Traditionally farmers in many African nations (and elsewhere) still grow individual crops not only in inter- specific (different species), but also in intra-specific (same species) mixtures. However, the development ideology to improve production has been one promoting displacement of these with new 'improved' varieties or hybrids with often questionable medium to longer term results. We now know better the value of useful diversity to maintain crop robustness agains biotic and abiotic stress.
Dear Peter, Thank you for posing an intelligent question for all and for your interest for the low privileged and high innovative people. We the so called all knowledgeable people are actually be-fooling ourselves. The basis of my answer lies in the fact that "Environment is mightier than the genetic pool" and this is the cause and effect of " Theory of Natural Selection" by Darwin.
Selection of of cropping varieties for a particular bioclimatic zone is based on long term experience. This crop complex has the elements for growth in low input culture, self regulation of pest and diseases, nutrient storage, soil conservation etc. in synergy with the socio-cultural practices of the traditional systems. Please look into their local resources with minimum interference from external resources. An integrated system could maintain both quality and quantity, but it needs understanding of the complexity in togetherness and not in isolation.
I am tempted to site two examples: (a) Local Government. officials tried to interfere in the cropping pattern of a shifting cultivation practicing tribal community with subsidies for fertilizer, pesticides etc., which only the head of the tribe accepted on lot of persuasion, but latter, the crop variety was discarded because of lack of taste and unsuitability for preparing local wine, pest attack, soil erosion etc., although the production was higher than local variety. (b) Tea as a cash crop yield lot of profit and thus chemical management of the system was started since 1950. The system lost diversity, soil quality, tea quality and quantity ultimately. Restoration of the system caring local resources have been very successful to develop an International 'FBO' patent.: (http://www.fao.org/landandwater/agll/soilbiod/caselist.htm).
All the best,
B. K. Senapati
The management of crop disease is also related to the abundance and diversity of soil biota as healthy soils suppress crop disease. Therefore the crop vigor maintained by a heterogeneous population is amplified by agronomic practices (e.g.: rotations, cover cropping, green manuring, compost applications) that support soil biodiversity.
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