ABSTRACT

Current research shows that national per capita incomes are related to ecological wealth of countries, including their fertile soils and adequate rainfall, and other natural resources that provide strong indicators of the wealth or poverty of a nation. Most economies in tropical regions are generally poor, while those in temperate ecoregions are rich (Sachs 2001). Although tropical countries have temperatures that may permit year-round possibilities for crop growth, seasonal rainfall and

CONTENTS

10.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 201 10.2 Agroecosystems ....................................................................................................................203