The World Agroforestry Centre has published a guide for farmers and extension staff, ‘Conservation Agriculture with Trees (CAWT): Principles and Practice.' The guide aims to assist extension agents in conducting training events on CAWT for farmers and other stakeholders in the East African region.
April 2014: The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) has published a guide for farmers and extension staff, titled ‘Conservation Agriculture with Trees (CAWT): Principles and Practice.’ The guide aims to assist extension agents in conducting training events on CAWT for farmers and other stakeholders in the East African region.
CAWT is an approach that involves integrating crop-friendly trees, particularly nitrogen fixing trees and high value agroforestry tree species, into conservation agriculture (CA). CAWT principles include: minimum tillage; maximum soil cover; and crop rotation and association, which can be applied singly or concurrently. It emphasizes protecting the top layer of soil, which is the most vulnerable to degradation and erosion.
The guide includes five modules. The first describes soil health and soil degradation processes, including the impacts of soil erosion. Module two compares conventional farming and CA practices and proposes CAWT as a solution for farm sustainability. It also discusses how to overcome challenges in adopting CAWT, such as changing farming mindsets, seed availability, livestock integration and weed management. The third module addresses incorporating trees into CA, leading to CAWT, while the fourth elaborates on CAWT implementation. Module five discusses CA tools and options for different farmer categories. Annexes focus on: soil loss and run-off; soil checking for hardpans; CA equipment calibration and work rates; species recommendations; and domestication status of some important tree species.
ICRAF is a CGIAR member. [Publication: Conservation Agriculture With Trees: Principles and Practice]