Research Areas
Agrobiodiversity, Crops, Forestry & Agroforestry, Seed Systems, SoilsCountries
MalawiTimeline
Start Date: 1 January 2010 | End Date: 31 December 2012Overview
This project examines the effects of combinations of different forms of conservation agriculture used by partners and integrated with fertilizer trees on maize performance, and hence it will demonstrate the effects of conservation agriculture with trees (CAWT) on maize based systems. The following are the key research questions in this project:
1. Which form of CAWT with fertilizer trees can improve maize productivity and other benefits?
2. Does a combination of conservation agriculture and fertilizer tree have a synergistic effect on maize productivity?
3. What components of conservation agriculture with trees do smallholder farmers most prefer?
Project objectives include the following:
1. Provide technical backstopping on agroforestry and CAWT related technologies for integration in the smallholder production systems
2. Identify suitable tree species and develop nurseries for seeds and seedlings production
3. Train extension staff and lead farmers in best fit CAWT practices
4. Document and disseminate information widely generated on CAWT.
Specific obligations of ICRAF
• ICRAF will provide technical backstopping on CAWT related technologies for integration in the smallholder production systems
• ICRAF will identify suitable tree species and encourage tree nurseries for seeds and seedlings production
• ICRAF will train extension staff and lead farmers in best fit Conservation Agriculture with Trees practices
Project Outputs
• Knowledge on best-bet CAWT generated and applied;
• Suitable tree species for CAWT identified and germplasm available
• Capacity of extension and partner staff built
• Information on CAWT documented and disseminated
Project Outcome
1. Knowledge of farmers and partners on the practice of CAWT increased
2. Increased availability and use of quality tree germplasm for CAWT
3. Increased capacity of extension staff
4. Evidence-based information on CAWT available
Research Partners
- IARC
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
- NGO - international or developed-country based non-governmental institution
- DARS
