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| Authors: | R. Kapinga, M. Msabaha, A.K. Nyango |
Abstract:
Tanzania is basically an agricultural country.
Previous surveys showed that many subsistence farmers have limited land for cultivation; and to provide the required quantity of various foods needed, intercropping is commonly practised with cassava as the major base crop in the mixtures.
Studies to improve cassava-based intercropping systems started in the 1983/84 season with on-station evaluation of 14 cassava-based intercropping combinations common among farmers.
In the 1984–1988 trials, only 5 of these systems were profitable.
The 5 promising intercropping combinations are cassava + maize, cassava + maize + sweet potato, cassava + maize + cowpea + sweet potato, cassava + maize + sorghum + cowpea, and cassava + cowpea + sorghum + sweet potato.
These combinations were verified under farmers conditions from 1989 to 1990. The trials were researcher-farmer managed and located in farmers field.
Farmers selected two cassava-based intercroppings namely: cassava + maize and cassava + maize + sweet potato.
Reasons for farmers choice of these combinations are documented.
The performance of a base crop (cassava) and its associated intercrops have been highlighted and the effect of cassava mealybug on cassava discussed.
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