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Hevea and Food Production



Hevea and Food Production

A project entitled “Hevea- Associated Crops” lead by M. de Vernon, 
of Centre d’Appui Technique à l’Hévéaculture- Gabon, in partnership 
with other scientific institutions in the Ivory Coast and France, 
was carried out under the European Union (D.G.XII) STD2 scientific 
programme.
The project took place at Bitam, in the north-western region of 
Gabon and in the Southwest of the Ivory Coast, whose objectives 
were the introduction of food crops associated with hevea 
plantations. Such procedure allows to make good use of the land, 
during the period before economic production of hevea trees, which 
lasts between 5-6 years approximately. In this way the farmer can 
grow for his own subsistence and eventually obtain a surplus for 
the market. At the same time, the association with the food crops 
may ease the maintenance works of small hevea trees and even 
benefit their growing.
The experiments on food crops took place at research stations and 
small farms. Rice, arachide, plantains, among others, were the 
chosen crops.
As a result of the project several rotations of food crops with 
very good yields and positive effects upon the growing of hevea 
trees, were established.
The results of the project were passed on to the local farmers 
through meetings and visits to experimental stations.
In general, Third World populations, suffer serious problems of 
nutrition as well as having to face a lot of difficulties to market 
their production, mainly from rural areas to urban centres. In this 
context the study gives a further contribution in introducing 
scientific research to understand the relationships between hevea 
and compatible food crops. Thus hevea stands as a market crop, 
whilst food crops can provide some additional cash, and 
subsistence.
In fact, as is stated in the report, the land used by intermediate 
crops provides income well above those obtained by average farmers, 
when using the appropriate rotation. It is therefore possible, to 
make the best from the space between lines and the yields of the 
food crops can be in the short run a valuable source of profits.
Within this project several publications have been issued.
For further information please contact:
Dr. M. de Vernon,
Centre d’Appui Technique à l’Hévéaculture
c/o Mission Irca au Gabon
BP 643 - Libreville, Gabon
Phone +241-74 17 66
Fax     +241-74 65 22         Tx: 5900 GO

Contract number A-092