In the Eastern region of Honduras, crop diversification is being promoted as a means to improve soils, as well as the nutrition and economy of producer families.
Guest Contribution By CIMMYT Communication
In the Villanueva El Águila area (in eastern Honduras), at an elevation of 1,350 meters above sea level, it is not common to see crops like pumpkin and cassava associated with corn; however, this crop combination provides significant benefits for soil health, the nutrition of producer families, and even represents potential additional income for farmers.
Pumpkin, when planted in association, covers the soil extensively and limits weed development, making it an excellent choice as a cover crop. In turn, cassava acts as a retention barrier and helps reduce soil compaction issues.
Ronix Maradiaga implemented this agronomic innovation on his plot in Villanueva El Águila, and the results are encouraging.
“A module of 0.12 hectares (1,200 m2) was installed for each plot. In one, Tuxpeño corn was established with pumpkin and cassava as cover crops; in the other, the control plot, only corn was planted without cover,” explains Ronix, who is part of the technical team of the Regional Association of Agricultural Services in the East (ARSAGRO), one of the organizations integrated into the InnovaHub East of Honduras, under the framework of AgriLAC Resiliente.
“Corn was planted with a spacing of 80 cm between rows and 20 cm between plants, with two grains per position. The corn production results were nine quintals (900 kilograms) in the innovation plot and eight (800 kilograms) in the control plot. Additionally, in the innovation plot, 150 units of pumpkin and 300 pounds of cassava were harvested,” Ronix details.
Considering that each pumpkin has an approximate cost of 30 lempiras ($20.8 MXN) in the market, the harvest in Ronix’s innovation plot would yield an income of around 4,500 lempiras. Cassava, on the other hand, has a market price between seven and 10 lempiras per pound.
“With crop diversification, we can generate extra income, contribute organic matter to the soil, and provide cover to prevent erosion, as well as using cassava barriers to retain the soil,” concludes Ronix, who demonstrates the evident benefits of crop diversification in his own plot to encourage producers in the communities where he provides technical support to implement them with confidence.
AgriLAC Resiliente is an initiative by CGIAR aimed at transforming agri-food systems in Latin America and the Caribbean. Its goal is to increase the resilience, ecosystem services, and competitiveness of these systems in the region. It is operated by CGIAR centers such as the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the Alliance of Biodiversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), in collaboration with various local organizations through the InnovaHubs.