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Biochar Training in Central America
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During the last week of January, field staff and Board members of NGO Sustainable Harvest International (SHI) participated in a workshop that included training on biochar soil management. Julie Major of Cornell University facilitated field activities and a talk on a training farm near Sula, Honduras. Participants included small farmer extension workers from Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Belize, as well as U.S. Board members of the NGO.
Participants learned about the benefits of biochar for crop yield improvement, as well as environmental benefits from biochar application to soil including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration. Emphasis was placed on using waste materials for making biochar. Such materials are often available in considerable amounts to small farmers in Central America, for example rice hulls, coffee pulp, cacao pods, sugarcane bagasse, etc. The hands-on portion of the workshop involved making biochar from rice hulls and pine wood, as well as setting up 2 demonstration plots, one on the training farm and one on a nearby farmer’s field. Field staff crushed, sieved, and tilled in biochar. Honduras staff will be monitoring crop growth on these plots.
Julie was thrilled with SHI’s interest in biochar and their invitation to participate in the workshop. She hopes the field trials will show convincing results and information about biochar will be spread among small farmers. Working with SHI’s dynamic and well organized team was a delight.
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| Sustainable Harvest International Board members and field staff from Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Belize. Photo courtesy of Julie Major |
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| Working char into the soil. Photo courtesy of Julie Major |
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