Les Notes Techniques de ECHO

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.)

Sélection des Meilleures Plantes pour la Ferme de Subsistance Tropicale - 01/01/2007

Par F. W. Martin. Publié en partie, 1989 et 1994 ; révisé en 1998 et 2007 par le personnel d’ECHO

Même si presque toutes les plantes aient une ou plusieurs utilités, elles n’ont pas toutes la même valeur. Par exemple, le blé, le riz et le maïs sont probablement les plantes les plus utiles au monde en raison des vastes superficies que ces cultures vivrières occupent, de leur rôle vital dans l’alimentation humaine et de leur énorme valeur économique. En appliquant divers critères, l’on pourrait considérer que 10, 25 ou même 200 espèces sont les plantes les plus utiles de la terre. Cependant, dans certaines circonstances, ou pour des raisons particulières, d’autres plantes produites et utilisées à très petite échelle peuvent avoir une grande valeur et même être indispensables. Dans ce sens, répondre à la question « Quelles sont les plantes les plus utiles pour la petite ferme ? » constitue une tâche colossale.

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.

Initiation à l’Agriculture Tropicale à Petite Échelle

Vous voulez aider les gens dans les tropiques. Fantastique! Les tropiques vous attendent à bras ouverts. Peu importe vos compétences et talents, vous pouvez améliorer la vie des gens dans les tropiques. L’intérêt que vous manifestez pour le bien-être physique et spirituel des gens peut se concrétiser dans des services fructueux. Votre premier atout est votre bonne volonté, votre disposition à servir.

À mesure que vous vous familiariserez avec les tropiques, vous découvrirez que parmi les problèmes courants, il y a la production et l’utilisation de la nourriture. Chez les pauvres, ceux et celles qui ont le plus besoin de votre aide, l’obtention du pain quotidien est une lutte constante. Il ne s’agit pas simplement d’un problème d’alimentation. C’est en premier lieu un problème de production, ensuite de distribution et d’entreposage et finalement de préparation des repas et de régime alimentaire équilibré.

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.

Le Moringa - 01/06/1985

Le moringa, Moringa oleifera, est probablement la plante la plus populaire de la banque de semences d’espèces tropicales sous-utilisées d’ECHO. Cet arbre est originaire de l’Inde mais est cultivée partout au monde et est naturalisée dans beaucoup de milieux. Le moringa a beaucoup de noms. Dans les pays francophones, il est appelé mouroungue, ben ailé, moringa ailé, benzolive, pois quénique et néverdié. Aux Philippines, où les feuilles de moringa sont cuites et données aux bébés, on l’appelle le « meilleur ami des mères » et malunggay.

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