Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
As discussed in Chapters 6 and 11, a traditional farming system founded on
agroforestry principles in Ghana is
proka
.
Proka
involves no burning after slash-
ing, and makes use of the chopped vegetation for mulching. It continues to be
practised widely, especially in the humid and semi-humid forest zones, even
though its popularity appears to be on the decline.
The declining popularity of
proka
, despite its apparent ecological advantages and
the fact that the ecology and economics of the system still remain inadequately
understood, underscores a need for further research into it and other forms of trad-
itional agroforestry. Such research holds a key to sustainable food production while
maintaining natural biodiversity.
Study objectives
Accordingly, a project was designed to:
•
carry out a preliminary survey of trees left on farmlands in selected areas
within Gyamfiase-Adenya, a PLEC demonstration site in the forest-savanna
zone of southern Ghana (Maps B and C)
•
investigate the scientific basis of smallholder farmers' traditional agroforestry
practices involving tree/crop combinations and the
proka
system
•
carry out relevant soil nutrient analyses.
This chapter discusses the findings of that study.
Study site
The quadrangular area delimited by Obom, Asasekokoo, Kwamoso, and
Mampong Nkwanta in the Gyamfiase-Adenya PLEC demonstration site (Map C)
was selected for the study. It lies within the southern sector of the forest-savanna
transition zone of Ghana (Hall and Swaine, 1976).
Methodology
Preliminary survey
An initial reconnaissance survey served as a basis for dividing the study area into
four cells. Tree species left on farmlands in each of these cells were identified and
inventoried.
