Community Development Workers Association (Inc) (CDWAI) have many relevant ‘demonstrations’ for visitors. This isn’t a demonstration area, rather a family garden that provides nutritious food, and opportunity to showcase sustainable technologies that work. After the 1997 drought the CDWAI team worked especially in the Baiyer valley, in Kompiam (Enga) and in Telefomin district to train […]
Wild sunflower may be useful as a way of reducing weevil attack. Mulch like this (below right in photos) used on top of the ground on a kaukau mound will reduce harmful effects of heavy rain – erosion may be reduced. Top soil is really valuable. reduce cracking of soil during hot sun. That means […]
This post is lifted almost straight from here. It is worth considering for Wetar’s farmers – especially given that they have Gliricidia there already. Note the key to success – cut it very low to the ground so that during main growing season it can’t compete with the food crops. Planting trees that improve soil […]
This shrub legume is able to fix nitrogen even when the land is flooded. That is unusual for a legume. It is widely used in countries such as Bangladesh where it adds up to 200 kg N/ha as a green manure that is chopped down and allowed to rot in the paddy soil, prior to […]
Here’s a list of legumes that are common in Indonesia and are likely to be useful on Wetar. Cowpea (Vigna sinensis) – 100 g of various kinds – worth getting, but check packets – we don’t want to import any weevils. Dolichos lablab – 500g of seed required (various types available- we should have 200 g […]
Here in Eastern Indonesia Velvet bean is known as the Evil bean- Kacang jahat. It is rampant and a really different plant to the well known and useful bean of the tropical ag literature. So what makes this so nasty? The pods have fine hairs that are extremely itchy when you get them anywhere near […]
To grow great watermelons we need to increase soil fertility without having to buy/use chemical fertiliser. We set up, in late April 2010 at U a trial using two rows of four planting holes with Velvet bean foliage and two rows of four planting holes without velvet bean foliage. The plan is to allow the […]
Watermelons are commonly grown and some farmers believe weeds are good for the melons. However, we figure that weeds do three bad things. Drop lots of weed seeds to become a problem in the future Compete with melons for water- a real problem in dry season Compete with melons for soil fertility- a problem year […]
We are working on a remote island in Indonesia with a very pronounced dry and then wet season. Shallots, bawang merah are a key crop and are grown without fertiliser on a free draining, coarse textured alluvial soil. We have an attitude or starting point relating to working with farmers that can be summed up […]