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#438: Many more posts on Kudzu
From: kevin pina <cariborganics@hotmail.com>
It would be a terrible idea to introduce a non-native species like kudzu
into Haiti. Haiti's farmers already have their hands full trying to keep
non-natives species out of the country that may adversely effect coffee and
cacao production. I know of several cooperatives who take the issue very
seriously and are considering petitioning the GOH to consider national
legislation severely restricting the introduction of non-native species into
the country. They believe it to be a necessary step in any comprehensive
environmental recovery program.
I think Max Blanchet had the best idea which is to encourage further
vetivert planting and harvesting. The thing plants a twelve foot tap root
within three years of growth and requires very little water. It is known
throughout the world for it ability to slow soil erosion and diminish the
loss of top soil. There's plenty on the web about it to research.
Small peasant farmers currently wild harvest the roots to sell them for the
production of a rich essential oil which is one of three most expensive
perfume additives when washed into an acetate compound. FONKOZE, the
community development bank of the poor, are associated with a vetivert
project in Camp Perin, Generatrice Morino, who have a second processing
facility under construction in Leogane. They are unique in that they
circumvent the traditional system of speculators and buy raw vetivert
directly from the harvestors. It's a unique approach that directly benefits
the ti peyisan and the environment in a way that kudzu never can.
kp
========================
From: "Emmanuel W. Vedrine" <evedrine@hotmail.com>
"remember the Kreyol expression, 'pongongong"?..." Well, it might
- "pongongon" is the right Kreyol spelling which would be equivalent to the
colloquial English idiom, "A pain in the ass"
========================
From: "Calvin F. Bey" <cfbey@erols.com>
I work in Haiti as a part time volunteer agriculturist and I sure do not
recommend Kudzu, as least the kudzu species that grows in southern US.
We do know that vetiver can be an excellent crop for soil erosion
control. We use it extensively on our Village of Hope site near
Ganthier(30 miles east of PaP). Beside stopping erosion, it is equally
critical to rebuild the soils, especially increasing the organic matter
content. For our dry site area, we are finding that jack bean and
lablab bean are doing best. If you have a wetter area, then velvet bean
should be tried. The sites throughout Haiti need cover crops. The
shade from the beans themselves can reduce the soil temperature and
evaporation from the soil. This will lead to increased productivity.
The concept of keeping a continuous cover on the land to restore the
soil is not well known or practiced in Haiti. We have taken some of the
worst land in Haiti and made it productive and would like to share our
knowledge with others. Anyone wanting more information, please contact
me. Calvin Bey cfbey@erols.com
=======================
From: Arlin Hunsberger <nhuns@npcc.net>
I know that in l963 kudzu was planted and grown in the North of Haiti not
very far from Cape Haitian. It was planted on a very steep hillside in an
attempt to stem soil erosion. Erosion from the hillside was threatening
buildings at the bottom of the hill. The kudzu garden was fenced and
protected from cattle grazing and did take hold and spread. It eventually
crossed small ditches, that had been formed after heavy storms, and put
many small roots down into the remaining soil.After several heavy rains I
noticed that where the kudzu was planted the soil stayed in place and at
the bottom of the hill the area was not damaged. At each side of the kudzu
patch there were significant signs of erosion and much topsoil was found at
the bottom of the hill. Kudzu was harvested from the site and used as
cattle and chicken feed. The harvesting was done by cut and carry method.
Eventually the fence broke and cattle entered the garden and grazed at
will. After several years the kudzu disappeared completely. I have been
unable to find traces of the plant in that region.
I am aware that in the Southeastern part of the States kudzu is a problem.
With the less than ideal growing conditions in Haiti for kudzu I can't
imagine that it would be become a problem. The search for cattle grazing
areas with plants that will provide animal feed is a daily chore for owners
of cows, sheep and goats in Haiti. It would be very beneficial if a
spreading vine containing considerable amounts of protein could be found.
This would help with erosion control and also provide excellent
animal feed. I hope that kudzu is given another try.
===========================
From: Jean Claude <jc_international@yahoo.com>
Nancy Laleau
Why not continue with the planting of NIM (not sure of the splelling)
in Haiti. It is a tree found in Africa. It does not require much care
and has plenty of beneficial properties.
Jean-Claude
=============================
From: LeGrace Benson <legracebenson@clarityconnect.com>
Hard to say what Kudzu do in Haiti. When I was just little, this was back
in the late 1930's, my Uncle Erni got some kudzu plants in late October
from the government to help out with his erosion problem. Aunt Lily had
gone down to the store for the afternoon while Erni planted. When she came
back to fix dinner she couldn't see nothing but big green vines in lumps
all over the place. She went on over to her sister's house, since there
wern't nothing else to do for it. At about the time to start getting the
ground ready to plant tobacco, the vines dropped their leaves and turned
gray. Erni was O.K. He'd been able to cut something of a path through to
the privy, but that tired him out so much he decided not to hack away any
more of it. He used up all the lard and cornmeal, and told Lily when she
found him that kudzu wont half bad with a little hot pepper vinegar. I
think he sold that farm to the CCC or something and moved up north to
Virginia. That's just part of what I know for sure about kudzu. LeGrace
Benson