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Dr.Ir. Brice Sinsin from the Université Nationale du Bénin sent an article for review by CIEPCA and EVECS-L members for possible inclusion in the CIEPCA Bulletin. The article discusses the plant, Chromolaena odorata. Dr. Sinsin cautioned that while the plant does seem to be a good cover crop, it is also invasive and can endanger pasture land. Another member, Dr. Anne Floquet, observed that farmers in her area consider the plant a type of fertilizer, possibly because its symbiotic mycorrhiza allow it to access phosphorus in the soil that would otherwise be unavailable.
The list manager, Mr. Albert Chabi Eteka, referred those interested to page 5 of the first CIEPCA bulletin which contains an article on a study conducted in the Ivory Coast on Chromolaena odorata cover crops (http://ppathw3.cals.cornell.edu/mba_project/moist/CIEPCA4.pdf).
To view the article on Chromolaena odorata in Benin see page two of the April 2001 edition of Mucuna News.
In English (http://ppathw3.cals.cornell.edu/mba_project/moist/BULL7E.pdf)
Or in French (http://ppathw3.cals.cornell.edu/mba_project/moist/BULL7F.pdf)


Discussion #2: Source of Arachis pintoi (01/18/01 - 02/22/01)

Mr. Jean-Claude Troupin wrote from the Congo to request purchasing information on Arachis pintoi seeds for an 1 hectare trial using the plant as a cover crop in a coffee plantation. The following suggested sources and contact information was sent by list members, Mr. André Chabanne and Mr. Jorge R. Toll Vera.

IAMA AGROBUSINESS
Sauers IAMA
2525 Stanley Street
P.O. Box 117, Rockhampton
Queensland, Australia 4700
The competent and efficient person (if she is there) is Faye Barney. Her e-mail is fbarney@iama.com.au and her fax is (61749) 22 2219. Be careful about the quality of the seed!

HERITAGE SEEDS
22 Suscatand Street,
Rocklea Qld 4106, Australia
or
P.O. Box 76
Bristane Markets Qld 4106, Australia
Contact Sonya Browning (sonya@heritageseeds.com.au) or John Hay
(export@heritageseeds.com.au), fax: 00 61732 16 6985. They have an internet site which lists their seeds at this address: http://www.heritageseeds.com.au

SETROPA LTD
P.O. Box 203,
1400 AE Bussum
Netherland
Fax: (31) 35 526 54 24.
Contact M. KOITER who speaks French (!!!).
E-mail : setropa@miconnet.nl

COM. IND. MATSUDA IMP. E EXP. LTDA
Rua Vergueiro 1883 8º Andar CJ. 82 CEP 04101-000
Sao Paulo- SP- Brasil
Tel. 011-549-6233
Fax 011-571-5457
Email: mtsd.sp@uol.com.br
Arachis pintoi is performing well under our local conditions and being evaluated as cover crop for weed control in lemon plantations and others.

Dr. Michael Peters then responded that CIAT or SEFO-Sam (Bolivia) could provide good quality seed. He also mentioned that a commercial cultivar (Amarillo, Mani Forrajero) was recently released with better performance across environments, especially under more drought conditions (CIAT 18744 - just released as Porvenir in Costa Rica or CIAT 22160).

Discussion #3: Uses of Lablab purpureus (3/16/01 - 3/19/02)
Mr. Albert Chabi Eteka, forwarded a request from a sociologist at IITA looking for information on how to prepare Lablab beans (Lablab purpureus) for human consumption. Dr. Don Kass wrote in to say that he had seen them prepared both in the pods (as the pods are also eatable) or prepared as you would prepare any other beans.

Discussion #4: Forage Species Adapted to Sheep Grazing (5/11/01)
Mr. A. Mohamadou wrote asking if anyone had information on forage crops species that are well adapted for raising sheep. Dr. Brice Sinsin from the Université Nationale du Bénin wrote back to say that the species Panicum maximum var.C1 was probably the best adapted species for sheep forage.


Discussion #1: Ants as Pests in Mucuna (8/09/01 - 8/19/01)
Mr. Albert Chabi Eteka from CIEPCA wrote to say that people in the North of Benin had reported the presence of fairly large ants in their mucuna fields. The ants eat the leaves of the plants and create a patch of bare ground for about 2 meters in diameter around their nests. They also reported that the ants preferred mucuna mixed with other crops (i.e. peanuts, corn, cotton, etc.). Mr. Eteka requested information from both the list and IITA on efficient control measures if available, and stated that he would prefer biological control options to chemical if available. Dr. Peter Neuenschwander from the Biological Control Center for Africa at IITA-Benin responded with a request for a sample of the ants, along with the queen if possible preserved in a 70% alcohol solution so that identification of the species could be made prior to making a recommendation. Dr. Inoussa Akintayo from ICRISAT then wrote in to say that ants are a common problem in some parts of West and Central Africa. He also said that the ants sometimes even take the seeds before they've had a chance to germinate. He re-iterated that a sample should be sent for identification before a decision was made, but that one possibility was to mix sorghum or millet with Furadan pellets and put it directly or around the nest.

Discussion #2: Controlling Cyperus rotundus with mucuna
(8/24/01 - 10/5/01)
Mr. Ambroise Fantchede contacted the list to discover if anyone had any experience using mucuna to control Cyperus rotundus (nutgrass). The list manager, Mr. Albert Chabi Eteka from CIEPCA then wrote back saying he had contacted Dr. David Chikoye a weed scientist at IITA-Ibadan. Dr. Chikoye said that he had no experience with the use of the mucuna to control Cyperus. However, he suggested that since cyperus is a C4 plant it would be affected by the shade of a cover crop species. He also cautioned that Cyperus likes areas that might be too wet for mucuna. He suggested applying bentazone or Roundup to cyperus during its active development stage (2 to 3 weeks after mowing). Then he suggested plowing 7 days after the herbicide treatment and planting mucuna with a minimum density of 20,000 seedlings per hectare. Roland Bunch from Honduras subsequently wrote to say that he had seen farmers use mucuna to control Cyperus rotundus in Honduras. These farmers report that if the cyperus can be kept covered for 12 months it will die off and that the practice is fairly widely used. He said that since mucuna is an annual plant he would be interested to know how it is used to cover the cyperus for 12 months at a time, and suggested that perhaps it is necessary to plant two successive crops.

Discussion #3: CIEPCA Funding (10/26/01)
Mr. Albert Eteka from CIEPCA wrote in to review briefly the accomplishments of CIEPCA during its 5 year life span. He also wanted to announce that CIEPCA's funding was due to end at the end of 2001, and requested suggestions of possible alternative funding sources.
Mr. Elie Dembélé from DDRS/CMDT responded that it was too soon for CIEPCA's work to come to a close, and that projects like CIEPCA's need longer term funding if their goals are to encourage adoption of new practices like cover crop systems. Mr. Dembélé also encouraged Mr. Eteka to continue discussing the issue with colleagues.

Discussion #4: Cover Crops in Madagascar (12/3/01 - 12/4/01)
Mr. Ranier Asse, a graduate student at Cornell, wrote asking if anyone had any suggestions on cover crop species that might be useful in Madagascar. For a full transcript of this discussion which was conducted in English on both EVECS-L and its English language counterpart (MULCH-L) go to the following link: http://mulch.mannlib.cornell.edu/ml/madagascar.html

Discussion #1: Green Manure/Cover Crops in Indonesia (2/13/02)
Dr. Robert Carsky from IITA sent to EVECS-L a message originally sent to MULCH-L from Roland Bunch of COSECHA. Mr. Bunch was reporting (in English) on a recent trip to Indonesia where he saw several examples of farmers using green manure/cover crops in their fields. To read the transcript of the original message and the MULCH-L discussion that resulted click on the following link.
http://mulch.mannlib.cornell.edu/ml/indonesia.html

Discussion #2: Mucuna and Lablab Seed Sources (3/11/02 - 3/18/02)
 A message from Mr. Ambroise Diatta at the Institut Senegalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA) was forwarded to EVECS-L. Mr. DIATTA was looking for the following seeds:

- Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC var. utilis (Wight) Burck. : 205 kg
- Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet var. Rongai : 72 kg
- Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet var. Hghworth : 72 kg

Mr. Mamadou Gueye from IRD responded with the following contact information:
Elie Dembele
CMDT
E-mail: CMDT-Koutiala@spider.toolnet.org
Mali

Zacharie Segda
Agronome
INERA
BP 208 Fada N'Gourma
Burkina Faso
E-mail: technilabo@fasonet.bf

Robert B. Zougmore
Agronome
INERA 03 BP. 7192
Ouaga 03
Burkina Faso
E-mail: robert.zougmore@messrs.gov.bf
Tel: (226) 440042
Fax: (226) 340271

Karim Traoré (alsanou@fasonet.bf) au Burkina

IAMA AGROBUSINESS
Sauers IAMA
2525 Stanley Street
P.O. Box 117, Rockhampton
Queensland, Australia 4700
Contact: Faye Barney (fbarney@iama.com.au)
Fax (61749) 22 2219

HERITAGE SEEDS
22 Suscatand Street,
Rocklea Qld 4106, Australia
or
P.O. Box 76
Bristane Markets Qld 4106, Australia
Contacts:
Sonya Browning (sonya@heritageseeds.com.au)
John Hay export@heritageseeds.com.au)
fax = 00 61732 16 6985
Website: http://www.heritageseeds.com.au

SETROPA LTD
P.O. Box 203,
1400 AE Bussum
Netherland
Fax: (31) 35 526 54 24.
Contact: M. KOITER (setropa@miconnet.nl)

Mr. Albert Eteka from CIEPCA provided the following additional contact information:

SEED ASSOCIATIONS
Seed Association of Thailand (Member no. 079)
2143/1 Phaholyothin, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Tel: +66(2)940-6902; Fax: +66(2)940-6903;
Email: n.a.;
Representative: Dr. M.L. Anothai Choomsai, Chairman of Horticultural Seed

Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal (Member no. 213)
P.O. Box 13874, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977(1)252-314; Fax: +977(1)242-971;
Email: agroaec@mos.com.np
Representative: Mr. Mitra Raj Dawadi, President

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
China Wenzhou Vegetable Seed Co. (Member no. 091)
197 Gean Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325 028, China
Tel: +86(577)852-1574; Fax: +86(577)851-9053;
Email: n.a.; Website: n.a.
Representative: Mr. Xiu Ren Li, Manager

Liaoning Dongya Seed Group Company (Member no. 221)
No. 33 North Chang Jiang Street, Yu Hong District, Shenyang,
Liaoning Province 110034, China
Tel: +86(24)8612-1534; Fax: +86(24)8612-1652;
Email: dongya@pub.sy.ln.cn
Representative: Mr. Chengguang Tao, President

Seed Development and Quality Control Section (Member no. 039)
Department of Agri. Development, Harirar Bhawan, Lalitpur, Nepal
Tel: +977(1)521-359; Fax: +977(1)522-258;
Email: n.a.; Website: n.a.
Representative: Ms. Devaki Shrestha, Chief

Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute (Member no. 016)
189 Chung-Cheng Road, Wu-feng, Taichung 41301, Taiwan
Tel: +886(4)330-2800; Fax: +886(4)332-7215;
Email:tari@ms7.hinet.net
Website: http://www.tari.gov.tw
Representative: Dr. Chien-Yih Lin, Director General

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SEED ENTEPRISES
AgrEvo Philippines Corporation (Member no. 211)
221 Salcedo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City 1229, Philippines
Tel: +63(2)892-0646; Fax: +63(49)568-0082;
Email: davelobo@globe.com.ph
Representative: Mr. David Alberto G. Lobo, Manager

Agronew Trading Co., Ltd. (Member no. 019)
432, Chung Jeng Road, Feng Yuan City 420, Taiwan
Tel: +886(4)526-8533; Fax: +886(4)524-2689;
Email: n.a.; Website: n.a.
Representative: Mr. Jenn-Mao Wang, General Manager

Bioseed Genetics Vietnam (Member no. 162)
431 Ngo Quyan Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: +84(4)822-0362, 825-8500; Fax: +84(4)822-0363;
Email: js@hn.vnn.vn Website: n.a.
Representative: Dr. Jaswant Singh, Managing Director

Chia Tai Co., Ltd. (Member no. 033)
299-301 Songsawad Road, Samphantawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66(2)233-8191 to 9; Fax: +66(2)237-1540;
Email: manasch@ibm.net
Website: http://www.chiataigroup.com
Representative: Mr. Manas Chiaravanond, Executive Vice President

China National Seed Group Corporation (Member no. 027)
Jia 16 Xibahe, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100028, China
Tel: +86(10)6420-1825; Fax: +86(10)6420-1820;
Email: cnsgc@mx.di.gov.cn
Website: http://www.chinaseeds.com.cn
Representative: Mr. Ma Zhipu, Associate Manager

Choong Ang Seed Co., Ltd. (Member no. 109)
461, Doojung, Chun An, Choong Nam 330-210, Republic of Korea
Tel: +82(417)556-6700/10; Fax: +82(417)556-2100;
Email: caseed@chollian.net
Representative: Dr. Il Woong Yoo, President

Clover Seed Co., Ltd. (Member no. 006)
Little H.K. Village, Lots 91-104, Shousonhill, Hong Kong, China
Tel: +852 2873-6306; Fax: +852 2873-6429;
Email: clover@netvigator.com
Representative: Dr. Anthony B. Tse, Managing Director

Druk Seed Corporation (Member no. 125)
Chundudingkha, Paro, Bhutan
Tel: +975(2)71462, 71465; Fax: +975(2)71462, 71465;
Email: n.a.; Website: n.a.
Representative: Mr. Jambay Dorji, Managing Director

East-West Seed Co., Ltd. (Member no. 004)
P.O. Box 3, Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi 11110, Thailand
Tel: +66(2)597-1225 to 8; Fax: +66(2)597-1229;
Email: info.th@eastwest.com
Website: http://eastwestseed.com
Representative: Mr. Simon Groot, Managing Director

Genuine Seed (Thailand) Co. (Member no. 242)
47/18-19 Pimsasud Road, Khon Kaen 40000, Thailand
Tel: +66(43)238-374; Fax: +66(2)804-1344;
Email: berry@loxinfo.co.th
Representative: Mr. Berry H.T. Chang, V.P. Executive

Inner Mongolia Seed Company (Member no. 165)
No. 92 Hu Lun Bei Road, Hohhot 010010, China
Tel: +86(471)696-4683; Fax: +86(471)696-4623;
Email: n.a.; Website: n.a.
Representative: Mr. Bu Zai Wang, General Manager

Pacific Seeds Pty. Ltd. (Member no. 026)
268 Anzac Avenue (P.O. Box 337), Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia
Tel: +61(7)4690-2666; Fax: +61(7)4630-2826, 4630-1063;
Email: intlsales@pacseeds.com.au
Website: http://www.pacificseeds.com
Representative: Mr. Nick Gardner, Manager-International Division

South Pacific Seeds Pty. Ltd. (Member no. 158)
P.O. Box 934, Griffith NSW 2680, Australia
Tel: +61(69)627-333; Fax: +61(69)641-311;
Email: n.a.; Website: n.a.
Representative: Mr. Phil Hancock, Managing Director

Southern Seed Company (Member no. 040)
282 Levan Sy Street, Tan Binh District, Hochiminh City, Vietnam
Tel: +84(8)844-2414, 844-4633; Fax: +84(8)844-2387;
Email: n.a.; Website: n.a.
Representative: Mr. Nguyen Hong, Director

Announcements
2/13/02
Dr. Robert Carsky from IITA wrote to announce that his organization had organized a workshop titled "Sustaining Soil Fertility in West Africa" and that the proceedings of the workshop had been published. Upon request he provided the entire reference below.

Sustaining Soil Fertility in West Africa. 2001. G. Tian et al. (eds.) SSSA Special Publication no.58, Soil Science Society of America and American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI, USA.

2/25/02
Dr. Robert Carsky from IITA announced that the 5th edition of the Mucuna News newsletter is now available at the following web address.
http://ppathw3.cals.cornell.edu/mba_project/CIEPCA/home.html

6/5/02
Dr. Robert Carsky from IITA shared the following information on a seed source.

The Inland & Foreign Trading Co., (PTE) Ltd.

Available Seeds:
Calopogonium caeruleum
Calopogonium mucunoides
Canavalia ensiformis
Centrosema plumerii
Centrosema pubescens
Crotalaria juncea
Crotalaria anagyroides
Desmodium ovalifolium
Desmodium intortum
Mucuna cochinchinensis/pruriens
Psphocarpus palustris
Psphocarpus tetragonolobus
Pueraria phaseoloides

Website: http://www.iftco.com.sg

Announcements

8/26/02
Dr. Robert Carsky from IITA announced a new site (http://www.soilfertnetsouthernafrica.org/) put up by an organization working on soil fertility management for cereal production.

9/11/02
Dr. Robert Carsky from IITA announced the on-line publication of a paper on Crop Residue Management and Cover Crops (http://www.fao.org/act-network/docs/actis03.pdf).

9/20/02
Dr. Robert Carsky from IITA announced that a brief article of potential interest to list members could be found at http://www.new-agri.co.uk/02-5/newsbr.html#nb12. Its title "Mycorrhizal fungus boost to biofertilisers".

(translation by Heather Bryant)
 

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Last updated: October 13, 2002
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