Download Final report regarding the agricultural and forest condition of the

Final report regarding the agricultural and
forest condition of the
CHIPALAMBA TOTO PROJECT
Edited by Dr. Bernardo Crespi, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
Page 1
SUMMARY
1.
2.
INTRODUCTION
FOREST NURSERY CREATION
3
Errore. Il
segnalibro non è definito.
2.1 Descripion
Errore. Il
segnalibro non è definito.
2.2 Obtained results
Errore. Il
segnalibro non è definito.
3.
PLANTING OF THE SPREADING MATERIAL
3.1 Description
10
3.2 Obtained results
Errore. Il
10
segnalibro non è definito.
4.
5.
6.
TRAINING
4.1 Description
14
4.2 Obtained results
14
TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND MONITORING OPERATIONS
5.1 Description
17
5.2 Obtained results
17
RESULTS
6.1 Soil analysis
20
14
17
Errore. Il
segnalibro non è definito.
6.2 Strengths
Errore. Il
segnalibro non è definito.
6.3 Weaknesses
Errore. Il
segnalibro non è definito.
6.4 Possibile improvements
33
6.5 Considerations
35
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1.
INTRODUCTION
The final report of the CHIPALAMBA TOTO Project aims to give a detailed analysis of the actions that
have been carried out during the years 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 in five villages within the
Kunthembwe area, in the Blantyre district, Malawi. This was done in order to evaluate both the
agricultural-forest potentialities of the considered areas and the impacts on the territories, caused by
the utilized activities of the project in contrast to recent processes regarding deforestation, soil
erosion and consequent desertification.
The considered villages are: Kamwetsa, Chikumbu, Chiumachiyenda, Chiuziliro and Kuzoole.
For each one of these villages, approximately forty first level beneficiaries were chosen, among the
local population, to collaborate with the activities, by means of learning good practice of sustainable
agricultural-forest cultivations, which could later on be taught independently also in confining
villages, which are not first level beneficiaries, thus generating a “cascade effect”.
The project has the main goal of improving the food safety of the local populations throughout the
optimization of the agricultural and forest system.
The carried out operations aim to stop the increasingly fast and significant deforestation and
desertification processes, which are spreading throughout the entire Malawi territory. The social,
economic and environmental scenario in Malawi as of today is severely threatened by fast
deterioration processes. For example, from an environmental point of view: tree cutting, burning of
the bushes, surplus of grazing animals and monoculture, which have caused an impoverishment of
the soil, and thus lead to erosion processes and to territory degradation.
If referring to the obtained data relative to the deforestation process, it can be seen that, especially
during the last 20 years, within the regions close to large towns (and in this sense Blantyre is one of
the most relevant ones) there has been an exponential growth of the population, which has not been
accompanied by a social and economic improvement in order to support this trend.
The majority of the population lives in the suburbs of cities and doesn’t have water and electricity.
These conditions lead to a large demand of wood and charcoal, in order to satisfy the domestic
needs for cooking and heating, and this demand is much greater than the actual available resources.
The former forest areas, which have not been controlled constantly and effectively in the past, and
which have not been controlled by programs for efficient management, are now being deprived of
the trees, and thus are not able to create stable communities in order to stop this process.
By simply observing the streets that connect the villages to the main cities, many citizens can be
seen along the road, riding bicycles loaded with coal and/or wood.
This situation could seem less significant in comparison to the large deforestation processes which
are happening in the biggest forest areas of the world, such as Brazil, Indonesia, Congo and Russia,
but this is not at all the case.
By looking at the official data that has been obtained, the forest area in Malawi corresponds to
approximately 3,237,000 Ha (34,4% of the total national surface), and ,regarding this area, 365,000
Ha (11,3% of the total national surface) is covered by primary forests, the most important type of
forests when looking at biodiversity and carbon stocks.
The deforestation rate between 1990 and 2010 has been equal to 32,950 Ha/year (0,85%), with a
total loss of approximately 659,000 Ha (16,9%) (FAO).
Direct consequences of these processes are the loss of biological fertility in the soil, the reduction of
water resources and, last but not least, the increase of the problems connected to soil erosions,
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which were already very significant in this area; regarding the latter, estimates give yearly losses of
rd
approximately 20 t/Ha/year (Nyasa Times, May 23 2001).
The meteorological characteristics of the studied area are here given, and it must be remembered
that the poor availability of water resources, linked to scarce precipitations, strongly limits the
normal agricultural and forest activity processes.
Graphs 1, 2 and 3 show the weather data, provided by the Chileka weather station, which was
collected in the initial stages of the project, during the year 2008, by Dr. Boschetto.
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Andamento precipitazioni in Chileka (1978 - 2007)
140.0
Precipitazioni (mm)
120.0
100.0
80.0
60.0
40.0
20.0
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980
1979
1978
0.0
Anni
Graph 1: average yearly precipitations in mm from 1978 to 2007 measured in the weather station of
Chileka, at approximately 20 km distance from the studied villages.
The average value of the precipitations is 75 mm/year (red line) and by analyzing the data for the
chosen time period, a general trend of yearly precipitation reduction equal to 8% can be seen
(orange line).
Total Rainfall Patterns
Total Rainfall (mm)
250.0
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
JAN.
FEB.
MAR.
APR.
MAY
JUN.
JUL.
AUG.
SEP.
OCT.
NOV.
DEC.
Month
Total Rainfall in Chileka (1978 – 2000)
Total Rainfall in Chileka (2001 – 2007)
Graph 2: average monthly precipitations for two different time series: the blue line represents the
values for the time period from 1978 to 2000 and the red line represents the values for the time
period from 2001 to 2007.
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Bagnouls-Gaussen
240.0
120.0
100.0
Hydric deficiency
160.0
80.0
120.0
60.0
80.0
40.0
40.0
20.0
0.0
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
T (ºC)
R (mm)
200.0
0.0
DEC
Month
Rainfall (mm)
Temperature ºC
Graph 3: Bagnoul-Gaussen aridity index, indicating the arid months in which plants are affected by
water stress. One month is classified as arid when P(mm) < 2T(°C).
The dry season, from May to September, is more and more irregular and accentuated.
As can be seen in the previous three graphs, the rainfall distribution and the aridity have great
influence on the useful period of activity for carrying out all the operations, which were
predetermined during the project phase, reducing it significantly.
The following scheme shows the environmental degradation process:
The erosion phenomenon is relative to the most superficial layer of the soil, which is also the most
fertile because of the rich presence of nutrients (N and P) and of organic matter.
This process influences directly the soil productivity, and thus also the possibility for a nation to
produce both food and revenues.
CURE (Coordination Unit for the Rehabilitation of the Environment) is a Non Governmental
Organization in Malawi, which works on improving the NGO and local association abilities in the
environmental and natural resource management in Malawi. As a local counterpart, the NGO RC
(Research and Cooperation) has given CURE.
The possibility to make the decisions regarding the development of this part of the project.
From an agricultural and forest point of view, the completed activities have concerned:
1. The creation of forest nurseries in each village;
2. The planting of the spreading material which was produced in target villages;
3. The carrying out of training activities for beneficiaries, regarding techniques for the planting
and conservation of the spreading material;
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4. Technical support to local populations for all the different agricultural and forest operations.
The last goal of this part of the project, but not the least important, is to create independent figures
within the villages, so that they can teach all the agricultural and forest techniques, which have been
acquired during the past three years, for the correct utilization of the available resources (in
particular the methods for the seed gathering and for the plant cuttings). All this in order to make
the primary beneficiaries self-sufficient and capable of continuing the reforestation process on their
own, not only within their own villages but also in the adjacent ones, thus towards the “indirect
beneficiaries”, the inhabitants of the confining villages that are not directly involved but will benefit
somewhat because of the “cascade” effect which is created by the project.
It must not be forgotten that this has been the first time that these populations have worked with
agro-forestry methods, and this justifies the occurrence of organizational and management problems,
because of the beneficiaries’ lack of technical knowledge and inexperience, caused by local traditions
or imposed by multinational policies (i.e. Monsanto and corn monoculture). It must be taken in to
account that most of the Malawi population is still illiterate, especially in the villages.
Other than the above mentioned activities, basic pedology analysis and AWC (Available Water
Capacity) have been carried out at the beginning and at the end of the project, in order to evaluate
analytically the soil evolution trend.
For each carried out activity, both a brief description and the obtained results will be given.
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2. FOREST NURSERY CREATION
2.1 Description
In order to reach the project goals regarding the reforestation process, the part concerning the
creation of forest nurseries and the production of good quality spreading material is very important
for different reasons:
• It is the starting point for further operations,
• It is connected to, and directly influences, all the remaining activities, making them more
simple easier to do, and if it is carried out correctly it will lead to savings both in money and
time.
First of all, it has been decided to create at least one nursery for each village, in order to contrast
the problems linked to plant transportation prior to the planting by reducing the distance between
nursery and beneficiary. This is necessary, because the land belonging to the various beneficiaries
are unequally and fragmentarily distributed within the region. Transport and transplant operations
are very delicate, and the smallest inconvenience could compromise the vitality and the engraftment
of the planting stocks. Also for this case, it must be said that all the operations have been carried
out manually, with no aid of mechanical vehicles.
The nurseries were made with materials which were already present on the territory, in order to make
the operations as simple and efficient as possible, and also in order to have the possibility to
recreate the product whenever necessary, if mistakes were to be made or problems were to occur.
Seeds were bought and used as a spreading material. These seeds were then planted in polyethylene
bags for their breeding and transportation. This method is very inexpensive, but on the other hand it
is necessary to use new bags each time it is desired to create and to transport the plants, because
these products are poorly resistant and thus not reusable.
For possible future operations it would be recommendable to buy plastic or ceramic pots, in order to
reuse these units several times and thus yield to important savings for the local economy.
Based on the stational analysis made at the start of the project, concerning the meteorological data
and the stational conditions of the observed area, the nurseries were to be operative and efficient at
the beginning of the rainy season, which according to the obtained weather data starts in the
beginning of January. This consideration is important because, at the present state, rainfalls are the
main limiting factor for a good success of the operations.
This part of the project also had another scope: to increase the number of seedlings which must be
used for the reforestation process year after year. In fact, it was decided to plant at least 30000
seedlings in the first cycle, and to at least double that number in the second one.
2.2
Obtained results
• Year 2009/2010
During the first year six nurseries were created, one more than expected. The decision
to build two nurseries in the village of Kuzoole was made because the farms of its
beneficiaries are distributed in areas which are very distant one from another, even if
they belong to the same village (the village was divided into Kuzoole A and Kuzoole
B).
The construction works for the nurseries started in 2009 and were finished at the
beginning of January 2010, as indicated in the project phase, at the beginning of the
rainy season, which I the most favorable period of the year for the planting
operations.
On the indicated date, the nurseries were established and contained over 30000
seedlings, ready to be distributed and planted. Furthermore, the beneficiaries, who
had already completed their training in December 2009 and had learned how to do
the planting correctly, were ready to start their part of the job.
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The number of seedlings inside the nurseries before the distribution and transplant
operations was of: 31856.
Inside the nurseries all the different selected plant species were grown: G.sepium
(gilisidiya); S.sesban (jerejere); F.albida (msagu); S.spectabilis (kasha); M.oleifera
(chamwamba); A.quanziensis (masmbufumu); K.antho (mbawa).; A.labbec (mtangatanga);
T.vugelii (mtutu).
The seedlings were distributed within the scheduled date, but because of the
particularly dry season, the planting of the material was done between January and
March 2010.
• Year 2010/2011
During the second year of operations, also thanks to the experience that was
achieved during the previous year, it was decided to increase the number of
seedlings to use for the reforestation process.
Concerning the second season, the nurseries which had been built for the previous cycle were
completely destroyed, and thus were constructed again from scratch in order to carry on with
the normal operations. The reconstruction, material collection and soil preparation activities
started in June 2010. The village of Chumachiyenda, after the achieved experience of the
previous year, and after having fought with problems linked to the material transportation,
because of the excessive distance between the nursery and the households of some of the
beneficiaries, decided also in accordance with the latter to create two separate nurseries
(Chiumachiyenda A and Chiumachiyenda B), as had been done for the village of Kuzoole
during the previous year.
Seven nurseries were created in total.
During this season, the beneficiaries of the village Kuzoole B had abandoned their nursery
because of the very low germination that occurred for the available material, but in the end
were able to restart normal management operations and thus were able to recuperate 216
seedlings.
During the month of May the choice of the species to collect for future reforestation
operations was made.
During the month of June another training session was carried out, concerning the correct
techniques for planting and breeding of the spreading material.
During this training, a few common rules were established for a correct utilization and
management of a nursery. The goal was to reduce the number of problems, caused by
confusion, that may have arisen in some operations such as, for example, the nominee of the
responsible of the nursery, or the choice of the number of seedlings destined to each
beneficiary, or other matters regarding how to be more useful for the outcome of the project.
It was chosen, in accordance with the beneficiaries, and based on the results of the previous
year, to utilize only G.sepium (gilisidiya) seedlings, because of the characteristics and
qualities of this species.
In September 2010 all the preparatory operations for the distribution of the material were
completed, the nurseries were ready to start with the reforestation activities and the
beneficiaries started to fill the polyethylene containers with the seedlings.
It must be pointed out that the polyethylene containers used for the spreading material did
not contain manure mixed in with the soil, mainly because of lack of funds.
Only a few beneficiaries, among those that had the possibility, spontaneously decided to use
their own manure to fill their containers.
In order to reach the fixed goal, approximately 60000 tubes of polyethylene were necessary,
but again because of lack of funds, it was not possible to reach this amount and thus to
carry out all operations as scheduled. The beneficiaries tried to recycle the old polyethylene
tubes that had been used the previous year, but this did not work out well, because the
tubes were either ruined or missing, and also because they were not sufficient in number (ca.
40000) for the new quantity of seedlings.
When the time came for filling up with soil the containers, approximately 50000 polyethylene
tubes were available, with 15000 of these tubes that were donated by TLC (Total Land Care)
Page 9
and were distributed between the nurseries of the different villages with the following
proportions:
Kamwetsa 15000, Chiuziliro 13000, Chikumbu 11000, Kuzoole 7000 (for both nurseries),
Chiumachiyenda 4000 (for both nurseries).
The initially set goal was affected by different problems which reduced the quality of the
result, and this because of the lack of funds that were necessary in order to buy the seeds
and the missing polyethylene tubes. Between November and December, 15 kg of seeds were
bought and had to be distributed to the different villages based on the number of
polyethylene containers that the beneficiaries had filled up with soil within their own
nurseries.
The necessary amount of seeds was at least double (30 kg).
The seeds were distributed with the following proportions: Kamwetsa 4,9 Kg, Chiuziliro 3,9
Kg, Chikumbu 3,3 Kg, Kuzoole 2,1 Kg (for both nurseries) e Chimachiyenda 1,2 Kg (for both
nurseries).
Page 10
3.
PLANTING OF THE SPREADING MATERIAL
3.1
Description
It is important to specify that the reforestation activities that were carried out do not have
the goal of reconstructing a strongly damaged landscape, because of the recent
deforestation which was done in a very uniform and invasive way and on a vast territory.
These operations, on the other hand, because of the complex situation and the
fragmentation of the chosen areas, have the scope of locally modifying the soil fertility
synergistically with other agricultural practices that were taught in order to manage the local
plant production.
The utilized species, because of their fast growth rate, especially G.sepium, not only will be
useful for the above mentioned goals, but will especially be useful as intercrop.
Regarding this possible use, trees can be utilized two or three times per year through
coppicing during the rainy season, in order to produce mulch, material for compost, wood
for combustion and charcoal.
The reason for this choice is related to the possibility to optimize the production in order to
have a tree that not only is used in contrast to deforestation but that also has an integrated
function.
The species have been selected based on their qualities, their characteristics and their
multifunctionality, in order to reach the prefixed results and to use these units for a larger
number of purposes. The first year was useful for making a first selection out of the total
initial number of species, and for understanding which ones were best for the chosen scope.
Based, on results obtained during the first year 2009-2010, and also thanks to the strong
preference given by the beneficiaries (49,93%), it was decided to utilize exclusively the
species G.sepium for further reforestation operations. See table 1.
3.2
Obtained results
• Year 2009-2010
The obtained results from the analysis, carried out on the field for the first
reforestation cycle, take in to consideration all the selected species:
G.sepium (gilisidiya); S.sesban (jerejere); F.albida (msagu); S.spectabilis (kasha); M.oleifera
(chamwamba); A.quanziensis (masmbufumu); K.antho (mbawa); A.labbec (mtangatanga); T.vugelii
(mtutu).
In the village of Chikumbu only G.sepium was the planted species.
The plants were transplanted from the nurseries principally during January (65%) and February (20%),
as was explained by CURE and also because this is the best period for planting operations, before
the arrival of the dry season.
The results are shown in table 1.
G.sepium
Village
N° Beneficiaries
(Gilisidiya)
T.vugelii
surviving
S. sesban
(Mtutu)
surviving
F. albida
(Jerejere)
surviving
(Msangu)
surviving
Kamwetsa
29
4703
2776
0
0
3799
134
99
1
Chikumbu
28
3010
2299
0
0
0
0
0
0
Kuzoole
30
2707
1634
45
45
3833
271
173
24
Chumachiyend
a
27
2795
1396
0
0
3109
143
335
25
Chiuziliro
31
2027
1718
0
0
150
12
82
23
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TOTAL
145
15242
9823
45
45
10891
560
689
73
Average
29
3048,4
1964,6
9
9
2178,2
112
137,8
14,6
S. spectabilis
M. oleifera
(Kesha)
surviving
A. quanzensis
(Chamwamba)
surviving
K. antho.
(Msambafumu)
Surviving
A. lebbec
(Mbawa)
surviving
(Mtangatanga)
Surviving
71
24
1463
33
122
2
25
0
101
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
65
27
155
66
42
13
28
3
197
93
7
8
194
31
47
7
8
4
244
42
77
24
367
97
21
4
29
4
110
48
220
83
2179
227
232
26
90
11
652
186
44
16,6
435,8
45,4
46,4
5,2
18
2,2
130,4
37,2
Table 1: number of seedlings of the different utilized species
that survived throughout the season 2009-2010.
Kamwetsa
10383
3004
28,93
Of the 31856 transplanted plants, 10844 survived (34%), and
90% of the survived plants is G.sepium, while all the other
Chikumbu
3010
2202
73,16
forest species showed a very low survival rate, in particular
Kuzoole
7154
2056
28,74
S.sesban. It must be said that this is a first approach to this
region, and all the problems that occurred and affected the
Chumachiyend
8446
1652
19,56
outcome of the project should be taken into account. The
a
presence of termites in combination with the particularly dry
years gave a strong reduction of the available material. As can
Chiuziliro
2863
1930
67,41
be seen from the results of the questionnaires, 73% of the
TOTAL
31856
10844
34,04
interviewed people had problems with either termites or the dry
weather. Other possible causes to bad results are: presence of
Average
6371,2
2168,8
43,55
goats, that almost completely destroyed the S.sesban
seedlings, the limited experience of the beneficiaries in carrying
out the different operations, the local habits. It must be said that in some villages, such as Chikumbu
(73% planting only G.sepium) and Chiuziliro (67% utilizing all the different species) very positive
results were obtained. In other cases, the very low survival rate is caused by the bad engraftment of
the other species, in particular of S.sesban, of which only 5% of the 10891 units survived, lowering
the average and total values of survival percentages.
The survival percentage of G.sepium has always been higher than 50% in all the villages. A first
result that emerges from the shown values is that already after one year the beneficiaries are
enjoying the benefits which are provided by the reforestation processes. 67% of them normally uses
G.sepium for all necessities. Furthermore, the composters in the villages are filled with optimal
material for future fertilizing activities.
Village
Villag e
Total
s urviving
%
The causes for the low engraftment of the other species are multiple, because 65% of the
beneficiaries says that correct soil preparation methods were used before the planting and material
post transplant operations.
As is pointed out in the annual report for the previous season, several beneficiaries did not utilize
the correct method for the spacing of the planting stock, because they had not followed the training
sessions, and when the time to monitor the situation came it was already too late to intervene.
Also, the detailed situation in the villages must be evaluated: the project was seen as a great
opportunity for the beneficiaries, and often these people have altered the answers of the
Page 12
questionnaires, saying that they followed all the taught methods, only not to make a bad impression
on the other inhabitants.
A final consideration is that, due to lack of funds, it was not possible to carry out an accurate and
constant monitoring program for the reforestation process. This is why the obtained results for the
first cycle did not live up to the expectations.
•
Year 2010-2011
During this second year of the project, the number of beneficiaries was increased from 145 to 201 in
order to start a “cascade” process.
From the obtained data it is clear how a high percentage of beneficiaries (approximately 30%) did
not respond to the questionnaires.
As has been said, during this year only G.sepium plants seedlings were transplanted, also in
accordance with the beneficiaries, because of their high survival rate and their easy post-transplant
treatments.
Unlike what was stated in the previous report, the number of seedlings that was planted is much
lower than what was expected. 16391 seedlings were planted instead of 64142. This is mainly
because of lack of funds (or more precisely because of a not optimal allocation of funds, since the
results of the first year should have been much better, also considering the acquired experience).
These funds were necessary in order to buy the polyethylene bags for the breeding of the planting
stocks, to follow the nursery operation and to monitor the work directly on the fields. Additionally,
the past year was particularly not favorable from a meteorological point of view, with scarce and
delayed precipitations that determined an extended disease of the material, even prior to its
distribution from the nurseries to the beneficiaries.
The results that are given in table 2 show how in all the villages the survival percentages are
considerably high. Even with the described problems, 9398 seedlings survived (57%) out of a total of
16391 transplanted ones. The best results have always been obtained in the towns of Chikumbu
(59%) and Chiuziliro (58%), while the worst results were obtained in Kuzoole (47,5%).
Village
N° beneficiaries
G. sepium
N° survivals
%
Chiuziliro
41
5762
3363
58.36
Chikumbu
40
5390
3191
59.20
Kamwetsa
41
3240
1885
58.17
Kuzoole
39
1092
519
47.52
Chumachiyenda
40
907
440
48.51
TOTAL
201
16391
9398
57.33
Average
40.2
3278.2
1879.6
54.35
Table 2: number of G.sepium plants that were distributed and that survived in year 2010-2011.
Also in this case normal processing was carried out for the preparation of the soil for the plant stock
growth, including removal of weeds.
A high percentage of beneficiaries (44%) followed the methods for transplanting and taking care of
the material, as has been taught; on the other hand the remaining percentage (23%), and also the
percentage of people that did not answer the question (33%), did not follow the given instructions,
and in particular those concerning the spacing of the transplants, claiming that this choice was made
Page 13
in order to reforest a larger area. The transplant operations were done in almost all the villages
principally in the month of March (55%), because of the meteorological conditions of this particular
year, and the village of Kuzoole, deciding to do the transplants during the month of February,
obtained the worst results.
The problems that arose and characterized negatively the outcome of the transplant were, as in the
previous cases, the presence of termites and the scarce precipitations. As can be seen from data,
more than 50% of the interviewed people have had to deal with one of the two problems. For the
small remaining part, different and quite isolated problems have been detected, such as insect
attacks and the destruction of the transplanted material during the mowing operations.
Because of the young age and of the small size of the transplanted seedlings, only 4% of the
beneficiaries utilized the plant products, while all the others decided to wait and to let the plants
grow, in order to minimize stress and to benefit of a larger quantity of product during future years.
In conclusion, the results have improved in comparison to the previous year, but they remain lower
than expected results. The limited amount of funds is of crucial importance for this project, also
considering the limited amount of money necessary for buying the polyethylene bags and the
spreading material. The non efficient coordination activity between the parts and the beneficiaries
was the main cause of the partial failure, and this can be further demonstrated by the fact that inside
the nurseries present in the region there still are some stocks of seedlings that were ready to be
planted.
Page 14
4.
TRAINING
4.1
Description
The organized training sessions had the goal of providing basic technical knowledge, so that the
agro-forestry operations could be carried out correctly. The process of sensitization and teaching of
these new practices has been very delicate. It must be remembered that these populations which
came in to this project started working with these innovative techniques and methods for the first
time. It is very time consuming to make these populations completely change their functional criteria
and procedures during work activities, since they have always been using the same methods, and it
is a process that requires constancy, especially if the cultivation changes from corn to these new and
different species.
From an agro-forestry point of view, the goal was to educate the beneficiaries regarding the following
topics:
•
Construction and maintenance of nurseries and of all the materials contained inside these
units.
•
Management and preservation of the spreading material.
•
Methods regarding the soil preparation prior to the planting of the seedlings.
•
Methods regarding the transplant and the correct spacing of the seedlings.
•
Cultural post-transplant treatments.
•
Methods regarding the utilization of the spreading material.
•
Theoretical importance of the described choices.
4.2
Obtained results
From the obtained results on the fields, it can be seen that the termites represent a great problem
for the stocking of corn, because they attack the accumulated product. By stocking the picked corn
close to the forest seedlings (which are waiting to be transplanted) the risk is that the animals will
also attack the spreading material. This has been the case for both work cycles.
The correct stocking methods have been taught in all villages except Chiuziliro, where it has been
tried to solve the problem in other ways.
The results of these analyses can be seen in graph 4.
4 This figure contains all the challenges that
limit the survival of the spreading material, not only during the stocking phase but throughout the
entire cultural cycle.
Page 15
Graph 4: comparison between the two years of the project, 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, concerning
the survival problems that have affected the spreading material.
From the obtained data it can be seen that the termites have been a considerably relevant problem.
Also, from these analyses, the different results for the two years can be underlined: in the 2009-2010
cycle the termites have been the main problem along with the dry climate (draughts), while during
the second cycle, in 2010-2011, after the training sessions were held, and after a year in which the
farmers experienced the effectiveness of the learned methods, the situation regarding the
productivity improved. It is considered to be a good result that the beneficiaries have learned a good
way to preserve material and to avoid the problems related to termites.
In September, RC in collaboration with CURE organized a training session for the beneficiaries,
regarding the soil and water conservation techniques. It was explained how the agro-forestry
activities represent one of the principal reasons of the maintenance of these resources. Because of
the limited funding, the courses did not cover all the details regarding the above mentioned
arguments, including the agro-forestry aspects. The participants learned principally the techniques for
measuring the correct spacing of the seedling planting, and the correct distance between grooves
during the soil processing, for the management and the maintenance of the soil and water as
resources.
These courses were carried out in two days, and were attended by 97 beneficiaries: 49 during the
th
th
first day (September 15 ) and 48 during the second day (September 16 ).
It was also scheduled, as a continuation of these two days of courses, to explain in detail to these
villagers the importance of the practice of these methods, not only for the maintenance of water and
soil as an improvement of the quality of life, but also as an opposition to global and local
environmental changes.
It has not been easy to educate these populations on the benefits obtained from the products of
their work, which are not only direct and tangible results but also indirect ones relative to
environmental changes. This difficulty is because of their different traditions and ways of doing
things.
Page 16
During all days of the course, during the introduction, a demonstration regarding this matter was
made, by using the available resources in the villages, and it showed the relationships that exist
between the maintenance of the soil and water, the agro-forestry activities and climate change
issues.
During February 2011, RC held another training course that concerned plant propagation methods, for
both agricultural and forestry species, and in particular the Cassava, manihot esculenta.
The courses were held throughout a period of four days, divided in two sessions of two days each,
and were attended by 200 beneficiaries (100 for each session).
Page 17
5.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND MONITORING OPERATIONS
5.1
Description
Because of the beneficiaries’ poor knowledge level regarding the taught methods and, especially,
because this is their first approach to this thematic, the technical support and monitoring activities
assume great importance.
It has been necessary to integrate the development of the taught work activities, during the courses,
with the constant presence of expert technicians that were able to bring practical support to the
beneficiaries. This is in order to be able to correct possible errors, to solve possible problematic that
could occur and to give further advice regarding all aspects which refer to the scopes of the project.
The possibility to monitor in a complete and more frequent way the entire territory allows the
elimination of all possible sources of error, which can be removed at the start, so that there is not a
bad and expensive result, both in time period and money, at the end of the working period.
The technical support and the monitoring activities were relative to:
• The nursery activities;
• The planting stock preparation methods;
• The operations for the soil preparation in order to carry out the seedling planting activity
(both processing and weed elimination);
• Methods regarding both transportation and transplant of the spreading material (time period
of the transplant, stocking activity, spacing and depth of the planting);
• Post-transplant cultural treatments;
• Methods regarding the utilization and the gathering of the planted material.
5.2
Obtained results
The visits that were made to the fields, in order to give technical support and to monitor the
situation throughout the entire period of the project, have been limited because of the lack of
funding, as for previous cases.
Nevertheless, the goal has been to optimize the available time during these visits, and to maximize
the possible benefits, giving technical assistance to the beneficiaries. The main scope of the visits
has been to make it possible for the local population to understand the importance of each one of
the taught agro-forestry activities.
Page 18
An important result was that the beneficiaries understood the biological cycle of the weeds, so that
the problem linked to chemical herbicides could be solved. It is universally known what the use of
these products can cause, with all the relative effects, influencing directly both biodiversity and
especially public health.
It is very bad to depend on these herbicides, because farmers are forced to buy them, spending a
larger part of their limited budget, and because most of the time these products are used without
knowing the effects they could cause on both the environment and human beings.
During the visits on the fields, as was programmed, technical aid was given during the operations
relative to the spreading material transplant and soil preparation. The work focused on the correct
spacing which must be utilized for the planting (75 cm distance between plants and two grooves
between rows), on the depth of the holes for the planting operations and on how to take care of the
material that has not been transplanted and thus remains in stock within the properties.
As can be seen from the results of the questionnaires given in graph 5,
5 the data does not present
significant differences for the two different years, except for the fact that a significant percentage
(approximately 20%) of interviewed people did not respond to the questions for the year 2010-2011.
Graph 5: comparison between different planting methods carried out by the beneficiaries.
Another technical support was given in order to follow the methods used by the beneficiaries after
the planting of the trees. As said previously, the produced material was mainly used to produce
wood for burning (all species),
Page 19
mulching and green manure, while the remaining part was used for timber wood (K.antho, mbawa)
and for traditional medicine (M.oleifera, chambwamba and A.Quanzensis, msambafumu).
The plants that are good for the production of wood for burning, green manure and mulching are
deciduous 2/3 times a year during the rainy season, because they grow rapidly especially in this
period, and thus are able to produce significant quantities of material.
As can be seen from the data in graph 6,
6 the plants that were planted during the first year are
already being used constantly, while those planted in the second year are not, because they are still
too small.
Graph 6: Use of the materials which are produced from the planted seedlings.
Because of the training regarding the technologic characteristics and the biology of the different
species, a good result was obtained by giving the beneficiaries the possibility to choose by
themselves the most appropriate and useful plant species for the second year of the project, based
on the previously obtained results and preferences.
As can be always seen from data, G.sepium was the most chosen type of plant, such that it was
decided, in agreement with the beneficiaries, to utilize it as the only species to be planted for the
reforestation operation in year 2010-2011, thus leaving the other species aside.
The positive aspect of this result is that the beneficiaries understood the existing differences
between the various species, also related to the environment they are being used in, and that they
were able to make the best choice for their purposes. On the other hand, by choosing only one type
of plant, it is not possible to take advantage of all the initially desired benefits.
In conclusion, even with a constant presence on the fields, it was not possible to eliminate in the
desired way all the problems that can arise during all the described operations, starting from the
nursery construction up until the utilization of the obtained material.
Page 20
6.
RESULTS
A small introduction must be done regarding the social, economic and cultural situation that has
been encountered by working in this environment.
As has been said, this is a very delicate territory from an environmental point of view, because the
studied regions are in proximity of a large urban area, Blantyre. This city has been facing in the past
years an exponential growth rate, which is not accompanied by sufficiently good legislations or
management plans in order to ensure a sustainable development of all the available resources. The
increase of the demand of raw material, directly obtained from the natural resources and immediately
utilized from the population, is out of control and is not managed in an efficient way. We are facing
in this case a situation in which the exchange between CITIES and VILLAGES is not at all balanced,
with the first ones that take from the seconds without giving anything in return.
The studied area has good potentiality from an environmental point of view, as is indicated in the
data showing the forest surface, prior to the sharp increase of resource consumption, the presence of
perennial streams, and the shrub coverage.
The main limiting factor is represented by the irregularity of the rainy season, which has become
more and more irregular and scarce in the past years. This factor, accompanied by other problems
such as the incorrect forestry resource exploitation, the absence of performing soil processing
techniques, a bad water resource management, and especially the monoculture of corn which is
characterized by the irresponsible use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and exterminators, has lead
to the following present situation: A TERRITORY WITH SEVERE RISK OF DESERTIFICATION.
Because of all this, it is obvious how this project is important for trying to change the local
populations’ mentality, so that the available resources can be utilized in a correct way, and also for
starting a “cascade” process towards non beneficiaries, because the improvement of a limited
region’s management cannot improve by itself the environmental situation on a national scale.
Another scope was to make the beneficiaries become independent from the purchase and use of
fertilizers and other agro-forestry spreading material, so that there could be economic savings along
with environmental ones.
6.1
Soil analysis
In order to evaluate the soil development trend in function of the agro-forestry management carried
out in a three year period, a characterization of the physical and chemical parameters of the ground,
both at the beginning and at the end of the project. This analysis could be used as a reference
during the brief period which is dedicated to helping with the planning of further activities on the
territory.
Both analyses were carried out in collaboration with the BLUMBWE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
STATION in Limbe.
• PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS 2008
At the beginning of the project Dr. Boschetto carried out both some basic soil analyses and the USLE
(Universal Soil Loss Equation), an empirical equation proposed by FAO in order to estimate the
quantity of yearly soil loss because of erosion phenomena.
The obtained samples were selected according to the Area Frame Randomized Soil Sampling (AFRSS)
method, which allowed to identify eight sample areas:
Kamwetsa 1, Kamwetsa 2, Kuzoole 1, Kuzoole 2, Chikumbu 1, Chikumbu 2, Chiuziliro 1 and Chiuziliro
2.
Concerning the sampling method, 3 subsamples were collected for each area, at a depth of 22-27
cm, and the humid samples were left out to dry in the sun for 2 days.
The made analysis showed the percentage of organic matter (SO), the C/N ratio and the Ca/Mg
exchangeable base ratio, and the result are shown in the following graphs:
Page 21
Sostanza Organica
2.5
SOM (%)
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Kamw etza Kamw etza Chikumbu
1
2
1
Chikumbu
2
Kudzoole
1
Kudzoole
2
Chiudziliro Chiudziliro
1
2
Cam pioni
Graph 7: organic matter percentage SO for each sample at the beginning of the project.
The SO quantity (as is expected for this specific geographic region and for this climate) seems to
ascillate between values of 0,2% (in Kuzoole 2 and Chiuziliro 2) and 2% (in Chikumbu 2), with an
average value of approximately 1%.
Therefore, considering the use of these lands for agro-forestry purposes, a value of 2% for the SO is
more than acceptable in this contest.
Indicatore C/N
14
12
C/N
10
8
6
4
2
0
Kamwetza 1
Kamwetza 2
Chikumbu 1
Chikumbu 2
Kudzo o le 1
Kudzo o le 2
Chiudziliro 1
Chiudziliro 2
Cam pioni
Graph 8: C/N ratio for each sample at the beginning of the project.
The C/N ratio is practically identical in all the considered sites, and it oscillates between values of 9
and 13. This indicates an acceptable fertility level for the analyzed types of soil.
Page 22
Rapporto tra basi scambiabili
5
Ca/Mg
4
3
2
1
0
Kamwetza 1
Kamwetza 2
Chikumbu 1
Chikumbu 2
Kudzo o le 1
Kudzoo le 2
Chiudziliro 1
Chiudziliro 2
Cam pioni
Graph 9: Ca/Mg ratio for each sample at the beginning of the project.
In order to ensure a good plant growth response, the values of this indicator must be between 2 and
7, so that the presence of excessive aluminum in the soil can be counterbalanced.
From the analyzed samples and from direct analysis carried out on the field it can be stated that:
• The analyzed soil can be considered as a clayey-sandy type of soil;
• The presence of organic matter in the soil is averagely scarce, and this is due to a structural
failure;
• The C/N ratio is almost at acceptable levels;
• The Ca/Mg ratio is close to the lower tolerance level, in an exponential relationship to the
soil’s pH;
• The calculated USLE showed data relative to the quantity of eroded soil, with values
fluctuating between 4 and 18 T/Ha/year.
• FINAL ANALYSIS YEAR 2011 AND COMPARISONS
As has been said, the analyses have been repeated after a three year period, and in the same
locations if possible, in order to obtain a coherent and relevant comparison of the data.
It must be explained that in the village of Chiumachiyenda and in another one of a different area,
close to the village of Kuzoole, two additional soil samples were taken in order to complete the
comparison for the Kuzoole site, because the initially chosen areas for the sampling activities had in
the meantime been used for different purposes.
In order to examine the intra-site effects caused by the adoption of sustainable agronomy
management practices, in the lands of the beneficiary Bertha Grant of the Chikumbu village, two
different samples were taken, referring to two different soil treatments: with and without fertilizers.
While the initial sampling activity was done at a depth of 22-27 cm, after a three year period the
depth factor was taken in to account. Therefore the sampling of the more superficial layer of soil (022 cm) is more similar to the previously used 22-27 cm, while the more deep samples refer to 22-44
cm.
A first comparison with the data collected in 2008 was limited only to the dataset regarding the
superficial layer of the ground, and this permitted to carry out a study on the evolution of the
physical and chemical soil parameters during a three year time period. In order to improve the
quality of the comparison between the different sustainable management practices in locations that
sometimes present very different telluric characteristics, a first preliminary operation of site grouping
Page 23
was done, creating different homogeneous groups based on the information which was collected in
all the studied areas.
The following basic analyses were carried out:
• Weaving % (sand, clay, class)
• pH
• SO %
• CO %
• N%
• P ppm
• K cmol/kg
• Ca cmol/kg
• Mg cmol/kg
• Field capacity
• Withering point
• AWC (Available Water Capacity)
The AWC index was developed in order to consider the water retention capacity of the soil. This
refers to the maximum water quantity, which is useful for the majority of the crops, that the soil is
able to contain. This value is obtained from the difference between the water content in the soil, at
the field capacity, and the water content at the withering point. This indicator is commonly measured
in mm of water contained in one cm soil depth, and it is calculated up to 1,4 m of depth, except for
the case in which there is presence on the more superficial layers of an impenetrable layer from root
systems.
Graphs 10,
1 0, 11, 12 show the results of the analyses relative to the organic matter, the C/N ratio, the
Ca/Mg ratio in comparison to the 2008 data, and all the other values are given in table 3.
3
Graph 10: SO% (organic matter percentage) in the soil at the end of the project, in comparison to
the same factor at the beginning of the project.
Page 24
Graph 11: C/N ratio for each sample at the end of the project, in comparison to the same factor at
the beginning of the project.
Page 25
Graph 12: exchangeable base ratio Ca/Mg for each sample at the end of the project, in comparison
to the same factor at beginning of the project.
Village
SILT%
CLAY%
CLASS
pH
SO%
OC%
N%
Ca
K cmol/Kg cmol/Kg
P ppm
Mg
cmol/Kg
AWC
Kamwetsa 1
8
17 SL
6,74
1,59
0,92
0,08
10
0,32
13,33
1,63
2,85
Kamwetsa 2
6
15 SL
6,83
1,34
0,78
0,07
6
0,01
10,92
1,45
9,21
Chikumbu 1 C
8
13 SL
6,42
0,88
0,51
0,04
4
0,21
10,5
1,14
6,73
10
27 SCL
6,47
2,29
1,33
0,11
36
0,3
17,66
2,27
6,03
Kuzoole 1
6
21 SCL
6,8
1,5
0,87
0,07
5
0,24
8,49
1,22
10,96
Kuzoole 2 N
6
19 SL
6,13
0,24
0,14
0,01
11
0,09
11,93
1,78
7,86
Chiuziliro 1
6
17 SL
5,94
1,1
0,64
0,06
4
0,27
12,74
1,63
2,63
Chiuziliro 2
4
13 SL
5,07
0,95
0,55
0,05
5
0,32
8,93
1,47
2,3
Chimachiyenda
new 1
4
23 SCL
6,61
0,95
0,55
0,05
6
0,07
11,33
1,41
4,78
Chimachiyenda
new 2
4
17 SL
6,35
1,19
0,69
0,06
13
0,14
12,86
1,51
9
6,34
1,20
0,70
0,06
10,00
0,20
11,87
1,55
6,24
Chikumbu 2
Average
6,20
18,20
Table 3: summary of the basic analyses for the superficial soil layer (0-22 cm) carried out at the end
of the project. The analyses that are not in comparison with 2008 are highlighted in green.
Page 26
Taking into consideration the ORGANIC MATTER (SO), after the categorizing process, it was possible
to obtain the following results, shown in table 4:
2008
Village
SO%
Table 4: comparison between the
SO % in the soil at the beginning
and at the end of the project
2011 Difference
SO%
Kamwetsa 1
1,3
1,59
0,29
Kamwetsa 2
0,6
1,34
0,74
Chikumbu 1
1,7
0,88
-0,82
Chikumbu 2
2,1
2,29
0,19
0,55
1,5
0,95
Kuzoole 2 N
0,2
0,24
0,04
Chiuziliro 1
1,3
1,1
-0,2
Chiuziliro 2
0,15
0,95
0,8
Average
0,99
1,24
0,25
Kuzoole 1
SO average
SO low
SO scarce
Three different classes in function of the SO were identified: average (SO<2%), low (2%>SO>1%) and
scarce (SO>1%). As can be seen from these results, generally speaking there has been a slight
increase of the SO in the soil for each class (+0,25%).
SO AVERAGE (SO<2%)
• Chikumbu 2
- Same operations throughout the three years, close to a stream, manual irrigation, dark
brown soil and plain land. Tomato and onion (in 2008 only onion).
+0,18% SO
SO LOW (1%<SO<2%)
• Kamwetsa 1
- 2008 corn and pigeon peas (50% each).
- 2011 new soil processing method introduced, intercrop and rotation; also presence of
fruit trees (2%) and reforestation activity.
+0,29% SO
• Chikumbu 1
- 2008 corn 100% non cultivated, close to river but without irrigation, corn stocked in
the ground.
- 2011 manure applied throughout a three year period; corn, soy, peanuts, pigeon peas,
potatoes and fruit trees (2%); close to river; plain land.
-0,82% SO
Page 27
Chiuziliro 1
- 2008 100% corn culture, slight slope.
- 2011 corn, tomato, pigeon peas, peanuts; rotation, soil processing techniques and
intercrop were introduced.; no manure; was not a beneficiary but carried out the
correct operations on his own.
-0,2% SO
SO SCARCE (>1%)
• Kamwetsa 2
- 2008 100% corn culture, plain land and outcropping rocks.
- 2011 corn, beans and trees (2%); new soil processing techniques, intercrop and
rotation were introduced; manure was applied 2 times in three years (last time one
year ago); plain land.
- +0,74% SO
• Kuzoole 1
- 2008 corn and pigeon peas (50% each); plain land.
- 2011 corn and pigeon peas (50% each); not many changes in three years
+0,95% SO
• Chiuziliro 2
- 2008 100% corn culture
- 2011 100% corn culture; new soil processing techniques, intercrop and rotation were
introduced; beans and peanuts; manure was provided by RC until last year and now
they are using their own compost.
+0,80% SO
What can be seen from these data is that there is an increase of SO%, and this can be caused by
different aspects:
- Introduction of crop rotation in substitution of corn monoculture, utilizing different
species that bring supply the soil with various nutrients;
- Intercrop between agricultural and forestry crops;
- Utilization of correct soil processing and placing techniques, necessary in order to
avoid soil losses because of erosion and to maintain humidity;
- Utilization of green manure and locally produced compost;
- Reforestation activities.
It can be seen how in the sites of Kamwetsa 2 and Kuzoole 1 there has been a shift from a scarce to
an average class, while only in the village of Chikumbu 1 there has been a rerating back to a scarce
class.
Nevertheless, it must be taken into consideration that the samples collected for comparison in 2011
were not taken in the exact same spots as in the previous case, but only within the same sample
areas (approximately 0,5 Ha), because the exact coordinates of the 2008 sample spots were not
available.
This could partially explain the measured differences, and also could justify the fact that not all the
collected samples gave a positive trend as a result.
•
Page 28
Taking into consideration the C/N ratio, from the available data in table 9,
9 there is a slight increase
of this factor, which depending on the type of soil, with average mixture, stabilizes at medium levels.
Because of the lack of data relative to the exact nitrogen presence in the soil, (only the data referring
to the C/N ratio is available), it is not possible to evaluate accurately the improvements in the
studied areas.
2008
Village
C/N
2011 Difference
C/N
Kamwetsa 1
11
11,50
0,50
Kamwetsa 2
12
11,14
-0,86
Chikumbu 1
10,9
12,75
1,85
Chikumbu 2
11
12,09
1,09
Kuzoole 1
10
12,43
2,43
Kuzoole 2 N
12
14,00
2,00
Chiuziliro 1
11,1
10,67
-0,43
Chiuziliro 2
9
11,00
2,00
10,88
11,95
1,07
Average
Table 5: differences between the C/N ratio at the beginning of 2008 and at the end of 2011.
The analyses that were made in the deeper layer of the ground (22-44 cm) will be useful for studies
related to the nature of the soil.
It was not considered necessary to update the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) because the made
changes regarding all the factors of this equation would not have shown the real results.
The AWC factor (Available Water capacity) is important because of its moderating role for the plant’s
water stress, caused by evaporation and transpiration needs which exceed the meteoric inflows. The
obtained results for this factor are shown in table 3.
3
Page 29
6.2
Strenghts
It can surely be said that the analyzed territory has important environmental potentialities, which have
not yet been completely altered. This leaves margin for a possible recovery of the situation, linked to a
management and mental change of position, both by the government and by each and every
Malawian citizen.
The beneficiaries have demonstrated good learning abilities and great interest towards the new
techniques, as can be directly observed on the fields and also in the achieved results concerning:
•
The soil processing methods;
•
The production of the spreading material;
•
The treatment and utilization of the produced material;
•
The correct timing in carrying out all the different operations;
•
Decisional abilities.
Some of these people also asked further and more detailed information on the used processes
(methods for the production of the spreading material and seed gathering).
From an agricultural and forestry point of view, the beneficiaries have understood the importance of
these practices, principally referring to economic benefits (as for example the increasing available
resources that were observed with the improvement of the agricultural average efficiency, which was
more than 20%) and environmental benefits, and also observing improvements in their production
levels, both quantitatively and qualitatively.
It was of crucial importance to understand that these methods become essential if carried out
SYNERGISTICALLY, and thus can lead to the following results.
GIVEN AND LEARNED INPUTS:
•
•
Sustainable soil processing techniques;
Methods in order to limit the dependence from multinational companies, especially those
connected to the corn crops;
Page 30
•
Theoretical and practical basic information for compost production and for fertilization
processes with auto produced organic compounds;
•
•
Methods for improving the agro-forestry production and outcomes;
Reforestation methods, the integrated function that the forest has and the importance of
intercrop;
•
Management of the available water resources;
•
Contrast of the soil erosion activity;
•
Opposition to desertification;
•
The role that can be played for global climate changes.
OBTAINED OUTPUTS:
• Correct use and management of water and soil as resources, which are of crucial importance
for the project goals;
• Optimization in the use of organic compounds in order to produce compost or for mulching the
soil to limit evapo-transpiration.
• Increase of the productivity;
• Reduction of erosion;
• Increase of the soil biologic fertility thanks to intercrop, crop rotation and mulching made with
organic compounds which are obtained from the cultivations.
• Reduction of the necessity to purchase chemical fertilizers (economic, social and environmental
improvements);
• Landscape benefits;
• Life quality improvement for the beneficiaries, because of the greater variety and quantity of
the products and also because of minor costs;
• Decisional abilities.
When looking at the forestry situation, the decision to give an integrated functionality to the
reforestation process is very interesting and appropriate, considering both the work that must be done
and for the goal that is set.
The choice of not executing a classic reforestation activity was taken also because of the very
fragmentary nature of the studied territory and of its vastness. These factor could have otherwise
brought to a limited possibility for the beneficiaries to benefit of the resources.
Page 31
In this way, the farmers have been able to learn the correct production, treatment and forestry
resource exploitation methods, and they have been able to do all this directly on the field,
continuously in contact with their own “piece” of forest. In the future, they will be able to extend their
productions and also increase the territory that will be destined to reforestation activity.
All these little steps should lead to a steady and long lasting environmental improvement, limiting the
deforestation, erosion and desertification processes.
Also, the capacity of choosing the best plant species was encouraged, both considering the type of
climate and the private necessities such as: wood production for burning, charcoal, compost,
mulching, forage and, les primarily, wood work and traditional medicine products.
As a fact, the set of techniques that were taught generally showed important improvements, but
unfortunately only on a local scale, even if many non-beneficiaries have shown interest and have
started to use these methods on their own.
Concerning the results relative to the reduction of erosion processes, the correct application of the
taught anti-erosion techniques has brought to the desired results and to interesting inputs, which are a
good start in future prospective, especially if they will be continued to be applied in the correct way.
These techniques are based on the following:
• Respect for the soil characteristics;
• Utilization of correct cultivations;
• Modifications of the topographic profile;
• Restoration of the forest cover;
• Improvement in the structure stability;
• Organic fertilization
• Crop rotation (different radical systems and processing);
• Regulation of the draining system;
• Runoff limitation;
• Increase of the permeability (soil processing and improvement of the structures);
• Creation of obstacles to the superficial water flow.
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As a confirmation of all the positive aspects mentioned above, data relative to the soil evolution must
be taken into account. This data shows how, thanks to the practices proposed and applied by the
project, there seems to be an improvement of the structure and of the biological quality of the soil,
moving towards auto-sustainable levels, without having the necessity to use further external inputs and
thus becoming self sufficient.
6.3
Weaknesses
The main weaknesses of this project are directly linked to the wrong allocation of financial resources.
Financial/economic resources:
•
It is considered unacceptable that there were insufficient funds for the purchase of the seeds
for the year 20102010-2011,
2011 which were necessary to carry out the pre-established reforestation
plan, especially after the first year of work.
•
In the same way, the fact that no funds were invested for the creation of training sessions
regarding the seed gathering methods and the
the production of spreading material leads to the
risk of destroying all the accomplished results, thanks to the made efforts and the invested
resources within the project, and of achieving benefits only in a first phase and on a limited
territory, benefits that are thus not reproducible in future times.
•
The choice of using polyethylene bags for the reforestation operations resulted to be a cheap
solution, but not a sustainable one because they can be used only once or at the most twice. It
would have been more logistic to make the local populations construct ceramic vases, also in
order to improve their economy, and if this solution were not to be possible plastic vases
should have been purchased because they are more resistant.
•
The missing funds for instituting monitoring activities continuously.
Training sessions
•
During these sessions, the beneficiaries were not taught to produce the spreading material for
the reforestation on their own. Because of this:
-
How can the “cascade” effect, initially required and so important for a good result of
the project, take place?
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-
How can the local populations limit their dependence on the purchase of seeds or
seedlings for future reforesting operations?
-
Some beneficiaries have expressed their interest in these practices, but how can they
overcome their scarce knowledge and economic possibilities in order to utilize them?
Monitoring
•
The monitoring operations are of vital
vital importance and not expensive,
expensive and are necessary in
order to verify that the beneficiaries have learned the taught techniques in a correct way and
to correct any possible errors during the initial stages, thus avoiding the risk of losing the
purchased products during the operations. By having more frequent monitoring operations
throughout the entire time period of the project all these solutions could have been achieved.
Others
•
No baobab or fruit plants were planted, as was mentioned during the project phase. These
types of plants are useful not only for the above mentioned reasons, but also for maintaining
the territory’s biodiversity and for giving benefits to the terrestrial and air fauna.
6.4
Possibile improvements
•
The construction of collection basins for rain water, in order to fight the draught risk following
the rainy season and to insure water availability during the entire year.
•
Purchasing of mechanical irrigation systems for the distribution of water in the fields which are
most distant from rivers or wells that can be present on the territory (for example foot pumps).
•
Organize training sessions covering the spreading material production methods, thus
eliminating the problem caused by the purchase of seeds or planting stocks. If the local
populations were able to do these jobs independently, they would not have to depend on the
purchasing of these materials and could start to organize a local market activity of different
materials.
•
Try to always use locally produced materials for every type of operation.
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•
Reserve greater funds for monitoring operations on the territory before, during and after the
project.
•
Consider the possibility to start a market activity with locally produced products in order to
increase the available resources, to show the Malawian village culture around the world and
possibly to be an example for similar cases, in which these activities could take place.
Among the marketable products we can consider those relative to:
•
-
Cabinetry (wood work);
-
Ethnic medicine (i.e. moringa oleifera, its seeds are being studied for their ability to
purify water and for their exceptional pharmacological properties);
-
Agriculture (local fruit and vegetables).
Increase the forestry surface, and coordinate this with efficient management plans, in order to
regulate the exploitations and the natural reconstruction.
•
Try to utilize local and endemic species during future agro-forestry operations, in order to
improve the local biodiversity, which is always underestimated and not taken in to
consideration, and which is often in great danger and is damaged by the rapid territorial
•
development processes.
Focus on possible causes of failure within the analyzed zone such as: the planting operations
during the rainy season, the climate adversities which are present on the territory, like fauna
and pathogens, the vital cycle and the biological necessities of the species that are utilized for
the reforestation process; then also focus on programming in detail the operations that must be
executed, on creating management plans in order to avoid non satisfactory results, and on
maintaining these resources.
•
Include schools and new generations for future territorial development and environmental
resource conservation programs, because it is with these new people that better results can be
achieved.
•
Focus the attention on external economy situations which, once the project is completed, could
fool local populations with promises of an immediate economic wealth, thus destroying the
entire structure and concept of social, economic and environmental sustainability, which was
developed during the described activities, and making the villages return to their initial
condition.
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6.5
Considerations
During the active period of the project, a new index for monitoring operations of the desertification
processes was developed, quite similar to the on screen digitizing, in other words a geo-referenced
photographic documentation. This method consists in cataloging sample areas of the studied zone,
then describing their social, economic and environmental characteristics, and finally representing
them on a map thanks to a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit. This method allows the creation of a
database containing all the information regarding the particular area, and these data sets, for
different time periods, are then comparable, so that the territory evolution that wants to be studied
can be evaluated whenever it is desirable.
The data for the described analyses will be available for RC, Research and Cooperation, and for
whoever may need them at the end of the elaboration of the collected information, during the last
week of the project.
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