An Overview Of Our Solution
Markazi Province in central Iran has been faced with an increase in salinity and water hardness and water supply challenges like many parts of Iran in recent years. Current cropping systems can be replaced with water-consuming cultivation in the spring and summer such as chickpea-safflower as an innovative climate-smart practice. Cropping system of Chickpea-safflower organically is started in December; each year, after harvesting Chickpeas in the spring and the remaining of the green wastes of the plant, the soil is plowed to be used as green manure for safflower. Alternative cropping system Improves soil biodiversity through the use of green manure and Enriched Vermiwash (innovative input using domestic Products), improvement of agricultural biodiversity through using native varieties of peas and safflowers, reduction of underground water consumption and etc.
Who is this solution impacting?
Community Type
Suburban
Rural
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: Asia
General Information
Organization type
Sem fins lucrativos
Ecosystem (select all that apply)
Deserts
Population impacted
3500
Challenge
Size of agricultural area
4 ha
Production quantity
1 ton chickpea and 2.2 ton safflower
People employed
8
Solution
Describe your solution
Since 2013, this cultivation system for was bred organically and through local inputs (vermin-compost, green manure, etc.). After the economic analysis we needed to assure that this type of farm management and the use of these inputs can 60% reduce the water consumption during the cultivation of these two plants -when comparing with other monoculture plants (Corn, beans, potatoes, etc.)- and it would have a greater economic benefit to agriculture. After the implementation of the pilot project and its success in 2015 in the village of Adineh masjed farms for 4 hectares, their incomes increased by 35 percent over the last two years. Moreover, experiments conducted on farms showed that organic carbon has increased by 0.5 to 0.7 compared with the beginning of cultivation. Cultivation of two plants led to the use of family farming in the area in which family members can be more active during the year. Critical success factors are the adaptation with ecosystem and the environment of the region and the economic benefit for family farmers. Getting farmers to use chemical inputs was one the problems which was overcome using local experts and various meetings; we could convince farmers to use natural biologics. The other obstacles involved the market for organic products which was solved through stores being monitored by organic association.
Implementation
Describe your implementation
First, to solve the problem of water shortage in most parts of the Markazi province, plant or plants that could be cultivated in the region, were agriculturally economic, and needed less amount of water were studied and identified. The use of native plants and varieties was a priority. Different varieties of safflower and chickpea were cultivated over two years in the research field of Payam Noor University of Arak then suitable varieties were selected according to the season at planting time. Along with the selection of varieties, researches were carried out to identify plant pest repellers and amplifiers. After two years of research and testing on various plants, enriched vermiwash was officially registered as an innovative material. Since 2013, this cultivation system for was bred organically and through local inputs. After the economic analysis we needed to assure that this type of farm management and the use of these inputs can 60% reduce the water consumption during the cultivation of these two crops -when comparing with other monoculture crops and it would have a greater economic benefit to agriculture. After the implementation of the pilot project and its success in 2015 in the village of Adineh masjed farms for 4 hectares, their incomes increased by 35 percent over the last two years. Moreover, experiments conducted on farms showed that organic carbon has increased by 0.5 to 0.7 compared with the beginning of cultivation. Cultivation of two plants led to the use of family farming in the area in which family members can be more active during the year. Critical success factors are the adaptation with ecosystem and the environment of the region and the economic benefit for family farmers. Getting farmers to use chemical inputs was one the problems which was overcome using local experts and various meetings; we could convince farmers to use natural biologics.
External connections
Payam Noor University of Arak helped us in the implementation of this pilot project. Agricultural and Chemistry Laboratory of the University was used for the formulation and development of enriched Vermiwash. During the implementation, young experts (ypard Iran) helped us and in the last phase, the organic community helped us spiritually and scientifically.
Results
What is the environmental or ecological challenge you are targeting with your solution?
Alternative cropping systems of Pea-Organic Safflower instead of monoculture in the region of Markazi Province in central Iran, influenced biodiversity and affect the local environment as described in the following items:Improvement of soil biodiversity and fertility of the soil including organic carbon, soil biology, soil physics and available materials through the use of green manure derived from peas and animal manure as ell as enriched vermiwash (innovative input), Improvement of agricultural biodiversity through using native varieties of peas and safflowers, Reduction of underground water consumption in main cultivation (Safflower) in summer and maximum use of rainfalls in winter and spring for the cultivation of peas (green manure), nutrition organic management and control of pests and diseases using local inputs and innovative young professionals and management of the nutrition organic and control of pests and diseases using local inputs innovated by young experts.
Describe the context in which you are operating
Cropping system design includes winter cultivation of chickpea and then cultivation of safflower in an organic way. The cropping system can be replaced with water-consuming cultivation in the spring and summer such as corns and beans. In common cultivations a plant is cultivated in late spring and usually fall cultivation is left fallow. In some years, the winter wheat crop is cultivated intermittently. Cultivation system of chickpea-safflower organically is started in December; each year, after harvesting chickpeas in the spring and the remaining of the green wastes of the plant, the soil is plowed to be used as green manure for safflower. In this method, we can use the winter and spring rains to plant Chickpea and only one or two supplementary irrigation is needed in late spring; therefore, while harvesting the crops, we can help fertility of the soil. Safflower, like chickpeas is one of the native plans to the region and its cultivation (native varieties) can help attain agricultural biodiversity because its cultivation has fallen in recent years. Interestingly, this plant is resistant to drought and salinity and its need of water for irrigation is one-third of water needed for irrigation of maize and beans. In organic cultivation of these crops, synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides are not used; in addition, the green and available manure is used. Hence, biodiversity of soil is achieved. Harvesting two crops can result in the increase in income and food security
How did you impact natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions?
Alternative organic cropping systems of Pea - Safflower instead of monoculture in the region of Markazi Province in central Iran, influenced biodiversity and affect the local environment as described in the following items:
• Improvement of soil biodiversity and fertility of the soil including organic carbon, soil biology, soil physics and available materials through the use of green manure derived from peas and animal manure as ell as enriched Vermiwash (innovative input using domestic Products).
• Improvement of agricultural biodiversity through using native varieties of peas and safflowers
• Reduction of underground water consumption in main cultivation (Safflower) in summer and maximum use of rainfalls in winter and spring for the cultivation of peas (green manure).
• nutrition organic management and control of pests and diseases using local inputs and innovative young professionals.
• Management of the nutrition organic and control of pests and diseases using local inputs innovated by young experts.
Language(s)
Persian
Water
Cultivation of plants with low water requirements as the main crop (safflower) and cultivation of green manure crop (peas) in the rainy seasons and improvement of soil fertility to preserve water.
Food Security/Nutrition
Increase in the variety of a crop to two crops through protein (chickpeas) and oil seeds (main plant) regarding the high quality of safflower oil and 95 percent of oil imports from outside the country
Economic/Sustainable Development
Increased stable income of rural families regarding the culture of local crops with the minimum water use, available organic inputs and increase in the long-term performance due to increased soil fertility through Bulky organic manure.
Climate
In fact, this type of farming system is a climate-smart agriculture because it increases sustained yield and income. Due to non-use of synthetic chemical fertilizers, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Most importantly, it is consistent with regional climate change (drought and mild winters compared to the past).
Sustainability
increased stable income of rural families regarding the culture of local crops with the minimum water use, available organic inputs and increase in the long-term performance due to increased soil fertility through Bulky organic manure.In addition to increasing the income of rural farmers in areas with water shortage, the agricultural system and its new management meets the dietary needs of the region in terms of protein (peas) and food coloring (Safflower). More importantly, increased soil fertility and consequently increased biodiversity of soil organisms (insects and microorganisms) as well as the preservation of local varieties of peas and safflowers are in accordance with origins of Markazi Province (central Iran).
Return on investment
Since this project is fully consistent with the climate and ecosystem and the use of local inputs is possible, it does not require any initial investment. We only need to teach farmers to use enriched vermicompost and enriched Vermiwash through local materials and help them in marketing and sale of organic products.The cost of the production package of vermicompost and Vermiwash and the preparation of its required materials as well as preparation of the ground for cultivation of green manure and planting it cost 300 to 400$.
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Replication and Scale
How could we successfully replicate this solution elsewhere?
In fact, this type of cropping system is a climate smart agriculture because it increases sustained yield and income. Due to non-use of synthetic chemical fertilizers, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Most importantly, it is consistent with regional climate change (drought and mild winters compared to the past). The concurrency of the first plant's cultivation with winter and spring rains provides its water requirements, besides, the residues of the first plant provides the nutrition fertilizer of the second plant (Safflower). Insect repellent with locally available materials and easy methods are developed and used by farmers. Vermiwash is a solution enriched with useful microorganisms of mountains and the region's forests, nettle's extract and aloe vera; it repels pests and diseases, strengthens the plants and makes it grow faster.