CIRAWA's Approach
CIRAWA is putting people and ecosystems at the centre, taking ecosystem health as a starting point to unlock multiple natural services and benefits and working closely with small-holder farmers to ensure their needs are met.
CIRAWA is proposing four innovative agroecological strategies that work with nature to improve water quality, climate resilience, agricultural yields, and invigorate local communities and economies by creating novel bio-based products and markets.
CIRAWA explores four innovative agroecological approaches
Agro-waste valorisation
CIRAWA is valorising agro-waste by advancing state-of-the-art technologies, such as composting and vermicomposting, adapted to the needs of local communities to provide high quality composts and bio-based fertilisers from local agricultural resources (e.g. manure) and residues (e.g. millet and rice husk, groundnut shells).
Phytoremediation
CIRAWA is proposing the use of phytoremediation, a biological approach for soil remediation through plant root action. This approach ameliorates saline and sodic soils by cultivating crops that are tolerant to salinity and sodicity. CIRAWA will use an integrated approach that combines phytoremediation with conventional methods (e.g. water washing or drainage) and the use of amendments.
Quality seeds
CIRAWA is emphasising high quality crop and vegetable seed production through advanced seed production techniques, including best quality seed selection, seed raising, seed treatment, seed coating, among others.
Land management practices
CIRAWA is promoting sustainable land management practices, such as soil fertility, and water and crop management practices, using digital solutions to support farmers in the optimisation of water and fertiliser use to increase productivity while supporting ecosystem health, and climate resilience.
