Unsustainable agricultural practices degrade soils, reduce crop diversity, threaten agroecosystems, and reinforce climate vulnerability of smallholders.
Traditional African Vegetables (TAVs) and their crop wild relatives could be potential cover crops, although their regenerative potential and impact on soil microbiome diversity and agroecosystem productivity remain to be researched. Studies found that plant diversification has a positive effect on soil fertility in Madagascar.
However, there is a research gap in which plant combinations can help regenerate degraded agricultural soils and bring back beneficial microorganisms. In combination with high-value TAVs, species combinations of cover and cash crops could support regenerative and profitable agriculture that makes Malagasy farming communities more climate-resilient.
The Seeds4Soils project aims to exploit the potential of traditional African vegetables, their wild relatives and associated soil microorganisms to regenerate agricultural soils and increase climate resilience of vulnerable Malagasy farming communities.
Specifically, the project will rescue soil and crop biodiversity; unravel its adaptive potential for climate-resilient agriculture; increase farming system productivity and resilience through participatory restoration of soil health; and generate livelihood opportunities through new markets for vegetables and co-production of regenerative seed kits (R-kits). 250 households will adopt diversified farming systems using indigenous crops to regenerate soils and generate climate-resilient and nutrient sensitive food production for income generation and food security at household and community levels.
At least 400 new accessions of targeted TAVs and CWR are collected and conserved in national and regional genebank, with 40 prioritized landraces conserved on-farm.
In a village in Madagascar’s Vakinankaratra region, in the country’s Central Highlands, Farasoa Claudine Rasoanasolo, once grew vegetables like African nightshade, amaranth, chilli pepper, and African eggplant for home consumption. Like many smallholder farmers, she focused on feeding her family, with limited opportunities to generate income. Yields were quite low due to infertile soils, low-input […]