3.1.2. Proposed crop sequences and sowing windows
Information was sought about farmer perceptions and interest
about conventional and proposed practices from the crop simulation
study in terms of crop sequences and sowing times (Touch
et al., unpublished). The questionnaire type used to gather this
information is called “multiple response” where individual farmer
can choose more than one option of the suggested answers
(Table 2). A conventional maize-maize system received the highest
interest and farmers considered following the practices. Of the
interviewed farmers, just over half (65e68%) thought about
following maize-maize with the current sowing times (FebruaryeMarch
and JulyeAugust), while a small proportion (9e16%)
perceived the current sowing times as a risky practice, and wanted
to try the proposed alternative later sowing times (MayeSeptember).
Twenty-three per cent of Sala Krau farmers were not sure
about the proposed new sowing times. They acknowledged that the
proposed sowing times could be less risky, but wanted to see other
farmers try the proposed practice first.
Farmers felt that it was important to have a main crop like maize
rotated with legume crops such as mungbean and soybean to
enhance soil fertility. Thirty per cent of farmers in Sala Krau and
65% in Samlout considered rotating maize with soybean using
conventional sowing times. Most experienced soybean growers at
Samlout (87%) rejected the idea of planting soybean after August.
They had experienced lower yields when soybean were planted
after August, whereas mungbean was reported to perform relatively
well with planting in September.
The majority of farmers (70e82%) were not sure about growing
maize in rotation with sunflower because of their inexperience in
growing sunflower. However, if there was a good market for sunflower
as well as availability of technical support, they would
consider adopting the practice.