Institutionalization of the Farming Systems framework: Draft action plan from 14th July meeting

Farming Systems and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Priorities for Science and Policy

Institutionalization of the Farming Systems framework: Draft action plan from 14th July meeting

Accelerating Sustainable Intensification in Africa: A farming systems framework for targeting investment

Jean-Marc BoffaSide Event, Africa Agriculture Science Week, 16 July, 2013,

Accra


Classification approach

• FS: Large populations of farm systems classified on broadly similar patterns of livelihood and consumption patterns, as well as constraints and opportunities

• Policy-making relevance: Similar development strategies and interventions apply.

• Classification based on: – Agroecology (LGP), production constraints– Socio-economic parameters (demography,

market access, historical devt, etc) – Key commodities


Sample of data layers on resources, drivers and trends in African agriculture (by FS or regional level)

Agro-ecological datasets

• Agro-ecological Zones Data and Farming Systems

• Land Resources – Agro-ecological zonation – Length of growing period – Land use/land cover – Protected areas

• Land Quality • Crop Suitability • Crop Summary Tables • Yield and Production Gaps • Biomass productivity

Socio-economic datasets

• Poverty• Population density (human, livestock)• Malnutrition• Distance to Market • Vulnerability to climate change


Three scales of knowledge that can help decision-makers

• 1st, the larger trends and drivers that are in motion at the continental level, providing a backdrop at the macro level.

• 2nd, the level of the farming system and subsystems, where the drivers play out in unique ways in the local context. And

• 3rd, the household level, and how it responds to internal and external forces, including policy interventions.

• Temporal analysis of trends

Categories of drivers analyzed

• Population, hunger and poverty

• Natural resources and climate • Energy • Human capital and

information• Technology and science• Markets and trade • Institutions and policies


Project objectives

1. Transform continental spatial data sets and maps of farming systems, food security and key drivers, into a web-based platform in collaboration with FAO, in order to make these data readily available to worldwide audiences.


Project objectives

2. Strengthen awareness of the farming systems analytical results and data sets by a wide range of professional communities in Africa and beyond including policymakers, researchers, development specialists, and teachers and students for use in their respective endeavours.


Project objectives

3. Develop a strategic and programmatic framework – that deploys and extends the farming systems

perspectives and analyses developed by the project, orientates target users on their application in addressing a wide range of policy and research challenges in African agriculture, and

– builds awareness and capacity in this area at the regional level through NEPAD/CAADP, FARA, the CGIAR, and at the national level contributing to the achievement of the goals of the Dublin Process


Highland Perennial farming system and subsystems Central Highlands Western HighlandsPopulation density +++ ++++Farm size +++ ++Market infrastructure ++ +Poverty 30% poor >60% poorCrop area

35% maize17% tea

17% coffeeMore high value crops

42% maize8% tea

10% coffee

% of improved cattle 95%22% of crop area in

fodderZero-grazing increasing

67%11% in fodder

Value of production 102K KSh/household 44K KSh/householdUse of fertilizers 122 kg/ha

74 manure bags51 kg/ha

26 manure bagsSYSTEM LEVELHigh population densityHigh agricultural potentialPermanently cultivated systemsMarket-orientation as a way to intensify systems

SUBSYSTEM LEVELNeed for differentiated interventions


Applications in science, policy and investment planning

Value addition at regional scale• Differentiating strategic priorities and target investment according to

farming systems to optimize (capital-scarce) investment and enhance returns

• Regional spillover of commodity-based technologies /approaches and transboundary ecosystem management

• Provide potential framework for appropriate indicators for monitoring progress (CAADP, Dublin process

At national scale• Finetune information and knowledge to ensure relevance to national

level processes• Provide access and strengthen capacity of national-level planners and

experts to use FS outputs


Potential for linking continental and national farming system frameworks

Distribution of farming systems in Namibia

Two-way process

Where they already exist, establish concordance tables

Where they do not exist, develop national farming systems classes using similar methodologies


Applications in science, policy and investment planning cont’d

• Develop an agenda with CAADP and develop training program in key countries toward using FS frameworks and databases and utilize feedback for adapting and enhancing relevance of knowledge base and materials

• Inventory of national frameworks in pilot countries and analyze concordance with regional framework

• Incorporate FS framework into the Africa Agriculture Science Agenda (targeting, priority setting)

• Explore further integration of FS framework into • 3 system CRPs• Sub-regional organizations (CORAF, ASARECA, CCARDESA)


• THANK YOU!

Institutionalization of the Farming Systems framework: Draft action plan from 14th July meeting

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