Exploring options for sustainable intensification in different farming system types of four Africa RISING countries

Sustainable intensification is proposed as a promising way to increase the productivity of agricultural systems while reducing pressure on ecosystems, safeguarding equitable relations among societal groups, and supporting the economic viability of households, enterprises, and communities. In sub-Saharan Africa, the identification and dissemination of options for sustainable intensification is hampered by the large diversity within and between farming systems, and their complexity arising from the interactions among different farm components and external factors. This study therefore uses an integrated farming systems approach to identify and assess context-specific improvements that can then be implemented and tested on-farm to foster experiential learning and facilitate adoption. We conducted a farming systems analysis for nine Africa RISING intervention sites across four countries, based on rapid and detailed farm characterizations, followed by model-supported diagnosis, and exploration of options for sustainable intensification. Farm diversity was described and analyzed by means of typologies and cross-site comparisons. Identified constraints varied depending on site and farming system type, but commonly included low input availability, climatic variability, poor soil fertility, sub-optimal livestock feeding, biotic stresses, and poor access to training and technical advice, all impairing farm productivity, returns to labor and capital inputs, income generation and food security. We investigated entry points that tackle the above constraints by exploring alternative farm configurations, technologies and practices for representative farms. By assessing potential impact of these changes on indicators beyond productivity, trade-offs were identified and assessed, for instance between profitability and household food self-sufficiency, and between nitrogen availability for crop uptake and increased nutrient losses. Taking a systems perspective during the entry point evaluation allowed differentiating potential effects on indicators at the field level versus the farm and household level. The exploration of options for specific farming system types now enables more targeted testing of promising innovations with farmers in the second project phase

Waking the Sleeping Giant : Agricultural intensification, extensification or stagnation in Mali's Guinea Savannah

<p>The World Bank argued that West Africa's Guinea Savannah zone forms part of “Africa's Sleeping Giant,” where increases in agricultural production could be an engine of economic growth, through expansion of cultivated land in sparsely populated areas. The district of Bougouni, in southern Mali, falls within this zone. We used multiple data sources including a panel survey, remote sensing-based land cover classification, population data, and farmer focus group discussions, to investigate whether the area is following a commonly-described pathway of agricultural intensification due to increasing land scarcity. We then used our understanding of historical change to explore plausible future pathways. Bougouni forms part of the expansion zone of the CMDT, which since the mid-1980s has provided support for intensive agricultural systems of cotton-maize rotations with animal traction and use of mineral fertilizer. In the period of the panel survey (1994–2012), cropped land at household level was correlated with household size: households with less than one full team of draft oxen cultivated 0.50 ha/family member, while households with two or more teams cultivated 0.82 ha/family member (R² &gt; 0.8). At the village level, cropped land increases varied with the amount of remaining available land and the importance of off-farm income. We see some intensification in maize and cotton, and corresponding improvements in food self-sufficiency. However, despite increasing fertilizer use, average maize and cotton yields remain around 1600 and 900 kg/ha respectively, well below national averages. Other crops are still grown in outfields relying on long fallows with limited nutrient inputs. Thus rather than either intensification or extensification the agricultural situation may be best described as stagnation. This may be due to limited incentives to invest in agriculture when compared to opportunities such as gold mining or small businesses, which (in 2012) contribute at least 25% of household income to ten out of 29 households. In future, cropland expansion will likely continue, which could lead to increased conflict between farmers and transhumant herders, and could lead to increased inequality at village level. Factors mitigating the tendency to land expansion include opportunities for off-farm income and migration, or market opportunities and capacity to produce high-value crops such as mango, cashew, or vegetables. This could preserve some remaining savannah area for grazing use and conservation purposes. Understanding household livelihood systems as part of a network of complex social and ecological factors allows the identification and exploration of multiple viable pathways towards desirable futures.</p