Unexploited Agricultural Growth: The Case of Crop–Livestock Production Systems in Zimbabwe

Livestock is the most important source of cash for small-scale farmers in the semi-arid tropics of southern Africa. However, with limited access to markets, farmers do not have the incentive to invest in improved livestock management. Livestock production and off-takes remain low and farmers are unable to realize the full potential of their herds. We believe that improved market access will be the driver to increase technology adoption for income growth and poverty reduction. In Zimbabwe, a recent baseline diagnosis by ICRISAT and partners found that cash income from goats is crucial to cover day-to-day expenditures for food, education and human health. Cattle are more important for draft power and milk, and support subsistence cropping activities. Major production constraints include high mortality rates attributed to dry season feed shortages, particularly affecting farmers with small herds. An increasing demand for livestock products in rural and urban areas offers small-scale farmers opportunities for market participation. However, the existing markets are underdeveloped, with high transaction costs implying low producer prices and poor access to information for farmers. The challenge is to sustain livestock production, develop more effective market facilities, and thereby increase off-take. The potential of market-led technology development in crop–livestock systems has not been sufficiently exploited by research and development. To have an impact on incomes and poverty, we develop an innovative approach that would first evaluate local constraints in production and marketing, and then test alternative livestock markets and management strategies, with a strong linkage between private and public sectorsAgricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Livestock Production/Industries, Marketing, Productivity Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

INCREASING DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION OF SOUTH AFRICAN WINES: IDENTIFYING THE KEY MARKET SEGMENTS OF THE “BLACK DIAMONDS”

Although South Africans are not predominantly wine drinkers, the industry is looking for ways to develop the local market to balance exports. The black middle class, increasingly referred to as the Black Diamonds are the most powerful marketing trend in the last 10 years as they have emerged as the strongest buying influence in the economy and making inroads in understanding this market presents a good opportunity. The study asserts that the key factors influencing the South African consumers’ behavior are age, gender, income, race and wine drinking history. The study also asserts that not only are the black middle class are different from the white middle class but within the Black Diamonds different segments exist. The industry should particularly focus on marketing to the women and the “Start me up” age group in the group as there is limited consumer knowledge about wines, but a high willingness to experiment. The study also suggests various new brand communication platforms that can be explored to reach this market as well as co-opetition between industry stakeholders.Black Diamonds, wine consumer behavior, alcoholic beverages, Agribusiness, Demand and Price Analysis,

Rangeland degradation in the southern Kalahari.

Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.Observations by local people in the Mier area, southern Kalahari, South Africa, indicated that degraded rangeland does not recover within a time frame acceptable to landowners. Pristine vegetation in this linear dune system consists largely of a herbaceous layer dominated by perennial grasses. Woody vegetation is sparse on dunes and interdunes in good condition. The dunes and interdunes react differently to disturbance, probably because of differences in substrate stability, soil particle size distribution and consequent differences in soil nutrient distribution and moisture content. Degraded dunes are devoid of any vegetation, except for Stipagrostis amabilis, a rhizomatous grass which remain in small clumps, and the tree Acacia haematoxylon. The latter increases in numbers probably due to the high moisture content in degraded dunes. Moisture content in degraded dunes remain high even during prolonged dry periods. Interdunes are more susceptible to degradation and are invaded by the long-lived shrub Rhigozum trichotomum and the annual grass Schmidtia kalahariensis. Both these species compete with perennial grasses for moisture. Additionally, depleted seed banks and increased seed predation by ants (Messor capensis) may also affect the re-establishment of perennial grasses in the interdunes. The main conclusion from this study is that degraded southern Kalahari rangeland cannot recover spontaneously at the landscape scale because of a negative feedback mechanism that prevents establishment and growth of seedlings. The hypothesis put forward is that rangeland ceases to react to rainfall as an ecosystem driver as it becomes degraded. Once degraded, wind controls the dynamics of the system and recovery, irrespective of rainfall, is almost impossible. In contrast, detailed studies at the level of small isolated populations of S. amabilis and S. ciliata on degraded dunes indicate high rates of population growth. The scales at which these processes exist are contradictory and may not be contradicting. Rangeland managers should take cognisance of the influence of the spatial and temporal scale at which they operate, and on which they base their decisions

Assisting Smallholder Farmers in Mixed Crop-Livestock Systems to Understand the Potential Effects of Technologies and Climate Change through Participatory Modelling

Smallholder farming systems in the semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe are characterized by low production. This low production is not solely due to lack of technologies but is also due to a lack of integrating a diversity of viewpoints belonging to local, expert and specialized stakeholders during technology development. Participatory approaches combined with computer-based modelling are increasingly being recognized as valuable approaches to jointly develop sustainable agricultural pathways. The application of this integrated and iterative process in developing and evaluating the impact of interventions aimed at improving food and feed production is discussed. The process allows farmers to determine the impact of their decisions, evaluate new options and define realistic production and management options tailored to their particular circumstances. Scientists and other stakeholders in-turn learn more about the farmers’ decision-making process, input and managerial potentials as well as knowledge gaps

L3: On Farm systems and risk management

This project seeks to define the interplay between market access, crop and livestock technologies, and investment risks in water- and market-scarce environments that leads to technology adoption by farm families, enabling them to enhance food security and incomes through more efficient water use. Water efficient farm enterprises and climate risk management Innovation Platforms will be established at project sites to bring together all role players necessary to increase investments in farm management strategies to improve productivity of crop and livestock systems through improved fodder production. Investment choices matched to farmer capacities and climatic risk environment Understanding how the capacity of farmers and their ability to make use of new opportunities is affected by their wealth status, investment priorities and variable climate will assist in the design of new and more target-specific crop-livestock management strategies. Market-led technologies for smallholder farmers developed and tested The project will use market access as the driver of crop and livestock technology uptake. Market development initiatives such as contract farming, voucher-based input distribution schemes for seed and fertilizer and innovative fertilizer marketing strategies will be implemented by project partners, technically supported by research and extension and monitored for impacts across the value chain

Involving Stakeholders in Crop-Livestock Systems Analysis: Innovation Platforms in Burkina Faso and Niger, West Africa

The development of markets and agricultural productivity need participative research approaches that involve farmers, stakeholders and actors in the value chains of agricultural products and inputs. This study illustrates the use of multi-stakeholder platforms to address critical issues that often curtail effective implementation of development strategies and achievement of objectives. The process used to facilitate stakeholder participation and achieve enhanced understanding of collective actions to achieve objectives is illustrated by case studies in Niger and Burkina Faso. The process that determines the causal relationships among the various problems is also presented; results from the process can be used to determine entry points for addressing system challenges. Finally, the study offers specific insights and analysis related to small-ruminant and feed value chains within Niger and Burkina Faso. The strengths and weaknesses of each node of the value chain are assessed and appropriate upgrading, management, and development strategies suggested. Entry points for action and strategies for intervention are identified to improve functioning of the crop-livestock value chain and the productivity of agro-pastoral farming systems. Participative analysis and understanding of the functioning of agricultural value chains enable farmers and actors to improve agricultural productivity and marketing. The multi-stakeholder platform approach is a more suitable tool for socio-economic analysis of integrated systems, and identification and implementation of development strategies, than traditional disciplinary research approaches

Research with Development Ambitions--Partnering with Non-Researchers

To deliver on a development mandate it is necessary to partner. Partnerships should be based on achieving a common goal, through the partners working on complementary objectives. Partnerships should be based on related objectives, where single organisations will not be able to achieve the goal alone, and where the partnership can lead to more rapid achievement of the goals. Preferably partnership should be objective specific, temporary by nature and dynamic. No one entity can completely address the complexity of real world problems—yet they often propose to do just that. Time and money should be invested in diagnosing pathways to impact, including identifying potential partners with mandates to deliver within those areas of impact. Plan for and invest in the long and enlightening process of engagement with partners, including those who will appear (and disappear) along the way

Facilitating innovation platforms

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