Reflections on two decades of research on sorghum based farming systems in Northern Nigeria and Botswana

Abstract

A conference paper on research on sorghum based farming systems in Botswana and Northern Nigeria.The paper begins by comparing farming circumstances and sorghum production systems in northern Nigeria and Botswana. The comparison provides a background for characterising farmers’ food security strategies. This is followed by a brief review of changes in research approaches that have occurred over the last 20 years in both countries. We propose that there is much complementarity between micro-level farming systems work and macro policy analysis in efforts to attain improved food security. On the basis of this perspective, we discuss in the fourth section some issues affecting the efficiency of future micro-level food security research.The research supporting the preparation the proceedings papers was financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Bureau of Science and Technology; Bureau for Africa; and the Southern Africa Regional Programme