Through combining traditional knowledge with sustainable land management, farmers in Nicaragua are maintaining crop productivity for longer.

“We used to yield 10 quintals per manzana, and now we produce between 30 and 40 quintals per manzana,” explains Roberto Pineda, a smallholder farmer in the Somotillo municipality of Nicaragua. “We have improved our natural resources, and trees have grown. Before, we had no trees and there was no rain.”

An article by Inter Press Services explains how an easy to establish agroforestry programme has increased maize yields thanks to the efforts of partners that include the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) as well as Nicaraguan, American, Austrian and Colombian institutions.

Through the programme, farmers are encouraged to plant trees among their croplands to stabilize hillsides, minimize erosion and help improve soil nutrients. The trees are regularly pruned and the cuttings used as mulch for crops.

“The overall result is a more productive, resilient farming system that can withstand the increasingly variable climate conditions of Central America, ranging from extended periods of drought to intense rain, and thus improve income and food security for the rural families,” says the article.

The project started with 16 farm households in north Nicaragua and has since been extended to 300 farmers in the area through farmer field schools and guided visits. It is believed the programme has the potential to reach over 200,000 farm households in Nicaragua and Honduras.

Read the full story: Opinion: Eco-efficient Crop and Livestock Production for Nicaraguan Farmers