Sustainable Nutrition and Agriculture Promotion – SNAP Summary of AESA Data collected on IVS Rice, Cowpea, and Sweet Potato 2012 cropping season

It is a monitoring tool for farmers, established through the observation of interactions between crops, livestock, and other biotic and abiotic factors in the field. Regular observations of the crop or livestock are essential in this process. AESA promotes learning-by-discovery by learners from their own analysis, guiding farmers to critically analyze and make better decisions on their own fields. In a Farmer Field School (FFS) setting, AESA is used to improve decision-making skills through field situation analysis, observation, drawing, and discussion. The process also involves presenting small group decisions for critique in the large group. The Agro Ecological Principles (AEP) underlying AESA include growing a healthy crop, letting nature work, observing and learning from the crop, and making the farmer an expert. Key parameters to observe and learn from the crop include height, insect and rodent damage, color of the leaves, weed infestation, deficiency symptoms, and water level. AESA involves several steps, including data gathering, small group discussion, and processing of data collected. The data collected depend on the type of crop, and for IVS Rice, parameters such as variety, plant height, date of sowing, number of tillers per hill, and weather conditions are collected. The data are then used to make decisions on cultural practices necessary to support the crop, including water management, weeding, pest management, and field maintenance. Experiments were conducted on IVS Rice, Cowpea (Beans), and Sweet Potato to evaluate the effects of different plant populations and spacings on crop growth and yield. For IVS Rice, two experiments were conducted: one on plant population and the other on plant spacing. The results showed that NERICA L-19 Rice variety planted with 2 seedlings per hill and spaced 25cm x 25cm resulted in better growth performance and yield results. For Cowpea (Beans), two experiments were conducted: one on plant population and the other on plant spacing. The results showed that Cowpea (Black-eye Beans) variety planted with 1 seed per hole and spaced 60cm x 60cm resulted in better growth performance and yield results. For Sweet Potato, two experiments were conducted: one on plant spacing and the other on length of cutting. The results showed that Sweet Potato variety planted on ridges with 40cm x 40cm spacing resulted in better growth performance and yield results. Based on the AESA data collected, FFS participants recommended the adoption of NERICA L-19 Rice variety planted with 2 seedlings per hill and spaced 25cm x 25cm, Cowpea (Black-eye Beans) variety planted with 1 seed per hole and spaced 60cm x 60cm, and Sweet Potato variety planted on ridges with 40cm x 40cm spacing for the next farming season.