Constraints and options to sustainably intensifying smallholder maize farming systems in southern Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Nelson ◽  
Munir Hoffmann ◽  
Carlotta May ◽  
Frederick Mashao ◽  
Kingsley Ayisi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
Planting Density ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Access To Water ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Smallholder Systems

<p>In southern Africa, sustainable intensification (SI) of low input farming is promoted as a key strategy to improve the livelihoods and food security of smallholder farmers. It has been argued, however, that due to the severity and frequency of droughts, irrigation is a prerequisite for sustainable yield improvement and stability, and less crop failures. Restricted access to water for such farmers in the study region necessitates the investigation of alternative adaptive management options suited to smallholder systems. Using the Limpopo province South Africa as a case study, we use a combination of survey data (140 households) and detailed quantitative agronomic measurements and observations (116 georeferenced on-farm plots) to understand yield limitations in maize-based smallholder systems. Data was collected from five villages in the Mopani district representing a distinct climate gradient. Agronomic measurements included soil characteristics such as CN ratio, texture, rooting depth and management aspects such as weed type and soil cover, as well as maize planting density, biomass and yield. Combined insights from the interviews and detailed on-farm observations were used to benchmark the agro-ecosystem model APSIM, which was then setup for different technology levels. These were defined through combinations of advanced crop and soil management practices plus the status quo as observed through the ground-truthing campaign with no irrigation, zero to low fertilisation, little weeding, no pest management, and low planting density. Advanced practices involved higher input levels including irrigation and fertiliser, as well as management aspects such as increased planting density and intense weeding.</p><p>Survey results showed that farmers adjusted sowing time and planting density according to rainfall availability and perceived risk. Overall, input intensity levels were low (fertiliser and density) and all villages expressed similar challenges to adapt to climate variability. It appeared most farmers lacked knowledge about drought avoidance measures, and only very few had access to water for crop irrigation.</p><p>Our simulation results showed that irrigation could increase maize grain yields by around two tons ha<sup>-1</sup> over a three-year average for a moderately wet site under current management practices. For the driest site, this led to an increase of just over one ton ha<sup>-1</sup>. If irrigation is applied it necessitates an increase in biotic stress management, as failing to do so can compromise potential yield gains. Higher labour input, increased input costs and possibly associated increased economic risks make such intensification strategies unattractive for some farmers depending on their age and household economic security.</p><p>For this case study, we outlined and implemented a novel method of linking survey and agro-ecosystem modelling data to assess ex-ante potential impacts of SI in smallholder cropping systems vulnerable to climate-induced risk.</p>

scholarly journals On-farm Demonstrations of Soil and Pest Management Options within California's San Joaquin Valley Row Crop Production Areas

HortScience ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 670e-670
Author(s):  
J.P. Mitchell ◽  
P.B. Goodell ◽  
R. Bader ◽  
R. Cifuentes ◽  
T.S. Prather ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pest Management ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
San Joaquin Valley ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Row Crop ◽  
On Farm

A participatory, on-farm research and extension program has been established around 16 demonstration comparisons of biologically integrated soil building–pest management systems and conventionally managed systems within the West Side row crop area of California's San Joaquin Valley. In each of the biologically integrated parcels, cover crops and composted organic materials are integrated into rotations wherever appropriate, whereas in the conventionally managed parcels, mineral fertilizer applications are made. Pest management practices are evaluated and biologically and informationally intensive alternatives are developed through a participatory process. Indices of soil quality including nutrient status, water stable aggregates, organic matter content, and phospholipid fatty acids are routinely monitored. Information related to the objectives, structure and monitoring activities of this project during the establishment phase will be discussed.

Managing Recreation in New York's Adirondack Park: A Case Study of Public Perceptions and Preferences for Reducing User Impacts to the High Peaks Wilderness Complex

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Jon Schneller ◽  
Greta Lee Binzen ◽  
Colin Cameron ◽  
Samuel Taggart Vogel ◽  
Isaac Bardin
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Adirondack Park ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Management Options ◽  
The Public

This qualitative case study research investigated public perceptions and preferences regarding management options for addressing recreational impacts to the High Peaks Wilderness Complex (HPWC) in New York State’s six-million-acre Adirondack Park. The Park is the largest in the contiguous United States, attracting local and international visitors from Philadelphia, Montreal, Boston, and New York City, major cities within 350 miles of the HPWC. The Park saw 12.4 million visitors in 2018, resulting in crowding, trail erosion, clandestine trails/campsites, water pollution, and plant/wildlife impacts. Data was gathered from 1,200 individuals via an online questionnaire, semi-structured interviews with NGOs, community influentials, and agency representatives, and participant observation. Findings showed the public strongly supported passive management options such as increased funding for education, trail reconstruction, enhanced management of the HPWC, and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) promotion of alternatives to the most popular wilderness trails during busy months. The public was split in their support of direct management techniques such as temporary trail closures, limiting the number of hikers, and mandatory permits for hikers/parking. NGOs expressed a diversity of preferences for direct wilderness management, but widely supported enhanced education, trail improvements, and funding increases for management and the hiring of more rangers. The results of this research provide insights for improving management practices that facilitate sustainable recreation while also protecting and restoring federal and state designated wilderness. This manuscript culminates in a suite of management implications based on our research findings, including filling all vacancies within the Adirondack Park Agency Board with professionally and culturally diverse individuals, including women, Tribal representatives, minority communities, environmental attorneys, natural scientists, and regional planners. Funding should be allocated for the hiring of additional rangers, Summit Stewards, and trail crews, for enhanced trail maintenance and hiker education efforts. We also recommend implementing the Wildland Monitoring Program in order to better understand trail carrying capacity and ecological limits. Limiting the number of hikers/vehicles through a permit system is but one solution if efforts to heighten ranger presence, education, and improve trails all fail to address resource degradation.

ON-FARM TRIALS AS ‘INFECTION POINTS’? A RESPONSE TO WALL ET AL.

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. ANDERSSON ◽  
T. J. KRUPNIK ◽  
N. DE ROO
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Production Technologies ◽  
On Farm ◽  
New Crop

In their response to our paper on the problems of using on-farm trials in efforts to scale-out new crop production technologies and practices among smallholder farmers, Wall et al. (2019) focus on our descriptions of on-farm trials in just one of the three case studies of Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) projects that were presented. They argue we did not understand the projects’ philosophy and that the biases in farmer and site selection we discussed, do not exist in the southern Africa case study.

scholarly journals Cooperative Farmer–Scientist Evaluations of Biologically Integrated Soil and Pest Management Practices

HortScience ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 540B-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.P. Mitchell ◽  
P.B. Goodell ◽  
T.S. Prather ◽  
R.L. Coviello ◽  
T.K. Hartz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pest Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
First Year ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Private Agency ◽  
Core Set ◽  
Management Decision Making ◽  
On Farm

In Fall 1995, 12 row crop farmers in conjunction with Univ. of California, NRCS and private agency advisors established the West Side On-Farm Demonstration Project to conduct demonstrations of soil and pest management options aimed at sustained profitability and environmental stewardship in the western San Joaquin Valley of California. Monitoring of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties is done in side-by-side on-farm comparisons of plots amended with organic inputs and unamended plots. Intensive monitoring of beneficial and pest insects is carried out within each comparison block, and the data generated is used to guide pest management decision-making at each site. Yields and soil characteristics of the amended plots did not differ from those of unamended plots after the first year. The on-farm context and the cooperative farmer–scientist interactions of this project facilitate the development of timely and relevant research directions to be pursued beyond the core set of monitoring activities.

scholarly journals Revisiting strategies to incorporate gender-responsiveness into maize breeding in southern Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 003072702110454
Author(s):  
Jill E Cairns ◽  
Frédéric Baudron ◽  
Kirsty L. Hassall ◽  
Thokozile Ndhlela ◽  
Isaiah Nyagumbo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Maize Breeding ◽  
Agronomic Practices ◽  
Agronomic Management ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Trait Preferences

In sub-Saharan Africa there is increasing focus on identifying women’s trait preferences within crop breeding to enable gender-responsive product development. In the case of maize, breeding programs are ready to incorporate specific traits to increase gender-responsiveness but lack guidance on what these specific traits might be. We propose an inductive approach to determine a pathway towards increasing gender-responsiveness within maize breeding. A survey of 306 farmers was conducted to determine gender differences in maize varieties used together with key agronomic practices. Variety was a significant predictor of the gender of the plot manager and of the household head in contrast to previous surveys conducted in researcher-led on-farm trials. On-farm trials are conducted using pre-defined agronomic management practices and preferences identified at harvest are likely to centre around yield. This study highlighted significant differences in several agronomic practices used by female plot managers and female household heads. Although further studies are required to understand preferences associated with varietal choice, our results suggest that current researcher-led on-farm trials may not identify gender-specific trait preferences driving varietal choice. Furthermore, a trait-specific approach is not the only avenue towards increasing gender-responsiveness in maize breeding in southern Africa. The scope for increasing gender-intentionality in maize breeding could be expanded to incorporate selection environments more relevant to agronomic management practices used by female plot managers and households at advanced stages of the breeding pipeline. This approach could provide an immediate entry point to increase gender-intentional maize breeding in southern Africa.

scholarly journals The leaching paradox and return flow management options for sustainable irrigated agriculture

2002 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 430-451
Author(s):  
R. J. Armour ◽  
M. F. Vlljoen
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Programming Model ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Return Flow ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Artificial Drainage ◽  
Return Flows ◽  
On Farm

Leaching is necessary to maintain an acceptable salt balance in the root-zone of irrigated crops. This however contributes to point and non-point source water pollution externalities if not managed correctly. The use of a linear programming model, SALMOD (Salinity and Leaching Model for Optimal Irrigation Development) is demonstrated to determine the feasibility of leaching. artificial drainage, and on-farm storage/evaporation ponds to manage degraded return flows entering the water source and groundwater. Results show optimal cropping compositions and management practices to maximise farm returns subject to water quality conditions and return flow constraints. The economic effects of constraining return-flows and of water pricing policy on the volume of return flows are also determined. Results show valuable policy information regarding the interactions between artificial drainage subsidisation, return flow restrictions and on-farm storage.

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