Management of trees in association with crops in traditional agroforestry systems - Managing Agrodiversity the Traditional Way - page 159

Rationale for leaving tree species in situ on farms

Table 13.2 provides the names of the most common trees left in situ on farms.
The rationale for leaving trees in situ on farms is the same as in the forest zone.
However, in the transition zone, on-farm trees play more crucial roles than in the
forest zone. Trees on farmlands serve as shade for livestock. Mangoes in the zone
are a key source of income for the farmers. Some of the trees also serve as wind-
breaks for crops and farm settlements.

Farmer management practices

Trees on farms are mostly pruned to reduce shade on crops. Fruit trees such as cashew
and mango are planted using recommended spacing. When such trees are inter-
cropped with food crops such as maize, cowpea, and soya bean, they benefit from the
husbandry practices associated with the food crops. In isolated cases, fallow lands
with economic trees are protected against bushfire by fire belts and early burning.

Guinea savanna zone

The Guinea savanna zone covers the Northern region and parts of the Upper East,
Upper West, and Volta regions. It forms the major part of the interior savanna zone
of Ghana.

Table 13.2 Tree species left in situ in farms in the transitional zone

Scientific name Common name

Ceiba pentandra Silk cotton tree

Senna siamea Cassia

Anogeissus leicocarpas Anogeissus

Azadirachta indica Neem

Blighia sapida Akee apple

Anarcadium occidental Cashew

Ficus exasperata Ficus

Ficus spp. Fig tree

Mangifera indica Mango

Parkia biglobossa Dawadawa 1 -African

locust bean

Butyrospermum parkii Sheanut

(Vitellaria paradoxa)
Daniella oliveri NK 2

Chlorophora excelsa Odum 1

1. Local /vernacular name.
2. Not known.