Eden Foundation

Direct seeding by farmers - the natural solution to Sahel's problems

Written: November 1992
For reference: Eden Foundation, Sweden (1992:3)

Introduction

The vast majority of farmers in the Sahel are subsistence farmers. It is therefore vital for them to produce enough food for their needs and have a surplus that they can trade for other necessities. They also need enough water to drink and for other domestic needs. Eden saw these goals being compromised by the environmental degradation that is taking place in the Sahel. The environmental degradation can clearly be seen to the south of Tanout, Niger, where Eden's field station is situated. Here, land is cleared in order to grow annual crops. The other plants are considered to be in the way of the annuals and are therefore cut down or uprooted. These annual crops (mostly millet) take about three months from sowing to harvest. A few months after harvest, farmers cut the stalks and burn them leaving the fields exposed to strong winds until the next sowing season. This wind erodes the soil, depleting the top soil of nutrients, uprooting seeds and seedlings and suffocating seedlings and plants where the soil and sand later accumulates. There are other factors contributing to the removal of perennials, namely overgrazing by livestock which destroys immature perennials and excess collection of firewood which is more destructive of mature perennials. Sand and dust storms regularly occur as a result of this environmental degradation.

Read Eden's latest article: The Lost Treasures of Eden

In order for farmers to have the security of a reliable supply of food from their fields, the environment needs to be stabilised. Also, water is such a scarce resource that it must be used very sparingly. In Eden's view, the environment can best be stabilised by farmers themselves cultivating drought tolerant perennial plants which they can use for food. Eden sees its part in this by testing drought tolerant food plants and then via pilot farms, introduce the most promising of these to farmers who will be given access to start-off quantities of seeds that they themselves can reproduce, when they are motivated to do so.

It is therefore appropriate that Eden is interested in researching and developing Dry Farming of edible perennial species that can tolerate an average annual rainfall of <225mm in hot desert conditions. Dry Farming means the direct seeding of species that can grow under the local conditions without cash intensive artificial support means such as irrigation, inorganic fertilisers, etc. Eden is interested in herbs, shrubs and trees.

Direct seeding, sometimes called direct sowing, is the natural way to cultivate drought tolerant food plants as it fulfils two goals the farmers have in mind. One being to produce food, the second one being to do this economically by conserving water, nutrients, etc. Plant nurseries by comparison, require water, plastic sacs which are expensive and pollute the environment, transport of the seedlings to planting sites and labour to look after the seedlings. Direct seeding makes it possible to introduce perennials on a large scale, even into the most isolated areas. This is because it can be used where water is not readily accessible and it is so inexpensive compared with other methods, especially when the direct seeding is carried out by farmers themselves. Direct seeding enables farmers to protect their own environment using technologies available to them. Direct seeded perennials tend to produce an extensive root system rapidly but the shoot grows more slowly whereas seedlings raised in nurseries tend to produce large shoots which gives greater evaporation and the roots soon become cramped in the plastic sacs. This means that direct seeded plants are more likely to be able to reach moisture remaining in the soil after the rainy season has ended than those raised in plant nurseries because of their more extensive root system. They are therefore better able to tolerate drought. It can also be mentioned that direct seeding works, Eden has established healthy populations of several perennial species.

Perennials have the distinct advantage of providing food in drought years when the annual crops fail. Also, food can be gathered from these plants throughout the year including the critical months before harvest of annuals when supplies of food can run out. Farmers are more likely to protect species that provide human food directly than those that are only used for non food purposes such as firewood. Perennials provide a permanent vegetation cover and annuals can be intercropped. When only annuals are cultivated soil nutrients become depleted as crop residues are cleared and burnt in the fields. Perennials provide organic matter and nutrients from leaf fall such as nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur and other nutrients essential to plant growth, and some species fix nitrogen. The organic matter adsorbs nutrients and then slowly releases them to the roots and helps to prevent leaching of water soluble nutrients such as nitrates. Nutrients from perennials provide an alternative to expensive inorganic fertilisers.

Farmers that cultivate millet have a lot of labour needs during the brief three month period between sowing and harvest, but after that there is little work in the fields. Cultivation of perennials provide work at times other than the millet growing season and therefore can help to stop the exodus from the villages of young men in particular who are seeking employment in towns and even in other countries.

A location for a field station suitable to the climatic requirements of Eden's research was selected 12km south of Tanout (130km north of Zinder). The worst site in the area, nearly denuded of vegetation, was chosen, with the aid of local farmers, in order to make the tests as realistic as possible. Its soil is a duplex type consisting of a red-brown fine sand with some silt which sets very hard when dry, and is covered in some places by yellow coarse sand. The site is very exposed to strong winds. The average rainfall at Tanout was 187mm between 1982-1991 (and 206mm between 1972-1991).

Species which can be established and survive at Eden's field station are very likely to grow even better in localities further south which makes the results of this research applicable over a wide area of Niger and other countries bordering the Sahara Desert. The knowledge gained by Eden through this research is available to local government institutions and universities in NW. Africa, and to organisations who are co-operating with Eden.

According to the development philosophy of Eden, it is important that farmers should be able to choose for themselves whether they want to direct seed on their own land. They don't need to be "educated" nor given financial incentives in order to find out if the cultivation of perennials on their land is beneficial to them. Farmers from the village (called Dalli) adjacent to the field station could see the sand moving freely, threatening their houses and destroying early sowings of their annual crops. These farmers noticed that crops sown close to the field station were taller and healthier than those sown further away and that the field station was less affected by sand and dust storms. They drew conclusions themselves as to whether it was beneficial to them to sow perennials in their fields.

In order for a species to be made available to farmers it must first be screened through Eden's Dry Farming Introduction Values (DFIV). It needs to score well in Attainment, Fulfilment and Constructivity. Attainment means its ability to become a mature plant. Fulfilment means its ability to produce quality food without damaging plant parts vital to its future growth. Constructivity means how constructive the species is to the farmers and their environment, in this case land stabilisation. If it scores low in one of these values it is eliminated at this stage, which happens to drought tolerant annuals when it comes to Constructivity. (A more detailed explanation of the DFIV is provided in the methods section of this paper.)

Eden has been carrying out direct seeding and survivability tests since 1988 (also known as the Dry Farming Candidate Preparation Test) in order to find out how best to establish a healthy population of perennials by direct seeding. Results from these tests are used to evaluate species through the DFIV so that those found suitable can be made available to local farmers who are interested. This work is explained in more detail below.

Methods

Methods used by Eden at the field station

Eden's methods are presented below. (These methods are continually being updated and improved.) Two variables are tested. The first is seed treatment including non toxic physical scarification and water treatments which farmers can replicate themselves. Up to five treatments are tested on each species. The other variable is sowing depth. Holes are made for the seeds to the correct sowing depth with a tight fit in order to reduce wind and water erosion around the seeds to a minimum. Seeds are sown in early July so that there is moisture in the soil, but still more rain to come.

Seeds are sown in separate holes to give a distance of 13cm between each seed. The experiments (each experiment being a certain combination of species, seed treatment and sowing depth) are sown in 4 plots of 900 seeds each which are completely randomised within the experimental area. The completely randomised design is used in order to take into account n factors such as the presence of ants nests, variations in microtopography and soil texture. The history of each seed is monitored from the time and place of collection through germination to the thinning stage and right on through its life as a mature plant. Germination is monitored eight times during a rainy season. Both alive and dead seedlings are registered at the true leaf stage and at the cotyledon stage in order to provide comprehensive data on germination. Plants are then registered about two months after the end of the rainy season and again one year after sowing which provides data on their vigour. Thinning is carried out a year after sowing as experience has shown that the plants don't grow fast enough to compete much with each other during their first year. It is done by uprooting the plants, the wide spacing allowing for the thinning to be done without disturbing other plants. The young plants are registered yearly to provide data on their survivability.

Changes in the soil level are monitored giving information about soil erosion and accumulation that can affect experiments.

Second and third year germination of the different experiments are being monitored showing if the seeds are still viable after this period in the soil. All the seeds that have already germinated are deducted so that the second and third year germination is compared with the seeds that have not germinated in the first year, i.e. only those that are left in the soil. These results indicate a plant's suitability for revegetation purposes. When revegetating one sowing is preferable, which is risky if the rainfall turns out to be poor the year of sowing, but with an extended germination period the plants can still be established if rainfall is adequate in one of the following years.

No irrigation, fertiliser nor environmental manipulation is applied. The research results show that many species can be established even in years of low rainfall without using techniques such as water harvesting. (Water harvesting is seen only as a means of increasing the plant performance, but never as a pre-requisite for plant establishment.)

Farmers' direct seeding techniques

Eden is making seeds of edible perennial species available to farmers in start-off quantities. One of Eden's field workers is designated as a Dry Farming Agriculturalist who lets interested farmers know which species are available and also gives a demonstration on how to sow them so that they can direct seed themselves. A local Hausa knife is used to make a trench for sowing the seeds, the sowing depth being calculated using the diameter of the seed measured against the knife.

Species tested through the direct seeding and survivability tests are being screened through the Dry Farming Introduction Values. These species need to germinate reasonably well and survive at least one hot dry season. The plants with edible parts that do the least damage to the plant when harvested are given higher values - fruit flesh followed by seeds and then leaves. They are also selected on the basis of their projected longevity, deseeding and seed treatment simplicity and on Maturity. Maturity means the quantity and quality of the research that has been done and points out if further research is needed before conclusions can be drawn.

Results and discussion

Eden's has tested 63 species in direct seeding and survivability tests between 1988-1992. The highest germination rate was 80% for the best treatment of one species. The second best species produced a germination rate of 77% for its best treatment. 28 species germinated at >10% and 18 species achieved a germination rate of >20%. The average survival rate for the first year was 64% (species sown between 1988-1990), 80% the second year (species sown between 1988-1989) and 91% the third year (species sown in 1988).

Eden made 9 species available to local farmers in start-off quantities free of charge in 1992, 7 (78%) of them native to Niger. They selected 6 of these species for sowing in their fields and/or around their houses, 4 (67%) of them native to Niger. The average survivability rate in Eden's tests of the 9 species was 69% the first year and 87% the second year. The average survivability of the 6 species sown by the farmers was 70% the first year and 86% the second year (1 of these were tested in 1988, 2 in 1989 and 3 in 1990).

Eden received 49 orders in 1992 for seeds from 27 farmers. 14 farmers wanted 1 species, 7 wanted 2 species, 3 wanted 3 species and 3 wanted 4 species. The mean number ordered was 2 species. 13 of these orders were for the purpose of food production, 18 for stabilisation of the environment, 8 for both food and stabilisation, 2 for medical purposes, 1 for stabilisation and fodder and 1 for soil improvement. 82% of the orders being for human food and/or stabilisation confirms that Eden's solution is in harmony with the goals of the local farmers. One farmer placed an order for 50 plants of the same species, four farmers placed orders for 20 plants. The range was between 2-50 plants, and the mean was 8 plants per order. They also showed a preference for species that are not common in their area. 17 orders were not processed. 16 of them because the species ordered was not one of those being made available, 1 because 1 farmer was ill at sowing time.

A total of 22 farmers direct seeded the 6 species already mentioned. 16 of them came from North Dalli located 100 metres away from the field station, 2 of them from South Dalli 2km away, 1 of them from Moucheri 12km away and 3 of them from Tanout 13km away.

The mean germination rate of the plants the farmers sowed was 15%. The minimum germination per species was 10%, while the maximum was 40%. The minimum germination per species per farmer was 10%, while the maximum was 40%.

Eden also monitors the farmers' fields for germination and survivability. This data is of a different character as these plants are not protected against livestock, while the field station is fenced. These results are then interrelated with the results from the experiments in order to determine the number of seeds needed to produce a mature plant in a farmer's field.

It is clear from the above results that Eden's extension method works, namely that the farmers themselves can choose if, when and with which species they want to protect their environment by direct seeding edible perennials. The farmer is seen as a client who is free to shop around for the species he wants. The field station used for the research is also acting as a pilot farm where villagers can view the Dry Farming species. A local Dry Farming Agriculturalist is available at the field station to explain the uses of these species and demonstrate how best to direct seed them to interested farmers. (None of the westerners in the project do sowing demonstrations so that the farmers won't become dependent on westerners.)

The farmers have invested labour and land to cultivate perennials and they will receive as their "salary" food for direct human consumption and an environment which is better protected from the harsh climate. Also, 3 out of the 6 species they sowed have a direct economic value. Their fruits are sold in town markets, so any surplus can be used to generate income to the purchase of other necessities. These species are reported to have many other uses than those already mentioned above. These are as hedge, forage, fuel, medicine, timber, toothbrush, dye, tannin, stuffing for saddles, candle, chemical, fertiliser, fibre and insecticide. They stimulate the economy by lessening imports and in time of drought lessen dependence on food handouts. The term famine food often used by the western press is derogatory, as one of the fruits of these plants contains 4 times the vitamin C level of oranges. The extensive use of perennials encourages people to respect them and therefore maintain them as well as sow them. If they intercrop annuals, these will be better protected against strong winds as perennials act as windbreaks. Perennials provide nesting sites and shelter for predators of insects and animals that are potential pests. The cultivation of perennials lessens pressure for forage and firewood on the perennials that already grow.

Both the field station and the fields of farmers who have sown these plants act as conservation sites. Some species are becoming rare or perhaps even extinct due to their overexploitation in the Sahara and along its fringes. The field station and farmer's fields are becoming genetically richer due to the direct seeding of perennials at a time of increasing genetic poverty.

Summary

The environment in the Sahara and its fringes is deteriorating. Farmers adjacent to Eden's field station cut or uproot perennials to make more room for the annuals and perennials are thought to be in the way. The result is the loss of fertile top soil, accumulation of sand where it is not wanted and unhealthy sand and dust storms. In Eden's view, the environment can best be stabilised by local farmers themselves cultivating drought tolerant edible species. Direct seeding is seen as the best method of establishing perennials as it is inexpensive and irrigation is not required which is important as water is such a valuable resource.

Eden has been carrying out direct seeding and survivability tests since 1988. Species that can grow where the average annual rainfall is <225mm and can tolerate hot desert conditions as well as provide human food are of interest to Eden. Both seed treatments and sowing depths are tested, the seed treatments include physical scarification and water treatments. The best treatment of one species gave a germination of 80% and 28 species germinated at a rate of >10%. The average survivability rate was 64% after the first hot dry season for species sown between 1988-1990. In 1992, seeds of 9 species that have already been tested by Eden, were made available to interested farmers for direct seeding. The farmers selected 6 species, most of them asking for 2 each. They wanted mostly to use these species for human food and environmental protection. Each of these species germinated at a rate >10% while one produced a germination rate of 40%.

These results confirm that Eden's extension method works. The field station is acting as a pilot farm where farmers can see the perennials growing, and by their own initiative choose if, when and which species they want to cultivate. A Dry Farming Agriculturalist working at the field station takes orders from interested farmers, informs about the uses of the perennials and demonstrates how to direct seed them.

Species which Eden has found to be suitable for cultivation in an area of around 200mm annual rainfall are likely to perform even better in locations further south, making Eden's research applicable to a large area of Niger and other hot dry countries.

Attainment, Fulfilment, Constructivity and Maturity are part of the Materia Screening Method of Goalistic Thinking and have been used by the kind permission of Unilogo Invest AB, Sweden.

This article was originally presented at the conference entitled "Reforestation by direct seeding" (French title: "Le Reboisement par la Technique du Semis Direct"), held in Zinder, Niger between the 5th and 7th November 1992. Organised by FAO and the Environmental Department of Niger Rep.

Copyright © Eden Foundation