Development of adaptive training materials for conservation agriculture promotion in Africa.

2022 ◽  
pp. 371-381
Author(s):  
Neil Miller ◽  
Putso Nyathi ◽  
Jean Twilingiyumukiza
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Adaptive Training ◽  
Training Methodology ◽  
Training Materials ◽  
Agroecological Zones ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
The Many

Abstract In order for Conservation Agriculture (CA) to reach and impact small-scale farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), CA technologies need to be adapted to suit the diversity of agroecological zones and cultures present on the continent. Training materials for CA promotion need to be similarly customizable to help extension staff and farmers develop their own, context-appropriate solutions from among the many possible CA approaches. From 2015 through 2018, a diverse set of farmer-level training materials for CA and complementary technologies was developed and field-tested by Canadian Foodgrains Bank partners. Together with a participatory, adaptive training methodology, these materials have enhanced the effectiveness of CA promotion, and they have been made available for copyright-free download in English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese and Amharic (http://caguide.act-africa.org/, accessed 6 August 2021). This paper describes the process of developing these materials as well as challenges and constraints to their utilization.

scholarly journals Successful small-scale irrigation or environmental destruction? The political ecology of competing claims on water in the Uluguru Mountains,Tanzania

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Harrison ◽  
Anna Mdee
Keyword(s):  
Political Ecology ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
External Support ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
The Political ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
Uluguru Mountains ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Nearby City

Abstract In the Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania, an expansion in informal hosepipe irrigation by small-scale farmers has enabled the development of horticulture, and resulted in improvements in farmers' livelihoods. This has largely taken place independently of external support, and can be seen as an example of the 'private' irrigation that is increasingly viewed as important for sub-Saharan Africa. However, these activities are seen by representatives of government and some donors as the cause of environmental degradation and water shortages downstream, especially in the nearby city of Morogoro. As a result, there have been attempts to evict the farmers from the mountain. Negative narratives persist and the farmers on the mountainside are portrayed as a problem to be 'solved.' This article explores these tensions, contributing to debates about the formalization of water management arrangements and the place of the state in regulating and adjudicating rights to access water. We argue that a focus on legality and formalization serves to obscure the political nature of competing claims on resources that the case illustrates. Keywords: irrigation; Tanzania; ethnography; political ecology; water

scholarly journals Overview of holistic application of biogas for small scale farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 4-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Egil R. Orskov ◽  
Kenneth Yongabi Anchang ◽  
Madhu Subedi ◽  
Jo Smith
Keyword(s):  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

scholarly journals Genetic diversity of physical, nutritional and functional properties of cowpea grain and relationships among the traits

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoru Muranaka ◽  
Mariko Shono ◽  
Takao Myoda ◽  
Junko Takeuchi ◽  
Jorge Franco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Cash Income ◽  
Breeding Lines ◽  
Nutrient Contents ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

Cowpea is traditionally important as an affordable source of protein and minerals and of cash income in sub-Saharan Africa, especially for small-scale farmers who have limited options for food and cash crops. The development and deployment of cowpea varieties with improved nutrition and quality that meet the needs of farmers and consumers should enhance cowpea consumption and production in the region. We have identified genetic diversity in various grain quality-related traits of cowpea and relationships among the traits. Wide genetic variation and strong correlations among crude protein, Fe and Zn contents suggest the possibility of improving the concentrations of these nutritional factors simultaneously. Low associations among physical and nutritional properties of grain indicate the possibility of introgressing favorable traits utilizing identified genetic resources. However, narrow variation in amino acid (AA) composition suggests a lesser possibility of improving the contents of specific AAs in cowpea, but it gave a reliable nitrogen-to-protein conversion factor of 5.45 for the estimation of crude protein content. Several improved breeding lines were identified with low concentrations of flatulence-causing oligosaccharides and various favorable agronomic traits and nutrient contents. TVu-12802 had the highest contents of crude protein and high contents of micronutrients, with a low ratio of phytic acid to Fe and Zn contents.

scholarly journals Technological Innovations for Improving Cassava Production in Sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwige Gaby Nkouaya Mbanjo ◽  
Ismail Yusuf Rabbi ◽  
Morag Elizabeth Ferguson ◽  
Siraj Ismail Kayondo ◽  
Ng Hwa Eng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Technological Innovations ◽  
Research Systems ◽  
Genomic Tools ◽  
Cassava Production ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

Cassava is crucial for food security of millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa. The crop has great potential to contribute to African development and is increasing its income-earning potential for small-scale farmers and related value chains on the continent. Therefore, it is critical to increase cassava production, as well as its quality attributes. Technological innovations offer great potential to drive this envisioned change. This paper highlights genomic tools and resources available in cassava. The paper also provides a glimpse of how these resources have been used to screen and understand the pattern of cassava genetic diversity on the continent. Here, we reviewed the approaches currently used for phenotyping cassava traits, highlighting the methodologies used to link genotypic and phenotypic information, dissect the genetics architecture of key cassava traits, and identify quantitative trait loci/markers significantly associated with those traits. Additionally, we examined how knowledge acquired is utilized to contribute to crop improvement. We explored major approaches applied in the field of molecular breeding for cassava, their promises, and limitations. We also examined the role of national agricultural research systems as key partners for sustainable cassava production.

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