Innovative videos show sustainable ways to improve soil quality

Good harvests are not a given, as every farmer knows. Coaxing plants to grow in depleted, impoverished soils is hard work. Fertiliser is expensive and does not solve the underlying problem. Even then, the plants remain vulnerable to diseases and pests. These problems are also present in areas where CmiA-verified cotton is grown. One feasible solution to the dilemma of depleted soil, expensive fertilisers, remaining diseases and pests is to rotate suitable crops—such as cotton, maize, and soya—across a series of growth periods. Crop rotation maintains soil health and enables plants to grow well. Intact soil life also means better harvests. However, knowledge about crop rotation and the significance of soil life is still limited. Cotton farmers may also wonder, What do we have to pay attention to in terms of crop rotation, and why is it so important? Why does healthy soil need so many small organisms interacting with each other? What can farmers do to foster soil life? As a consultant for Cotton made in Africa, I am happy to have worked on the production of innovative training videos that aim to explain the significance of proper crop rotation and the role of soil organisms to cotton farmers. Laying out the relationship between crop rotation, soil health, and good harvests in an easily digestible way, the videos are applicable in a variety of contexts, for instance on a television screen or tablet when training instructors or on a mobile phone in the field. The films are available to CmiA partner organisations for training purposes. The training videos are based on skits through which farmers bring the topic to life. Farmers take on the roles of crops including maize, cotton, and soya or another legume in order to discuss the advantages of following the correct sequence of crop rotation. I am confident that the videos will offer many partner companies and farmers who grow CmiA cotton an informative insight into the significance of structured crop rotation and pique their interest in learning more. Text: Ben Sekamatte Watch the video here.

French version

Des vidéos innovantes montrent des moyens durables d'améliorer les sols  

En tant que consultant pour Cotton Made in Africa, je suis ravi d’avoir participé à la production de deux vidéos de formation innovantes conçues pour enseigner aux producteur·rice·s de coton l’importance d’une rotation correcte des cultures et le rôle des organismes du sol. Les vidéos expliquent les liens entre rotation des cultures, santé des sols et bons rendements de manière simple. Elle peuvent également être utilisées de façon flexible, par exemple pour former des formateur·rice·s sur un écran de télévision ou une tablette, voire sur le terrain à l’aide d’un téléphone portable. Les films sont à la disposition des entreprises partenaires de CmiA pour leurs formations et peuvent être visionnés ici.

Ces vidéos de formation sont basées sur des jeux de rôle que les producteur·rice·s effectuent pour rendre la thématique plus interactive. Les producteur·rice·s jouent le rôle du maïs, du coton et du soja, ou d’autres légumineuses, afin de discuter des avantages d’une rotation appropriée. Je suis persuadé que ces vidéos donneront à de nombreuses entreprises partenaires et producteur·rice·s de coton CmiA un aperçu instructif de l’importance de la rotation structurée des cultures et sauront éveiller leur intérêt. Texte: Ben Sekamatte