Role of volunteers in agriculture and poverty...

Developing Conservation Agriculture in Maize Legume Systems for Smallholder

farmers in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique – A Beneficiary Perspective

in Zambia

Chisanga. K, Kafwamfwa. N, Hamazakaza. P, Mwila. M, Sinyangwe. J and Lungu. O

Presentation Made at the Joint Pan-African Grain Legume and World Conference – Livingstone, Zambia

29th February 2016

Presentation Outline

Introduction Objectives Methodology Data Collection Results and Discussion Preliminary Conclusions

Introduction • Poor soil fertility and land degradation are major limitations to food security in sub-Saharan Africa

• Rural poverty and the environment in developing countries have been linked as a ‘downward spiral’ by many, with population growth, economic marginalization, and more recently climatic variability and change leading to environmental degradation

• The rural poor, who depend on agriculture for their livelihood and food security are particularly vulnerable to such a downward spiral as they have limited access to inputs to improve soil productivity

Introduction Conti... • Although Conservation Agriculture was introduced to some of the Southern African countries a couple of decades ago, its adoption in smallholder agriculture in the region as a whole package has been low • Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia are witnessing severe degradation to its farmlands • Inclusion of a legume in crop rotation has been reported a major challenge in Malawi (Ngwira et al., 2014), in Mozambique insufficient ground cover, inappropriate weed control and drought have been major challenge (Thierfelder, 2012) while spreading of crop residues as soil surface mulch is a challenge in Zambia (Umar et al., 2011).

Introduction Conti...

To change this situation, improved cereals and legume cropping systems design under better resource allocation and management conditions in Conservation Agriculture systems was tested across environments of Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia

This was done through on-station experiments and participatory on-farm research aiming to identify best bet resource allocation strategies that can make cropping systems more attractive to poor resource farmers involved in Conservation Agriculture

Objectives

•To develop and validate best CA practices that will reduce risk in smallholder farming systems

• To build capacity of farmers, extension workers and other partners in implementing CA oriented technologies

Methodology • Survey: The research started with data collection through a baseline survey in target provinces

• A standard questionnaire was prepared by the research team to be used in all the three countries

• The survey form was designed to cover 300 farmers within each country

Methodology Conti... • Soil sampling: Soil samples were collected at all farmers’ experimental sites and analysed for physical, chemical and biological parameters

• Physical, chemical and biological analysis (sand, clay, pH, SOM, P and exchangeable bases) - To be done every year for the entire period of the research work

Methodology Conti...

• Field Experiments: 18 field experiments for maize intercropped or in rotation with, soybean, cowpea and pigeon pea and groundnuts was established across three provinces; southern, copperbelt and eastern Zambia. 6 sites were installed in each region

• Sites were characterized with a 0-20cm depth composite sample per block and analysed for sand, clay, pH, SOM, P and exchangeable bases

• Main reduced tillage options being tried: ripping

Methodology Conti...

• Main soil cover options: Maize stover

• Rotations/Intercropping; intercropping/rotating maize with adapted legumes for each proposed project location/site

Plot Monze Site Mpongwe Site Chipata Site

T1 Pigeon pea + Maize +Recommended fertilizer (intercropped)

Pigeon pea + Maize +Recommended fertilizer (intercropped)

Pigeon pea + Maize +Recommended fertilizer (intercropped)

T2 Pigeon pea + Maize + D Compound fertilizer only (intercropped);

Pigeon pea + Maize + D Compound fertilizer only (intercropped);

Pigeon pea + Maize + D Compound fertilizer only (intercropped);

T3 Pigeon pea + Maize + Half rate recommended fertilizer (intercropped);

Pigeon pea + Maize + Half rate recommended fertilizer (intercropped);

Pigeon pea + Maize + Half rate recommended fertilizer (intercropped);

T4 Cowpea + Maize + Recommended fertilizer (intercropped);

Soybeans + Maize + Recommended fertilizer (intercropped);

Groundnuts + Maize + Recommended fertilizer (intercropped);

T5 Cowpea + Maize + D Compound fertilizer only (intercropped);

Soybeans + Maize + D Compound fertilizer only (intercropped);

Groundnuts + Maize + D Compound fertilizer only (intercropped);

T6 Cowpea + Maize + Half rate recommended fertilizer (intercropped);

Soybeans + Maize + Half rate recommended fertilizer (intercropped);

Groundnuts + Maize + Half rate recommended fertilizer (intercropped);

T7 Maize/cowpea (rotation) Maize/Soybeans (rotation) Maize/Groundnuts (rotation)

T8 Farmer practice

Farmer practice

Farmer practice

Table 1: Treatment Combination across Trial Sites

Note: In Zambia fertilizer recommendation is 200kg/ha basal and 200kg/ha Top dressing

Data Collection and Analysis Maize Grain Yield

• Maize grain obtained from both on-farm and on-station trials in line with the research objectives/research questions

• Grain from net plots was weighed using a digital scale and moisture content measured immediately to correct the yield to 12.5% moisture

Data Collection and Analysis Conti... Economic analysis: • Revenue per hectare from maize grown under conservation agriculture and conventional tillage (CT) systems was based on yield from on-farm trials conducted in the proposed communities • The net return per hectare was estimated for each maize yield observation (kg ha-1) produced by each treatment, based on the domestic maize price series and the variable costs of each treatment

Results and Discussion

Table 2: Baseline Soil Analysis Results in the Trial Sites

Guide to soil test data interpretations N (%) < 0.1 very low P (%) < 10 very low K (%) < 15 very low Soil pH < 4.5 strongly acid

Chipata Site Site

Number Depth (cm)

pH P-ppm % Org. C Ca-ppm Mg-ppm N-ppm K-ppm CEC % N

1 0-20cm 5.3 66 0.90 870 20 99 35 5.54 0.07 2 0-20cm 5.2 11 0.82 930 110 74 190 6.88 0.07 3 0-20cm 5.4 55 0.60 720 100 67 190 5.71 0.05 4 0-20cm 5.4 23 1.20 790 <1 58 170 5.22 0.10 5 0-20cm 5.1 11 0.72 980 30 67 90 6.17 0.06 6 0-20cm 4.9 114 0.95 970 120 84 200 7.23 0.08

Mpongwe Site 1 0-20cm 4.6 58 0.55 490 100 50 66 4.17 0.04 2 0-20cm 5.7 5 1.23 980 160 46 973 9.43 0.10 3 0-20cm 6.2 38 0.60 980 10 38 41 5.75 0.05 4 0-20cm 5.0 17 1.10 520 30 42 47 3.65 0.09 5 0-20cm 5.5 8 0.80 960 100 50 91 6.58 0.06 6 0-20cm 5.5 5 0.82 850 150 42 230 6.77 0.07

Monze Site 1 0-20cm 4.6 6 0.60 870 110 52 80 6.20 0.05 2 0-20cm 4.8 5 0.51 980 90 52 135 6.72 0.04 3 0-20cm 5.1 6 0.53 950 30 58 75 5.94 0.04 4 0-20cm 4.6 11 0.23 960 100 65 63 6.58 0.02 5 0-20cm 3.8 28 0.34 930 75 46 75 6.96 0.03

Rainfall Performance during the Trial Period across the Research sites

Fig 1: Monze and Mpongwe sites received cumulative rainfall ranging between 200-300mm by 31st December 2014 while Chipata site received rainfall in the range of 0-200mm

Fig 2: By 31st January 2015 Monze had accumulated rainfall in the range of 0-400mm while Mpongwe and Chipata the rainfall received during the same period ranged from 400-500mm

#

#

#

#

#

##

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

MpikaSolwezi

Sesheke

Kaoma

Serenje

Kalabo Mumbwa

MkushiLukulu

Chama

Mufumbwe Kasempa

Chinsali

Kazungula

Mwinilunga

Kaputa

Lundazi

Senanga

Kalomo

Zambezi

Isoka

Mongu

Nyimba

Itezhi-tezhi

Kabompo

Samfya

Kapiri Mposhi

Mungwi

Kasama

Shang'ombo

Mansa

Chibombo

Mbala

Chongwe

Mporokoso

Mpulungu

Luwingu

Choma

Kafue

Petauke

Mpongwe

Mwense

Milenge

Lufwanyama

Kawambwa

Chipata

Chilubi

Monze

Mambwe

Mazabuka

Katete

Namwala

Chavuma

Siavonga

Luangwa

Nakonde

Gwembe

Masaiti

Sina

zong

we

Nchelenge

Chiengi

ChadizaKabwe

ChingolaKitwe

Ndola

Lusaka

Livingstone

Cummulative Rainfall From 1st July, 2014 to 31st December, 2015

Rainfall in mm 0 - 200200 - 300300 - 400 >400

Rainfall Performance during the Trial Period across the Research sites Conti…

Fig 3: First dekad of March 2015, Monze site received below normal rainfall

Fig 4: Mpongwe and Chipata during the same period received normal rainfall. The cumulative rainfall in the period ranged from 700-850mm

MpikaSolwezi

Sesheke

Kaoma

Serenje

Kalabo Mumbwa

MkushiLukulu

Chama

Mufumbwe Kasempa

Chinsali

Kazungula

Mwinilunga

Kaputa

Lundazi

Senanga

Kalomo

Zambezi

Isoka

Mongu

Nyimba

Itezhi-tezhi

Kabompo

Samfya

Kapiri Mposhi

Mungwi

Kasama

Shang'ombo

Mansa

Chibombo

Mbala

Chongwe

Mporokoso

Mpulungu

Luwingu

Choma

Kafue

Petauke

Mpongwe

Mwense

Milenge

Lufwanyama

Kawambwa

Chipata

Chilubi

Monze

Mambwe

Mazabuka

Katete

Namwala

Chavuma

Siavonga

Luangwa

Nakonde

Gwembe

Masaiti

Sinazongwe

Nchelenge

Chiengi

ChadizaKabwe

ChingolaKitwe

Ndola

Lusaka

Livingstone

Chililabombwe

Rainfall Departure Map From 1st July, 2014 to 10th March, 2015

Below NormalNormal

MpikaSolwezi

Sesheke

Kaoma

Serenje

Kalabo Mumbwa

MkushiLukulu

Chama

Mufumbwe Kasempa

Chinsali

Kazungula

Mwinilunga

Kaputa

Lundazi

Senanga

Kalomo

Zambezi

Isoka

Mongu

Nyimba

Itezhi-tezhi

Kabompo

Samfya

Kapiri Mposhi

Mungwi

Kasama

Shang'ombo

Mansa

Chibombo

Mbala

Chongwe

Mporokoso

Mpulungu

Luwingu

Choma

Kafue

Petauke

Mpongwe

Mwense

Milenge

Lufwanyama

Kawambwa

Chipata

Chilubi

Monze

Mambwe

Mazabuka

Katete

Namwala

Chavuma

Siavonga

Luangwa

Nakonde

Gwembe

Masaiti

Sinazongwe

Nchelenge

Chiengi

ChadizaKabwe

ChingolaKitwe

Ndola

Lusaka

Livingstone

Chililabombwe

Cummulative Rainfall From 1st July, 2014 to 10th March, 2015

Rainfall in mm 0 - 550550 - 700700 - 850 >850

Rainfall Performance during the Trial Period across the Research sites Conti…

Fig 5: By 31st January 2015 Monze site had satisfactory moisture levels (50-90%) to support crop growth while Mpongwe and Chipata site recorded sufficient moisture levels (60-100%)

Fig 6: By 10th March 2015, soil water index for Monze and Chipata sites show that the trials were stressed with water levels being 10-50% in comparison to Mpongwe which had satisfactory moisture levels of 50-90%

TREATMENTS MAIZE YIELD KG/HA STOVER YIELD KG/HA

CORE YIELD KG/HA

(T1) PP + M + FRF 4341 2586 855 (T2) PP + M + D Comp

3665 2520 691

(T3) PP + M + HRF 3480 2517 692 (T4) CP + M + FRF 4469 2863 872 (T5) CP + M + D Comp

4518 2573 840

(T6) CP + M + HRF 4478 2444 776 (T7) M/CP ROT 4264 2317 771 (T8) FP 4533 2565 828

MEAN 4219 2548 791

C.V 29.3 29.2 29.2

LSD (0.05) 814.9 490.3 152.5

TABLE 3: MONZE SITE YIELD RESULTS

Note: PP – Pigeon pea; FRF – Full rate fertilizer; M – Maize; D Comp – D Compound; HRF – Half rate fertilizer; CP – Cowpea; GN – Groundnut; ROT – Rotation, SB – Soybeans

(T1) PP + M +FRF

(T2) PP + M +D Comp

(T3) PP + M +HRF

(T4) CP + M +FRF

(T5) CP + M +D Comp

(T6) CP + M +HRF (T7) M/CP ROT (T8) FP

Maize 4341 3665 3480 4469 4518 4478 4264 4533Stover 2586 2520 2517 2863 2573 2444 2317 2565Core 855 691 692 872 840 776 771 828

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000Yi

eld

kg/h

a

Fig 7: GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION OF MAIZE, STOVER AND CORE YIELD KG/HA IN MONZE


CORE YIELD KG/HA


1605 2994 407

(T3) PP + M + HRF 2219 2821 577 (T4) GN + M + FRF 3038 3309 801 (T5) GN + M + D Comp

1643 3081 424

(T6) GN + M + HRF 2102 3197 543 (T7) M/GN ROT 2721 4169 694 (T8) FP 3220 3934 831

MEAN 2420 3407 625

C.V 39.3 27.2 33.5

LSD (0.05) 688.5 670 151.7

TABLE 4: CHIPATA SITE YIELD RESULTS


(T1) PP + M +FRF

(T2) PP + M + DComp

(T3) PP + M +HRF

(T4) GN + M +FRF

(T5) GN + M +D Comp

(T6) GN + M +HRF (T7) M/GN ROT (T8) FP


0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

Yiel

d Kg

/ha

FIG 8: GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION OF MAIZE, STOVER AND CORE YIELD KG/HA IN

CHIPATA


CORE YIELD KG/HA


2700 2915 356

(T3) PP + M + HRF 2577 2992 524 (T4) SB + M + FRF 3204 3803 501 (T5) SB + M + D Comp

3191 3488 520

(T6) SB + M + HRF 2399 2727 414 (T7) M/SB ROT 3829 3497 574 (T8) FP 2931 2928 367 MEAN 3056 3200 464 C.V 29.5 46.3 37.6 LSD (0.05) 806.2 1324.8 156.1

TABLE 5: MPONGWE SITE YIELD RESULTS


(T1) PP + M +FRF

(T2) PP + M +D Comp

(T3) PP + M +HRF

(T4) SB + M +FRF

(T5) SB + M +D Comp

(T6) SB + M +HRF (T7) M/SB ROT (T8) FP


0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

Yiel

d Kg

/ha

FIG 9: GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION OF MAIZE, STOVER AND CORE YIELD KG/HA IN

MPONGWE

Treatment Maize Grain Yield (kgha-1)

Gross Benefits (USD)

Fertilizer Cost (USD)

Seed Cost (USD)

Labour Cost (USD)

Maize Net Income

Maize grain yield response kg/kg fertilizer applied

(T1) Pigeon pea + Maize +Recommended fertilizer (intercropped)

4343 565 162 53 166 184 10.86

(T2) Pigeon pea + Maize + D Compound fertilizer only (intercropped)

3665 476 162 53 166 95 9.16

(T3) Pigeon pea + Maize + Half rate recommended fertilizer (intercropped)

3480 452 162 53 166 71 8.70

(T4) Cowpea + Maize + Recommended fertilizer (intercropped)

4469 581 162 53 166 200 11.17

(T5) Cowpea + Maize + D Compound fertilizer only (intercropped)

4518 587 162 53 166 206 11.30

(T6) Cowpea + Maize + Half rate recommended fertilizer (intercropped)

4478 582 162 53 166 201 11.20

(T7) Maize/cowpea (rotation)

4264 554 162 53 166 173 10.66

(T8) Farmer practice

4533 589 162 53 166 208 11.33

Table 6: Gross Margins Analysis for Monze Site




Seed Cost (USD)

Labour Cost (USD)

Maize Net Income



3619 470 162 67 166 75 9.05


2700 351 162 67 166 -44 6.75


2577 335 162 67 166 -60 6.44

(T4) Soybeans + Maize + Recommended fertilizer (intercropped)

3204 417 162 67 166 22 8.01

(T5) Soybeans + Maize + D Compound fertilizer only (intercropped)

3191 415 162 67 166 20 7.98

(T6) Soybeans + Maize + Half rate recommended fertilizer (intercropped)

2399 312 162 67 166 -83 6.00

(T7) Maize/Soybeans (rotation)

3829 498 162 67 166 103 9.57


2931 381 162 67 166 -14 7.33

Table: 7 Gross Margins Analysis for Mpongwe Site




Seed Cost (USD)

Labour Cost (USD)

Maize Net Income



2811 365 162 65 166 -28 7.03


1605 209 162 65 166 -184 4.01


2219 288 162 65 166 -105 5.55

(T4) Groundnuts + Maize + Recommended fertilizer (intercropped)

3038 395 162 65 166 2 7.60

(T5) Groundnuts + Maize + D Compound fertilizer only (intercropped)

1643 214 162 65 166 -179 4.11

(T6) Groundnuts + Maize + Half rate recommended fertilizer (intercropped)

2102 273 162 65 166 -120 5.26

(T7) Maize/Groundnuts (rotation)

2721 354 162 65 166 -39 6.80


3220 419 162 65 166 26 8.05

Table: 8 Gross Margins Analysis for Chipata Site

Treatments Cowpea yield kg/ha (Monze)

Soybeans yield kg/ha (Mpongwe)

Groundnut yield kg/ha (Chipata)

(T4) CP + M + FRF 1125.3 (T5) CP + M + D Comp

881.6

(T6) CP + M + HRF 636.3 (T7) M/CP ROT 1198.1 (T4) SB + M + FRF 4512 (T5) SB + M + D Comp

4638

(T6) SB + M + HRF 4365 (T7) M/SB ROT 4665 (T4) GN + M + FRF 229 (T5) GN + M + D Comp

285

(T6) GN + M + HRF 355 (T7) M/GN ROT 733 MEAN 960 4545 400 C.V 15.91 23.4 63.7 LSD (0.05) 335.3 784.4 210

TABLE 9:COWPEA, SOYBEANS AND GROUNDNUTS’ YIELDS ACROSS RESEARCH SITES

Gender and Youth/s Involvement

In this research work, mainstreaming of gender/addressing women/men/youth specific issues is being done by ensuring that 30% of the participants are women as enshrined in the Zambia Gender Policy Document. E.g during the baseline survey this aspect was applied during sampling for household interviews

In-terms of Gender concerns in the development and dissemination of the technology, this is being addressed by ensuring that some host farmers of the demonstrations or validation trials are lead by women

In addition there is also promotion of the development of technologies aimed at reducing the workload of women and girls i.e promotion of appropriate technologies for on farm demonstrations

This is hoped to spur interest from other women groups and get involved

Lessons Learnt Technical Learnings based on the experiences of beneficiaries

which could be critical to policy development point to the fact that:

Intercropping is beneficial especially where land pressure is an issue, reduces weed pressure, one can harvest two crops from the same piece of land

Farmers also noted that they were not practicing intercropping as at one time they were only encouraged to grow pure stands of Maize by extension department implying that institutional collaboration is key amongst organizations promoting CA practices to ensure same message is received by the beneficiaries

Lessons Learnt Conti…

Intercropping can help replenish nutrients in the soil especially if legumes are rotated regularly

Farmers want to understand the management of pigeon pea tree legume as they perceive that the shrub would interfere with the maize crop development

Aspects of food security at small holder level is associated with availability of maize in Zambia, the staple food, thus introducing any technology which excludes maize may not be feasible

Conclusions: Key messages for research, development and Policy

Preliminary results in this trial have revealed that intercropping of maize and cowpea with application of basal fertilizer @ 200kg/ha produced better maize yields (4.5t/ha) than with groundnuts and soybeans (1.6t/ha and 3.2t/ha respectively)

We preliminary note that for CA oriented technologies to be taken up by farmers in Zambia there is need to strengthen the research, extension and farmer linkages through information sharing and involvement of partners throughout the research implementation

Conclusions: Key messages for research, development and Policy Conti…

In addition involvement of allied departments like Meteorology in weather information would be key for farmers to make informed decision as to when they would plant their crops based on accessed weather information

Possibly the weather information could also be translated in local language for easy understanding and assimilation of the prevailing weather pattern

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN PICTURES

Research Staff discussing sites to host Trials

Monitoring of Trials in Monze Site

Jan 2015

Discussing Trial Performance with host farmers during Monitoring Visits – Monze Site

Jan 2015

Stakeholder engagement in Monitoring – Mpongwe Site

February 2015

Collecting Harvest Data – Chipata Site

May 2015

Research staff and farmers organizing the Groundnuts harvest material – Chipata Site

May 2015

Farmers participate in harvesting

May 2015

Harvested Samples of Maize and Legumes

May 2015

THANK YOU!

Role of volunteers in agriculture and poverty...

Documents

Transcript of Role of volunteers in agriculture and poverty...