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