Post on 16-Jul-2015
Consortium for the Integrated Management of
Soils in Central America
A. Castro1, K. Tehelen1,2, J. Rubiano2, L. Alvarez-Welchez3, E. Barrios4, E. Amézquita, M. Ayarza5, E. García6 and I.M. Rao1
(1)CIAT-Colombia; (2)Challenge Program on Water and Food; (3)FAO-Honduras; (4)ICRAF; (5)CORPOICA, Colombia; (6)CIAT-Honduras
Inappropriate use of resources
Soil degradation
Food insecurity
Poverty
Negative effects on the
environment
Efficient use and conservation
of resources
Regeneration of forests
Food security & Surpluses
Diversification & Income
Community welfare
Positive ecological footprint
Extrapolation Domain Analysis for QSMAS: bivariate map showing potential areas for implementation of QSMAS across the Pan tropical world (performed combining Bayesian and frequentist statistical models)
Acknowledgements: This was a complementary study of the project ‘PN15: Quesungual Slash and Mulch Agroforestry System (QSMAS): Improving crop
water productivity, food security and resource quality in the sub-humid tropics’, both funded by the Challenge Program on Water and Food of CGIAR.
Research results mentioned here correspond to activities co-executed by CIAT; MIS consortium (Central America); National University of Colombia
(Palmira); and CPWF. We thank the CIAT staff in Honduras, and the CPWF and TSBF staff in Colombia for their contributions to this work.
Eco-Efficient Agriculture for the Poor
Quezungual is the name of an ancient rural village in
southwest Honduras, Central America. The village’s
name is drawn from three indigenous words that mean
soil, vegetation, and convergence of streams.
Although today the steep slopes surrounding
Quezungual are peppered with tall trees and produce
bountiful crops, just two decades ago the region was
suffering from a long period
of inappropriate agricultural
practices that had resulted
in loss of forest cover and
soil degradation leading to
declining crop yields.
How did such change
come about?
From 2005 to 2007 CIAT and its partners in Central
America conducted research activities that confirmed
the eco-efficiency of QSMAS through the efficient use
and conservation of resources, defined the four key
principles behind its agronomical success and identified
potential areas for its adaptation. However, some
doubts remained about its potential for acceptance and
dissemination in other similar areas.
The answer is the widespread adoption of the
QSMAS was developed as an option to improve the
resilience and productivity of smallholder systems in sub-
humid hillsides of western Honduras, Central America.
The system had to be a suitable alternative to the
traditional slash and burn (SB) agriculture, which can lead
to land degradation if growing population pressure reduces
the fallow period needed for recovery of natural resources.
Therefore, the development of QSMAS implied the close
collaboration of farmers and organizations that were
committed to improve food security and protect natural
forest and water resources in the region.
The main objective of this
study was to identify the
factors that have favored the
adoption of QSMAS in
Honduras, to use this
information to facilitate
developing and implementing
adoption pathways for the
system in similar regions.
“We were leaving our landscape like a
desert…”. A. Díaz, farmer
“Once convinced we had identified the
problem we came into a win-win alliance
against it. Everybody helped. This was a
learning alliance of many”. L. Alvarez-
Wélchez, FAO
“Our leaders received training to start the
process, because we knew one day we had
to stop practicing slash and burn
agriculture”. J.M. Bonilla, Professor
“The process doesn’t have a name or a
lastname. The protagonists are all the
organizations and the town, from the
beginning to the very end, the
congregations, the community, the local
authorities, we all played a role to
impulse the process. We all collaborated”.
Farmers from south-western Honduras.
•Initial acceptance of QSMAS in Honduras
was mainly due to: (1) the importance of
agriculture for subsistence; (2) the level of
soil degradation; and (3) the dependence
on a gradually more erratic precipitation.
•Adoption of QSMAS in Honduras was
facilitated by: (1) access to credit and
markets for inputs and sale of surpluses;
(2) capacity building on the new set of
technological options; and (3) collective
action of communities and institutions.
•The validation and initial dissemination of
QSMAS requires at least 3 years. Short term
positive effects experienced by farmers in
sub-humid regions as the ones identified in
the extrapolation analysis are key for the
diffusion of QSMAS in new communities.
•There are not reports of disadoption of
the system.
Extensive land
degradation and two
years of erratic
precipitationFacilitated
elimination of
slash and burn
agriculture
(based on semi-structured interviews and the River of Life method applied to farmers, technicians and local authorities)
1980’s 1990’s 2000’s
Slash and burn agriculture Quesungual Slash and Mulch Agroforestry System
•Subsistence agriculture with no traditional production technologies
•Shifting cultivation (rotations every 1 to 3 years)
• Agriculture based on principles (no slash and burn, permanent soil cover, minimal
disturbance of soil, and efficient use of fertilizers) • Rotation every 10 to 12 years
HurricaneMitch(1998)
El Niño drought(1997)
Referendumagainst burning (2001)
Incentives against burning (1999)
Food insecurity emergency
(1992)
Arrival of institutions
(1992)
Development of QSMAS:
•Field trips & exchange of
experiences
•Design of QSMAS by integrating
local practices & improved
technologies
•Evaluation, adjustments and
dissemination of QSMAS
•Introduction of improved varieties
On-farm participatory
research(2003-2007)
Quantification of
biophysical and
socioeconomic benefits,
introduction of new
technologies (improved
pastures, optimization of
fertilization)
Environment protection
incorporated in high school
curriculum
Community organized, access to credit,
reforestation projects, training to foreign
farmers and technicians on QSMAS
(present day)Institutions: CRS • FAO • CARE • Religious
congregations • Local authorities • Local committees
for development, management of water, etc.
Common message:
no more use of slash & burn agriculture
Capacity building: Family & house • Organization • Micro-credit • Organic agriculture • Integrated pest
management • Environment • Human rights, etc.
1st NationalPrize of the
Green Municipality
Collective
action of
present and
future
generations
Accelerated QSMAS
adoption due to its
resilience to this
natural events