SOIL FERTILITY AND PRODUCTS

Many of the tree species used are nitrogen fixing. Trees also increase the content of organic matter in the soil. Lack of nitrogen and soil organic matter is factors that commonly limit agricultural production in East Africa. Lines of trees across landscape contours reduce erosion and keep the most fertile topsoil on the farm. Agroforestry is, hence, management and conservation of soil fertility. The effect of increased soil fertility is often doubling the harvests of agricultural crops, sometimes even more. On top of that come the direct products of agroforestry trees.

 

Fuel-wood In rural East Africa almost all cooking is done with fuel-wood. Fuel-wood is one of the main products in the agroforestry systems Vi promotes. The species mostly used are nitrogen fixing and fast growing ("short-term trees"); they can be intercropped with agricultural crops and can be harvested after 1-2 years. Fuel-wood and cooking is traditionally the domain of the women. Before the introduction of our type of agroforestry, women walked long distances to get fuel-wood from natural forests and bush-lands. Producing fuel-wood on the own farm reduces pressure on natural forests and creates more time for women to spend on other activities (or leisure). Fuel-wood shortages are often so acute that farmers without agroforestry often have to buy fuel-wood. With good agroforestry farmers can not only reduce their costs for fuel-wood, but also sell off a surplus.

 

Timber and posts

With ever expanding families, wood for construction is important for most farmers. Trees for timber/post production take longer time to mature, mostly 10-15 years. There is always a ready market for both posts and timber. For many farmers "long term trees" is the saving account, to be used for future school fees, dowries or anything unforeseen.

 

Fruits

Fruits add nutrients to the otherwise meagre diet of children and adults. The diet becomes more complete, healthier. Fruits are also marketable, adding important income to many families.

 

Fodder
 

Meat and milk are rare luxuries for many small-scale farmers in East Africa. Traditionally livestock is not very productive. Adding fodder from agroforestry trees (nitrogen fixing and fast growing "short-term trees") increases milk production and animal growth. Milk adds to the nutritional security and eventually the animals give meat or added income.

 

 

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