Dahari draws on various agroecological intensification techniques—well-known globally but not yet widely used in the Comoros—to develop sustainable, ecological agriculture.

This article highlights combinations of vegetable crops that have proven successful in the Comoros. Average earnings of between 1,000 and 2,000 KMF per square meter have been observed, demonstrating that it is possible to achieve high production levels and good yields on small plots of land.

What you need to know about companion planting for vegetables

Intercropping is an agricultural practice used to intensify production within a limited space. It involves growing different plants together on the same plot—plants that provide mutual benefits, such as protection against pests, soil fertilization, space optimization, or climate regulation. There are numerous possible combinations, depending on the species, varieties, climatic conditions, and the farmer’s objectives.

Key points for successful vegetable companion planting

To successfully pair vegetables, several factors must be taken into account:

• The plant life cycle: you should combine plants that have different growing durations to avoid competition between them.
• Plant water and nutrient requirements: you should combine plants that have complementary or similar needs, in order to avoid competition, waste, or deficiencies.
• The repellent or attractive properties of plants: it is beneficial to combine plants that protect one another from pests or that attract beneficial organisms (pollinators, natural predators), thereby fostering biodiversity and crop health.
• Plant morphological characteristics: you should combine plants with different shapes or heights to optimize the use of space and sunlight.

Some inspiring examples of intercropping practices in tropical environments

1. Cucumber / yam / arugula / chili pepper: the cucumber covers the ground and prevents weed growth, the yam climbs a support and produces tubers, the arugula attracts pollinators, and the chili pepper repels harmful insects.
2. Parsley / bell pepper / radish / bean: parsley scents the soil and repels flies; the bell pepper benefits from the shade provided by the parsley; the radish grows quickly, freeing up space for the bell pepper; and the bean fixes nitrogen in the soil, nourishing the bell pepper.
3. Tomato / lettuce / sweet potato / corn: the tomato uses the corn for support as it climbs, the lettuce benefits from the moisture retained by the tomato, the sweet potato covers the ground and limits evaporation, and the corn protects the other plants from the wind.
4. Cabbage / radish / pea / lettuce: cabbage requires plenty of nutrients and water; radishes grow quickly and occupy the space between the cabbages; peas enrich the soil with nitrogen and act as a support for the cabbage; lettuce benefits from the shade provided by the cabbage and peas.

Dahari invites you to discover the results obtained through various experiments conducted as part of its "best demonstration plot" competitions, held between 2020 and 2022 in Anjouan and Grande Comore with funding from the European Union.

Download the complete guide to the practices of organic vegetable-growing associations in the Comoros.