Enhancing the capacity of smallholder farms to tap into digital climate service technologies opportunities for improved crop production in the cercles of Sikasso

In the Sahel, the agricultural sector, based mainly on rainfed farming system is extremely sensitive to climate change due to the higher frequency of excess heat, and changes in rainfall patterns leading to crop failure and crop damages from pests and diseases. In Mali, this threat of climate change is of particular concern as 80% of the population is engaged in agriculture and livelihoods, and are largely dependent on natural resources that are constantly degrading. Based on this observation, our approach was to help a group of 100 farmers to better integrate climate information and agricultural advice into their production systems through the Sénékèla/Sandji platform in the cercles of Sikasso and Kadiolo. A user group of 10 to 15 farmers was set up in seven (7) villages. The constitution of these groups took into account all social strata, including women who are the most marginalized in rural areas. Producers were trained in the use of the system (registration, interpretation of messages, holding a conversation with the agroadvisor). By using the platform, the farmers were able to better plan their activities, make decisions based on climate forecasts and have access to agricultural advice in real time. To evaluate the system, a study was conducted with a sample of 68 producers; the methodology adopted was based on data collection through a questionnaire and two rating sheets given to producers. The results show that the technology has had a positive impact on the lives of beneficiaries. We have seen a decrease in production costs of more than 30%, better use of inputs for 72% of producers and a decrease in working time (60.3% of producers). The majority of users (88%) are satisfied with Sénékèla/Sandji as a tool for disseminating climatic information, and 71% of forecasts received by producers were confirmed, which proves the effectiveness of the system

Modeling the contribution of ecological agriculture for climate change mitigation in cote d'Ivoire

The use of crop models is motivated by the prediction of crop production under climate change and for the evaluation of climate risk adaptation strategies. Therefore, in the present study the performance of DSSAT 4.6 was evaluated in a cropping system involving integrated soil fertility management options that are being promoted as ways of adapting agricultural systems to improve both crop yield and carbon sequestration on highly degraded soils encountered throughout middle Côte d’Ivoire. Experimental data encompassed two seasons in the Guinea savanna zone. Residues from the preceding vegetation were left to dry on plots like mulch on an experimental design that comprised the following treatments: (i) herbaceous savanna-maize, (ii)10 year-old of the shrub Chromolaena odorata fallow-maize (iii) 1 or 2 year-old Lalab pupureus stand-rotation, (iv) the legume L. pupureus -maize rotation; (v) continuous maize crop fertilized with urea; (vi) continuous maize crop fertilized with triple superphosphate; (vii) continuous maize crop, fertilized with both urea and triple superphosphate (TSP); (viii) continuous maize cultivation. The model’s sensitivity analysis was run to figure out how uncertainty of stable organic carbon (SOM3) can generate variation in the prediction of soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics during the monitoring period of two years, within the first soil layer and to estimate the most suitable value. The observed variations were of 0.05 % in total SOC within the short-term and acceptable dynamics of changes were obtained for 0.80% of SOM3. The DSSAT model was calibrated using data from the 2007-2008 season and validated against independent data sets of yield of 2008-2009 to 2011-2012 cropping seasons. After the default values for SOM3 used in the model was substituted by the estimated one from sensitivity analysis, the model predicted average maize yields of 1 454 kg ha-1 across the sites versus an observed average value of 1 736 kg ha-1, R2 of 0.72 and RMSE of 597 kg ha-1. The impact of fallow residues and cropping sequence on maize yield was simulated and compared to conventional fertilizer and control data using historical climate scenarios over 12 years. Improving soil fertility through conservation agriculture cannot maintain grain yield in the same way as conventional urea inputs, although there is better yield stability against high climate variability according to our results

Assessment of the relations between crop yield variability and the onset and intensity of the West African Monsoon

Timely information on the onset of rain is essential for effectively adapting to climate variability and increasing the resilience of rain-fed systems. However, defining optimal sowing dates based on the onset of rain has been challenging. We compared and analyzed the West African Monsoon onset according to Raman’s, modified Sivakumar’s, Yamada’s, and Liebmann’s definitions using station data from 13 locations in Senegal from 1981 to 2020. Subsequently, we systematically analyzed the effect of the differently estimated monsoon onsets(WAM-OS) on maize development. To this end, we applied the set of the generated WAM-OS as sowing dates in simulations of maize growth and yields, applying the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator(APSIM) at 13 locations representing different agroclimatic regions across Senegal. We examined the impact of the sowing dates under variable conditions of soil organic carbon(SOC) and plant available water capacity(PAWC). Our analysis showed statistically significant differences between the WAM-OS dates, rainfall characteristics computed for these, and maize yields simulated using different sowing dates according to the WAM-OS definitions. We found Liebmann’s onset dates were most suitable for both hydrological and agronomic applications since they were characterized by the lowest probabilities of prolonged dry spells after onset, the highest amount of rainfall in the mid-season, and the highest simulated maize yields compared to other onset definitions. Our results highlight the importance of sowing dates and their accurate prediction for improving crop productivity in the study area. We also found SOC and PAWC were important factors that improved maize yields. We recommend improved access to climate information services to help smallholder farmers get timely information that helps them in their sowing decisions and encourage agronomic interventions that improve the SOC level, soil pore volume to retain more water and other soil properties directly(e.g., tillage) and indirectly(suited cropping systems) that contribute to enhancing crop productivity

Impact of Crop Diversification on Household Food and Nutrition Security in Southern and Central Mali

Many African countries, including Mali, depend on the production of a single or a limited range of crops for national food security. In Mali, this heavy reliance on a range of basic commodities or staple crops, or even just one, exacerbates multiple risks to agricultural production, rural livelihoods, and nutrition. With this in mind, the smart food campaign was initiated to strengthen the resilience and nutritional situation of households and peasant communities where the diet is mainly cereal-based and remains very undiversified and poor in essential micronutrients. As part of the campaign, our study aims to analyze the impact of agricultural diversification on food consumption and household nutritional security. The analysis uses survey data from 332 individuals randomly selected. Multinomial logistic regression and the Simpson diversity index were used to determine the index and estimate the determinants of crop diversification. The consumption score index weighted by consumption frequency and anthropometric indices (for children) were used to assess the nutritional status of households. The results show four types of strategies of diversification: 7.55% are cereals only, 5.66% combine millet–sorghum–groundnut, 41.51% combine millet–sorghum–groundnut–cowpea, and 45.28% combine millet–sorghum–groundnut–cowpea–maize. The estimation of the regression model shows that socioeconomic factors have a positive influence. With a consumption score index of 34 in the villages and 40.5 in Bamako, based on eight food groups, we find that the quality of food is insufficient in rural areas, but it is acceptable in the urban center of Bamako. Analysis of the nutritional status of children aged 6–48 months reveals that 30% of the surveyed population is in a situation of nutritional insecurity (all forms combined). To help improve crop diversification and the nutritional quality of foods, we suggest, among other things, subsidies and public spending tofacilitate access to inputs that allow the acquisition of a wider range of inputs and services, intensification of nutrition awareness, and education programs to maximize the incentive to consume nutritious foods from self-production and market purchases. Finally, we propose to facilitate access to technologies promoting food diversification and improving food and nutritional security, particularly in rural areas

Effects of customized climate services on land and labor productivity in Burkina Faso and Ghana

Climate services favor adopting strategies to increase agricultural productivity, enhance sustainable development, and adapt to unavoidable climate variability and change. However, for climates services to be effective, they must be accessible and suitable to user needs. This study investigated the effects of customized climate services (CCS) on land and labor productivity. Portraying the case of CCS delivered in the districts of Bolgatanga (Northern Ghana), Dano and Ouahigouya (western and northern Burkina Faso) in West Africa, it used: i) historical panel data of daily rainfall, yields, agricultural input, and output prices; ii) cost statements of farm operations and iii) other survey data from beneficiaries of on-farm demonstrations (pilot sites). Different results were found across farmers on the demonstrator sites, with Dano and Bolgatanga recording the best land and labor productivity. Strong and positive effects were observed in Dano, where land productivity increased by 200% and labor productivity doubled despite consecutive pluviometric extremes such as heavy rain events and prolonged dry spells in the 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons. Further investigation showed that CCS was particularly favorable to land and labor productivity of farmers who were committed to the advisory given by the CCS providers. Therefore, as perishable goods, the success of CCS applications would require thorough coproduction, delivery, and monitoring for their effectiveness in improving land and labor productivity for agriculture in semi-arid regions of West Africa

Priority interventions for transformational change in the Sahel

The Sahel region holds both challenges and opportunities for smallholder agriculture and agro pastoralism. Market opportunities for food producers in the region have improved due to population growth, urbanization, income growth, dietary diversification and higher output prices. However, alongside land degradation and climate change, conflicts and epidemics, an increased dependence on dynamic food (and feed) value chains and on volatile markets indicates the need to address structural constraints such as limited access to high-potential agricultural innovations, ineffective policies, an underdeveloped business environment, poor infrastructure and processing facilities and a generally poor market infrastructure. To support the agricultural transformation required to meet these challenges, evidence needs to be provided to countries in the Sahel to enable them make informed decisions on policy reforms and supporting actions where and when needed. Several scaling approaches and technological solutions have been demonstrated to be effective and this document outlines proposed priority actions to achieve higher adoption of climate smart agriculture through Public-Private-Partnerships. A particular focus will be on the role of women and youth, both through improved household nutrition (and other attendant health and development benefits) and through improved job creation and wealth generation in various components of selected value chains. Meanwhile, the importance of improved agro-industrialization and trade for income generation and poverty reduction underscores the critical role of enhanced interaction with a vibrant private sector. This document presents some of the main routes by which R4D can contribute to agricultural transformation in the Sahel towards inclusive and sustainable economic growth, social development and resilience, including climate smart agricultural technologies appropriate to smallholder farming families. This will be achieved through a six-pronged strategy: (i) Increasing the efficiency of tree, crop and livestock value chains, (ii) Empowerment and increased employment opportunities for women and youth in agriculture, (iii) Co-creation of context-specific, climate smart innovations to enhance climate resilience (iv) Value addition and improved nutrition, (v) Improved soil and water conservation and its utilization for production, Improved policy and institutional enabling environments

Effets de l’engorgement du sol sur la croissance, le développement et la productivité du maïs

L’agriculture en Afrique subsaharienne, caractérisée par une production agricole à 90 % pluviale, est tributaire des conditions météorologiques et reste fortement exposée à la variabilité croissante des précipitations (HANSEN, 2002). En effet, mise à part l’irrégulière distribution intra-saisonnière des précipitations, l’amplitude des fortes pluies a considérablement augmenté dans cette région (TAYLOR et al., 2017 ; SALACK et al., 2018 ; BICHET et DIEDHIOU, 2018). La fréquence et la durée de ces pluies diluviennes ainsi que celles des périodes humides pendant la saison culturale peuvent affecter significativement la croissance et le rendement des cultures, par un engorgement ou un lessivage des nutriments des sols (GORNALL et al., 2010 ; SALACK et al., 2015). De plus, représentant 2 % à 5 % des terres de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (11 à 16 millions d’hectares) (BLEIN et al., 2008), les terres situées en basse altitude ou les bas-fonds sont des zones exposées à une humidité excessive ou à un engorgement des sols. Pourtant, en raison de leur fertilité et de leur capacité à conserver l’humidité, elles sont considérées dans de nombreux projets comme une réponse à la fois à la pression croissante exercée sur les terres non localisées dans les zones de basses altitudes et aux risques de sécheresse en Afrique de l’Ouest (LAVIGNE-DELVILLE et al., 1996), sans toutefois que l’on tienne compte des risques liés à l’excès d’eau. Par exemple, dans le nord du Ghana, où les principales cultures sont le maïs, le mil, le sorgho et le riz, près de 60 % des terres sont exposées à un engorgement fréquent (CAIRNS et al., 2012)

Simulation of soil water dynamics and rice crop growth as affected by bunding and fertilizer application in inland valley systems of West Africa

Rice production in rainfed inland systems is constrained by rainfall distribution and the heterogeneity of the topography that frequently lead to runoff causing erosion and loss of nutrients especially nitrogen. The use of water-saving and nutrient management technologies such as bunding and fertilizer application could help farmers maintain soil moisture and reduce nutrient losses thereby increase rice production. This study used the crop model EPIC (Environmental Policy Integrated Climate) to assess soil water dynamics and rice crop growth as affected by bunding and fertilizer application in inland valley systems of West Africa. The model was parameterized using observed soil water characteristics and crop parameters and run against observation data collected from 2007 to 2010 in a factorial trial combining bund and fertilizer rate. Simulation of soil water condition was satisfactory for unbunded conditions with coefficients of determination (R2) from comparison between simulated and observed soil water content between 0.64 and 0.68 depending on soil depth. Depth of ponded water during the growing period was adequately predicted in three out of four years. Simulated LAI development, total aboveground biomass and grain yield compared well with field observations in unbunded plots, the MRE (mean relative error) of simulated yield was 6–18%. In bund plots in 2009 and 2010, the grain yield was overestimated by the model when no fertilizer was applied (MRE = 45%). Although negative effect of elevated iron concentration in the rice plant reduces the model performance, it was used to indicate effective effect of iron on the growth of crop the presence of bund in very wet year. The general use of the model for rainfed rice production at a large scale requires identification of areas with iron toxicity ris

Gender differentiated adaptation strategies considering climate risk perceptions, impacts and socio-technical conditions in Senegal’s dry regions

This study analyses the gender-differentiated farmers’ perception of climate risk and its impact, access to climate information, and adaptation strategies with the aim to develop gender responsive climate adaptation pathways in Senegal’s dry regions. Study used data collected from 514 farm households through primary survey between May and June 2022 covering Kaffrine, Louga, and Thies sub-regions and multiple communes, including 5% women headed households and 12% women respondents. Through several interactions with key stakeholders, it became evident that while both men and women hold similar perceptions regarding climate risk and its impact on farming systems, women possess significantly less access to Climate Information Services (CIS) and Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies. The women farmers were found to be much more vulnerable to climate risks but often they rely on traditional coping mechanisms such as non-farm income through cottage activities, home gardening etc. rather than modern CSA technologies. Both men and women emphasized the importance of context-specific climate information to be shared with them. Barriers to climate adaptation, such as limited knowledge of CSA, inadequate resources, and dearth of timely climate information, were identified, underscoring the importance for community resilience. The Tobit regression analysis highlighted multifaceted determinants of households’ ability to adapt to climate change, emphasizing the roles of gender empowerment, education, access to CSA and CIS, and regional disparities. The study underscores the importance of understanding community perceptions and drivers of adaptive capacity, addressing barriers, and based on empirical evidence we propose a gender-responsive pathway to climate-resilient agriculture. These insights and proposed pathways can help policymakers and practitioners to navigate the complex terrain of climate change effectively. Finally, these findings underscore the need for informed policy interventions, tailored strategies and appropriate institutional interventions to address cultural barriers and enhance women’s role in farming decision making and access to CIS and CSA

Conventional versus agro-ecological intensification: assessing the effect of conservation agriculture in maize cropping systems with the DSSAT model in Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa)

Integrated soil fertility management options are being promoted as ways of adapting agricultural systems to sustain yields on highly degraded and poor soils encountered throughout West Africa. The efficiency of these practices may be affected by high variability and uncertainty associated with seasonal rainfall, especially for areas such as Côte d’Ivoire, where intra-seasonal rainfall has been observed to change from 1 year to another. The DSSAT crop simulation model was used in this study as a tool to evaluate the impacts of soil improvement options including inorganic fertilizer and conservation agriculture generating higher carbon sequestration and crop yield in maize agro-ecosystems. The model was calibrated using agronomic data for three cropping seasons from 2009 to 2010 in Goulikao (Center-West Côte d’Ivoire) and Ahérémou 2 (Central Côte d’Ivoire), respectively and validated against independent datasets of yield of 2003–2004 seasons in the buffer zone of the Lamto Natural Reserve, Central Côte d’Ivoire. The model predicted average maize yields of 1454 kg ha−1 across the sites versus an observed average value of 1736 kg ha−1, R2 of 0.72, and RMSE of 597 kg ha−1 after the default values for stable soil organic matter fraction used in the model were substituted by the estimated one. For the validation, the predicted higher maize yield was consistently related to fallow biomass inputs and different rates of fertilizer, thus generating a RMSE of total aboveground biomass and grain yield of 606 kg ha−1 and 350 kg ha−1, respectively. The impact of fallow residues and cropping sequence on subsequent maize yield was simulated and compared with conventional fertilizer and control data using 12 years historic climate time series. We conclude that soil fertility improvements through conservation agriculture can sustain grain yield at the same level as conventional inputs of urea against larger climate variability. However, this system may be substituted by conventional agriculture when climate forecast reveals a dry cropping season year