CROP CHOICE & KITCHEN GARDEN PRACTICES IF YOU LIVE ALONGSIDE ELEPHANTS Elephants needs large amounts of food to survive; up to 450kg a day. With prolonged drought periods, food for elephants become limited and they can be forced to search for food in farms.
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It is advisable to plant crops in smaller farmlands, especially in areas around elephants, as it is cheaper and more efficient to protect small crops fields against elephants using different boundary protection methods.
Small farms generally require less water. Soils can degrade fast if you plant the same crops every season (monoculture). In order to farm successfully in a small 1-3 acre farmland, try to practice Conservation Agriculture techniques to preserve soil health and water retention.
If you live near a national park/ reserve, plant crops that elephants do not eat to ensure they are not attracted your farm. These are called non palatable crops. Such crops may be cash crops and can provide an alternative income when processed. With added income you can buy food items like maize and beans from farmers who have had a good harvest. Use additional farm deterrent methods to protect crops.
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Avoid planting the same crop in the same field for more than one cropping season. Rotate non-palatable crops each season and intercrop with nitrogen fixing plants like beans/legumes to keep soils healthy.