On May 17, 2024, the University of Technology and Arts of BYUMBA (UTAB) held a one-day validation workshop for the Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative project (EOA-I). During this workshop, the EOA research team presented the research findings of two technologies.
The initial technology concerned growing pineapples by intercropping sweet potato cuttings and Desmodium incinetum as green mulch. It was discovered that sweet potatoes and desmodium both efficiently cover the land, reducing the need for herbicides and labor-intensive weeding. Being a legume, Desmodium incinatum fixes atmospheric nitrogen, enhancing soil fertility by increasing nitrogen availability. This can benefit the pineapple plants, which require a
substantial amount of nitrogen for optimal growth. Intercropping with sweet potatoes not only serves as a green mulch for pineapple but also provides an additional crop yield, which can be a source of food or income for the farmers. Their extensive root systems help in preventing soil erosion and improving soil structure. By nhancing the overall ecosystem in which pineapples are grown, this method can contribute to more productive and resilient farming systems.
