Camelina sativa, also known as camelina or fake flax, is becoming more popular as an oil-seed crop that can grow well in dry and semi-dry areas of Africa. Because it can handle weather well, doesn’t need many resources, and grows well in poor soils, camelina is a good crop for North and East Africa that wants to grow a variety of crops.
What makes camelina good for conditions in Africa
Camelina does well in areas with bad soil and unpredictable rain, which makes it perfect for places where other crops don’t do well. Field tests in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Ethiopia show that the crop does well in temperatures that are close to the Mediterranean and not too dry.
Important Pros:
- Do performances in marginal places
- Needs little to no watering
- Better able to handle drought than many cereals
- The growing season is short (about 60 days shorter in Africa than in Europe)
- Makes the dirt healthier
In tests done in Africa, average yields hit about 0.71 Mg/ha, even when there is drought stress. Even though its yields are smaller than those in Europe, its resilience and low input costs make it a good investment.
Camelback also helps the soil by covering it better and stopping it from washing away.
Important Farming Techniques for Growing Camelina
1. Conservation farming
No-till or reduced-till gardening is the best way to go. This method:
- Keeps dirt from drying out
- Lessens erosion
- Lowers the cost of fuel and fertiliser
- Boosts the organic matter in the soil
Camellina has been grown successfully in Morocco on 1-hectare plots with local seed drills and crops like barley planted in between.
2. Best Seeding Times and Types
Farmers should use spring strains like the ones below:
- Alba—Known for having a higher yield potential
- CCE42 and CCE29: Known for being stable when stressed
- It takes about 1300 Growing Degree Days (GDD) for camelina to grow from seed to harvest.
Adding 90–100 kg/ha of nitrogen may increase crops, but camelina can do pretty well with only a little fertiliser.
3. Intercropping to Make Things Last
There are several perks to planting camelina next to legumes like lentils or peas:
- Better biodiversity
- Lessened soil loss
- Less loss of nutrients
- There was no big loss in yield.
This method improves farm productivity while also strengthening the balance of the ecosystem.
Problems to solve and useful advice
Even though camelina is strong, it still faces some problems:
- Taking Care of Weeds
- There are not many herbicides available. Before planting, farmers should choose areas that don’t have any weeds and focus on getting rid of them early.
Conditions of Drought
During severe drought seasons, like Morocco’s in 2021–2022, camelina seemed to be more resilient than cereals, which supports its promise as a crop that can adapt to climate change.
Start with Trials of Demonstration
Introducing camelina through small trials on farms with local farmers and experts lets the plant get used to the conditions in the area before it is widely used.
FAQs
1. Does camelina grow well in dry parts of Africa?
Yes, camelina can handle a lot of dry conditions and does well in semi-arid and Mediterranean areas with little rain.
2. How much food can African farmers expect to grow?
In African trials, the average yield is about 0.71 Mg/ha, but this depends on how much rain falls and how the land is managed.
3. Does camelina need a lot of fertiliser?
No, camelina doesn’t need much help, but a modest amount of nitrogen (90–100 kg/ha) can increase yields.
