A new guide by the World Agroforestry Centre will assist with training farmers to implement Conservation Agriculture with Trees.

CAWT involves integrating beneficial and complementary trees into cropping systems that are managed according to conservation agriculture principles, namely minimum tillage, maintaining soil cover and crop rotations. The types of trees include those which are nitrogen fixing (known as fertilizer trees) and those with high value products.

The manual ‘Conservation Agriculture with Trees (CAWT): Principles and Practice’ includes 5 modules to help extension officers in East Africa train farmers and other stakeholders:

1. Description of soil health and soil degradation processes, including the impacts of soil erosion.
2. Comparison of conventional farming to conservation agriculture practices and how CAWT can provide farm sustainability. Overcoming challenges in adopting CAWT, such as changing farming mindsets, seed availability, livestock integration and weed management.
3. Incorporating trees into conservation agriculture, leading to CAWT.
4. Implementing CAWT.
5. Conservation agriculture tools and options for different farmer categories.

Download the manual

Mutua J, Muriuki J, Gachie P, Bourne M and Capis J (2014) Conservation Agriculture With Trees: Principles and Practice. A Simplified Guide for Extension Staff and Farmers. World Agroforestry Centre. Nairobi, Kenya.