique, Issue # 19, INRAB, Cotonou, Benin, September 1997.
Abstract
The velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) is a multi-purpose legume cover crop whose varieties utilis and cochinchinensis were introduced into Benin in 1986 as part of an attempt to solve problems related to the decrease in soil fertility and the control of the weed Imperata cylindrica. The velvet bean grows in various soils: sandy, clay, lateritic, savanna, and Vertisols in the absence of flooding. It is grown to improve soil fertility and/or physical structure, to support cereal and mainly maize production with nitrogen, to reduce the Imperata population to an easily manageable level to the farmer, to control soil erosion and Striga, to use the leaves as fodder for cattle, to use the treated seeds for human and animal consumption.
Key words: velvet bean, multi-purpose, perspectives, Benin Republic
For further information, please contact:
Copublished by the International Development Research Centre and the International Centre for Maize and Wheat Improvement
February, 1998, 250 pp. ISBN 0-88936-841-4, $30 CAD (developing country discount 40%)
Abstract
In the developing world, agriculture is essential to sustainable and equitable development. The rural poor often earn their living on small farms, and this is no different in Central America.
A persistent bane of the small farm is land degradation, especially on hillsides. In finding solutions to this problem, the farmers of northern Honduras are at the forefront. Having been excluded from the prime coastal lands by the elite classes and large agroindustries, these farmers have been developing ways of managing an aggressive vining legume called velvetbean (Mucuna spp.) and adapting it to the needs of maize production.
The practice they have developed over the past 20 years both enhances productivity and conserves the resource base–a rare combination in a hillside environment.
This book provides a comprehensive evaluation of a cover crop for hillside agriculture and an analysis of the factors influencing farmers' investments in resource-conserving practices. It sheds light on both the opportunities and constraints presented by cover crops in hillside agriculture, and, perhaps most importantly, tells the story of successful farmer innovation.
- Daniel Buckles is Senior Program Officer at the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada.
Full text, on-line available at: http://www.idrc.ca/books/focus/841//
To Order:
Renouf Publishing Co. Ltd.
5369 Canotek Road, Unit 1
Ottawa, ON, Canada K1J 9J3
Fax: (+1 613) 745-7660; Tel: (+1 613) 745-2665
order.dept@renoufbooks.com
List of papers presented at the Cover Crops Workshop from 1 to 3 October 1996 in Cotonou
The proceedings of the Cotonou workshop on cover crops will be available soon. The papers contained in this book are:Abstracts of experiences or trials
CIEPCA will send a copy of the book to participants of the Cotonou workshop. Participants who have changed addresses are kindly requested to send their new address to the CIEPCA Coordinator. Purchase orders will be specified later for other readers.
List of books and others materials available in the CIEPCA library
The list is too long to be included in this issue of the newsletter. There are 11 books, some publications (33 articles, 12 newsletters, 4 journal titles, 3 reports, 3 seminar proceedings, 1 'Ingénieur' thesis, 1 monograph) as well as unpublished materials (3 articles, 1 monograph). Details will be sent to readers upon request by ordinary or electronic mail to the CIEPCA Coordinator.
COVER CROPS SEED DISTRIBUTION - IMPORTATION OF SEED
Import/export of seeds - Please don’t forget the phytosanitary requirements!
While we are all excited about the progress in research and development using cover crops, we must not overlook the plant health (phytosanitary) requirements when we are exporting our seed or requesting seed from other countries.
Seed import
Most countries require that you obtain an import permit from your national plant quarantine service before seeds areimported. This will usually stipulate various pathogens for which the incoming material should have been tested before it is sent from the country of origin. It will also indicate that the seed should be addressed to the plant quarantine service who will carry out their post-entry quarantine inspection BEFORE releasing the seed to you. They may also recommend seed treatments that you must do before you can plant the seeds that have been released.
Seed export
You will need to send a sample of the seed that you intend to export your national plant quarantine authorities so they can inspect it and issue an export or phytosanitary certificate. For most countries, the recipient should send you their import permit (as described above) for you to include with the seed consignment.
Most of these procedures take several weeks, hence you need to allow sufficient time to process your request before you wish to plant the seeds. Rather than rushing, if your seeds arrive too late for this year’s planting season, keep them in a cool dry place and plant next year.
It is important to follow plant quarantine regulations to avoid the possibility of introducing pests or diseases that may cause devastating yield losses. Through cover crops, we are trying to promote sustainable agriculture - let us not have the opposite effect by circumventing the procedures designed to protect us!
CIEPCA seed distribution
The cover crops seeds distributed by CIEPCA between 1 January and 15 June 1998 are presented in Table 2.
Some people have received seeds from the ILRI/IITA-Ibadan program (not included in Table 2) with assistance from Dr S. Tarawali through CIEPCA. This is an example of seed exchange between CIEPCA members.
Table 2: Seeds distributed by CIEPCA from 1 January to 15 June1998
|
Total (kg) of seeds distributed |
||||||||||
|
Name |
Benin |
Burkina |
Cameroon |
Ghana |
Mali |
Senegal |
Togo |
B'desh |
USA |
Total |
|
Aeschynomene histrix |
1 |
0.5 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.4 |
0.1 |
1 |
3.3 |
||
|
Canavalia ensiformis |
40 |
40.0 |
||||||||
|
Crotalaria ochroleuca |
0.2 |
1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
5 |
6.4 |
||||
|
Mucuna cochinchinensis |
15 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
5 |
0.2 |
0.4 |
5 |
0.11 |
0.22 |
26.6 |
|
Mucuna pruriens var. utilis |
75 |
0.4 |
10 |
0.11 |
0.22 |
85.7 |
||||
|
Mucuna sp. var. Georgia |
0.11 |
0.22 |
0.3 |
|||||||
|
Mucuna sp. var. Ghana |
0.5 |
5 |
0.2 |
0.5 |
5 |
0.11 |
0.22 |
11.5 |
||
|
Mucuna sp. var. Jaspadea |
0.11 |
0.22 |
0.3 |
|||||||
|
Mucuna sp. var. Preta |
95 |
30 |
20 |
0.11 |
0.22 |
145.3 |
||||
|
Mucuna sp. var. Rajada |
260 |
0.6 |
0.3 |
30 |
0.3 |
0.7 |
100 |
0.11 |
0.22 |
392.2 |
|
Mucuna sp. var. Veracruz |
0.11 |
0.22 |
0.3 |
|||||||
|
Total |
486 |
2.2 |
1.1 |
81.2 |
1.2 |
1.8 |
136 |
0.88 |
1.76 |
712.1 |
Editorial Committee:
A.C. Etèka (CIEPCA Coordinator)Translation: Caroll Moudachirou Publisher: CIEPCA Sponsors: IDRC and IITA Coordinator address: CIEPCA Coordinator |