Results
from the first short season of growing are starting to trickle in from Ibi,
where the Incubées are experimenting with agroforestry production. During this
first short season, each incubée was allocated 2.5 hectares on which to plant
the acacia and cassava intercropping along with a shorter-term crop. Most of
them chose to grow niebe beans, soybeans, peanuts, or a combination of
different crops.
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| Bobette and her first niebe harvest |
As a
reminder, this first short season is only the beginning of the acacia tree’s 6-year
growth period. During this time, the cassava harvest will also be possible
after 18 months. For these first few months, the incubées were able to reap
benefits averaging $220.50 US, a promising start. Benefits varied between a
profit of $1,187 and a loss of $564. Of the 20 incubées, 8 of them made
benefits over $200, while 5 had losses between $20 and $564. A major part of
the losses is attributed to the choice of variety of niebe beans that yielded
almost nothing. Most of the incubées’ income however is expected to come from
cassava, which should be harvested in June.
