87 research outputs found
Potential of Crop Rotation Using Forages in the Tropics
Soil fertility is a fundamental biophysical root cause of food insecurity sub-Saharan Africa. Low quality crop residues and grasses during the dry season also limit animal productivity. Forage legumes (herbaceous and tree legumes) have great potential to increase crop animal productivity. Technologies have been developed over the past 3 decades to fully integrate forage legumes into farming. Most of these technologies are still on shelves with low adoption by farmers. Rhe role of forage legumes in nutrient cycling is reviewed in this paper. The factor limiting adoption will also be discussed. Innovative dissemination pathways to increase adoption will be suggested
Climate smart crops for food and nutritional security for semi-arid zones of Zimbabwe
Southern Africa smallholder farmers continue to be the most affected by the challengesof climate change and variability. The variability of climate demands the use of avariety of agronomic strategies and crop choices. Traditional drought tolerant cerealcrops such as sorghum and millets are often chosen when drought seasons areanticipated. However, there are certain crops, originating elsewhere, that could help thesmallholder farmers increase diversity of crops that can be grown in changed climates.Trials were conducted to test a basket of known and introduced climate smart crops inthe field. The cereal crops tested were maize, sorghum, pearl and finger millet, andlegumes: tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolias), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), Bambaranut (Vigna subterranea), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) and pigeon pea (Cajanuscajan. A second experiment was conducted to determine the effects of inorganicfertilizer and rhizobium inoculation on the growth and grain yield of field grown teparybean. Both experiments were laid out in a randomized complete block design with threereplications. Due to drought conditions during the growing season, cereal crops couldnot produce grain yield, as there was no grain filling. Despite this, cereal biomass was5t ha-1 for maize, followed by sorghum (1.3t ha-1) and millet (1.2t ha-1). Legume cropsproduced grain with cowpea yielding 568.1kg ha-1 of grain, followed by tepary bean(245.9kg ha-1) and common bean (227kg ha-1). This is important for food, nutrition andhealth security of smallholder communities. Tepary bean inoculated with rhizobiumand had fertilizer applied produced higher grain yield than those without fertilizer orrhizobium inoculant (P≤0.05). In conclusion, resource poor farmers, affected bydrought effects of climate change, can adopt both cereals and legumes climate smartcrops, in order to create food and nutritional security. This is crucial for food andnutritional security of vulnerable households affected by climate change and variability.Key words: tepary bean, climate smart crop, drought, smallholder farmer
Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi prevalence and diversity in Zimbabwean soils
A JASSA article on the prevalence and population levels of VAM fungi in a range of field soil environments in Zimbabwe.The prevalence and population levels of VAM fungi in a range of field soil environments in Zimbabwe were determined. The main VAM genera Acaulospora, Scutellospora, Gigaspora, Glomus, Sclerocystls and Entrophospora were represented in the study sites. The relative abundance was Glomus > Acaulospora > Scutellospora > Sclerocystis > Gigaspora > Entrophospora at all sites except at Chabwino (fallow soil) and Thorn Park (sorghum) where Acaulospora Scutellospora = Acaulospora. Relative proportions of the different VAM genera were similar across soils but population sizes varied with soil management. There was no clear relationship between VAM spore numbers and cropping history although among the cultivated plots, soils that had legumes as the previous or current crop generally had higher VAM populations than under sorghum. Of the soil parameters measured, only percent organic carbon was significantly correlated with VAM numbers and infective propagules
Differences in Chemical Composition Among Provenances of Tree Fodder Species in a Subhumid Environment: Relation to use as Supplements
Studies were initiated in a subhumid Southern African environment to assess the chemical composition and nutritive value of Acacia angustissima (Mill.) Kuntze, Calliandra calothyrsus Meiss. and Leucaena species. The objective was to determine variability in crude protein (CP) concentration, acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), and soluble and insoluble proanthocyanidins from fodder samples of species, subspecies and provenances. A wide range was found in these parameters. The implications of these chemical composition factors, especially proanthocyanidins, on the use of these browse fodders in livestock feeding systems are discussed
Fodder Production of Multipurpose Trees in a Maize Farming System of Subhumid Southern Africa
Ways to integrate fodder production into maize production systems under Southern Africa’s subhumid conditions have been studied. One way involves the planting of tree and grass fodder hedges along soil conservation contour-bunds in maize fields. Management factors that influence the productivity of maize and fodder components in the system are fodder spp., side-pruning and deferment of wet season cutting. The other option involves interplanting tree fodders with maize through the use of a coppicing tree such as Acacia angustissima. Practical applications of these methods in mixed crop-livestock production systems are discussed
Differences in Chemical Composition Among Provenances of Browse Species in a Subhumid Environment: Relation to use as Supplements
Studies were initiated in a subhumid Southern African environment to assess the chemical composition and nutritive value of Acacia angustissima (Mill.) Kuntze, Calliandra calothyrsus Meiss. and Leucaena species. The objective was to determine variability in crude protein (CP) concentration, acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), and soluble and insoluble proanthocyanidins from fodder samples of species, subspecies and provenances. A wide range was found in these parameters. The implications of these chemical composition factors, especially proanthocyanidins, on the use of these browse fodders in livestock feeding systems are discussed
Smallholder Farmer Perceptions on Climate Change and Variability: A Predisposition for their Subsequent Adaptation Strategies
Smallholder farmers are facing several climate-related challenges. Projected changes in climate are expected to
aggravate the existing challenges. This study was conducted in Chiredzi district, Masvingo, Zimbabwe. The study
objective was to examine farmer perceptions on climate variability, current adaptive strategies and establish factors
influencing smallholder farmers’ adaptation to climate change. A survey was conducted with 100 randomly selected
respondents from four wards. Additionally, data was collected through focus group discussions and key informant
interviews. The results showed that farmers perceived that there has been a decrease in annual rainfall and an increase
in average temperatures. A linear trend analysis of rainfall and temperature data from 1980 to 2011 corroborated the
farmers’ perceptions. Farmers’ adaptation options included adjusting planting dates and crop diversification. Off-farm
income has reduced the dependence of the farmers on agriculture. A multinomial regression analysis showed that socioeconomic
factors such as gender, age, number of cattle owned, land size and average crop yields influenced farmer
adaptation strategies. The study concludes that although farmers are diverse in their socio-economic attributes, they
exhibit homogeneous perceptions on changes in climate, which are consistent with observations of empirical climate
data. These perceptions help to shape smallholder farmer coping and adaptation strategie
Contextual vulnerability of rainfed crop-based farming communities in semi-arid Zimbabwe: A case of Chiredzi District
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess smallholder farmers’ vulnerability to climate change and variability based on the socioeconomic and biophysical characteristics of Chiredzi District, a region that is susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change and variability.
Design/methodology/approach
Vulnerability was assessed using the Vulnerability to Resilience and the Climate Vulnerability and Capacity frameworks.
Findings
The major indicators and drivers of vulnerability were identified as droughts, flash floods, poor soil fertility and out-migration leaving female- and child-headed households. From sensitivity analysis, it was shown that different areas within the district considered different biophysical and socioeconomic indicators to climate change and variability. They also considered different vulnerability indicators to influence the decisions for adaptation to climate change and variability.
Originality/value
The results of this study indicate that the area and cropping systems are greatly exposed and are sensitive to climatic change stimuli, as shown by the decline in main cereal grain yield. These results also showed that there is a need to define and map local area vulnerability as a basis to recommend coping and adaptation measures to counter climate change hazards
Building climate change resilience through adaptation in smallholder farming systems in semi-arid Zimbabwe
Purpose
This study aimed to determine factors that increase resilience and cause smallholder farmers to adapt better to climate change and vulnerability.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, the authors used the vulnerability to resilience model and binary logit model to analyse the factors influencing household decisions to adapt.
Findings
Households with increased access to climate information through extension services were likely to have better adaptation abilities. It was also shown that younger farmers were likely to adapt to climate change given their flexibility to adopt new techniques and their access and use of modern information and technology. Larger households were found to have higher probability of adapting as most adaptation strategies are labour intensive. Household’s possession of livestock and access to credit significantly enhanced adaptation. However, households with higher farm income have lesser incentives to adapt to because their current farming practices might already be optimum.
Research limitations/implications
Given that most of the smallholder farmers are vulnerable, such as women-headed households and the elderly, who are labour constrained, there is need for research and development of labour saving technologies to increase resilience to climate change and vulnerability.
Originality/value
These findings underscore the importance of enabling farmer access to information and better technologies which enable them to increase adaptive capacity and resilience
The Potential Role of Neglected and Underutilised Crop Species as Future Crops under Water Scarce Conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa
Modern agricultural systems that promote cultivation of a very limited number of crop species have relegated indigenous crops to the status of neglected and underutilised crop species (NUCS). The complex interactions of water scarcity associated with climate change and variability in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and population pressure require innovative strategies to address food insecurity and undernourishment. Current research efforts have identified NUCS as having potential to reduce food and nutrition insecurity, particularly for resource poor households in SSA. This is because of their adaptability to low input agricultural systems and nutritional composition. However, what is required to promote NUCS is scientific research including agronomy, breeding, post-harvest handling and value addition, and linking farmers to markets. Among the essential knowledge base is reliable information about water utilisation by NUCS with potential for commercialisation. This commentary identifies and characterises NUCS with agronomic potential in SSA, especially in the semi-arid areas taking into consideration inter alia: (i) what can grow under water-scarce conditions, (ii) water requirements, and (iii) water productivity. Several representative leafy vegetables, tuber crops, cereal crops and grain legumes were identified as fitting the NUCS category. Agro-biodiversity remains essential for sustainable agriculture
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