EverGreen Agriculture integrates trees with food crops and livestock to create more sustainable and productive agricultural systems for small holder farming families.
The EverGreen Agriculture Equation
FuelOver 80 percent of rural population uses fuelwood as a source of energy from which more than 11% is contributed by trees in an improved fallow that provide farmers with firewood supply after a short time
FertilizerFertilizer trees can potentially add up to 200 kg N per hectare annually. This is approximately equivalent to about 476 kg Urea in every hectare annually
FoodFertilizer trees in intercropping system with maize can potentially increase yield in the range of 26% to 400% per season as was observed in Malawi
FiberOver 90% of timber used by farmers comes from crop fields which is indicative of how farmers value trees
Fodder500 Calliandra trees per hectare can feed 1 cow throughout the year with only 3kg of fresh forage and 2kg of dry forage giving similar milk yield as 1kg dairy meal
Forms of EverGreen Agriculture in the Country & Partner Network
The principles of EverGreen Agriculture have already been widely applied in Africa. Currently, 17 countries are now engaged in EverGreen Agriculture including:
EverGreen Agriculture systems can include a range of different tree and shrub species, depending on the location of the farm, their interaction with the crops, and the desired benefits for livestock and other aspects of the farming system, and the needs of the farming family. The most common EverGreen Agriculture trees and shrubs include nitrogen fixing species such as Faidherbia albida, Gliricidia sepium or Sesbania sesban used to enhance soil fertility of agricultural land. EverGreen Agriculture species can also be used for fodder production such as Calliandra calothyrsus or Leucaena trichandra. Species such as Grevillea robusta, Senna spectabilis and Melia volkensii are popular for the timber and fuelwood that they provide. Even fruit trees such as Mango, avocado or shea nut are frequently grown in EverGreen AGriculture systems. To find out more about other species suite to EverGreen Agriuclture download our species poster here.