I would like to know what specific information is needed for this task becuase from the submission above there is the indication that some farmers have used the technology and double yields.Field visits should be oreganised for other farmers to visit farms where cover crops have been used.Enough evidence is seen in the higher yields.
Gladys

Gladys-

The picture is the old method the farmers were using. The new method using cover crops was recommended because it will produce improved soil and higher yields than this old method. Frank is asking for help figuring out a good way to begin implementing the new method (cover crops) with the farmers around Busukuma. I think that your suggestion of setting up a demonstration farm and then using it as a place for teaching is a good one and consistent with the type of suggestions that Frank wants in response to this task.

Personally, I do not know much about farming so hopefully Ken or some of the others here can continue to offer suggestions/support to Frank. I just wanted to clarify about the picture-the new method would not have grass between the plants as shown, there would be different plants in between each row if I understand it correctly.

All the best-

Jennifer

Hello Gladys and Jennifer

Great to hear from both of you, well regarding Gladys qns, we want examples of covercrops and how they can be used so that afarmer can double his yields, what i heard from Ken that each crop has its cover crop forexample Maize has Mucuna {velvet beans} now do u know any covercrop ?

We decided to adopt this idea because it was introduced in lowlands of Guatemala and farmers shifted from that old idea to this one!! so we have ahope........

Of course we shall make ademostration farm once covercrops are got.

Hope to hear from u.

kindly

frank

Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for the clarification
Gladys

Audience,

Still other reasons why we adopted this idea { covercrop introduction} its because :It requires no pestcides, no insect cides only nature only and creates no pollution therefore anybody who can help us and give us examples of covercrops for particular crops will be highly appreciated.

frank

beans, a food in themselves, are legumes, which fix nitrogen in the soil. beans can support maize which can literally support squashes or melons etc. dig a hill and place meat offal such as fish heads 12 inches down backfill with 6" soil and plant 3 to 5 maize seedlings. surround each corn plant with 3 to 5 beans. squashes such as melons and cucumbers can be intercropped under the maize and after the maize heads are picked the stalks are left to support the squash vines. This style of cropping suits small holdings and household subsistence farming since the number of hills can be adjusted to suit the number of workers caring for the plots and or the numbers to be fed.

It works and yet there are people who will not believe it. Forget them. This spread all over southern Mexico and Guatemala just by word of mouth by farmers. Get some farmers to set up a demonstration fields for farmers to visit and see for themselves. It takes little work and gives great yields.

You will save time and cost by marking off permanent beds with paths between them. Saves 20% of the seed, etc. The beds will produce as much as the field does now. You are not walking in the beds and compacting the soil.

Email me your postal address. I have another DVD I will mail you.

Ken

Hi audience,

Ken thanx for the reply, ahope Martin will make ademostration for us,not only by the word of mouth!!as others do.

But let me ask u guys ,is it that maize is the only crop that has a cover crop,i wonder when ever some one comes just talks on maize only. it seems u dont know the crops we have here, let me out line them for u so that u may give us their cover crops too.
1 Maize
2 Banana
3 Cassava
4 potatoes

5 yams
6 coffee.

Audience coffee is our main cash crop here: but the crop is limited because of the pests and insects we have here. People have tried to use pestcide and insectcides but they have failed to kill the pests and insects and others use strong drugs that kills totally the coffee plant as wellas land.Govt tried to introduce acoffee plant known as colono coffee to cease the situation, but its very weak, only what it has that it grows faster than our local ones. but once its attacked by apest it gets destroyed faster than our local one. Therefore people, iam here asking u?? Cant we find any idea that can help so that we can stop this disease in the village and uganda as well.I heard that in Brazil they grow coffee what do farmers use there and what type of coffee do they plant? Otherwise helping farmers to overcome from this condition, will stop us from this itching poverty we have in uganda as we farmers.

sincerely
kaaya