Sustainable Farming Systems in the Sub-Sahelian Zone of Burkina Faso -

Rapid population growth and climatic change threatens the sustainability of natural resources. Farming practices can mitigate environmental change and degradation. The aim of this research conducted in Yatenga region was to describe and to analyse manure practices management. In 2005, a survey was carried out to assess the evolution of farming practices. A survey was initially conducted with a sample of 44 farmers, selected randomly in the three neighbouring villages. Subsequently, 18 farms were selected for in-depth interviews. The grain yield was measured and the different practices of soil and water conservation developed by farmers were compared. According to the enquiries, two practices, called “zaï” and “djengo”, were largely used in cereals production. The “zaï” practice, known as a traditional technique for restoration of degraded soil, is characterized by the capture of runoff by micro-watersheds and a localized organic matter supply at the soil-plant system scale. The “djengo” practice is based on the same principle of the “zaï” practice but was applied on the sandy soil as traditionally “zaï” concerned the degraded and crusty soils. The two practices could increase grain crop production but moreover could limit the risk of crops failure. In addition, our observations also showed that frequent tree regenerations occurred in plots and watersheds where “zaï” or “djengo” practices were used. This study highlights the necessity of better controlling soil, water and organic matter to improve agrosystem sustainability in sub Saharan Africa.

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Climate Smart Agriculture as Final Goal: Use of Improved Cereals Varieties in Cinzana, Mali.

Journal of Agricultural Studies ◽

10.5296/jas.v5i1.10582 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 50

Author(s):

Kalifa TRAORE ◽

Daouda SIDIBE ◽

Harouna COULIBALY

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Crop Production ◽

Heavy Rain ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Improved Varieties ◽

Farmer Organizations ◽

Conservation Technology ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Smart Agriculture

Climate variability and change are recognized as the greatest challenge to crop production and food security in sub-Saharan Africa. This work assesses farmers’ perception on the contribution of improved varieties of sorghum and millet in the search for food security in Cinzana rural commune of Mali in the current context of climate change.The methodology was based on focus group surveys with both, the decentralized technical services, administrative and municipal authorities, NGOs, farmer organizations and producers but also farmer exchanges visits on improved varieties tested in farmer’s field.The result shows that climate change is described by the majority of farmers (87%) as decrease in rainfall amount and length of rainy seasons, high increases in temperature and high deforestation and water scarcity. Unpredictability of climate, (80%), drought (70%) and heavy rain (65%) occurrence were identified as major perception of farmers on risks in climate for crop production and soil degradation. After farmers’ study tour, 80% of the participants mentioned a better growth of plants and increase of soil moisture with the use of contour ridges tillage as a water conservation technology. Adapted cycle (55%) and higher yield (37%) of improved varieties were farmer’s main drivers for adoption of improved millet and sorghum varieties.The study revealed that local farmers have substantial knowledge on climate variabilities and risks and also are aware of some adaptation strategies. However, for wide scale adoption of effective strategies, capacity strengthening appeared a prerequisite.

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Flood Based Farming Systems in South-Eastern Africa: Smallholder Farmers’ Choice

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-498 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Arab Msume ◽

Giulio Castelli ◽

Faidess Mwale

Keyword(s):

Capital Investment ◽

Crop Production ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Eastern Africa ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Human Welfare ◽

Direct Observations ◽

Sub Saharan

<p>Agriculture is critical for human welfare and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, especially rainfed agriculture remains vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in the region. This has generated increasing interest in practices such as Flood Based Farming Systems (FBFS) which enable turning flood water into an opportunity for crop production for smallholder farmers living in flood plains. Despite this interest, there is limited knowledge about farmers&#8217; preference in terms of choices about a specific FBFS and therefore about which specific FBFS needs improvements for realizing its full benefits. The present study characterizes FBFS in Balaka District, Eastern Malawi, in order to develop a pilot approach for gaining knowledge and insights about farmers&#8217; preferences. Data were collected from a sample of 398 questionnaires, direct observations, focus group discussions and key informant interviews, and they were analyzed through SPSS. Results show that Flood Recession Agriculture (FRA) was predominantly practiced (54%), together with other FBFS such as Depression Agriculture (DA), Spate Irrigation (SI) and Dug Outs (DO). Low capital investment and low level of awareness of farmers were referred to be critical for FRA adoption with (p<0.00003) and (p<0.004) respectively. Therefore, investing on FRA, which has already proven to be used in the area, could be a key to improve food security in the area.&#160;</p>

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Energy and the Evolution of Farming Systems: The Potential of Mixed Farming in the Moist Savannah of Sub-Saharan Africa

Outlook on Agriculture ◽

10.1177/003072709602500106 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 27-36 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Mohammad Jabbar

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Energy Use ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Livestock Production ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Population Pressure ◽

Energy Sources ◽

Mixed Farming ◽

Sub Saharan

The moist savannah zone in sub-Saharan Africa is regarded as a high potential area for crop and livestock production. Currently, human labour is the principal source of power for crop production and the level of commercial energy use is very low. Agropastoralism and pastoralism are the principal methods of livestock production. Crop-livestock mixed farming, in which manure and animal power are important energy sources in the production process, is only now emerging. The integration of crops and livestock and the implications for agricultural energy sources are related to population pressure and labour intensity, the intensification of crop production with and without livestock, the role of traction in general and in specific niches, the contribution of livestock to the development process in terms of food or other inputs, and the role of public policy and intervention in development.

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Plant-Parasitic Nematodes and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Annual Review of Phytopathology ◽

10.1146/annurev-phyto-080417-045833 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 381-403 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Danny L. Coyne ◽

Laura Cortada ◽

Johnathan J. Dalzell ◽

Abiodun O. Claudius-Cole ◽

Solveig Haukeland ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Agricultural Landscape ◽

Systems Approach ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Parasitic Nematodes ◽

Plant Parasitic Nematodes ◽

Smallholder Farming ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Plant Parasitic

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a region beset with challenges, not least its ability to feed itself. Low agricultural productivity, exploding populations, and escalating urbanization have led to declining per capita food availability. In order to reverse this trend, crop production systems must intensify, which brings with it an elevated threat from pests and diseases, including plant-parasitic nematodes. A holistic systems approach to pest management recognizes disciplinary integration. However, a critical under-representation of nematology expertise is a pivotal shortcoming, especially given the magnitude of the threat nematodes pose under more intensified systems. With more volatile climates, efficient use of water by healthy root systems is especially crucial. Within SSA, smallholder farming systems dominate the agricultural landscape, where a limited understanding of nematode problems prevails. This review provides a synopsis of current nematode challenges facing SSA and presents the opportunities to overcome current shortcomings, including a means to increase nematology capacity.

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Circular Bioeconomy Research for Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Innovations, Gaps, and Actions

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13041926 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1926 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Shiferaw Feleke ◽

Steven Michael Cole ◽

Haruna Sekabira ◽

Rousseau Djouaka ◽

Victor Manyong

Keyword(s):

Gap Analysis ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

International Institute ◽

The Public ◽

Secondary Sources ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Sub Saharan

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has applied the concept of ‘circular bioeconomy’ to design solutions to address the degradation of natural resources, nutrient-depleted farming systems, hunger, and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Over the past decade, IITA has implemented ten circular bioeconomy focused research for development (R4D) interventions in several countries in the region. This article aims to assess the contributions of IITA’s circular bioeconomy focused innovations towards economic, social, and environmental outcomes using the outcome tracking approach, and identify areas for strengthening existing circular bioeconomy R4D interventions using the gap analysis method. Data used for the study came from secondary sources available in the public domain. Results indicate that IITA’s circular bioeconomy interventions led to ten technological innovations (bio-products) that translated into five economic, social, and environmental outcomes, including crop productivity, food security, resource use efficiency, job creation, and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Our gap analysis identified eight gaps leading to a portfolio of five actions needed to enhance the role of circular bioeconomy in SSA. The results showcase the utility of integrating a circular bioeconomy approach in R4D work, especially how using such an approach can lead to significant economic, social, and environmental outcomes. The evidence presented can help inform the development of a framework to guide circular bioeconomy R4D at IITA and other research institutes working in SSA. Generating a body of evidence on what works, including the institutional factors that create enabling environments for circular bioeconomy approaches to thrive, is necessary for governments and donors to support circular bioeconomy research that will help solve some of the most pressing challenges in SSA as populations grow and generate more waste, thus exacerbating a changing climate using the linear economy model.

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Development patterns under population pressure: Agricultural development and the cassava-livestock interaction in smallholder farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa

Agricultural Systems ◽

10.1016/0308-521x(95)93645-t ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 51-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Luc Christiaensen ◽

Eric Tollens ◽

Chuma Ezedinma

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Development ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Population Pressure ◽

Smallholder Farming ◽

Development Patterns ◽

Smallholder Farming Systems ◽

Sub Saharan

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Crop Production And Road Connectivity In Sub-Saharan Africa : A Spatial Analysis

10.1596/1813-9450-5385 ◽

2010 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emily Schmidt ◽

Paul Dorosh ◽

Hyoung-Gun Wang ◽

Liang You

Keyword(s):

Spatial Analysis ◽

Crop Production ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

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Response of Chickpea (Cicer aritienum L.) to Sulphur and Zinc Nutrients Application and Rhizobium Inoculation in North Western Ethiopia

Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology ◽

10.24925/turjaf.v8i10.2040-2048.3414 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (10) ◽

pp. 2040-2048

Author(s):

Beza Shewangizaw Woldearegay ◽

Anteneh Argaw ◽

Tesfaye Feyisa ◽

Birhan Abdulkadir ◽

Endalkachew Wold-Meskel

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Block Design ◽

P Uptake ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Rhizobium Inoculation ◽

Combined Application ◽

Nodule Volume ◽

P Application ◽

Sub Saharan

In sub-Saharan Africa, multiple plant nutrients deficiency besides nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) is a major growth-limiting factor for crop production. As a result, some soils become non-responsive for Rhizobium inoculation besides P application. Based on the soil test result, the soil of Experimental sites had low organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulphur (S) and zinc (Zn)[xy1]. Hence, an experiment was carried out on-farm at Gondar Zuria woreda in Tsion and Denzaz Kebeles to evaluate the effect of Rhizobium inoculation, S and Zn application on yield, nodulation, N and P uptake of chickpea. The experiment included twelve treatments developed via factorial combination of two level of inoculation (Rhizobium inoculated, un-inoculated), three level of S (0, 15, 30 kg Sulphur ha-1) and two levels of Zn (0, 1.5 kg Zinc ha-1). The treatment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that the highest mean nodule number (15.3) and nodule volume (1.3 ml plant-1) over locations were obtained with Rhizobium inoculation integrated with 15 kg S and 1.5 kg Zn ha-1 which resulted in 37.8% and 116.7% increment over the control check, respectively. It was also observed that combined application of Rhizobium and 30 kg S ha-1 caused the highest (6.7) mean nodulation rating and seed yield (1775.5 kg ha-1) over locations which resulted in 86.1% and 28 % increase over the control check, respectively. Moreover, this treatment improved P use efficiency of chickpea. On the bases of observed result, it can be concluded that the response of chickpea to Rhizobium and P application can be improved by S application and Rhizobium inoculation with application of 30 kg S ha-1 with recommended rate of P and starter N is recommended for chickpea production at the experimental locations in Gonder Zuria Woreda.

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