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AquaCrop is a crop model that simulates yield response to water developed by FAO and is appropriate to consider effects where water is the limiting factor for crop production. AquaCrop was calibrated for amaranthus (Amaranthus cruentus L. ex Arusha), a leafy vegetable, and taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott.), a wetland perennial, with an edible starchy corm as a tuber crop. The weather datasets were obtained from the climate database at Agricultural Research Council-Institute of Soil, Climate and Water in Pretoria for specific sites and years of the trials. The first step in the model is to select the correct type of crop, create a new crop and name it. Observed soil parameters from the experimental sites were used to create soil files in AquaCrop; the model is sensitive to amount of water available in the soil between field capacity and permanent wilting point. The crop parameters under optimal water availability were adjusted according to observations from field trials conducted for each crop. The first parameter checked was canopy cover, representing the expansion of the leaf canopy under non-limiting conditions, where the maximum value, CCx, (90% for amaranthus and 78% for taro) and the time take to reach CCx were needed. The total length of the cropping season should be checked and also time to the start of senescence. However, for the leafy vegetable this was not necessary as the crop was harvested while the leaves were green. The effect of water stress must be included via the Ks factor for water stress according to stomatal closure at a specific soil water availability, as measured in the field trials. The water productivity normalised for ETo and CO2 concentration (32 g m-2 for amaranthus and 15 g m-2 for taro) was calculated from field data of biomass accumulation and transpiration standardised for ETo. The reference harvest index (HIo) was 85% for amaranthus and 83% taro, respectively. Once the model is calibrated with data from single sites, it must be verified with independent data from different sites and/or series of experiments. The calibrated AquaCrop model will be used to promote the introduction of these underutilised vegetables on irrigation schemes since optimal irrigation strategies can be developed. Best management practices, soil types, sowing dates and locations can be selected from model runs at a range of sites.

Intercropping involves the cultivation of two or more crops on the same field in both space and time. It is a farming practice that has existed throughout history and one which mimics natural diversity. Intercropping has several advantages over monocropping which include improved resource utilization of light, water and nutrients, as well as yield stability over time. It is a practice that historically contributed towards food security within communities. It offers a sustainable alternative to the more widely practiced monocropping. However, it has been widely regarded as a primitive practice and this has created a scenario whereby there was scant research done on intercropping. 

Successful crop stand establishment, a critical prerequisite for efficient crop production, is primarily determined by propagule quality. Taro [C%casia escu/enta (L.) Schott] corms of different sizes (80-100 g corm-1, 40-60 g corm-1 and 20-30 9 corm-1) that had been stored in soil pits at different depths (10,20,30,40 and 50 cm) were compared for stand establishment, leaf area and yield during two seasons, under rainfed (upland) conditions. Propagule size and pre-planting storage depth increased both the number of plants reaching the third leaf stage and leaf area per plant one month after planting. The large propagules improved stand establishment and yield significantly (P<0.01) better than the smaller propagules. For a” propagule sizes, the optimum storage depth to enhance taro propagule performance for crop production was – 40 cm. When the large propagules were compared with the smaller propagules at the optimum pre-planting storage depth, there was 10% to 30%, no difference and 5% to 35% improvement il’) leaf area, stand establishment and yield, respectively. This study confirmed the potential role of local knowledge in traditional agriculture, and the findings can be used to extend the planting season for dryland taro production in South Africa.

The study focused on the NDM as a first step:

Mixed research approach to collect quanDtaDve and qualitaDve data through interviews conducted with small organisaDons (15 NGOs, 8 CBOs and 7 governmental units) idenDfied as potenDal applicants to the SGF project in the NDM

Aim:

1) to assess adapDve capaciDes among local organisaDons before the SGF project starts;

2) to idenDfy gaps in terms of knowledge and understanding of what CCA is ;

3) To inform facilitating agencies about needs for capacity buildings

Follow-up interviews will be conducted during the course of the SGF project to track progress in adapDve capacity and observe concrete impacts in terms of enhanced adapDve capacity among local organisaDons

We would like to acknowledge the contributions of the Mechal team towards the process that led to the writing of this handbook. Special thanks go to Demamu Mesfin, Yosef Melka, Katinka Waagsaether, Donna Kotze, Estholene Moses, Emily Olsen, Daleen Lötter, Gina Ziervogel, Mark Tadross, Habtemariam Kassa, Kebede Kassa, Penny Price and Mark New.

We would also like to thank the community members in South Africa (Suid Bokkeveld and Goedverwacht) and Ethiopia (Arsi Negelle) for freely sharing their knowledge and insights.

This publication was made possible through a grant by the Volkswagen Foundation (Mechal Project under the Reference number I/83 735, co-ordinated by the University of Hamburg) with partners from South Africa (University of Cape Town, CSIR, Indigo development and change, Environmental Monitoring Group) and Ethiopia (Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hawassa University, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR).

Climate change preparedness workshops can be held quarterly (every three months) for members of a group wanting to explore and engage with weather patterns, climate variability and change and related possible adaptation options. We suggest limiting the workshops to a few hours (for example starting early in the morning and closing with lunch for all participants). Ensure that the process of the workshop is geared to foster reflection and learning. Including interactive exercises that help people engage in a safe space is crucial. The workshop should be designed to fit the local context and should address and explore topics that really matter to people in the group. For inspiration regarding workshop elements you can explore the exercises described in this compilation of cards and place them in an order that would make sense to the group. Ensure that you vary energizers and more contents based exercises.

A Madagascar, l’igname est une ressource alimentaire marginale mais néanmoins importante comme plante d’appoint pendant la période de soudure. Historiquement, les études botaniques sur les ignames se sont principalement axées sur les espèces sauvages. En revanche, peu d’informations existent sur les ignames cultivées notamment sur la richesse en variétés et sur les risques sanitaires. Le projet Corus 6020 (Université d’Antananarivo, Cirad) se propose maintenant d’étudier la diversité génétique des ignames cultivées et la présence des maladies virales susceptibles de réduire la production.

Pour accompagner le développement actuel de la culture des ignames à Madagascar, l’estimation de la prévalence et la caractérisation partielle des viroses présentes sur les ignames cultivées de parcelles paysannes de certaines régions productrices du pays ont été réalisées. Des tests PCR ont permis de détecter le Dioscorea bacilliform virus (badnavirus) sur les trois espèces d’ignames les plus fréquemment rencontrées, Dioscorea alata, D. bulbifera et D. esculenta. Le séquençage partiel de ces virus a permis de révéler la présence d’au moins dix souches distinctes réparties dans six des treize groupes génétiques de DBV. Plus problématique pour ses effets sur le rendement, une souche originale de Yam mild mosaic virus (potyvirus) a également été mise en évidence par RT-PCR sur une plante D. alata. Compte tenu de la présence constatée de virus, des mesures de sélection sanitaire, incluant destruction des plants infectés, sélection et indexation des plants-mères, mise en place de pépinières de multiplication sécurisées et schéma de quarantaine, sont proposées avant toute diffusion de maté

Bambara nut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc) is a nutritious legume, however, its production is characterised by use of landraces, which have been maintained by farmers. Lack of improved varieties has contributed to low yields. This re– search was done to identify potentially high yielding and farmers’ preferred genotypes for improved production of Bambara in Malawi. A completely Randomised Block Design experiment with eight genotypes (181CR, 181RD, 194, 137CR, 137RD, 317, 2762 and 2768) and four replicates was implemented at Chitedze, Chitala and Mbawa Research Sta– tions to identify high yielding genotypes. In addition to the yield, farmers’ criteria based on plant vigour, ability to fully bury its pods in the ground (mounding), yield at harvest, maturity period, seed colour, grain size, taste of boiled dry grain and taste of fresh pods were used to identify farmers’ preferred genotypes. Significant yield differences were identified between genotypes (P < 0.0001), sites (P < 0.001) and interaction between genotypes and sites (environment) (P < 0.001). Yield means across sites show that genotype 181CR yielded highly (1322 kg/ha) followed by 2768 (1066 kg/ha), 181RD (1064 kg/ha) and 2762 (841 kg/ha). In contrast to the high yielding genotypes, genotype 137RD gave the lowest yield (485 kg/ha) followed by 194 (573 kg/ha), 317 (617 kg/ha) and 137CR (620 kg/ha). Mbawa Research Sta– tion showed significantly high yields with site mean of 1177 kg/ha compared with Chitedze and Chitala with site means of 703kg/ha and 530 kg/ha respectively. Farmers ranked the eight accessions in order of importance as follows: 181RD, 181CR, 2768, 137CR, 194, 137RD, 2762 and 317. Combination of yield and farmers’ preference identified three geno– types (181RD, 181CR and 2768) as potential varieties for production in Malawi. Accessions 181RD and 2768 were specifically selected for relish unlike 181CR, which has been selected for use as snack. However, further research on nutrition, value addition and marketing needs to be conducted on the identified genotypes.

A wide range of indigenous vegetables are consumed in Malawi. These contribute greatly to the nutritional well-being of rural people by providing the essential nutrients required for body growth and development and for prevention of diseases associated with nutritional deficiencies, such as blindness due to vitamin A deficiency. Rural families traditionally have made conscious efforts to preserve these plants around their homesteads, in crop fields and communal lands. In recent years, however, exotic vegetables have taken prominence over indigenous vegetables, in spite of their generally lower nutritive value. The availability of indigenous vegetables has declined drastically because of excessive cultivation of field crops and habitat change, including deforestation. This has been exacerbated by a lack of major research and extension efforts to improve their husbandry and promote these species. Thus, the plants must be gathered at increasing distances from human dwellings, and rural women spend more valuable time in search of them. There is also growing ignorance among young people about the existence of these nutritionally rich food plants. The decline in the use of indigenous vegetables by many rural people has resulted in poor diets and increased incidence of nutritional deficiency disorders and diseases in many parts of the country.

To improve the status of indigenous vegetables in Malawi, a long-term research project was implemented at Bunda College of Agriculture to collect and catalogue indigenous vegetable germplasm and to develop production technologies for smallholder adoption.