Articles
ON-FARM VERIFICATION OF CASSAVA-BASED INTERCROPPING SYSTEMS IN TANZANIA MAINLAND
Article number
380_93
Pages
516 – 516
Language
Abstract
Tanzania is basically an agricultural country.
Previous surveys showed that many subsistence farmers have limited land for cultivation; and to provide the required quantity of various foods needed, intercropping is commonly practised with cassava as the major base crop in the mixtures.
Studies to improve cassava-based intercropping systems started in the 1983/84 season with on-station evaluation of 14 cassava-based intercropping combinations common among farmers.
In the 1984–1988 trials, only 5 of these systems were profitable.
The 5 promising intercropping combinations are cassava + maize, cassava + maize + sweet potato, cassava + maize + cowpea + sweet potato, cassava + maize + sorghum + cowpea, and cassava + cowpea + sorghum + sweet potato.
These combinations were verified under farmers conditions from 1989 to 1990. The trials were researcher-farmer managed and located in farmers field.
Farmers selected two cassava-based intercroppings namely: cassava + maize and cassava + maize + sweet potato.
Reasons for farmers choice of these combinations are documented.
The performance of a base crop (cassava) and its associated intercrops have been highlighted and the effect of cassava mealybug on cassava discussed.
Previous surveys showed that many subsistence farmers have limited land for cultivation; and to provide the required quantity of various foods needed, intercropping is commonly practised with cassava as the major base crop in the mixtures.
Studies to improve cassava-based intercropping systems started in the 1983/84 season with on-station evaluation of 14 cassava-based intercropping combinations common among farmers.
In the 1984–1988 trials, only 5 of these systems were profitable.
The 5 promising intercropping combinations are cassava + maize, cassava + maize + sweet potato, cassava + maize + cowpea + sweet potato, cassava + maize + sorghum + cowpea, and cassava + cowpea + sorghum + sweet potato.
These combinations were verified under farmers conditions from 1989 to 1990. The trials were researcher-farmer managed and located in farmers field.
Farmers selected two cassava-based intercroppings namely: cassava + maize and cassava + maize + sweet potato.
Reasons for farmers choice of these combinations are documented.
The performance of a base crop (cassava) and its associated intercrops have been highlighted and the effect of cassava mealybug on cassava discussed.
Authors
R. Kapinga, M. Msabaha, A.K. Nyango
Keywords
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