Ten years of experiences in disseminating sod seeding in rural areas of southern Italy

In 2005, in the frame of a project funded by the Italian Ministry of Work, a rural animation activity was initiated in a marginal rural area of Southern Italy (Benevento Province, Campania Region) characterized by the presence of small, family run farms. The activity aimed at proposing the practice of sod seeding as a way to reduce cultivation costs and soil erosion in hilly areas. Farmers, although aware of the existence of sod seeding, pointed out the lack of support from extension services and farmers' organizations in disseminating information, and in supporting demonstrative experiments. Frontal lectures proved to be of little utility, but helped to raise attention about the topic, showing the large experimental work already performed by different Institutions, and the abundance of experimental results. Subsequently, some demonstrative fields were set up, and "farmer to farmer" learning started, being based largely on non-verbal mutual understanding. Contacts were also fostered between local farmers and farmers from other parts of the world, already using sod seeding, through some study tours. Empowerment was further stimulated by the creation of an association of farmers (AIPAS), aiming to disseminate information and to promote sod seeding, being run directly by farmers. In the frame of the EU VII Framework project "Carboschool+", experimental fields were set up in the local technical school for agriculture, in which farmers supported teachers in the preparation of the plots and in the discussion of results. Given the topic of the EU project, the relevance of sod seeding in increasing soil carbon content and reducing erosion was stressed. The talk will report the activities carried out, taking in account the developments in local agriculture that took place in the last ten years, such as the growth of sod seeding practices, the empowerment of farmers, the growth of AIPAS.