Photo of The Month

A very young female inflorescence of oil palm that will grow and eventually be harvested as a fruit bunch, in Sabah, Malaysia.

Tree plantings normally require several years before becoming productive. In order to compensate for these initial years, mixed cropping systems are often employed by small and medium sized farmers. Here, rubber is mixed with strips of forage grass (Brachiaria spec.) until the rubber canopy closes and shades the forage out. Seen in Cambodia.

Rice straw, piled for animal feed in the traditional way, in a typical village setting in Kampong Cham, Cambodia. While rice fields are typically left with little to no trees and shrubs, leading to wide plains, villages are made into islands of shade and comfort. Here Jatropha (J. curcas) is planted as living fence together with Euphorbia species; sugar palm, mango and other fruit trees provide food and shade around the homestead.

While often encountered in East Africa and Latin America, Coffee-Banana Intercropping (CBI) Systems are not yet that common in Southeast Asia. They offer interesting opportunities for farmers: total revenue per unit area tends to be higher than for banana or coffee grown alone, agronomic risks are reduced while food security is increased. Bananas provide shade coverage for climate sensitive coffee, and are less water competitive under drought compared to other shade trees.

IPNI engages with cocoa farmers in Sulawesi, Indonesia, on responsible management of plant nutrition. This photo shows the drying of cocoa beans, which is a critical step in the processing chain.

Although drought and nutrient stress start to show, this inter-cropping system of taro (Colocasia esculenta) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) is pleasing on the eyes, and soon on the tongue. Seen in Southern Shan in Myanmar.

IPNI SEAP studies in the Philippines showed that cassava responds well to fertilizer application. Optimal nutrient management is key in closing wide yield gaps and in attaining sustainable intensification in cassava. Continuous cropping of cassava without balanced fertilizer application can lead to soil nutrient depletion and yield decline over time.

Against the backdrop of a diverse cropping system that includes cacao, bananas, coconut, chili, maize and fruit trees, the young and fit race into the evening to crown the local champions in the open category - Soppeng, Sulawesi, Indonesia in Southeast Asia

Shallots and onions are widely grown by farmers in Southeast Asian countries for home consumption, but more often, as cash crops. Field surveys undertaken by IPNI showed that fertilizers are used extensively for these crops, but little evidence-based information is available on how to fertilize these crops responsibly and profitably. Significant market development opportunities exist for onions that can be designed around sustainable 4R nutrient management.

Change is visible in many parts of Southeast Asia. Agricultural innovations contribute to this change. This image was taken in Soppeng in Sulawesi, Indonesia, where IPNI supports the establishment of sustainable and profitable cocoa systems.

Pak Muh Aris is running a simple trial in his nursery in Sulawesi, Indonesia, with support by IPNI and Cocoa Care to understand the nutritional requirements of cocoa seedlings. The trial is generating a data set that is highly relevant to other local nurseries, and fills a gap in the global cocoa knowledge bank. In this photo are Pak Muh Aris, Cocoa Care's Kate and Noel Janetski, and IPNI's Thomas Oberthür.

Cassava currently ranks as the fourth most important food crop after rice, wheat, and maize, and first among starchy staples. Four countries in Southeast Asia are among the top ten cassava producers in the world. The staff in the Philippine Office of IPNI's Southeast Asia Program are currently developing a Nutrient Expert® for Cassava.

Most of Myanmar's fruit exports go to China, with watermelons, mangoes and melons leading the charge. Pineapple is one of the most popular tropical fruits in the world, and could become another export crop for Myanmar. For many, Myanmar’s best pineapples come from the towns of Hsipaw and Tangyan in Northern Shan State. Pineapples benefit specially from potassium that is critical for large yields combined with high fruit quality. Potassium stimulates plant growth, fruit size, fruit aroma and taste by enhancing the production of sugars and acids.

Tea is being produced in many Southeast Asian countries, including for example Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar. Yet, nutrient management has not received the attention that this high value crop deserves.

Vegetables are grown as market cash crops in large parts of Southeast Asia, and provide income for many small-holder farmers across the region. A recent market opportunity assessment undertaken by IPNI Southeast Asia Program (SEAP) in Myanmar highlighted the importance that crops like chili, onions, garlic, and cabbage have for Burmese farmers. IPNI SEAP is currently investigating how to further support nutrient management in these commodities in Myanmar.

Pulses, the edible seeds of legume plants, come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Amongst the types of pulses are dry beans, dry broad beans, dry peas, chickpeas, cow peas, pigeon peas, lentils, Bambara beans, and others... While not common in all of Southeast Asia, they are very popular in Myanmar and its neighboring countries. IPNI's Southeast Asia Program is currently planning new R&D engagements in the near future to better understand the nutritional needs of pulses.

Snapshot of an oil palm nursery in Sabah, MALAYSIA. The execution of adequate nursery practices is expected to have a profound impact on the performance of the crop once the seedlings are transplanted into the field. Unfortunately, such impacts on production potential of mature palms have seldom been quantified in commercial operations; and systematic, site-specific identification of optimal nursery practices is not easy. Therefore, IPNI Southeast Asia Program, with support from Canpotex Limited, has teamed up with two Asian plantation partners in a long term project to assess different nursery practices and measure their impacts on the performance of mature palms.

Farmers in Southern Shan State of MYANMAR practice nutrient management through mind-mapping.

Oil palm fields are replanted every 20 years or so. This photo was taken in Sabah, MALAYSIA. IPNI undertakes long-term research in Malaysia and Indonesia to investigate the cumulative effects of Best Management Practices (BMP) as they are applied to different growth stages of the palm - from nursery, to immature replanting, and then to mature palms.

Successful cacao planting starts with seeds that are planted to grow rootstock. IPNI currently conducts nursery trials in Sulawesi, INDONESIA, to understand how nutrients contribute to the growth of cacao seedlings.

Grafted cacao seedlings are nurtured in the nursery until they are ready to be transplanted to the field. IPNI Southeast Asia Program, together with Cocoa Care in Indonesia, is looking into improved nutrient management strategies in the nursery.

In Southeast Asia, maize is becoming ever more important as a cash crop for small-holder farmers. When grown in rotation with other market crops such as vegetables, nutrient management has to be adjusted accordingly. IPNI Southeast Asia Program works extensively on maize in the PHILIPPINES.

Efficient harvesting is critical in oil palm operations. It does not only improve yields, but also the return on investment of fertilizers. IPNI and its partners are identifying options to match and fine-tune fertilizer and harvest management of oil palm plantations in INDONESIA and MALAYSIA.

Bananas in southern PHILIPPINES. To produce bananas without negative effect on soil fertility, the crop needs large amount of external nutrients. IPNI is planning research on sustainable banana crop nutrition.

The humble Cassava has transited from being a food crop to an industrial crop with multiple uses. IPNI’s research on responsible nutrient use in intensification of cassava cultivation supports this transition that potentially increases smallholder farmers’ income. Photo taken in southern PHILIPPINES.

The color range in neighboring fields in this aerial image taken in southern PHILIPPINES beautifully illustrates the need for site-specific crop management. IPNI supports such management in annual crops with its Nutrient Expert® program.

A farmer community in the southern Shan State of MYANMAR fertilizing and planting potatoes.

With adequate crop nutrition, large areas of Ultisol soil in southern Shan State of MYANMAR could be turned into highly productive maize growing areas.