Your search found 19 records
1 Queiroz, C.; Norstrom, A. V.; Downing, A.; Harmackova, Z. V.; De Coning, C.; Adams, V.; Bakarr, M.; Baedeker, T.; Chitate, A.; Gaffney, O.; Gordon, L.; Hainzelin, E.; Howlett, D.; Krampe, F.; Loboguerrero, A. M.; Nel, D.; Okollet, C.; Rebermark, M.; Rockstrom, J.; Smith, Mark; Wabbes-Candotti, S.; Matthews, N. 2021. Investment in resilient food systems in the most vulnerable and fragile regions is critical. Nature Food, 2(8):546-551. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00345-2]
Food systems ; Resilience ; Investment ; Food insecurity ; Vulnerability ; Food security ; Agricultural landscape ; Sustainable intensification ; Transformation ; Supply chains ; Policies ; Regulations ; Smallholders
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050607)
(1.97 MB) (1.97 MB)
Reversing the alarming trend of rising food insecurity requires transformations towards just, sustainable and healthy food systems with an explicit focus on the most vulnerable and fragile regions.
2 Hammond, J.; van Wijk, M.; Teufel, N.; Mekonnen, K.; Thorne, P. 2021. Assessing smallholder sustainable intensification in the Ethiopian highlands. Agricultural Systems, 194:103266. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103266]
Sustainable intensification ; Sustainable agriculture ; Smallholders ; Highlands ; Agricultural production ; Agricultural productivity ; Farming systems ; Food security ; Farm income ; Households ; Social welfare ; Indicators ; Livestock / Ethiopia / Basona Worena / Endamehoni / Lemo / Sinana
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050757)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X21002195/pdfft?md5=ee7472c205b62289906c81ea8a68ba86&pid=1-s2.0-S0308521X21002195-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050757.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050757.pdf
(7.71 MB) (7.71 MB)
CONTEXT: Sustainable intensification is one approach to increasing food production without undermining sustainability goals. In recent years new tools and indicators have been developed for broad-based assessment of sustainable intensification. However, most of these tools have been applied at field level and assessing individual technologies, while integrated assessments of multiple novel practices at farm-to-village level are lacking.
OBJECTIVE: In this study we develop and apply a data collection, analysis, and interpretation approach that results in a replicable and rapid method for a multi-variate assessment of sustainable intensification.
METHODS: Drawing on a survey of 779 participant farmers, and using the Sustainable Intensification Assessment Framework, we quantified 27 indicators grouped into five domains: agricultural production, economics, environment, human welfare, and social. We applied an expert-led threshold setting exercise to re-scale indicators, permitting aggregated and dis-aggregated visualisation onto a common axis. We developed a graphic evaluation approach to communicate the multiple domain and indicator scores and applied this approach to quantify trade-offs and synergies related to agricultural productivity in four contrasting sites in Ethiopia.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In each site there was a notable and significant gradient of production intensity, although average crop and livestock productivity remained well below attainable levels. Higher levels of productivity were correlated with higher scores in the economic, social and agricultural domains, and in some sites they were also positively correlated with the human welfare and environmental domains. In no case was increased production intensity correlated with lower scores in any of the sustainability domains, indicating that in these relatively low-intensity systems increases in productivity will go hand-in-hand with improvements in most other sustainability domains. Synergies can overrule trade-offs in these smallholder systems in Ethiopia, if managed well.
SIGNIFICANCE: This is one of very few studies of multiple sustainable intensification technologies implemented concurrently at the household to community level. Most studies focus on individual technologies or practices within specific niches of the farming system. The method could be developed further for efficient application to various large-scale development or intensification projects, and could potentially make use of existing smallholder information databases.
OBJECTIVE: In this study we develop and apply a data collection, analysis, and interpretation approach that results in a replicable and rapid method for a multi-variate assessment of sustainable intensification.
METHODS: Drawing on a survey of 779 participant farmers, and using the Sustainable Intensification Assessment Framework, we quantified 27 indicators grouped into five domains: agricultural production, economics, environment, human welfare, and social. We applied an expert-led threshold setting exercise to re-scale indicators, permitting aggregated and dis-aggregated visualisation onto a common axis. We developed a graphic evaluation approach to communicate the multiple domain and indicator scores and applied this approach to quantify trade-offs and synergies related to agricultural productivity in four contrasting sites in Ethiopia.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In each site there was a notable and significant gradient of production intensity, although average crop and livestock productivity remained well below attainable levels. Higher levels of productivity were correlated with higher scores in the economic, social and agricultural domains, and in some sites they were also positively correlated with the human welfare and environmental domains. In no case was increased production intensity correlated with lower scores in any of the sustainability domains, indicating that in these relatively low-intensity systems increases in productivity will go hand-in-hand with improvements in most other sustainability domains. Synergies can overrule trade-offs in these smallholder systems in Ethiopia, if managed well.
SIGNIFICANCE: This is one of very few studies of multiple sustainable intensification technologies implemented concurrently at the household to community level. Most studies focus on individual technologies or practices within specific niches of the farming system. The method could be developed further for efficient application to various large-scale development or intensification projects, and could potentially make use of existing smallholder information databases.
3 Heidenreich, A.; Grovermann, C.; Kadzere, I.; Egyir, I. S.; Muriuki, A.; Bandanaa, J.; Clottey, J.; Ndungu, J.; Blockeel, J.; Muller, A.; Stolze, M.; Schader, C. 2022. Sustainable intensification pathways in Sub-Saharan Africa: assessing eco-efficiency of smallholder perennial cash crop production. Agricultural Systems, 195:103304. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103304]
Crop production ; Cash crops ; Smallholders ; Sustainable intensification ; Cocoa ; Coffee ; Macadamia ; Mangoes ; Environmental impact ; Economic value ; Organic farming ; Case studies ; Soil fertility ; Soil erosion ; Households / Africa South of Sahara / Ghana / Kenya
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050777)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X21002572/pdfft?md5=84b0f1382c836fb544361f4799e0ecd3&pid=1-s2.0-S0308521X21002572-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050777.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050777.pdf
(1.18 MB) (1.18 MB)
CONTEXT: Eco-efficiency offers a promising approach for the sustainable intensification of production systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), which is widely used for eco-efficiency analyses, is however sensitive to outliers and the analysis of the influence of external factors in the second stage requires the separability assumption to hold. Order-m estimators are proposed to overcome those disadvantages, but have been rarely applied in eco-efficiency analysis.
OBJECTIVE: This paper assesses the eco-efficiency of smallholder perennial cash crop production in Ghana and Kenya. It examines factors influencing eco-efficiency scores and in doing so, tests the application of order-m frontiers as a promising method for eco-efficiency analysis in the agricultural context.
METHODS: The analysis is performed for four selected perennial crop cases, namely cocoa, coffee, macadamia, and mango, applying DEA as well as the order-m approach to a comprehensive empirical dataset. Seven relevant environmental pressures as well as determining factors around capacity development, farm and farmer features, and crop production environment are considered.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of eco-efficiency estimates among coffee farms showed the widest spread, which indicates the greatest potential to increase eco-efficiency. However, also the dispersion of scores within the other crop cases suggests room for improvements of eco-efficiency within the current production context. The subsequent analysis of determinants based on the order-m scores revealed that eco-efficiency scores were strongly influenced by variables, which measure capacity development, and resource endowments, such as labor and land, whereas the crop production environment had some influence, but results were unspecific. Generally, a positive effect is highly context-specific. The results underline the importance of designing effective training modalities and policies that allow knowledge to be put into practice, which involves the creation of marketing opportunities, the provision of targeted and regular advisory services, as well as region-wide measures to build and maintain soil fertility in a sustainable manner.
SIGNIFICANCE: To our knowledge, this study presents the first attempt to apply inputoriented order-m frontiers to assess eco-efficiency in the agricultural context, comparing its eco-efficiency rankings to those estimated with the widely applied DEA approach. This can inform the discussion on robust eco-efficiency assessments.
OBJECTIVE: This paper assesses the eco-efficiency of smallholder perennial cash crop production in Ghana and Kenya. It examines factors influencing eco-efficiency scores and in doing so, tests the application of order-m frontiers as a promising method for eco-efficiency analysis in the agricultural context.
METHODS: The analysis is performed for four selected perennial crop cases, namely cocoa, coffee, macadamia, and mango, applying DEA as well as the order-m approach to a comprehensive empirical dataset. Seven relevant environmental pressures as well as determining factors around capacity development, farm and farmer features, and crop production environment are considered.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of eco-efficiency estimates among coffee farms showed the widest spread, which indicates the greatest potential to increase eco-efficiency. However, also the dispersion of scores within the other crop cases suggests room for improvements of eco-efficiency within the current production context. The subsequent analysis of determinants based on the order-m scores revealed that eco-efficiency scores were strongly influenced by variables, which measure capacity development, and resource endowments, such as labor and land, whereas the crop production environment had some influence, but results were unspecific. Generally, a positive effect is highly context-specific. The results underline the importance of designing effective training modalities and policies that allow knowledge to be put into practice, which involves the creation of marketing opportunities, the provision of targeted and regular advisory services, as well as region-wide measures to build and maintain soil fertility in a sustainable manner.
SIGNIFICANCE: To our knowledge, this study presents the first attempt to apply inputoriented order-m frontiers to assess eco-efficiency in the agricultural context, comparing its eco-efficiency rankings to those estimated with the widely applied DEA approach. This can inform the discussion on robust eco-efficiency assessments.
4 Thierfelder, C.; Mhlanga, B. 2022. Short-term yield gains or long-term sustainability? – a synthesis of conservation agriculture long-term experiments in southern Africa. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 326:107812. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2021.107812]
Conservation agriculture ; Long-term experiments ; Sustainable intensification ; Climate-smart agriculture ; Cropping systems ; Intercropping ; Diversification ; Productivity ; Trends ; Soil fertility ; Maize ; Cowpeas ; Zero tillage ; Crop yield ; Smallholders ; Rain / Southern Africa / Malawi / Mozambique / Zambia / Zimbabwe
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050779)
(4.95 MB)
Southern Africa is likely to be heavily affected by a changing climate and the brunt will have to be shouldered by smallholder farmers in rural areas. Long-term experiments on climate-smart sustainable intensification practices offer the opportunity to evaluate and assess the potential impact of a more variable climate on crop productivity. Here, we used meta-analytic and meta-regression approaches to assess the response of different Conservation Agriculture (CA) systems across experiments as compared to conventional practices (CP) of varying experimental duration, established in trial locations of Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe under an increasingly variable climate. We assessed how different agro-environmental yield response moderators such as type of crop diversification and amount of rainfall affect maize yield responses. Smallholder farmers, often living below the poverty line, are primarily concerned about short-term gains from agriculture systems accepting loss in longer-term sustainability. We therefore aim to identify cropping systems that may provide both short-term gains and longer-term sustainability. Results show that: a) long-term trends in yield performance are a result of many factors; b) the greatest yield gains between the best performing CA and least performing treatments at each location ranged between + 34% and + 117%; c) the greatest yields were found in direct seeded rotation systems; d) type of crop diversification and type of crop used in the diversification strategy affect yield response, with rotations involving legumes being more responsive than any practice without diversification; e) CA systems gains increase with time of practice as compared to CP and these responses are more pronounced under low to moderate rainfall, and in well drained soils. We therefore conclude that crop yield response under CA is determined by many yield defining agro-environmental factors and benefits of CA become more apparent with time.
5 Chinseu, E. L.; Dougill, A. J.; Stringer, L. C. 2022. Strengthening conservation agriculture innovation systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: lessons from a stakeholder analysis. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 20(1):17-30. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2021.1911511]
Conservation agriculture ; Innovation systems ; Stakeholder analysis ; Climate-smart agriculture ; Farming systems ; Agricultural research for development ; Sustainable intensification ; Land management ; Policies ; Government ; Non-governmental organizations ; Donors ; Collaboration / Africa South of Sahara / Malawi
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050921)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/14735903.2021.1911511
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050921.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050921.pdf
(2.33 MB) (2.33 MB)
Complexity of African agrarian systems necessitates that agricultural research and development transition to agricultural innovation system [AIS] approaches. While AIS perspectives are embraced across sub-Saharan Africa, engagement of stakeholders in agricultural research and development processes as espoused in AIS paradigm remains limited. This paper aims to analyze key stakeholders in the AIS in Malawi using the case of Conservation Agriculture [CA]. We analyze roles, organizational capacity and collaboration of stakeholders in Malawi’s CA innovation system. Although Government has the most extensive role, NGOs dominate the national CA agenda, while smallholder farmers remain passive recipients of CA interventions. Many CA promoters lack technical and financial capacity, and pursue limited collaboration, which diminish prospects of inclusive stakeholder engagement. While insufficient resources lead to inadequate technical support to smallholders, the limited collaboration hinders integration of programmes, multiple sources of innovation and knowledge required to foster social learning and sustainability of CA. Our findings indicate a need to: (1) strengthen understanding of AIS approaches among CA innovation system stakeholders; (2) build stronger partnerships in CA research and development by strengthening stakeholder platforms and social processes; (3) strengthen collaboration advisory mechanisms to facilitate knowledge-sharing, resource mobilization and joint programme implementation with strengthened feedback loops.
6 Silva, J. V.; Pede, V. O.; Radanielson, A. M.; Kodama, W.; Duarte, A.; de Guia, A. H.; Malabayabas, A. J. B.; Pustika, A. B.; Argosubekti, N.; Vithoonjit, D.; Hieu, P. T. M.; Pame, A. R. P.; Singleton, G. R.; Stuart, A. M. 2022. Revisiting yield gaps and the scope for sustainable intensification for irrigated lowland rice in Southeast Asia. Agricultural Systems, 198:103383. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2022.103383]
Irrigated rice ; Sustainable intensification ; Crop yield ; Yield gap ; Lowland ; Food security ; Smallholders ; Crop management ; Cropping systems ; Fertilizers ; Dry season ; Wet season ; Socioeconomic aspects ; Sustainability ; Crop modelling ; Stochastic models / South East Asia / Myanmar / Indonesia / Thailand / Vietnam / Mekong Delta / Bago / Can Tho / Nakhon Sawan / Yogyakarta
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051066)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X22000191/pdfft?md5=29c07ab1e430a194fc17de50b1e72574&pid=1-s2.0-S0308521X22000191-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051066.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051066.pdf
(7.40 MB) (7.40 MB)
CONTEXT: Recent studies on yield gap analysis for rice in Southeast Asia revealed different levels of intensification across the main ‘rice bowls’ in the region. Identifying the key crop management and biophysical drivers of rice yield gaps across different ‘rice bowls’ provides opportunities for comparative analyses, which are crucial to better understand the scope to narrow yield gaps and increase resource-use efficiencies across the region.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to decompose rice yield gaps into their efficiency, resource, and technology components and to map the scope to sustainably increase rice production across four lowland irrigated rice areas in Southeast Asia through improved crop management.
METHODS: A novel framework for yield gap decomposition accounting for the main genotype, management, and environmental factors explaining crop yield in intensive rice irrigated systems was developed. A combination of crop simulation modelling at field-level and stochastic frontier analysis was applied to household survey data to identify the drivers of yield variability and to disentangle efficiency, resource, and technology yield gaps, including decomposing the latter into its sowing date and genotype components.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The yield gap was greatest in Bago, Myanmar (75% of Yp), intermediate in Yogyakarta, Indonesia (57% of Yp) and in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand (47% of Yp), and lowest in Can Tho, Vietnam (44% of Yp). The yield gap in Myanmar was largely attributed to the resource yield gap, reflecting a large scope to sustainably intensify rice production through increases in fertilizer use and proper weed control (i.e., more output with more inputs). In Vietnam, the yield gap was mostly attributed to the technology yield gap and to resource and efficiency yield gaps in the dry season and wet season, respectively. Yet, sustainability aspects associated with inefficient use of fertilizer and low profitability from high input levels should also be considered alongside precision agriculture technologies for site-specific management (i.e., more output with the same or less inputs). The same is true in Thailand, where the yield gap was equally explained by the technology, resource, and efficiency yield gaps. The yield gap in Indonesia was mostly attributed to efficiency and technology yield gaps and yield response curves to N based on farmer field data in this site suggest it is possible to reduce its use while increasing rice yield (i.e., more output with less inputs).
SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides a novel approach to decomposing rice yield gaps in Southeast Asia's main rice producing areas. By breaking down the yield gap into different components, context-specific opportunities to narrow yield gaps were identified to target sustainable intensification of rice production in the region.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to decompose rice yield gaps into their efficiency, resource, and technology components and to map the scope to sustainably increase rice production across four lowland irrigated rice areas in Southeast Asia through improved crop management.
METHODS: A novel framework for yield gap decomposition accounting for the main genotype, management, and environmental factors explaining crop yield in intensive rice irrigated systems was developed. A combination of crop simulation modelling at field-level and stochastic frontier analysis was applied to household survey data to identify the drivers of yield variability and to disentangle efficiency, resource, and technology yield gaps, including decomposing the latter into its sowing date and genotype components.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The yield gap was greatest in Bago, Myanmar (75% of Yp), intermediate in Yogyakarta, Indonesia (57% of Yp) and in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand (47% of Yp), and lowest in Can Tho, Vietnam (44% of Yp). The yield gap in Myanmar was largely attributed to the resource yield gap, reflecting a large scope to sustainably intensify rice production through increases in fertilizer use and proper weed control (i.e., more output with more inputs). In Vietnam, the yield gap was mostly attributed to the technology yield gap and to resource and efficiency yield gaps in the dry season and wet season, respectively. Yet, sustainability aspects associated with inefficient use of fertilizer and low profitability from high input levels should also be considered alongside precision agriculture technologies for site-specific management (i.e., more output with the same or less inputs). The same is true in Thailand, where the yield gap was equally explained by the technology, resource, and efficiency yield gaps. The yield gap in Indonesia was mostly attributed to efficiency and technology yield gaps and yield response curves to N based on farmer field data in this site suggest it is possible to reduce its use while increasing rice yield (i.e., more output with less inputs).
SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides a novel approach to decomposing rice yield gaps in Southeast Asia's main rice producing areas. By breaking down the yield gap into different components, context-specific opportunities to narrow yield gaps were identified to target sustainable intensification of rice production in the region.
7 Dossou-Yovo, E. R.; Devkota, K. P.; Akpoti, Komlavi; Danvi, A.; Duku, C.; Zwart, Sander J. 2022. Thirty years of water management research for rice in Sub-Saharan Africa: achievement and perspectives. Field Crops Research, 283:108548. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2022.108548]
Water management ; Research ; Rice ; Sustainable intensification ; Water productivity ; Oryza ; Crop yield ; Ecosystem services ; Drought ; Soil salinity ; Irrigated land ; Rainfed farming / Africa South of Sahara
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051081)
(1.47 MB)
Rice is one of the major staple foods in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and is mainly grown in three environments: rainfed upland and rainfed and irrigated lowlands. In all rice-growing environments, the yield gap (the difference between the potential yield in irrigated lowland or water-limited yield in rainfed lowland and upland and the actual yield obtained by farmers) is largely due to a wide range of constraints including water-related issues. This paper aims to review water management research for rice cultivation in SSA. Major water-related constraints to rice production include drought, flooding, iron toxicity, and soil salinity. A wide range of technologies has been tested by Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) and its partners for their potential to address some of the water-related challenges across SSA. In the irrigated lowlands, the system of rice intensification and alternate wetting and drying significantly reduced water use, while the pre-conditions to maintain grain yield and quality compared to continuous flooding were identified. Salinity problems caused by the standing water layer could be addressed by flushing and leaching. In the rainfed lowlands, water control structures, Sawah rice production system, and the Smart-Valleys approach for land and water development improved water availability and grain yield compared to traditional water management practices. In the rainfed uplands, supplemental irrigation, mulching, and conservation agriculture mitigated the effects of drought on rice yield. The Participatory Learning and Action Research (PLAR) approach was developed to work with and educate communities to help them implement improved water management technologies. Most of the research assessed a few indicators such as rice yield, water use, water productivity at the field level. There has been limited research on the cost-benefit of water management technologies, enabling conditions and business models for their large-scale adoption, as well as their impact on farmers’ livelihoods, particularly on women and youth. Besides, limited research has been conducted on water management design for crop diversification, landscape-level water management, and iron toxicity mitigation, particularly in lowlands. Filling these research gaps could contribute to sustainable water resources management and sustainable intensification of rice-based systems in SSA.
8 Bharucha, Z. P.; Attwood, S.; Badiger, S.; Balamatti, A.; Bawden, R.; Bentley, J. W.; Chander, M.; Davies, L.; Dixon, H.; Dixon, J.; D’Souza, M.; Flora, C. B.; Green, M.; Joshi, D.; Komarek, A. M.; McDermid, L. R.; Mathijs, E.; Rola, A. C.; Patnaik, S.; Pattanayak, S.; Pingali, P.; Prasad, V. P. V.; Rabbinge, R.; Ramanjaneyulu, G. V.; Ravindranath, N. H.; Sage, C.; Saha, A.; Salvatore, C.; Saxena, L. P.; Singh, C.; Smith, P.; Srinidhi, A.; Sugam, R.; Thomas, R.; Uphoff, N.; Pretty, J. 2021. The top 100 questions for the sustainable intensification of agriculture in India’s rainfed drylands. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 19(2):106-127. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2020.1830530]
Sustainable intensification ; Rainfed agriculture ; Dryland farming ; Agricultural development ; Policies ; Farming systems ; Agricultural production ; Livestock ; Climate change ; Resilience ; Ecosystem services ; Natural resources ; Water resources ; Watersheds / India
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051091)
(2.04 MB)
India has the largest area of rainfed dryland agriculture globally, with a variety of distinct types of farming systems producing most of its coarse cereals, food legumes, minor millets, and large amounts of livestock. All these are vital for national and regional food and nutritional security. Yet, the rainfed drylands have been relatively neglected in mainstream agricultural and rural development policy. As a result, significant social-ecological challenges overlap in these landscapes: endemic poverty, malnutrition and land degradation. Sustainable intensification of dryland agriculture is essential for helping to address these challenges, particularly in the context of accelerating climate change. In this paper, we present 100 questions that point to the most important knowledge gaps and research priorities. If addressed, these would facilitate and inform sustainable intensification in Indian rainfed drylands, leading to improved agricultural production and enhanced ecosystem services. The horizon scanning method used to produce these questions brought together experts and practitioners involved in a broad range of disciplines and sectors. This exercise resulted in a consolidated set of questions covering the agricultural drylands, organized into 13 themes. Together, these represent a collective programme for new cross- and multi-disciplinary research on sustainable intensification in the Indian rainfed drylands.
9 Ayyad, S.; Karimi, P.; Langensiepen, M.; Ribbe, L.; Rebelo, Lisa-Maria; Becker, M. 2022. Remote sensing assessment of available green water to increase crop production in seasonal floodplain wetlands of Sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural Water Management, 269:107712. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107712]
Water availability ; Crop production ; Remote sensing ; Assessment ; Floodplains ; Wetlands ; Evapotranspiration ; Food security ; Sustainable intensification ; Diversification ; Rainfed farming ; Rice ; Soil moisture ; Dry farming ; Farmland ; Land cover ; Livelihoods ; Datasets ; Spatial distribution / Africa South of Sahara / United Republic of Tanzania / Kilombero Valley Floodplain
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051176)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377422002591/pdfft?md5=96e2483fb6a89d468995a4fd01964b6b&pid=1-s2.0-S0378377422002591-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051176.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051176.pdf
(19.50 MB) (19.5 MB)
Producing more food for a growing population requires sustainable crop intensification and diversification, particularly in high-potential areas such as the seasonal floodplain wetlands of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). With emerging water shortages and concerns for conserving these multi-functional wetlands, a further expansion of the cropland area must be avoided as it would entail increased use of blue water for irrigation and infringe on valuable protected areas. We advocate an efficient use of the prevailing green water on the existing cropland areas, where small-scale farmers grow a single crop of rainfed lowland rice during the wet season. However, soil moisture at the onset of the rains (pre-rice niche) and residual soil moisture after rice harvest (post-rice niche) may suffice to cultivate short-cycled crops. We developed a methodological approach to analyze the potential for green water cultivation in the pre- and post-rice niches in the Kilombero Valley Floodplain in Tanzania, as a representative case for seasonal floodplain wetlands in SSA. The three-step approach used open-access remote sensing datasets to: (i) extract cropland areas; (ii) analyze soil moisture conditions using evaporative stress indices to identify the pre- and post-rice niches; and (iii) quantify the green water availability in the identified niches through actual evapotranspiration (AET).
We identified distinct patterns of green water being available both before and after the rice-growing period. Based on the analyses of evaporative stress indices, the pre-rice niche tends to be longer (~70 days with average AET of 20–40 mm/10-day) but also more variable (inter-annual variability >30%) than the post-rice niche (~65 days with average AET of 10–30 mm/10-day, inter-annual variability <15%). These findings show the large potential for cultivating short-cycled crops beyond the rice-growing period, such as green manure, vegetables, maize, and forage legumes, by shifting a portion of the nonproductive AET flows (i.e., soil evaporation) to productive flows in form of crop transpiration. A cropland area of 1452 to 1637 km2 (53–60% of the total cropland area identified of 2730 km2) could be cultivated using available green water in the dry season, which shows the significance of such change for food security, livelihoods, and resilience of the agricultural community in Kilombero. A wider application of the developed approach in this study can help identifying opportunities and guiding interventions and investments towards establishing sustainable intensification and diversification practices in floodplain wetlands in SSA.
We identified distinct patterns of green water being available both before and after the rice-growing period. Based on the analyses of evaporative stress indices, the pre-rice niche tends to be longer (~70 days with average AET of 20–40 mm/10-day) but also more variable (inter-annual variability >30%) than the post-rice niche (~65 days with average AET of 10–30 mm/10-day, inter-annual variability <15%). These findings show the large potential for cultivating short-cycled crops beyond the rice-growing period, such as green manure, vegetables, maize, and forage legumes, by shifting a portion of the nonproductive AET flows (i.e., soil evaporation) to productive flows in form of crop transpiration. A cropland area of 1452 to 1637 km2 (53–60% of the total cropland area identified of 2730 km2) could be cultivated using available green water in the dry season, which shows the significance of such change for food security, livelihoods, and resilience of the agricultural community in Kilombero. A wider application of the developed approach in this study can help identifying opportunities and guiding interventions and investments towards establishing sustainable intensification and diversification practices in floodplain wetlands in SSA.
10 Ahmed, Z.; Shew, A. M.; Mondal, M. K.; Yadav, S.; Jagadish, S. V. K.; Prasad, P. V. V.; Buisson, Marie-Charlotte; Das, M.; Bakuluzzaman, M. 2022. Climate risk perceptions and perceived yield loss increases agricultural technology adoption in the polder areas of Bangladesh. Journal of Rural Studies, 94:274-286. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.06.008]
Climate change adaptation ; Risk analysis ; Sustainable agriculture ; Sustainable intensification ; Technology ; Strategies ; Polders ; Coastal areas ; Yield losses ; Flooding ; Drought ; Salinity ; Infestation ; Farmers ; Socioeconomic environment ; Livelihoods / Bangladesh
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051300)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0743016722001528/pdfft?md5=978a8c61ab73c444502170380e72e0d7&pid=1-s2.0-S0743016722001528-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051300.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051300.pdf
(4.12 MB) (4.12 MB)
The effects of climate change are likely to increase the frequency of flood, drought, and salinity events in the coastal areas of Bangladesh, posing many challenges for agrarian communities. Sustainable intensification in the form of improved agricultural management practices and new technologies may help farmers cope with stress and adapt to changing conditions. In this study, we explore how climate change perceptions of agricultural risk affect adaptation to climate change through technology adoption in a unique landscape: the polders of Bangladesh. In 2016, a survey was conducted in 1003 households living on these artificial, leveed islands facing the Bay of Bengal. We analyzed the responses from polder residents to construct a climate risk index which quantifies climate risk perception in this highly vulnerable agrarian landscape. We analyzed how polder demographics influence their perceptions about climatic change using seemingly unrelated regression (SUR). Further, by using three bivariate probit regression models, we estimated how the perception of climate risk drives the differential adoption of new agricultural technologies. Our findings show that farmers perceive polder agriculture as highly vulnerable to four environmental change factors: flooding, drought, salinity, and pest infestation. The SUR model suggests that farmer demographics, community group memberships, and access to different inputs and services strongly influence climatic risk perceptions. Findings also suggest that polder farmers with higher risk perceptions have a higher propensity to adopt both chemical and mechanical adaptation strategies. Cost, however, limits the ability of farmers to adopt improved technologies, suggesting an opportunity for institution-led approaches.
11 Haileslassie, Amare; Mekuria, Wolde; Uhlenbrook, Stefan; Ludi, Eva; Schmitter, Petra. 2022. Gap analysis and methodological framework to assess and develop water centric sustainable agricultural intensification pathways in Sub-Saharan Africa. Frontiers in Water, 4:747610. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2022.747610]
Sustainable agriculture ; Sustainable intensification ; Water management ; Assessment ; Indicators ; Food systems ; Ecosystem services ; Water resources ; Water use efficiency ; Climate change ; Food security ; Farmers ; Economic aspects ; Environmental sustainability ; Social aspects / Africa South of Sahara
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051488)
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2022.747610/pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051488.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051488.pdf
(5.11 MB) (5.11 MB)
The sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI) debate, partly rooted in discussions over the Green Revolution, was developed in the 1990s in the context of smallholder agriculture in Africa. In many Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, production is still largely rainfed, with the prevalence of significant yield gaps and rapid environmental degradation. Projections indicate that climate and demographic changes will further intensify the competition for freshwater resources. Currently, SAI is centered around predominantly rain-fed agricultural systems, often at a farm and plot scales. There has been increased attention to the improved role of agricultural water management (AWM) to address the daunting challenges of climate change, land degradation and food and nutritional insecurity in SSA. Nonetheless, the supporting frameworks and tools remain limited and do not connect the sustainability assessment and the development of intensification pathways (SIP) along multiple scales of the rainfed irrigation continuum. This paper reviews the gaps in concepts and practices of SAI and suggests a methodological framework to design context-specific and water-centered SIP for the SSA region. Accordingly, the proposed methodological framework demonstrates: (a) how to couple sustainability assessment methods to participatory SIPs design and adaptive management approach; (b) how contextualized sustainability domains and indicators can help in AWM centered SIP development; (c) the approaches to handle multiple scales and water-related indicators, the heterogeneity of biophysical and social settings when tailoring technology options to local contexts; and (d) the principles which enable the SIP designs to enable synergies and complementarities of SAI measures to reinforce the rainfed-irrigation continuum. This methodological framework allows researchers to integrate the sustainability assessment and SIP design, and guides policymakers and practitioners in planning, implementing and monitoring SAI initiatives (e.g., Framework for Irrigation Development and Agricultural Water Management in Africa) across multiple scales.
12 Taye, Meron Teferi; Ebrahim, Girma Yimer; Nigussie, Likimyelesh; Hagos, Fitsum; Uhlenbrook, Stefan; Schmitter, Petra. 2022. Integrated water availability modelling to assess sustainable agricultural intensification options in the Meki Catchment, Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 67(15):2271-2293. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2022.2138403]
Water availability ; Modelling ; Sustainable intensification ; Sustainable agriculture ; Catchment areas ; Surface water ; Groundwater ; Water budget ; Water balance ; Climate change ; Rain ; Temperature ; Forecasting ; Land use ; Shallow water ; Wells ; Crop water use ; Water requirements ; Water yield ; Small-scale irrigation ; Communities / Ethiopia / Central Rift Valley / Meki Catchment
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051557)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02626667.2022.2138403?needAccess=true
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051557.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051557.pdf
(16.50 MB) (16.5 MB)
The Meki catchment in the Central Rift Valley basin of Ethiopia is currently experiencing irrigation expansion and water scarcity challenges. The objective of this study is to understand the basin’s current and future water availability for agricultural intensification. This was done by simulating scenarios through an integrated SWAT-MODFLOW model to assess the water balance. The scenarios were co-developed with communities who expressed their aspirations for agricultural intensification in conjunction with projected climate change. The results show that with the present land use and climate, the catchment is already water stressed and communities cannot meet their irrigation water demand, particularly in the first irrigation season (October–January). However, in the second irrigation season (February–May) water resource availability is better and increasing irrigated area by 50% from the present extent is possible. With a climate change scenario that favours more rainfall and shallow groundwater use, agricultural intensification is feasible to some extent.
13 Ires, Idil. 2022. Concept note for national policy hubs under Ukama Ustawi. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on Diversification in East and Southern Africa. 4p.
Sustainable intensification ; Diversification ; Climate resilience ; Policies ; Multi-stakeholder processes / East Africa / Southern Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051678)
(271 KB)
National policy hubs aim to improve the enabling institutional and policy environment to guide climate-resilient agricultural transition in ESA. Specific hub activities can be described as the 4Ds (diagnose, design, develop, and deploy). Policy hubs diagnose the needs and knowledge gaps related to sustainable intensification and diversification of maize -mixed farming, de-risking through digitized agro-advisory services, agribusiness, empowerment, and multilevel scaling by aggregating research-based findings from the work packages and partners of Ukama Ustawi Initiative. This step is followed by designing and developing multistakeholder dialogues to communicate these findings with stakeholders, and consequently, informing policymaking and implementation on this basis. The first dialogue takes place in Zambia in August 2022, followed by Kenya and Zimbabwe. Finally, the hub will guide governments and other partners to deploy policies and strategies and follow up with policymaking and implementation through effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
14 Birhanu, B. Z.; Sanogo, K.; Traore, S. S.; Minh, Thai; Kizito, F. 2023. Solar-based irrigation systems as a game changer to improve agricultural practices in Sub-Sahara Africa: a case study from Mali. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7:1085335. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1085335]
Solar powered irrigation systems ; Agricultural practices ; Climate-smart agriculture ; Technology ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Land suitability ; Land use ; Land cover ; Slope ; Soil types ; Sustainable intensification ; Water management ; Water use ; Groundwater ; Solar energy ; Rainfall ; Rural areas ; Households ; Socioeconomic aspects ; Case studies / Africa South of Sahara / Mali / Sikasso / Bougouni / Koutiala
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051767)
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1085335/pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051767.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051767.pdf
(6.20 MB) (6.20 MB)
Introduction: In rainfed agricultural systems, sustainable and efficient water management practices are key to improved agricultural productivity and natural resource management. The agricultural system in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) relies heavily on the availability of rainfall. With the erratic and unreliable rainfall pattern associated with poor and fragile soils, agricultural productivity has remained very low over the years. Much of the SSA agricultural land has been degraded with low fertility as a result of ongoing cultivation and wind and water erosion. This has resulted in an increased food shortage due to the ever-increasing population and land degradation. Better agricultural and nutritional security are further hampered by the lack of reliable access to the available water resources in the subsurface hydrological system.
Methods: This study used socio-economic data from 112 farm households and Boolean and Fuzzy methods to understand farmers' perceptions and identify suitable areas to implement Solar Based Irrigation Systems (SBISs) in the agro-ecologies of Bougouni and Koutiala districts of southern Mali.
Results and discussion: Results revealed that the usage of SBISs has been recent (4.5 years), majorly (77%) constructed by donor-funded projects mainly for domestic water use and livestock (88%). With regards to irrigation, vegetable production was the dominant water use (60%) enabling rural farm households to gain over 40% of extra household income during the dry season. Results further showed that 4,274 km2 (22%) of the total land area for the Bougouni district, and 1,722 km2 (18%) of the Koutiala district are suitable for solar-based irrigation. The affordability of solar panels in many places makes SBISs to be an emerging climate-smart technology for most rural Malian populations.
Methods: This study used socio-economic data from 112 farm households and Boolean and Fuzzy methods to understand farmers' perceptions and identify suitable areas to implement Solar Based Irrigation Systems (SBISs) in the agro-ecologies of Bougouni and Koutiala districts of southern Mali.
Results and discussion: Results revealed that the usage of SBISs has been recent (4.5 years), majorly (77%) constructed by donor-funded projects mainly for domestic water use and livestock (88%). With regards to irrigation, vegetable production was the dominant water use (60%) enabling rural farm households to gain over 40% of extra household income during the dry season. Results further showed that 4,274 km2 (22%) of the total land area for the Bougouni district, and 1,722 km2 (18%) of the Koutiala district are suitable for solar-based irrigation. The affordability of solar panels in many places makes SBISs to be an emerging climate-smart technology for most rural Malian populations.
15 Neik, T. X.; Siddique, K. H. M.; Mayes, S.; Edwards, D.; Batley, J.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe; Song, B. K.; Massawe, F. 2023. Diversifying agrifood systems to ensure global food security following the Russia–Ukraine crisis. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7:1124640. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1124640]
Food security ; Agrifood systems ; Diversification ; Sustainable intensification ; Food crops ; Food production ; Food supply chains ; Resilience ; Food prices ; Markets ; Exports ; Technology ; Conflicts / Russia / Ukraine
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051821)
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1124640/pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051821.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051821.pdf
(1.69 MB) (1.69 MB)
The recent Russia–Ukraine conflict has raised significant concerns about global food security, leaving many countries with restricted access to imported staple food crops, particularly wheat and sunflower oil, sending food prices soaring with other adverse consequences in the food supply chain. This detrimental effect is particularly prominent for low-income countries relying on grain imports, with record-high food prices and inflation affecting their livelihoods. This review discusses the role of Russia and Ukraine in the global food system and the impact of the Russia–Ukraine conflict on food security. It also highlights how diversifying four areas of agrifood systems—markets, production, crops, and technology can contribute to achieving food supply chain resilience for future food security and sustainability.
16 Nienkerke, I. M.; Thorat, A.; Patt, A. 2023. From distress migration to selective migration: transformative effects of agricultural development on seasonal migration. World Development Perspectives, 29:100483. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wdp.2022.100483]
Seasonal migration ; Agricultural development ; Rural development ; Mixed farming ; Smallholders ; Land use change ; Sustainable intensification ; Livelihoods ; Households ; Villages ; Assessment ; Innovation ; Sustainability ; Migrant labour ; Irrigated land / India / Rajasthan / Gujarat / Maharashtra / Karnataka
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051796)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452292922000911/pdfft?md5=4eb5b2b636d9898c07e2f4019f6e6ae0&pid=1-s2.0-S2452292922000911-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051796.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051796.pdf
(3.58 MB) (3.58 MB)
Mostly for survival rather than wellbeing or profit, seasonal migration is a deeply entrenched but burdensome coping strategy among the rural poor who face seasonal livelihood insecurity, trapping many in a vicious cycle of chronic poverty and seasonal migration. Can rural agricultural development programs effectively transform these livelihoods and places of seasonal migration?
Following a mixed-methods approach, including a survey of 1,860 randomly sampled households in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka in India, we assess the potential of the Wadi program, which supports integrated farming systems, to boost the farmers’ agricultural productivity and to change their deeply entrenched but burdensome coping strategy of seasonal migration. When comparing participants of the program with non-participants, we find a significant reduction in the intensity and frequency of seasonal migration, as well as spillover effects – that is, not only the participants but also whole villages profit from an enhanced local economy. We further analyze the general challenges and migration pattern of seasonal migrants, including the factors that play a role in the decision to seasonally migrate. We find that it is crucial to change the reasons underlying seasonal migration in order to enable the development from distress to selective migration. This study’s results imply the benefits to be gained from scaling up the Wadi concept and provide evidence of its positive impacts as a contribution to the science–policy dialogue about development programs.
Following a mixed-methods approach, including a survey of 1,860 randomly sampled households in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka in India, we assess the potential of the Wadi program, which supports integrated farming systems, to boost the farmers’ agricultural productivity and to change their deeply entrenched but burdensome coping strategy of seasonal migration. When comparing participants of the program with non-participants, we find a significant reduction in the intensity and frequency of seasonal migration, as well as spillover effects – that is, not only the participants but also whole villages profit from an enhanced local economy. We further analyze the general challenges and migration pattern of seasonal migrants, including the factors that play a role in the decision to seasonally migrate. We find that it is crucial to change the reasons underlying seasonal migration in order to enable the development from distress to selective migration. This study’s results imply the benefits to be gained from scaling up the Wadi concept and provide evidence of its positive impacts as a contribution to the science–policy dialogue about development programs.
17 Dickens, Chris; Whitney, C.; Luedeling, E.; Dlamini, V.; O'Brien, G.; Greffiths, Ikhothatseng Jacob. 2023. Environmental flows in support of sustainable intensification of agriculture in the Letaba River Basin, South Africa. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 51p. (IWMI Working Paper 205) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2022.226]
Environmental flows ; Sustainable agriculture ; Sustainable intensification ; Small-scale farming ; Livelihoods ; River basins ; Water resources ; Water management ; Water availability ; Water demand ; Irrigation water ; Irrigated farming ; Subsistence farming ; Crop water use ; Water requirements ; Crop yield ; Ecosystem services ; River flow ; Catchment areas ; Fishing ; Livestock ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Gender ; Women ; Risk ; Rural communities ; Policies ; Food security ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Water rights ; Land rights ; Modelling / South Africa / Letaba River Basin / Limpopo Basin / Prieska / Mahale / Ga-Selwane
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H052105)
(2.47 MB)
This study evaluates the socioecological consequences of the potential trade-offs between maintaining environmental flows (e-flows) and providing water for sustainable subsistence agriculture and livelihoods to the vulnerable human communities living along the lower Great Letaba River in South Africa. Implementation of e-flows is now generally recognized as an essential part of water resources management as they are designed to ensure that sufficient water is retained in a river to protect river ecosystems and all the beneficiaries of services that arise from those ecosystems. Understanding the relationship between e-flows and the use of water for small-scale agriculture is important for the management of trade-offs.
The Letaba River Basin and it's tributary, the Great/Groot Letaba, are located in the eastern part of the Limpopo province in South Africa. This is one of the most important river basins in the region supporting both large-scale commercial and small-scale farmers. The river sustains many vulnerable human communities who depend on the ecosystem services provided by the river. Yet, the water resources of the Letaba River are heavily overutilized due to expanding developments, including upstream dams with associated offtakes mostly for irrigation.
The findings of the study indicate that irrigation water demand from subsistence agriculture in the Great Letaba Basin amounted to around 2 million cubic meters annually with median demand not exceeding 300,000 cubic meters per month. This means that irrigation water demand from smallholder agriculture only amounts to about one-tenth of the estimated e-flow requirement. However, small-scale farmers contend with an increasing crop water gap which limits irrigated agriculture, especially during the dry season. Given the need to sustainably maintain e-flows for ecological purposes, crop water gaps are only likely to increase and compromise the sustainability of irrigated agriculture. With active upstream supplementation of river flows from dams to maintain both environmental and livelihoods-oriented river flows, the crop water gap can be fully eliminated. This supplementation is not assured due to competing uses.
The Letaba River Basin and it's tributary, the Great/Groot Letaba, are located in the eastern part of the Limpopo province in South Africa. This is one of the most important river basins in the region supporting both large-scale commercial and small-scale farmers. The river sustains many vulnerable human communities who depend on the ecosystem services provided by the river. Yet, the water resources of the Letaba River are heavily overutilized due to expanding developments, including upstream dams with associated offtakes mostly for irrigation.
The findings of the study indicate that irrigation water demand from subsistence agriculture in the Great Letaba Basin amounted to around 2 million cubic meters annually with median demand not exceeding 300,000 cubic meters per month. This means that irrigation water demand from smallholder agriculture only amounts to about one-tenth of the estimated e-flow requirement. However, small-scale farmers contend with an increasing crop water gap which limits irrigated agriculture, especially during the dry season. Given the need to sustainably maintain e-flows for ecological purposes, crop water gaps are only likely to increase and compromise the sustainability of irrigated agriculture. With active upstream supplementation of river flows from dams to maintain both environmental and livelihoods-oriented river flows, the crop water gap can be fully eliminated. This supplementation is not assured due to competing uses.
18 Michalscheck, Mirja; Kizito, F.; Kotu, B. H.; Avornyo, F. K.; Timler, C.; Groot, J. C. J. 2023. Preparing for, coping with and bouncing back after shocks. A nuanced resilience assessment for smallholder farms and farmers in northern Ghana. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 21(1):2241283. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2023.2241283]
Sustainable intensification ; Vulnerability ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Resilience ; Coping strategies ; Economic shock ; Climate change ; Drought ; Crops ; Fall armyworms ; Labour shortage ; Risk reduction ; Technology ; Farm models ; Soil organic matter ; Gender ; Livestock ; Profit / Ghana / Duko
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052161)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/14735903.2023.2241283?needAccess=true&role=button
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052161.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052161.pdf
(5.29 MB) (5.29 MB)
Smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana regularly face shocks, challenging the sustainability of their farms and livelihoods. Different farm households and household members may be differently affected and respond with different coping strategies. We combined whole-farm modelling and farmer consultations to investigate the vulnerability, buffer and adaptive capacity of three farm types in Northern Ghana towards severe climate, economic and social shocks. We further assessed intrahousehold differences in respective risk mitigation and coping strategies. Our model results indicate that the drought shock would most severely affect all farm types, drastically reducing their operating profits and soil organic matter balance. The medium resource endowed farm was most affected by shocks, but all farm types could enhance their capacity to recover by adopting technology packages for sustainable intensification. Gendered coping strategies included livestock sales, post-harvest storage, activating social networks, rice processing and the collection, processing and sales of wild nuts and fruits. Farmers reported to aim at becoming more resilient by increasing their herd size and expanding their farmland, thereby risking to increase rather than reduce the pressure on natural resources. New questions arise concerning the carrying capacity of local ecosystems and resilience at community and landscape level.
19 Birhanu, Birhanu Zemadim; Desta, G.; Cofie, Olufunke; Tilahun, Seifu Admassu; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe. 2024. Restoring degraded landscapes and sustaining livelihoods: sustainability assessment (cum-review) of integrated landscape management in Sub-Saharan Africa. Frontiers in Climate, 6:1338259. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2024.1338259]
Landscape conservation ; Land degradation ; Sustainable intensification ; Sustainability ; Livelihoods ; Indicators ; Participatory research ; Climate change / Africa South of Sahara / Ethiopia / Mali
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052590)
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fclim.2024.1338259/pdf?isPublishedV2=False
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052590.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H052590.pdf
(5.98 MB) (5.98 MB)
Introduction: Land degradation is a significant environmental challenge across sub-Saharan Africa. In recent decades, efforts have been undertaken, with varying successes, to rehabilitate degraded rural landscapes. However, there needs to be more evidence on the outcomes regarding enhanced productivity, environmental management, and socio-economic benefits.
Methods: This study uses a case study approach, using contrasting sites from Ethiopia and Mali to appraise restoration innovations implemented through various programs. Two distinct sites were chosen from each of the study cases, and an extensive literature search was conducted to document the evidence, focusing on the sustainability gains derived from integrated landscape management (ILM). For this, the sustainable intensification assessment framework (SIAF) was used, encompassing five domains, namely productivity, economic, environmental, social, and human condition, and featuring scales from plot to landscape, all facilitated by simplified yet robust indicators such as yield, soil loss, net income, land access, and food availability.
Results: Results highlighted a higher productivity gain (35% to 55%) and an improved socio-economic benefit (>20%). The ILM in the Ethiopian highlands enabled a significant improvement in wheat and barley yield (p < 0.01). Introducing new crop varieties integrated with the in-situ and ex-situ practices enabled diversifying crops across the landscape and significantly reduced runoff and soil loss (p < 0.05). By increasing the cultivable land by 44%, household income was increased by selling potatoes and agroforestry products. In Mali, ILM practices reduced soil loss to 4.97t/ha from 12.1t/ha. In addition to the improvements in the yield of sorghum and maize (33% and 63%, respectively), rehabilitating the once marginal and abandoned landscape in Mali enabled landless and female-headed households to work together, improving the social cohesion among the groups. The introduction of irrigation facilities enabled widowed women to increase household vegetable consumption by 55% and increase their income by 24%.
Discussion: The study showed positive evidence from ILM practices in the two contrasting landscapes. However, there is a need to address challenges related to the absence of timely data monitoring and documentation of successful practices. For this, the generation of evidence-based data and the use of advanced geo-spatial tools such as Remote Sensing and GPS-installed drones are recommended.
Methods: This study uses a case study approach, using contrasting sites from Ethiopia and Mali to appraise restoration innovations implemented through various programs. Two distinct sites were chosen from each of the study cases, and an extensive literature search was conducted to document the evidence, focusing on the sustainability gains derived from integrated landscape management (ILM). For this, the sustainable intensification assessment framework (SIAF) was used, encompassing five domains, namely productivity, economic, environmental, social, and human condition, and featuring scales from plot to landscape, all facilitated by simplified yet robust indicators such as yield, soil loss, net income, land access, and food availability.
Results: Results highlighted a higher productivity gain (35% to 55%) and an improved socio-economic benefit (>20%). The ILM in the Ethiopian highlands enabled a significant improvement in wheat and barley yield (p < 0.01). Introducing new crop varieties integrated with the in-situ and ex-situ practices enabled diversifying crops across the landscape and significantly reduced runoff and soil loss (p < 0.05). By increasing the cultivable land by 44%, household income was increased by selling potatoes and agroforestry products. In Mali, ILM practices reduced soil loss to 4.97t/ha from 12.1t/ha. In addition to the improvements in the yield of sorghum and maize (33% and 63%, respectively), rehabilitating the once marginal and abandoned landscape in Mali enabled landless and female-headed households to work together, improving the social cohesion among the groups. The introduction of irrigation facilities enabled widowed women to increase household vegetable consumption by 55% and increase their income by 24%.
Discussion: The study showed positive evidence from ILM practices in the two contrasting landscapes. However, there is a need to address challenges related to the absence of timely data monitoring and documentation of successful practices. For this, the generation of evidence-based data and the use of advanced geo-spatial tools such as Remote Sensing and GPS-installed drones are recommended.
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