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Project information
»Funding dates
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Original grant (2005-2009)
Yr 1: 5/1/2005-4/30/2006
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Yr 2: 5/1/2006-4/30/2007
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Yr 3: 5/1/2007-4/30/2008
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Yr 4: 5/1/2008-4/30/2009
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»The problem
Soil degradation is one of the most pressing agricultural
issues in the Andes, with serious consequences for the food
security of impoverished rural populations. Soils are becoming
less productive while populations increase, so that farming
families have increasing difficulty in generating adequate
livelihoods.
"Cover agriculture" encompasses a set of cropping
practices aimed at conserving and improving soil quality,
and includes the use of green manures (crops grown specifically
to enhance soil fertility), cover crops (crops grown to avoid
exposed soil), and managed fallows. While research and practical
experience has been gained with cover systems in lowland areas
in the Andes, no systematic work has been done on testing
these principles in the highland areas.
»The approach
Year 2 workplan: 
English
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Español
This project will include experimentation on cover agriculture
at different altitudes and ecological zones, to better validate
approaches adaptable to farmers needs across Ecuador and the
Andes. Geographically, this project will encompass the provinces
of Carchi and Imbabura, representing two of the poorest provinces
in Ecuador and much of the ecological and social diversity
of the northern west paramo and southern dry puno Andes. At
the end of this grant period, over 35 communities will be
the beneficiaries of this project.
»The goal
1. To enable rural families in the highland Andes in Ecuador
to improve their food security through appropriate and sustainable
approaches to improving soil fertility, and to share and spread
these approaches to interested organizations and communities
in the Andes.
2. To identify and characterize knowledge and practices related
to existing farming and soil management systems, as well as
factors that contribute to or constrain the development of
appropriate cover agriculture for soil conservation and improvement.
3. To design and test management and technological innovations
in order to identify the most effective and sustainable approaches
of cover agriculture.
4. To produce media and processes for effective documentation,
analysis, and exchange of knowledge and experiences among
rural stakeholders.
»Results
Up until the third year of project implementation, 108 farmers from 18 communities have come to try technologies through participative research and adapting best practices to their production systems.
Legume species have been studied and utilized as cover crops and green manures in each ecology zone. In the low zone, they have come to characterized species such as mucuna (Stizolobium pruriens), canavalia (Canavalia sp.), lab lab (Dolichus ensiformis), guandul (Cajanus cajan), bean (Phaseolus lannatus) and adapting to perennial, annual and biannual cultivation systems. In the mid and high zone, they have characterized species such as lupin (Lupinus mutabilis), pea (Pisum sativa), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), fava bean (Vicia faba), vetch (Vicia sativa) to potato and corn systems, basic crops for the food security of the high Andean zones. Moreover, they have tried reduced tillage systems such as direct seeding of corn in the low zone, and the “wacho rozado” system for potato in the high area. Additionally, as a complement to these project activities and to guarantee the food security of the participating families, the experimentation on potato, fava beans, lupin, quinoa varieties, as well as, chicken and guinea pig feed has been promoted. Credit funds in the communities and water use in production systems have also been encouraged.
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Investigators
»Partner institutions
»Investigators at MACRENA
(*=project leader)
Max Ochoa*
»Investigators at Vecinos Mundiales
Pedro Oyarzun
Ross Mary Borja
Stephen Sherwood
»Investigators at CIDICCO
Milton Flores
»Investigators at CUC
Horacio Narvaéz
»Investigators at AGRECO
Franklin Sánchez
»Investigators at CEMOPLAF
Priscila Prado
»Investigators at PUCE
Paola Sosa
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Annual progress reports
Click the links below for annual progress reports.
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»Original grant
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Year 1 (5/2005-4/2006)
English
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Español
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Year 2 (5/2006-4/2007)
English
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Year 3 (5/2007-4/2008)
Due 5/31/2008
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Year 4 (5/2008-4/2009)
Due 5/31/2009
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Publications
None listed as of
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