ECHO Technical Notes

Pigeon Pea - 01.01.1990

I often tell folks that ECHO specializes in growing food under difficult conditions. The pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan, is a prime example of a tough but nutritious plant for just such cases. This article is directed toward two audiences. For some of you, pigeon pea is already an important crop. You will mainly be interested in the information about and seed of vegetable pigeon pea varieties. For others who are not familiar with pigeon pea at all, the general discussion of pigeon pea is for you. (The following information is gleaned from a very helpful book, Pigeon peas: a Valuable Crop of the Tropics, by Julia Morton, Roger Smith, A. Lugo-Lopez and R. Abrams, available from Dr. Eduardo Schroder for $7.00 at Dept. of Agronomy, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, PR 00709-5000, USA.)

Selecting the Best Plants for the Tropical Subsistence Farm - 01.01.2007

By Dr. F. W. Martin. Published in parts, 1989 and 1994; Revised 1998 and 2007 by ECHO Staff

Though nearly all plants are useful in some way, they are not equally valuable. For example, wheat, rice and corn may be considered the most valuable plants in the world based on the vast acreage planted to these crops, their vital role in feeding humankind, and their enormous economic value. Using various criteria, one might consider 10, 25, or even 200 species as the world’s most valuable plants. Yet, under some situations, by some people, or for some special reason, other plants produced and used on a very small scale might be precious and indispensable. The question, “Which are the most valuable plants for the small farm?”, then, becomes breathtaking.

What’s Inside:

How to Find the Best Plants

Descriptions of Useful Plants

Maize - 01.01.1989

Maize (Zea mays; corn) is the third most important food crop in the world, surpassed only by two other grains, wheat and rice. Maize is a widely adapted crop, capable of production during the appropriate season in almost all parts of the world where farming is done. Maize is represented by thousands of varieties, some producing in as little as 70 days, others needing up to 9 months to reach maturity. Furthermore, maize is represented by a number of distinct races that evolved in Mexico and Central and South America, its geographical origin. These groups hybridize freely.

Sweet Potato - 19.01.1988

Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are already the 6th or 7th most produced food crop in the world, surpassed only by wheat, rice, corn, potato, barley, and possibly cassava. Among the reasons that sweet potato is a great crop is that it is relatively easy to grow, relatively free of pests and diseases, has relatively high productivity, and is always good food, principally starch, some protein and vitamin C, and, in orange varieties, rich in vitamin A. In addition, the young leaves, rich in protein and most vitamins, are also good food. Furthermore, the sweet potato is an excellent animal food.

Its ability to produce in poor soils makes the sweet potato an especially good crop for poor tropical soils where fertilizer is not available. If the leaves are also used as food, sweet potato will probably produce more nutrients per acre than almost any other crop under those conditions. (The other tropical crop that produces well on poor soils and also has both edible roots and leaves is cassava. It has an advantage over sweet potato in drought tolerance, but sweet potato has the advantage in nutrients. That is because substances called polyphenols in the cassava leaf combine with protein during cooking and reduce the amount of protein that is digestible.)

Nevertheless, like all crops the sweet potato must be produced with understanding in order to obtain maximum yields. It should never be treated with neglect.

What's Inside:

• WHY GROW SWEET POTATOES?
• CLIMATIC, SOIL, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR GROWING SWEET POTATO
• CULTURE
• HARVEST & STORAGE
• PRINCIPLE USES OF SWEET POTATOES

Soybean - 01.04.1988

The soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most important food plants of the world, and seems to be growing in importance. It is an annual crop, fairly easy to grow, that produces more protein and oil per unit of land than almost any other crop. It is a versatile food plant that, used in its various forms, is capable of supplying most nutrients. It can substitute for meat and to some extent for milk. It is a crop capable of reducing protein malnutrition. In addition, soybeans are a source of high value animal feed.

Nevertheless, the soybean is adapted primarily to the Temperate Zone. Each improved variety has an adaptation determined in large part by latitude. Soybean requires careful home processing to bring out its best qualities, and if not well prepared, it has an off-flavor that is seldom appreciated.

A Beginners Guide to Small-Scale Tropical Agriculture

So you want to help people in the tropics.  Beautiful! The tropics are waiting for you. No matter what your abilities, you can make life better for others in the tropics. Your concern for the physical and spiritual well-being of people can be translated into fruitful service. Your first asset is your good will, your willingness to serve. 

As you begin to get acquainted with the tropics, you will find that common problems include production and the use of food. Among the poor, those that most need your help, obtaining one's daily bread is a constant concern. This is not only a question of eating. It is first a matter of production, second of distribution and storage, and third of preparation of meals and balancing the diet. 

What's Inside: 

Introduction

Some Common Problems

Interaction of Agriculture and Human Welfare

Steps Toward Improving Small-Scale Tropical Agriculture

Conclusion

Moringa Recipes - 01.01.1988

"Of all parts of the tree, it is the leaves that are most extensively used. The growing tips and young leaves are best. [However, we sometimes pull the leaflets off in our hands and cook them without regard to age]. Unlike other kinds of edible leaves, benzolive leaves do not become bitter as they grow older, only tougher. When you prepare the leaves, always remove them from the woody stems, which do not soften. [We did not know this the first time we served them. It was almost like having wire in the dish]. "The leaves can be used any way you would use spinach. One easy way to cook them is this: Steam 2 cups freshly picked leaves for just a few minutes in one cup water, seasoned with an onion, butter and salt. Vary or add other seasons according to your taste. In India leaves are used in vegetable curries, for seasoning and in pickles. Let your imagination be your guide."

Strawberries : A Potential Cash Crop in the Tropics - 01.08.1985

Several scientists and one grower were contacted by telephone and asked about the potential of strawberries for the tropics. Their conversations are summarized.

The potential of strawberries (Frageria americana) as a source of income for the small farmer has been clearly demonstrated at the Baptist mission in Haiti. They have never sold for less than $1 per pint and they say the wealthier people drive up from the city to buy them.

The major limitation is that fresh, disease-free plants must be purchased at least every second year from the United States. This requires a capital investment on the part of the farmer and some risk that the plants may be dead upon arrival due to transportation foulups. A limiting geographical factor is that elevations which provide some relief from the heat are usually required.

The Moringa Tree - 01.06.1985

The moringa tree, Moringa oleifera, has probably been the most popular plant in ECHO's seed bank of underutilized tropical crops. The tree is native to India but has been planted around the world and is naturalized in many locales. Moringa goes by many names. In the Philippines, where the leaves of the moringa are cooked and fed to babies, it is called "mother's best friend" and "malunggay." Other names for it include the benzolive tree (Haiti), horseradish tree (Florida), Nébéday (Senegal) and drumstick tree (India).

Green Manure Crops - 01.01.1985

Green manure crops are crops that are [often times in North America] grown to be turned under to increase soil fertility.  Leguminous green manure crops ( i.e., those which can make nitrogen fertilizers from atmospheric nitrogen) can offer small-scale Third World farmers a tremendous number of advantages.

Something like 30% of all the increases in harvests achieved by small farmers in the Third World during the last three decades has been achieved through the use of chemical fertilizers.  As petroleum prices increase, prices of chemical fertilizers could easily become too expensive to be economically feasible for use with traditional basic grains.  Almost overnight, Third World basic grain production could plummet.  Widespread use of green manure crops could avert much of this impact.

What’s Inside:

• Comparison with Compost
• Cropping Systems
• Some Plant Species Suitable for Green Manures